After a late-game meltdown against the Phoenix Suns, it's easy to feel pessimistic about the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are now 0-6 against teams with a .500 or better record. However, not all was bad in this game; the most notable positive for me is that the Wolves forced a season high 27 turnovers.
In the earliest stages of this season, the Wolves' defense was a clear concern. Per Cleaning the Glass (which filters out garbage time), the Wolves ranked 26th in defensive rating for the first eight games of the season. Thankfully, in the last eight games, Minnesota ranks second in defensive rating. This brings them to the 12th-ranked defense overall.
The Wolves' forcing turnovers at an elite rate against the Suns wasn't a fluke, either. In the past eight games, the Wolves rank fourth in opponents' turnovers per game; in the first eight games of the season, Minnesota ranked 18th in this stat. Notably, the Wolves ranked just 13th in this stat last season.
For the Wolves to finish with a top-10 defense for the fourth straight year, maintaining this identity will be key.
The Wolves' new look defense could change everything
Teams playing a more aggressive style of defense has been a league-wide trend this season, and the Wolves adopting this technique benefits them. With Jaden McDaniels, Jaylen Clark, Anthony Edwards, and Donte DiVincenzo at the perimeter, along with Rudy Gobert manning the middle, Minnesota has the personnel to force turnovers at a high rate.
Yes, Edwards and DiVincenzo aren't perfect defenders, but they have the quickness and instincts to disrupt opposing ball handlers. Heck, even Rob Dillingham can do this; he ranks in the 94th percentile for steals per 100 possessions, according to Databllr.
Make no mistake, though, the elite on-ball pressure McDaniels and Clark paired with the safety net that Gobert's rim protection provides makes this style of defense work.
The Wolves are picking up ball handlers, full court, more often. Likewise, they're blitzing opposing creators more often. This strategy held Devin Booker to 4-18 shooting and forced nine turnovers on him alone.
Now this strategy has some downsides. By selling out on a team's best player, you are allowing role players to beat you and risk open shots from others. The Suns shot 45 percent of their 3-pointers on Friday, and overall, Minnesota ranks 20th for opponent 3-point percentage.
Regardless, blitzing allows the Wolves to get out in transition more and limit opposing teams' best players. Additionally, as other elite teams, most notably the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, deploy similar strategies, this helps the Wolves counter this defense from opposing teams. We'll get to see if this increased ball pressure helps the Wolves against OKC on Wednesday night.
While the Timberwolves have yet to win a game against a team with a winning record, that won't be the case all season.
I believe that when they get a win against a good team, this high-pressure defense will be a key factor. In the big picture, this could help them finish as a top-10 defense and put together another deep playoff run.