Whenever a new core comes together on an NBA team, patience is needed. Expect them not to gel right away and for it to take time to reach their full potential.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have two new starters in place this season: LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga, with the latter not signing until months into the offseason. Sure, they had time to work as a starting unit in training camp and the preseason, but the stakes were about to get higher.
That started Wednesday night when the Timberwolves played their regular season opener against the Miami Heat. Minnesota won in blowout fashion, and it was impressive to see how nearly flawless the starting lineup played together, especially in the first quarter.
The rest of the Western Conference should be a little more concerned with how quickly they came together.
Incredible shooting from starters
Wednesday was exactly the start that the Wolves wanted in the regular season. A convincing win over a Heat team that added one of the game’s best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo, someone Minnesota had been linked to in trade rumors for a better part of a year.
The starting lineup couldn’t ask for a better first regular-season stint together, either. Ball, Kuminga, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert played the first 6:55 of the first quarter together before Chris Finch made three substitutions.
By the time Finch made his first substitutions, the Timberwolves had already scored 27 points and were winning by eight. They put up that many points despite turning the ball over three times and not attempting a free throw. The starting lineup’s shot-making was incredible, as they went 5-for-8 from beyond the arc and didn’t miss any of their 2-point attempts over that first 6:55.
Their other stint together—which came over the first 5:26 of the third quarter didn’t go quite as well, as Minnesota’s 10-point halftime lead went to nine. Still, the starters played well all game, even when three or four were on the floor.
Overall, the Timberwolves shot 21-for-50 from 3-point land. This identity makes them a dangerous matchup against any defense, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. Minnesota's elite shooting can offset the rim protection advantages of these teams; we saw it in action against a Heat squad with an elite frontcourt.
Given this and how good the Wolves looked this season, even the two juggernauts and the other Western Conference playoff hopefuls need to take notice of this problem.
Remaining mostly healthy will help allow the offense to be potent
During an 82-game season, the expectation can’t be that the Timberwolves start every game with an offensive explosion. Every team, and every starting lineup, goes through its ebbs and flows.
Inevitably, starters will miss games, and their depth will be tested, as Finch played only nine guys before emptying the bench with a little over three minutes left. The hope is that Minnesota never needs to be without more than one starter at a time.
Still, it was great to see them click on all cylinders right away against a quality opponent. It also shows how potent they can be. Minnesota went into the game seen by the general public as a very good team, but a tier below a true title contender. Their opening performance should have opened the eyes of teams, even the Thunder and Spurs.
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