Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-23 Season Preview
Adding Gobert will lock down the defense, but the fit on offense could be interesting.
Welcome to the 2022-23 previews for every NBA team! These breakdowns are designed to look at stats, film & anything I found interesting in my preparation for the upcoming NBA season.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
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Stats
Net Rating: +3.2 (10th)
Offensive Rating: 114.7 (7th)
Good
Minnesota was a fantastic offensive-rebounding team, and that should only be bolstered by Gobert’s addition. The Timberwolves ranked 7th in the NBA in OREB%, and with the pairing of KAT & Gobert, Gobert should spend more time around the rim like the early years in Utah. The first 5-6 years of Gobert’s time in Utah when he was paired with players like Favors, he ranked consistently int he 90th percentile for OREB%.
Ok
Their shooting frequency and shot profile is essentially perfect for modern NBA basketball. Most of their looks are attempting to come from 3 or the rim, and less mid-range.
Ugly
Minnesota did have some turnover issues and I have some concerns that might become a bigger issue than last year. The players with the lowest turnovers are no longer with the team (Beverly/Beasley..etc.) and adding Gobert to the lineup won’t help with ball security with both him and KAT ranking in the 24th & 38th percentiles for TOV%.
Defensive Rating: 111.6 (13th)
Good
Minnesota’s aggressive defensive scheme paid off in the form of turnovers, ranking 2nd in the NBA in defensive TOV%. Part of this was because of their trapping scheme and the other was the use of their length. I anticipate this will be reduced with the addition of Gobert, but I think there will be lineups where the Timberwolves can still wreak havoc.
Bad
Allowing teams to shoot 66% at the rim had the Timberwolves ranked 18th in the NBA, so Gobert’s biggest impact might be seen here since Gobert is an elite, if not one of the best ever, rim protector.
Ugly
The Timberwolves were 29th in both allowing offensive rebounds and fouling. That is a brutal combination (enhanced by their aggressive scheme), that leads to having poor defensive performances.
Film
Flip Angle
A quick flip into a ballscreen works so well because the initial hand off allows for two things: 1) a reject without a dribble & 2) makes it tougher to execute a coverage such as ICE.
Creating this movement can force the defense into miscommunications and allows for guards to get downhill.
Horns Out Punch KAT
Not a complex design for a post up look, but this is a good counter off of the normal Horns Out entry the Timberwolves run.
They have KAT set the initial screen at the elbow and for the player to catch it on the wing.
KAT then rolls into the post and they look to get him the ball.
Delay Zoom
2-Man game is one of the ways the Timberwolves under Finch get creative looks and with using KAT as the handler, it became it more deadly.
It will be interesting to see how often and what this looks like with Gobert/KAT pairing on the court, but with KAT’s ability to pick and pop it can create other issues for the defense.
21 Speed
In early offense the 21/Flare action is the most common look, where a guard sets a screen on the wing and then comes off a flare screen from the big in the middle of the floor.
The Timberwolves tweak this by having the player who sets the step up screen roll directly to the rim looking for a quick hitter.
As he rolls the big chases into a ballscreen, just like the basic 21 action.
Horns Exit
A creative way to “Short” the pick and roll out of Horns, the Timberwolves send the opposite elbow diving to the rim when the big sets the pick and roll.
When the opposite elbow dives he clears and goes off an Exit screen on the baseline, as the roller to the rim can be open when they short the ballscreen.
Horns Flare 5
A special for KAT & shooting bigs, the guard comes off the initial ballscreen from the big looking for a shot.
Then KAT comes off a flare screen from the opposite elbow, typically from another guard or wing creating some real questions for the defense.
If they are playing drop, then KAT can be open off the flare screen, and if they stay on KAT they risk a downhill scoring opportunity.
Miami Elbow Quick (ATO)
I originally saw this action with the Warriors & KD in 2018, but this play is so much fun.
When the ball is handed off to the wing, there is a fake ballscreen look setting up a pass to the elbow.
When it hits the elbow the passer then screens down for the corner and allow the players to make reads.
If you liked this breakdown feel free to share it & if you have any other scenarios, plays, or thoughts on any future breakdowns let me know in the comments below!
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Basketball Playbooks | Coaching Clinics | Coaching Membership | Newsletter
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5-Out Breakdowns | Space & Pace Clinic | NCAA “Delay” Series Playbook
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Coach Pyper