The Timberwolves, like all the experts expected (take that, experts!), are 3-0 to start the 2019-20 season
Minnesota is one of just five teams in the NBA (Spurs, Nuggets, Hawks and 76ers) to be undefeated. While the Timberwolves aren’t going to go undefeated throughout the 82-game schedule, although simple projection math would tell us otherwise, it is a promising start for a franchise that went through so much change this offseason.
Here are three things we’ve learned from this group so far:
Are Those MVP Chants We Hear?
Last season, Karl-Anthony Towns probably should have made the All-NBA Team.
It looks like Towns is out to get revenge for that, and then some, so far in 2019-20. Through three games, Towns is averaging 32 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 51.7 percent from the 3-point line.
Small sample size, sure, but it’s clear that the Wolves are going to use Towns differently this season. Instead of having an offense that highlights Towns, this offense revolves around Towns.
Towns’ usage rate is up to a career-high 31.3.
What Towns does offensively is ridiculous. A big man who can shoot and pass, while also feasting down low, is something you create on 2K and in the back of your mind, you kind of know you’re cheating because that type of player doesn’t exist. Turns out, you're not cheating! And you don't even have to create that player! You can just play with Karl-Anthony Towns!
Defensively, Towns is taking strides and looks more disciplined. This offseason, Towns worked a lot with Robert Covington on positioning defensively. We’ve seen that pay off already.
If the Wolves make a push for the playoffs (the site FiveThirtyEight gives the Wolves a 60-percent chance of making it so probably buy your tickets now), Towns shouldn’t only get All-NBA consideration. His name should be in MVP talks.
There's a good chance by the time you read this, Towns will be named Western Conference Player of the Week.
Clutch Wiggins
We’ve now witnessed Clutch Andrew Wiggins twice in three games for the Wolves this season.
In a 127-126 overtime win over Brooklyn, Wiggins made two baskets in the final 80 seconds. The first put the Wolves up one, and the second put the Wolves up three. Without those buckets, the Wolves don’t win.
The same can be said for Wiggins’ lights-out fourth-quarter performance against the Heat in the team's home opener. Wiggins was nuts in the fourth quarter, scoring 11-straight points in the quarter and finishing with 16 of his 25 points in the final quarter. Wiggins shot 5-for-7 from the field and was 4-for-5 from the 3-point line. What makes that probably a little more impressive is the fact that Wiggins was 0-for-6 from the 3-point line heading into the fourth quarter. The worst kind of shooter is a scared one, and it’s clear Wiggins isn’t afraid to take the big shots when his team needs him. He’s also proven he can make them.
On the season, Wiggins is averaging 20.7 points (highest since 2016-17) and a career-high six rebounds per game.
The next step for Wiggins to to bring some consistency throughout the course of the game. Wiggins has gotten hot late, but he hasn’t quite found his shot yet (Wiggins is shooting 43 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from deep). Wiggins is at his best when he's attacking the basket. He's done more of that in the last three games that we saw in a lot of games last season. But let's not ignore the fact that Wiggins shot nearly 36 percent from deep three seasons ago. If Wiggins can get back to that, and he continues to launch 5.7 threes per game, hot diggity. We could be in for some fun.
It’s Not About Who Starts The Game . . .
Coach Ryan Saunders has done a good job of staggering minutes among his starters and the bench unit. The starting lineup of Jeff Teague, Wiggins, Treveon Graham, Robert Covington and Towns have played 54 minutes together. There have been 24 other lineups used this season.
The bench unit of Shabazz Napier, Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver, Jake Layman and Noah Vonleh has played fantastic as a unit, registering a +33.4 net rating. But what’s been more impressive has been their ability to mix and match with the starters throughout the game.
This isn’t exactly some sort of breakthrough. Teams stagger players all the time, and with this team, it’s necessary considering Saunders doesn’t want to put Covington out there for 33 minutes per game quite yet. But this second unit, with four new faces, has caught on faster than I would have expected.
Napier is averaging six assists per game and also brings a scoring threat. Okogie has been a plus/minus king and is doing all the things that made you fall in love with him last year. Layman is such an incredible athlete and we’re going to be reminded of that 100 more times this season. Culver, who was impressive in preseason, has struggled, but he’s a rookie in the NBA. He’sll be fine. And then there’s Vonleh, who has been a force on both ends and isn’t afraid to get dirty.
We’re only a week into the season, but there’s been plenty to like with this Wolves team. You really couldn’t have asked for a better start.