One of the biggest changes for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season has been their increased pace. After ranking 25th in pace last year, they have shot up to 10th in pace this season. Furthermore, last year, the Wolves ranked 29th in transition points, and they now rank 10th in this category.
Frankly, an Anthony Edwards-led team playing at such a slow pace and not getting out in transition at a high rate never made any sense. In some ways, it's surprising that the Wolves have been able to have so much success while not playing to the strengths of their best player. And yes, part of this is on Ant for not fully embracing this style of play.
Jaden McDaniels is another key player who benefits from this new style of play. The emergence of Bones Hyland and the trade addition of Ayo Dosunmu have allowed the Wolves to go all in on this fast-paced identity. During Edwards' recent four-game absence, the Wolves' high-powered pace and the advantages it brings them have been even more evident.
There are plenty of reasons to be uncertain about the Timberwolves' chances of putting together another deep playoff run. However, their new fast-paced style of play is one clear reason for optimism.
Pushing the pace will benefit the Timberwolves in the playoffs
Last playoffs, we saw a blueprint of how pushing the pace can lead to postseason success. Notably, both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers ranked within the top 10 for pace and transition points.
At their core, the Wolves are still a defensive-minded team, and when they force turnovers, pushing the pace to create easy looks on the other end of the court is logical. We are already seeing the advantages of this in the regular season, but in the playoffs, this style of play can crush opposing teams. Likewise, when the Wolves grab a rebound, it makes sense for them to lean into their collective athleticism and push the pace to create open looks.
Listen, not every title-winning team needs to play at a breakneck speed. The Boston Celtics won a championship last year while ranking 19th in pace. However, the Celtics' personnel dictated this style of play; they thrived at slowing things down with complex plays and creating open shots.
Minnesota's collective athleticism and more freelance offense make them suited for a faster style of play. In the halfcourt, a steady diet of isolation plays is to be expected from a team with Edwards and Julius Randle. Nevertheless, pushing the pace more often has proven to be effective for Minnesota, and come playoff time, leaning into this strength will be vital.
Luckily, the Timberwolves seem committed to this style of play, and this could very well lead to another surprisingly deep playoff run.