The Minnesota Timberwolves' recent success has centered around their elite and physical defense. While trading for LaMelo Ball this offseason shifted their identity to some extent, their defense has looked as good as ever.
Yes, it's only three games, but per Cleaning the Glass, the Wolves are leading the league in defensive rating. Furthermore, they have held their opponents to under 100 points in two out of three games, and all of these games have been against playoff hopefuls.
The Wolves' dynamic new-look offense has been the main talking point of their 3-0 start. However, their elite defense has been equally, if not more so, important to their success so far. Thiselite level of two-way balance could help the Wolves spark a championship run.
Everyone is playing a role in the Timberwolves' defensive success
Of course, Rudy Gobert's historically great rim protection is the central part of Minnesota's defensive success. He doesn't just block shots; he changes opposing players' thought processes, suppressing rim opportunities.
When you pair this with Jaden McDaniels' elite point-of-attack defense, the Wolves have the two most important parts of defense nailed down. McDaniels can limit opposing stars, forcing them into bad shooting nights, while Gobert deters all rim opportunities.
While these players are at the heart of the Wolves' defensive identity, the whole team is filled with plus defenders. Jonathan Kuminga has been fantastic defending opposing forwards. Thus far, he's been the primary defender on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, and Scottie Barnes. His defense against Barnes was especially stellar, as Barnes shot 0-for-12 from the field. Kuminga has also been very disruptive off the ball, averaging 2.3 steals.
Having an athletic and bruising forward who can defend at this level could help the Timberwolves' defense become even better than in past seasons. They've never had this element.
Anthony Edwards has been tenacious on the ball and more engaged off the ball than last season. Ayo Dosunmu has continued to be a havoc-inducing perimeter defender. Terrence Shannon Jr. has improved on defense. Heck, LaMelo has even played some solid defense (contrary to his reputation).
Trey Lyles and Joan Beringer have had some nice moments off the bench. 6-foot-2 Bones Hyland recorded three blocks during Sunday's win.
Simply put, everyone on the team has played a role in their defensive success.
As a unit, the Wolves are playing together. The rotations are crisp. The communication jumps off the screen. They're navigating screens well. Everyone is engaged at all times. It's quite impressive that they look so connected with several new pieces.
Chris Finch deserves a ton of credit for the defensive culture that he's built. It's clear that the new players understand how important defense is in Minnesota. Finch's schemes have also been awesome.
The Timberwolves' two-way balance makes them a clear contender
Having a team with this much offensive firepower and the ability to shut the water off of any opposing team's offense is a lethal combination. With how the Timberwolves are playing, they may finish the year as a top-five offense and defense. As such, they can win games playing multiple styles. That bodes incredibly well for their title chances, and few teams can match this level of two-way balance.
Moreover, while the Wolves have long had an elite defense, their offense has lagged behind. That has changed this season. This is simply the most balanced and complete team of the Edwards era.
Things are shaping up for Minnesota to be a flawless team. For all the talk about their new-look offense, the Timberwolves' defense has been incredibly impressive, and this could help them reach their championship ceiling. At the very least, this team is a serious contender.
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