3 reasons the Minnesota Timberwolves need to push the pace

1. They have the personnel to do it

If your team is going to play up-tempo, you ideally need three main components: a point guard who can play with pace, multiple wing scorers and a big man who can run the floor. Check, check, and super check. Tom Thibodeau has run a somewhat pedestrian offense in Minnesota in Year 2, but with better personnel.

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In Teague, Crawford, and Andrew Wiggins, Thibodeau has three players who excel in an more up-and-down style of play. All of the T-Wolves guards, down to Tyus Jones and Aaron Brooks, would function well in an up-tempo system.

Minnesota’s first through seventh scoring options are within six percent of each other in terms of usage percentage. If Thibodeau’s offense is going to be this egalitarian, then he might as well maximize the number of possessions at their disposal.

Jimmy Butler’s free throw rate has decreased from 54 percent last year with the Chicago Bulls to 32 percent with Minnesota. Of course, playing with more talented teammates means less touches, but his free throw rate dipping 22 percent is a red flag early on in the season. What I see is Taj Gibson and Towns taking up most of the space that would be Butler’s driving lanes.

Installing a quicker pace means Butler getting to attack early with actions like drag screens from Gibson. This would allow Butler to do his work on offense early in the shot clock. It would also result in fewer forced shots by Teague and Wiggins, as they could get their looks within the flow of the offense, rather than isolation plays.