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Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 goals for Justin Patton’s rookie season

By Michael Walton

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Justin Patton speaks with the media after being selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Justin Patton speaks with the media after being selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Justin Patton guards Kris Jenkins of Villanova
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 11: Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats is defended by Justin Patton #23 of the Creighton Bluejays during the Big East Basketball Tournament – Championship at Madison Square Garden on March 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

3. Buy into being defensive force (under Thibodeau’s tutelage)

Part of the problem with a lot of young players is that they don’t agree with their coach in terms of what their role should be. Patton does not have any history of being that type of player. That will be great for Thibodeau, who has went on the record stating that his shot-blocking ability was one of the main reasons Minnesota nabbed him.

Thibodeau will most likely ask him to focus on being a rim protector. You can also expect to see Thibs use Patton to neutralize stretch-4s that would usually have a speed advantage in their matchups.

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If you look at game film from Creighton last season, you will quickly notice how often Patton likes to fly in from the weak side to provide help defense. On occasion he over-helped, but the fact is that the effort to be an elite defender is in his makeup.

The key to stopping the high-powered offenses in today’s NBA is having multiple defenders who can help others and then quickly recover their original assignment. Draymond Green is perhaps the prototype for the kind of big you need to thrive. Thibodeau was miffed when the Chicago Bulls management didn’t agree with him and passed on Green. Now he has a chance to mold Patton into (hopefully) just as versatile of a defender.

In 35 college games, he made quite a mark on the defensive end of the floor. Per 40 minutes, he averaged 3.7 combined steals/blocks per game. He was great at batting down passes and generally corralling guards to prevent dribble penetration.

If Patton can understand the benefit of honing his perimeter defense skills now, he will be a terror on defense in the near future.

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