Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 keys to series vs. Rockets

4. Bench steps up

Another key aspect of Houston’s greatness is its bench. Armed with scorers in Eric Gordon and Gerald Green, defenders in P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute and a big man in Nene, the Rockets bench unit could probably compete with about one-third of the league.

Ranking dead last in bench scoring, the Wolves rely heavily on their starters to produce, making it very difficult to wins games if they’re struggling.

The weird thing is, Minnesota’s bench isn’t devoid of talent. Jamal Crawford is a professional bucket-getter. Tyus Jones has turned into a serviceable floor general. Gorgui Dieng can provide some good minutes.

What makes Minnesota’s bench struggle is its inability to get consistent minutes.

Tom Thibodeau loves to play his starters as much as possible, as Butler, Towns, and Wiggins all rank in the top 15 in total minutes played. This means that fewer minutes go to guys like Crawford and Jones, making it harder for them to get into a rhythm when they’re only playing four or five minutes at a time.

One could argue that Thibodeau should look to rely more on his second unit in the playoffs, but as a coach who hasn’t seemed to adapt in ways other coaches have, he’s not likely to budge at a time when most rotations are being shortened.

While easier said than done, Minnesota’s bench has to find ways to contribute in the limited minutes they’re given. With Houston’s ability to produce off the pine, a flailing bench for the Wolves would put even more pressure on their starters, and they already have plenty to deal with.