Ben Beecken here, the host of the daily Locked On Wolves podcast, with your daily Locked On Wolves newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wolves and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Bench Mob continues to impress + more Josh Minott, please
Timberwolves’ Bench Trio Shines: A Deep Dive into Minnesota’s Dominant Second Unit
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench unit has been a force to be reckoned with this season, led by the impressive trio of Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dante DiVincenzo. Despite individual ups and downs, their collective impact on the court has been nothing short of remarkable.
The Sum is Better than the Parts When it Comes to Wolves’ Bench Mob
Alexander-Walker has been the standout performer, exceeding expectations and delivering more than anyone else on the roster relative to his role. Reid, while experiencing a slightly rockier start compared to last season’s Sixth Man of the Year campaign, has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly on the defensive end. DiVincenzo, on the other hand, has struggled to replicate his success from last year with the Knicks, falling short of expectations in terms of three-point shooting and overall production.
However, when these three players share the court, the results are outstanding. According to Cleaning the Glass, lineups featuring Reid, Alexander-Walker, and DiVincenzo are in the 95th percentile league-wide, boasting a plus-12.8 net rating across 800 possessions. Their defensive prowess is particularly noteworthy, ranking in the 98th percentile and allowing just 102.1 points per 100 possessions.
The most effective lineup featuring this trio includes Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, posting an impressive plus-29.7 net rating in 174 possessions. This unit excels on both ends of the floor, ranking in the 66th percentile offensively and the 97th percentile defensively.
Josh Minott’s Impact and a Plea for More Minott Minutes
Another player making waves is Josh Minott, whose limited minutes have yielded impressive results. Lineups featuring Minott have performed at a 96th percentile rate, with a plus-13.4 net rating. His versatility, athleticism, and energy have drawn comparisons to Kyle Anderson’s role from last season, albeit with a more athletic twist.
Minott’s ability to contribute in various ways, from offensive rebounding to perimeter defense, makes a strong case for increased playing time. His presence on the court could provide the Timberwolves with the connective tissue and Swiss Army knife-like qualities (we miss you, SloMo) that have been missing at times this season.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ rotation dynamics, 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. Rockets game
• Analysis of the Houston Rockets’ recent performance and strengths
• Discussion on potential lineup adjustments for the Timberwolves
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) talk before the game at Chase Center. | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The ‘Things NBA fans get themselves worked up about’ category got a new entry this month, and it reached a fever pitch over the Christmas Day slate of games —ratings. Specifically, broadcast ratings.
It’s a subject Commissioner Adam Silver is often asked about in his pressers, especially those that precede the NBA’s tent-pole events like the In-Season Tournament, All-Star Weekend, the Finals, and Summer League. It also comes up around the annual Board of Governors meeting in early September. It makes sense for Silver to talk about it, given that he’s the league Commissioner, and because he’s been at the helm for broadcast contract negotiations and renegotiations. If this is all making your eyes cross, good, that helps to prove my point.
Silver, team owners, and broadcast executives are the only people who should care about the NBA’s broadcast ratings. It’s their job. Whether numbers are up or down should be of no concern to fans, casual or die-hard, because they ultimately have no bearing on the viewing experience, nor is it up to fans to “fix” anything.
Traditionally, this would’ve been self-evident, but in the contemporary era of fandom — especially NBA fandom — there’s a desire to critique and cosplay as team or league executives. Everything from down to the decimal point salary analysis in trade machinations, on-court performance and ways to improve athlete “production”, concerns for whether front offices are over-spending (they’re billionaires, they can afford it), and now, worries over marketing of the league.
Broadcast ratings are just one metric. The decline in “traditional” television ratings has more to do with how younger fans find and interact with basketball than with some phantom threat of malaise or disinterest. Cable is expensive, and younger audiences almost exclusively stream their sports. Case in point ESPN’s announcement on Christmas Day of an 84% spike in viewership, a day when many, many people head to their family home and have cable television to watch and plenty of free time on their hands.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Timberwolves face the Rockets tonight, aiming to continue their strong performance. Key players to watch include Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, who will be crucial in maintaining team momentum. Full preview.
Roster Julius Randle is adjusting to his new role with the Timberwolves, embracing the challenges and opportunities it brings. His versatility is expected to add depth to the team. More details(Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Donte DiVincenzo may need more minutes and shots to maximize his impact with the Timberwolves. Strategically, his increased involvement could be beneficial for the team’s overall performance. In-depth analysis(Sports Illustrated)
Preview The Timberwolves will face off against the Rockets at the Toyota Center at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Friday, Dec. 27 | 7:00PM | Toyota Center, Houston, TX | Get Tickets
Spurs @ Timberwolves
Sunday, Dec. 29 | 7:00PM | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN | Get Tickets
Timberwolves @ Thunder
Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 7:00PM | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK | Get Tickets
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Christmas Day Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Spectacular: Must-Adds and Droppable Players
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (right) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
As we celebrate Christmas Day, it’s time for a fantasy basketball waiver wire spectacular. Let’s dive into the most added players, must-roster options, and those you can consider dropping.
The most added player over the last 48 hours is Trayce Jackson-Davis. With two solid games in a row and increased minutes, he’s a no-brainer add for now. Keep an eye on his playing time, as anything over 22 minutes makes him worth rostering.
Noah Clowney is another intriguing addition. His shooting has improved from his college days, and he’s getting significant minutes due to injuries. While I’m not sure he’ll provide top-70 value, he’s worth a look in most leagues.
When it comes to must-roster players (under 50% rostered on Yahoo), consider these options:
1. Goga Bitadze: Despite a recent ankle sprain and ejection, his floor has risen significantly.
2. Ben Simmons: Roster him now and worry about potential issues later.
3. Yves Missi: While I’m skeptical about his role when the Pelicans are fully healthy, he should be rostered for now.
4. Bilal Coulibaly: After a cold streak, he’s regained his form and confidence.
5. Ayo Dosunmu: Although I have limited faith in his long-term upside, he’s a must-roster player for the time being.
On the flip side, there are some players you can consider dropping. Remember, “droppable” doesn’t mean you must drop them, but rather that it’s acceptable to do so if needed. These include Gradey Dick, Dennis Schröder, Onyeka Okongwu, Rui Hachimura, Jaden McDaniels, and Jaden Ivey.
Looking at hot players, Larry Nance Jr. has been impressive lately, ranking 40th over the last week. While I don’t expect this to hold long-term, he’s worth rostering for now. Other notable hot players include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jake LaRavia, and Dean Wade.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Wolves podcasts.
Minnesota Timberwolves stage huge comeback but fall to Warriors after late defensive lapses The Minnesota Timberwolves spotted the Golden State Warriors a 22-point lead at the end of the first quarter but still managed to claw back, tying the game in the final frame. But late defensive lapses allowed Steph Curry to lead the Warriors to the victory as the Wolves continue to struggle with both slow starts to contests and late-game execution alike.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have one major area of regression on offense this season... The Minnesota Timberwolves have a mediocre offense so far this season, just as they did last year. However, there is one area in which they were among the NBA’s best last season and are struggling mightily this year. Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) breaks down what it is, and why it’s so important to the Wolves’ success.
Anthony Edwards drops 41, lifts Minnesota Timberwolves past the lowly Wizards The Minnesota Timberwolves started slow but eventually pulled away from the NBA’s worst team as Anthony Edwards dropped 41 points and the Wolves eventually put away the Washington Wizards.
