{"id":1595,"date":"2016-10-18T09:40:47","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T13:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=1595"},"modified":"2017-01-04T12:44:44","modified_gmt":"2017-01-04T17:44:44","slug":"keys-minnesota-timberwolves-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2016\/10\/18\/keys-minnesota-timberwolves-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Key Factors to a Successful Minnesota Timberwolves Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>During the 2016-17\u00a0<strong>NBA<\/strong>\u00a0season, headlines will be dominated by\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duranke01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Durant<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and the <strong>Golden State Warriors<\/strong>\u00a0on a daily basis. However, having a super-team doesn\u2019t guarantee a championship; just look at the 2012-13\u00a0<strong>Los Angeles Lakers<\/strong>. Everything can change and anything can happen in the NBA. A team can implode, the injury bug could strike, or a team simply might not play to its potential. In this\u00a0<strong>Last Word On Pro Basketball<\/strong>\u00a0series, we\u2019ll break down which two key factors will determine the fate of each NBA team in the upcoming season.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In this edition, we\u2019ll look at the <strong>Minnesota Timberwolves<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h1><strong>Two Key Factors to a Successful Minnesota Timberwolves Season<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>The Minnesota Timberwolves are a young, exciting, up-and-coming team. Many people have recently <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BillSimmons\/status\/714627723449118720\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">compared them<\/a> to the <a href=\"http:\/\/dunkingwithwolves.com\/2016\/02\/07\/timberwolves-similar-but-different-to-08-09-thunder\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2008-09 <strong>Oklahoma City Thunder<\/strong><\/a>. In a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LastWordHoops?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@LastWordHoops<\/a> Twitter poll, 61 percent of voters said that the Wolves are the young team that they\u2019re most excited to watch:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NBA fans: which young team are you most excited to watch this season?<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Last Word on Basketball (@LastWordHoops) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LastWordHoops\/status\/785825902311661568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 11, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a given that Minnesota\u2019s young core will improve this season. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wiggian01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew Wiggins<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/townska01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lavinza01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach LaVine<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dienggo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gorgui Dieng<\/a><\/strong> are all extremely talented, and all four seem to have the work ethic and humble character that will help them develop their game. But it\u2019ll take more than just development for the Wolves to have a successful season. The Wolves will have to improve as a team, starting on the defensive end.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>First Key: Thibs Working Defensive Magic<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Last season, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/hollinger\/teamstats\/_\/sort\/defensiveEff\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Wolves were the fourth-worst team in the league defensively<\/a>, in terms of points allowed per 100 possessions. In order to make the playoffs, they\u2019ll need to be miles better. Fortunately, Minnesota\u2019s new head coach <strong>Tom Thibodeau<\/strong> is known to be\u00a0a defensive mastermind. He was the key to the elite <strong>Boston Celtics<\/strong> defense that fueled their 2007-08 championship run. He then led the <strong>Chicago Bulls<\/strong> to a top five finish defensively in four consecutive seasons, from 2011 to 2014. Thibs may have his work cut out for him with this young Wolves team, though.<\/p>\n<p>LaVine is a subpar defender, losing track of his man constantly. Wiggins has the tools to be elite, but he was average at best last season. Towns and Dieng are both already good defenders, but they still need work. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bjeline01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nemanja Bjelica<\/a><\/strong>, who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.startribune.com\/q-amp-a-with-new-timberwolves-coach-tom-thibodeau\/394700291\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Thibodeau reportedly loves<\/a>, is a terrible defender. <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rubiori01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ricky Rubio<\/a><\/strong> is solid defensively at point guard, but <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dunnkr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kris Dunn<\/a><\/strong>, who may take over Rubio\u2019s spot at some point during the season, is just a rookie.<\/p>\n<p>Besides the individual problems, the team simply needs to become smarter and more aware on the defensive end. Players need to know when to help and when to stick to shooters. Additionally, improvement on pick-and-roll coverage will be crucial. Thibodeau will bring some much-needed discipline to Minnesota. If he can turn around the wretched Wolves defense and bring them close to the top ten on that end, the team may be able to sneak into the playoffs in the loaded <strong>Western Conference<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Second Key: Trading Ricky Rubio<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Ricky Rubio is a quality player. He\u2019s an excellent defender and rebounder at his position, and he\u2019s an elite passer. But Minnesota drafted Dunn for a reason. If the Timberwolves had Rubio in their future plans, they wouldn\u2019t have drafted an NBA-ready player at his position. In fact, if Rubio is traded, Dunn may become the favorite to win <strong>Rookie of the Year<\/strong>. At this point in time, there\u2019s simply no reason for the Wolves to hang on to him. Anyway, Rubio is 26 years old. Wiggins, LaVine, Towns, Dunn, <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/muhamsh01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shabazz Muhammad<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jonesty01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyus Jones<\/a><\/strong> are all 23 or younger. It just makes more practical sense for the Wolves to move on from Rubio and find a trade partner.<\/p>\n<p>Looking at the on-court product, trading Rubio is still the most logical course of action. While it\u2019s nice to have a pass-first point guard like Rubio, the Timberwolves need shooting. Minnesota ranked in the bottom five in three-point percentage last season, and they made less total three-pointers than every team other than the <strong>Milwaukee Bucks<\/strong>. While the number of makes will certainly increase now that <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mitchsa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam Mitchell<\/a><\/strong> is no longer there to stop players from attempting threes, the efficiency still needs to improve. Rubio is a notoriously bad shooter from all over the court. He\u2019s a career 31.8 percent shooter from downtown, as well as just 36.8 percent from the field overall. When Rubio is on the floor with Wiggins and two true big men, Minnesota\u2019s spacing can get really cramped. The Wolves should let Dunn take over the floor general duties, as he\u2019d be a much better fit.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Dunn\u2019s Shooting<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Dunn shot 37.2 percent on threes in his senior year of college \u2013 a solid number, despite the closer arc. He attempted 3.4 per game, more than Rubio has taken in any of his NBA seasons. Sure, the college three-point line is significantly closer than that of the NBA, but it still proves that Dunn isn\u2019t afraid to shoot. He\u2019s at least a willing shooter, and as a 22-year-old rookie, he certainly has time to develop his shot.<\/p>\n<p>If nothing else, Dunn presents a scoring threat, stretching 20 or more feet from the rim. Rubio just doesn\u2019t have any intention to score when he gets the ball, making it easy for defenses to back off of him and focus extra attention on stopping Wiggins and Towns. At 26 years old, it would be shocking if Rubio suddenly changed his game drastically enough to fix Minnesota\u2019s spacing\u00a0problems. If the Wolves finally trade Rubio, they can get some good assets in return, while handing the reigns to Dunn and letting him run this young squad.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>This Timberwolves team is far from a finished product. Their young players still have a ton of room to grow, and that\u2019s what the upcoming season will entail. But for any young team, player development is to be expected. Minnesota will only have on-court success if Tom Thibodeau can begin to fix the defense in its entirety. Additionally, the Wolves will need to make a big decision in order to consider this season a successful one. The front office must find a reasonable trade offer for Ricky Rubio \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.si.com\/nba\/2016\/07\/26\/ricky-rubio-wolves-trade-nba-free-agency-karl-anthony-towns-kris-dunn\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">which should be on the table<\/a> \u2013 and decide to finally pull the trigger. Only then should the 2016-17 Minnesota Timberwolves season really be considered a success.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two keys to a successful 2016-17 Minnesota Timberwolves season include improving defensively and finding a trade for Ricky Rubio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":946,"featured_media":1599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,21,62],"tags":[212,65,213,458,214,96,563,314,215,457],"class_list":["post-1595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-timberwolves","category-nba","tag-andrew-wiggins","tag-basketball","tag-karl-anthony-towns","tag-kris-dunn","tag-minnesota-timberwolves","tag-nba","tag-nba-western-conference","tag-ricky-rubio","tag-tom-thibodeau","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Lior Kozai (Managing Editor)","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/946"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}