Finally being able to watch my beloved Minnesota Timberwolves play the Chicago Bulls live at the United Center was a delight. I also enjoyed hearing the individual sitting next to me call Rudy Gobert an Australian. However, as the trade deadline draws nearer, Minnesota’s offensive collapse in the fourth quarter presents both the team and supporters with a lot to consider. The postseason is almost around the corner. How do the Wolves stop blowing these leads and improve their late-game offensive?
Among those ten games is the bewildering Charlotte Hornets game, in which the Wolves allowed Karl-Anthony Towns a well-earned long leash to chase a career-high in points. That late-game offensive, meanwhile, was largely the same as previous defeats. The Wolves’ offense stagnated, making it difficult for them to mount a counterattack when the Hornets made clutch shots and gained momentum. The Wolves managed to stay true to their strengths and played excellent defense for the entirety of the last quarter. However, players must accomplish more than just take good contest shots. Bullets can still hit targets.
The Wolves, who rely largely on their defense to carry the load, may find themselves in a difficult situation if there is an overall lack of balance. Every aspect of their play has been infused with that identity, and the team as a whole has accepted it. But when their defense is unable to support their offensive, things start to go wrong.
The Wolves’ preferred closing group of Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert leads the attack from the outset. They possess the skill to perform well in the final moments. Like McDaniels, Conley is a table-setter who can also shoot from spot-up. Combined, Conley and McDaniels’ three-point percentage this season is 41.7%, shooting 100 for 240. Providing the necessary space for the others to maneuver, but in the event that the defensive crumbles, they can also fire from the outside.
With an average of 26 points per game and three-point shooting, Edwards is a proven standout. Towns’ ability to score in the post and his unique combination of size and three-point shooting give them the advantage. Finally, they can employ Gobert as a screener and lob threat to expose any player on the court.
Even when everything adds up, Minnesota has not had it easy. Connecting the dots has been the problem.
As games get closer, opponents will concentrate on slowing Edwards down. They plan to turn him into a leap shooter by forcing him into long, dribble-out possessions. While the defense can put up with it for the last eight or so minutes of the game that Ant usually plays in the rotation, Ant is still capable of making these kinds of shots. The rest of the squad suffers as a result of denying him easy baskets.
The defense will send three or even four players to block Ant’s path or poke at the ball if he tries to will his way into drives. Not only that, but the opposing team’s best defender covered Edwards right away. Alex Caruso made things difficult for Edwards in the game on Tuesday. It might not be the best look if Edwards takes a drive shot. Additionally, the defense has made Ant a decision-maker if the shot is not available.
If the Wolves attempt to get Ant’s assistance through Gobert, their greatest screener, to pull the on-ball nuisance away from him, opponents will probably put two on the ball. The defense is attempting to take the ball out of Ant’s hands and force him to make a snap decision by doing this. Depending on their people, opponents can decide which course of action to pursue and utilize it against Edwards.
Opponents will almost certainly put two on the ball if the Wolves try to enlist Ant’s help through Gobert, their best screener, to remove the on-ball nuisance from him. By doing this, the defense is trying to steal the ball away from Ant and make him make a snap decision. Opponents can choose whatever line of action to take and apply it to Edwards based on their people.
The Wolves have established a trend. Late in games, defenses have figured out a way to unnerve Ant and KAT. Nor do they have many choices. Conley is by far the most capable decision-maker in Minnesota; he can calm these erratic impulses. However, at this stage of his career, he lacks isolation scoring, therefore he is unable to generate offense on his own. Thus, in the latter stages of games, Minnesota’s offense must be led by KAT and Ant.
The Wolves have faced crunch time seven times in their last ten games. When the score is within five points, the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime are known as clutch time. With a -32.4 net rating, they have a 2-5 record in those contests. Although the sample size is tiny, in the last ten games, that ranks 24th in the league. Two main variables account for the majority of Minnesota’s failure: KAT’s lack of solo scoring and Edwards’s lack of exceptional decision-making.
Edwards undoubtedly propels the Wolves to victory. In the last ten games, he has shot 8/18 from the field and 3/7 from three, showing good clutch shooting statistics. However, Minnesota’s recent lack of controversy has lost them games.
KAT is in his own category. He’s a phenomenal spot-up shooter who opponents must track all over the court. But his lack of true off-the-dribble creation consistency hampers the Wolves in crunch time. He’s much more suited as a playfinisher rather than a playmaker.
That creates a dilemma that will continue to affect the Wolves. Their lack of shot creation will leave each game out of their control. It’s a problem that opponents will exploit in the playoffs, which will continue until they make a schematic change.