The Timberwolves' best lineup may not be what you think

Through two weeks of the season, a lot of answers have been presented for the long list of questions facing this Minnesota Timberwolves team. There is still a long way to go before this group realizes its full potential, but the big picture is already starting to become a little clearer.

Some of the biggest problems for this team still loom large. The Timberwolves have really struggled containing their opposition in the open court. Minnesota got a big time win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday and really locked down defensively, but they still struggled in transition. The Wolves gave up 24 of the Hornets' 93 points in the fast break.

That is something that will need addressing if Minnesota is to return to the level of a top-level contender in the Western Conference. In the meantime, one other big thing regarding this roster is starting to become evident. As Chris Finch and the coaching staff work on constructing different lineups and seeing where certain guys fit best, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the Timberwolves' best lineup is not going to be the starting unit.

This point was brought up by prominent Wolves podcaster Dane Moore on his show this week. While a bit of an abnormality, it seems certain at this point that Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are not the best five Minnesota can put on the floor.

The Timberwolves' best lineup is likely not the starters

We know this just from watching that group and the ups and downs they have experienced compared to the more consistent production when one of the bench guys is out there replacing a starter. Both Dane and his co-host Kyle Theige agree that the Timberwolves' biggest three guys off the bench in Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker all bring an undeniable impact when they enter the game for one of the starters.

For example, Moore looks at data when a three-man pairing of Reid, Alexander-Walker and Gobert have all been on the floor together. Those three have shared the court for 62 total minutes this season, and they have won those combined minutes by 62 points. That is a clear indication that these different lineup choices have worked in ways that the starters simply have not to this point.

Moore's prediction from this observation is that Minnesota's coaching staff will look to make a major starting lineup shake-up in the coming weeks or months. It could very well be a real possibility given what we have seen from this team so far. Mike Conley, for example, is currently playing the seventh-most minutes on the roster, with non-starters DiVincenzo and Reid both averaging more minutes per night.

Regardless of the outcome, this is a fascinating development for Wolves fans to continue following. Beginning a season with a new starting lineup will always bring about questions and plenty of experimentation. As the Timberwolves continue optimizing their approach, the frequency of certain lineups will likely become an even bigger talking point.