The Minnesota Timberwolves have a good record, but here are some changes that need to be made on the defensive end of the floor.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are still tied for first in the Northwest division with a 10-7 record, but their 23rd-ranked defense leaves much to be desired.
There a couple defensive changes that could work well with Minnesota’s roster, specifically with the young duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
Get Wiggins matched up on point guards/offense initiators
Andrew Wiggins is usually public enemy No. 1 when it comes to looking for someone to blame for Minnesota’s defensive woes. He doesn’t rebound especially well. He does not get many blocks despite being an athletic marvel. But despite all of his shortcomings, Wiggins’ physical traits make him a good option to simply slow down the play initiator.
Wiggins is 6’8″ with a 7’0″ wingspan. Having him on the primary ball-handler is the easiest route to encouraging him to be more active on the defensive end. He has not been a train wreck as an on-ball defender. His main issue is falling asleep when guarding off-ball, allowing his man opportunities to cut backdoor or get wide open looks.
Guarding the opposition’s primary guard gives Wiggins a chance to use his athleticism, and when the T-Wolves get out in transition he would be up top, ready to receive the outlet pass. He will still have to improve his defensive awareness, but that comes with time.
The defensive rating of Andrew Wiggins is the best it’s been in his career. It is still not very good (111), but it shows that he has improved — even if marginally — on the defensive end. With Wiggins guarding point guards, it would leave Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson prowling the passing lanes with Karl-Anthony Towns protecting the rim.
This change would leave Wiggins less exposed on D. It would also further aid a Minnesota team that is third in the league in steals per game.
Blitz the pick-and-roll
I mentioned that Minnesota is one of the best teams in the league in terms of forcing turnovers. They currently sport an opponent turnover percentage of 14.5, a figure that is good for ninth in the league.
Minnesota showed off that strength in their loss on Monday. They forced a Charlotte team that was No. 1 in the league in protecting the ball to commit 17 turnovers. They did this while using Thibodeau’s “ICE” system of guarding the pick-and-roll, which depends on the help defense being consistent.
The help defense has not been consistent in Minnesota this season. Imagine the Wolves’ ability to generate turnovers if they turned up the pressure.
Help KAT help himself
Per NBA.com, Minnesota’s defensive rating is 6.2 points better when Karl-Anthony Towns is off the floor, which shows how far the young big has to go on defense despite his improvements. Thibs needs to play to Towns’ strengths to make the defense better. Towns is a great shot-blocker, but his mobility is his true strength on D.
Towns is quick enough to be an elite help defender, but he often helps when doesn’t need to. Thibodeau can cash in on KAT’s aggressiveness by allowing him to double-team the ball-handler when the pick-and-roll targets him (which is often). Towns and Wiggins are targeted often — and with good reason — since teams shoot better when going at them.
Thibodeau acquired a several veterans this offseason. Butler, Gibson and Teague are long-armed defenders who can face a 4-on-3 situation during pick-and-roll blitzes. A defense that has defenders recover to specific areas rather than players would be very beneficial to a team that is caught out of position quite a bit on the weak side.
Rest of season outlook:
Eventually Wiggins and Towns will become great defenders. They have the athletic tools to do it. They also have the perfect coach for defensive growth as well. But barring dramatic change, the 2017-18 season will be full of defensive struggles up until playoff time.
Turning up the pressure will help Minnesota get out in transition. Despite being third in the league in steals, Minnesota is a bottom-10 transition offense. This is unacceptable with so many lethal finishers on the roster.
Thibodeau needs to mix up his pick-and-roll coverage, and start to treat Wiggins as if he is a defensive stopper right now. Hiding Wiggins on the weakest offensive player on the floor contributes to him getting complacent on defense. It is time for trail by fire for the Timberwolves’ young duo.
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Minnesota’s defense is steadily improving, but they need to have an attack mindset on defense to close out games on the road, where they are currently 5-5.