Seventeen games into last season, a clear rebuilding year, the Minnesota Timberwolves were 8-9.
Seventeen games into this season, one that came with not-so-subtle playoff hopes, the Timberwolves are 5-12, their optimism fading fast.
Frustration reached fever pitch within the Minnesota locker room following Monday night’s loss to the Utah Jazz. Everyone from head coach Tom Thibodeau, to cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns, to reserve point guard Tyus Jones was not happy, per Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune:
After another loss caused by another fourth-quarter break down on defense, the Wolves were clearly frustrated, starting with coach Tom Thibodeau.
“When you’re out-rebounded, you’re fouling recklessly, not protecting the basket, your weak side has no awareness of what’s going on, it’s not acceptable,’’ Thibodeau said.
After another loss caused by another fourth-quarter break down on defense, the Wolves were clearly frustrated, starting with coach Tom Thibodeau.
“When you’re out-rebounded, you’re fouling recklessly, not protecting the basket, your weak side has no awareness of what’s going on, it’s not acceptable,’’ Thibodeau said.
That frustration was felt in the locker room two. By Ricky Rubio, who sat and watched in the fourth quarter again, with Tyus Jones playing all 12 minutes. By Karl-Anthony Towns, who again tried to take all the blame for the team’s woes. By Andrew Wiggins, who said the team keeps making the same defensive mistakes. “The message is getting through,’’ he said. “But it’s different from saying something to actually doing it.’’
Defense has been a concern for the Timberwolves all year, a reality that’s been hard coming to grips with knowing Thibodeau is manning their sidelines. But Minnesota ranks 24th in points allowed per 100 possessions and gets much worse late in games.
According to NBA.com, the Timberwolves have the second-worst third-quarter defense in the league. Though they pick things up overall in the fourth, their crunch-time defense is one of the Association’s absolute worst.
Third quarters have been a disaster on both sides for the Timberwolves, and their offense isn’t anything special in crunch time. But they’re hovering around the top 10 in points scored per 100 possessions despite those struggles down the stretch. Putting together stops on a more consistent basis is clearly the more pressing priority.
Only then will the Timberwolves register as the threat they were supposed to be.
