Minnesota Timberwolves fans are resilient.
How can’t they be? Another season that looks wasted and the Warriors will likely have the top-three protected 2021 first-round pick. It is relatively easy to fall into a hole of despair with this franchise.
What is the fun in that? The Wolves have tremendous talent on their roster. Stay positive, Wolves fans!
The Rookies are Coming to the Party
The Wolves are the youngest team in the league, with an average age of 23.6 years. As D’Angelo Russell said after their fourth-straight loss on January 3rd, “we’re still figuring out how to lose.”
Though this thought seems counter-intuitive, an essential mental factor is not to become discouraged as a young team. This squad is missing their cornerstone in Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is the absent part of the equation because the roster is built to compliment him. However, rookies like Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are starting to become accustomed to the NBA, a positive sign for when Towns returns.
McDaniels made an immediate impact on the Wolves’ defense, and the numbers back that up, as shown in his Cleaning the Glass percentile rankings.
Edwards found his groove on the offensive side of the ball. In his last eight games, Edwards has averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal while shooting 40.4% from the field and three-point line, and 91.3% from the charity stripe.
Edwards’ three-point shooting percentage skyrocketed his past eight games versus his first 14. In his first 14 contests, Edwards shot 26.2 percent from three on 5.3 attempts per game. Over his last eight, Edwards caught fire by shooting 40.4 percent from deep on 5.9 shots per game. Though this stretch is a small sample size, his career in general is a small sample size, so it is easy to overreact.
The Wolves Have Grit
Losing comes with a young team. However, one thing that stood out over the last eight games, where the Wolves have gone 3-5, is that this team does not give up. Players like Jaylen Nowell and Jordan McLaughlin have a lot to prove. There is a multitude of players contending for playing time. With the barrage of injuries and illnesses on this roster, hoopers are receiving an opportunity to earn consistent minutes.
Nowell stepped up as of late. He scored double figures in three consecutive games coming into the second half of a back-to-back versus the Cavaliers. In the first game, Nowell recorded a career-high 13 points as the Wolves outscored the Cavs by three with Nowell on the court.
In the two games after his career high, he continued to score in double figures, posting 12 points against the same Cavs and 10 two nights later in a loss to the Spurs.
The Wolves tend to get caught in sizable opposing runs with no hope in sight. Thankfully, Nowell can bring an instant scoring punch off the bench to help subdue the storm.
Naz Reid is the Epitome of Analytics
Naz Reid may be one of the best backup centers in the NBA. In addition to his talent, Reid’s game fits perfectly within the Wolves front office’s analytically-driven mindset. Reid hates midrange jumpers, which must be immensely pleasing to President of Basketball Operations, Gersson Rosas.
Since KAT went out with health-and-safety protocols, Reid took his spot and played it effectively. Over a six-game span before going down with a wrist sprain, Reid averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, one steal and 2.7 blocks while shooting 55.7 percent from the field, 44.5 percent from three, and 89 percent from the line. With Reid returning to the lineup in a more limited role, his production should take an upturn once he returns to full health.
Reid stepped up on the floor’s defensive side– a positive sign that could lead to more playing time alongside Towns. Though Reid may not be the long-term option at the four, he can provide precious minutes while also being a big body down low to battle opposing bigs with Towns.
Although the Wolves don’t have the best record right now, there’s plenty of young talent in Minneapolis. Minnesota fans don’t need to fret with their emerging stars’ developing talent and the roster learning from adversity. Although 2021 won’t be perfect, the pack will soon roam, hunting ripe Western Conference prey.
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