Timberwolves’ Lineup Shake-Up: The Magic Bullet for Success?
The Minnesota Timberwolves have made a significant change to their starting lineup, and it’s already showing promising results.
After a disappointing loss to the Detroit Pistons last Saturday, head coach Chris Finch told the media that there was no “magic bullet” to the team’s current struggles and that if he thought changing the starting lineup would make a drastic difference, he would have done it already. But by the time Monday night rolled around, Finch had decided to shake things up by moving Mike Conley to the bench and inserting Donte DiVincenzo into the starting five for the Wolves’ home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Timberwolves won on Monday, and then again on Tuesday night in New Orleans. While it’s too early to declare it a definitive success, one of the clear early benefits of the new rotation is the allowance for more flexibility and potentially more advantageous player combinations throughout the game.
More Lineups with Both Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert is a Good Thing
One of the key benefits of this change is the ability to stagger Mike Conley and Julius Randle’s minutes. The pairing of Conley and Randle has struggled this season, with their lineups ranking in the 47th percentile overall and a dismal 29th percentile offensively. By bringing Conley off the bench, Finch can maximize his effectiveness by pairing him with Rudy Gobert, a combination that has historically been successful.
The new rotation also allows Conley to be more of a primary initiator when he’s on the court, rather than being the third option behind Randle and Anthony Edwards in the starting lineup. This adjustment puts Conley in a more comfortable role and potentially unlocks more of his playmaking abilities.
Another interesting development is the emergence of an unexpected lineup featuring DiVincenzo, Alexander-Walker, Josh Minott, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid. Despite limited playing time together, this unit has shown promise, ranking in the 97th percentile offensively and 75th percentile defensively.
As the Timberwolves continue to experiment with their rotations, it will be crucial for Finch to find the right balance and maximize the strengths of each player combination. The team’s ability to adapt and find successful lineup combinations could be a key factor in their success moving forward.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ lineup changes, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
• Preview of the upcoming Timberwolves vs. Magic matchup
• Analysis of the Orlando Magic’s season and recent injuries
• Discussion on the importance of limiting turnovers against the Magic’s defense
