Timberwolves’ Early Season Insights: Overreactions and Key Matchups
As the NBA season kicks off, it’s tempting to jump to conclusions based on early performances. However, it’s crucial to remember that small sample sizes can often lead to misleading narratives. Let’s explore some intriguing statistics and what they might mean (and what they might not mean) for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Fun with Small Sample Sizes
In the first few games, the Timberwolves have shown a fascinating trend: six out of nine players are attempting more than half of their shots from beyond the arc. Julius Randle, who is shooting an impressive 62.5% from deep to this point, is one of the three players (along with Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels) who are shooting more twos than threes. While it’s early, it’s a noteworthy development nonetheless.
Last season, the Timberwolves led the league in 3-point percentage. So far this year, they’re fourth. Their three-point attempt rate has also skyrocketed, ranking second in the league after sitting in the middle of the pack for most of last season. This shift in strategy could be a game-changer if sustained throughout the season.
Matchup Against the Denver Nuggets
The Timberwolves face a challenging matchup against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The key question is how to defend Nikola Jokic, a player who has consistently posed problems for opponents. Historically, Karl-Anthony Towns has been effective against Jokic, but with Towns no longer around, the responsibility may fall on Randle or Naz Reid. Jokic’s ability to both score and facilitate — a true pick-your-poison situation — makes him a truly impossible cover, and the Timberwolves will be back to the drawing board without KAT in the fold.
The Nuggets have undergone some changes of their own, with key players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson no longer on the roster. In their place, Denver has added Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. These changes have negatively impacted their depth, but that simply won’t matter if Jokic goes supernova.
Both teams enter the matchup with a 2-2 record, having faced different challenges early in the season. The Timberwolves need to show resilience and bounce back from a tough loss to the Mavericks, while the Nuggets are coming off a pair of road overtime wins on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ early season performance and strategies, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
- Analysis of Anthony Edwards’ shooting trends and free throw performance
- A look at the Timberwolves’ rotation and player usage
- Discussion on the impact of offseason changes for both the Timberwolves and Nuggets
- Preview of upcoming games and key matchups to watch
