Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 keys to series vs. Rockets
2. Andrew Wiggins
Taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, many projected Andrew Wiggins to be the next great superstar, capable of dominating the game on both ends of the floor.
With a career average of 19.7 points per game in four seasons, Wiggins certainly doesn’t qualify as a bust, but he hasn’t exactly lived up the lofty expectations that were set for him on draft night.
Many point to Wiggins’ lack of contributions outside scoring, citing his career 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game as signals that the 23-year-old needs to figure out how to affect the game in other ways, including his defense.
Live Feed
Dunking with Wolves
With length and athleticism, Wiggins was projected as an elite defender from day one. While his win shares on the defensive end have increased tremendously this past season, in no small part of the tutelage of Jimmy Butler, Wiggins still has worlds to go if he wants to be considered elite at that end.
As the third option on the team, Wiggins doesn’t always have the ball in his hands. There are stretches where he’s nothing more than a spot-up shooter, standing in the corner and waiting for the ball to get swung his way.
This, however, doesn’t give him the excuse to fade into the background.
Against a team like the Houston Rockets, Minnesota is going to need all the contributions it can get on both sides of the floor.
Wiggins might not be given the opportunity to score as much as he’d like, but there are other ways to help a team win.
As an athletic specimen, Wiggins would be an excellent slasher, drawing in the defense to make room for others. He should challenge himself to lock down his opponent, as well as crash the defensive glass on every possession.
In Towns and Butler, the Wolves already have guys that can get them a bucket when called upon. What they need is a guy who can fill in the gaps that change on a game-to-game basis. Wiggins definitely has that type of potential, and if he can unlock it during this series, Minnesota can make things more difficult for the Rockets.