Timberwolves’ Offensive Struggles: The Corner Three Conundrum
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ offense has been a point of concern once again this season, but it’s not for the reasons you might expect. While turnovers continue to plague the team, there’s another area where they’ve regressed significantly from last year: corner three-point shooting.
Last season, the Timberwolves were a force to be reckoned with from the corners, shooting 41.3% and ranking fifth in the NBA. Fast forward to this year, and they’ve plummeted to 26th in the league, hitting just 36.1% of their corner threes.
Who Are the Primary Culprits of the Dip in Percentage?
The Julius Randle acquisition has played a significant role in the decline from the corners. While Randle has improved his overall three-point shooting to 35% this season, his corner three performance has been abysmal at 21.1% - a career-worst. Naz Reid, who was lights out from the corners last year at 41%, has also seen a dip to 34.5%. Jaden McDaniels’ regression from 36% to 29% on corner threes has further compounded the issue.
This decline in corner-three efficiency isn’t just about the numbers; it’s affecting the entire offensive scheme. The Timberwolves’ offense needs these corner shooters to create space and keep defenses honest. When players like Randle and Alexander-Walker aren’t hitting their shots, it allows opponents to further clog the paint, making life difficult for drivers and roll men alike.
The silver lining is that the Timberwolves are still excelling in other areas of three-point shooting. They rank fifth in the league in overall three-point percentage at 38.2%, largely due to their proficiency on above-the-break threes. Players like Mike Conley (41.5% from the corners) continue to provide much-needed spacing.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will need to address this corner-three issue if they want to elevate their offense to the next level. Whether it’s through further adjusting player rotations or potentially exploring trade options, finding a solution to their corner three woes could be the key to unlocking their full offensive potential.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ offensive strategies, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
• NBA Power Rankings: Timberwolves climb to 9th
• Preview of tonight’s Timberwolves vs. Warriors game
• Analysis of the Timberwolves’ clutch game performance
