Minnesota Timberwolves Flash Unreal Potential at Dunks After Dark
The 2014-15 NBA season has yet to commence, but the Minnesota Timberwolves area already garnering more attention and generating more excitement than a year ago.
The T-Wolves have become such an extravagantly enticing team that their offseason activities are becoming YouTube sensations. That was never more evident than on Monday, September 29, when the team hosted, “Dunks After Dark.”
It’s exactly what it sounds like: a scrimmage that was held at night featuring riveting and intriguing displays of athleticism.
As the thrilling showcase progressed, it became more-and-more evident that there’s something special happening in Minnesota. The raw talent must develop before the Timberwolves contend, but it’s in place.
What the Timberwolves have built with one mega-trade, intelligent drafting and practical use of free agency is a team of significant upside.
No one in their right mind will tell you that playing with Kevin Love hurt Ricky Rubio. If anything, it expedited his development as a facilitator and helped improve his court vision.
What the 2014-15 Timberwolves give Rubio, however, is a chance to do what he does best: get out into the open court and facilitate an up-tempo offense.
Minnesota had the No. 4 pace in 2013-14, but that’s a misleading number. Its personnel wasn’t nearly as athletic as it is right now, and its defense lacked the necessary playmakers.
That’s all changed in this new era of Minnesota basketball.
The new group?
That’s the new group.
Rubio is complemented by the athletic core of Anthony Bennett, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and Thaddeus Young. That explosiveness is surrounded by sharpshooters Kevin Martin and Mo Williams, southpaw finisher Shabazz Muhammad and breakout center Gorgui Dieng.
Along with half-court specialist Nikola Pekovic, Rubio has no shortage of offensive options to distribute to; players who he can find coming off of screens, throw it down to in the post or connect with for easy dunks.
Exhibit A:
Who needs a combine when you can just watch that?
As for Wiggins, his elite combination of of smooth and powerful athleticism is the main reason that he went No. 1 overall at the 2014 NBA Draft. He’s a menace on defense with length and explosiveness which fuels his powerful attack in transition.
In other words, he’s the perfect player for Rubio to lob passes to for easy points and confidence-boosting plays.
Defense is where this unit has improved the most. After ranking No. 26 in scoring defense, that’s not the hardest thing to do.
Rubio, who was No. 2 with 2.32 steals per game in 2013-14, is joined by Young, who ranked No. 3 with 2.11. Wiggins is also a menace in the passing lanes, which only improves a previously stout ball-hawking team.
With all of this defensive firepower, the Timberwolves will rapidly develop into one of the most athletically dominant teams in the league.
Losing Love hurts most in the half court, but Minnesota was a below-.500 team with him. Losing Love has done nothing but provide Minnesota with the opportunity to acquire depth and build around different stars: Rubio and Wiggins.
There are still question marks in Minnesota, but if Dunks After Dark showed us anything, it’s that this team will be one of the most exciting in the NBA.
When the talent can excite, it can be molded into something great.