The Minnesota Timberwolves loved one of many best seasons in franchise historical past final yr, successful 56 video games and advancing to the Western Convention Finals. The Wolves had been seen as a younger and ascendant crew behind 23-year-old famous person Anthony Edwards, however with a giant luxurious tax invoice mounting, Minnesota determined to commerce franchise pillar Karl-Anthony Cities to the New York Knicks simply days earlier than coaching camp.
The Wolves had been all the time going to be completely different this yr with out Cities. Up to now, this new model of Minnesota stays a significant work in progress.
The lowly Toronto Raptors beat the Wolves, 110-105, on Thursday night time. The loss drops Minnesota to 8-7 total. If the season ended immediately, the Wolves had been get the ultimate spot within the play-in event because the No. 10 seed within the West.
The Wolves had been No. 1 in defensive effectivity final yr as they tore by the West within the common season. This yr, they’re outdoors the top-10 (No. 11, per basketball-reference). The offense is improved over final yr for the time being, however it’s nonetheless battling turnovers. On the whole, Minnesota is missing a little bit of cohesion and chemistry with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo coming over within the commerce for Cities, and it performed out in two viral moments within the loss to Toronto.
With 5 minutes left within the fourth quarter of a tie sport, Rudy Gobert established a deep seal in opposition to Toronto’s Scottie Barnes within the paint. This was an ideal alternative for an entry go, however Randle selected to not ship it. Gobert slowly walked out of the paint and received referred to as for a three-seconds, leading to a Wolves turnover. Edwards was upset at how slowly Gobert was shifting. You’ll be able to see the frustration on everybody’s faces throughout this sequence.
Tied 95-95.
Julius Randle refuses to go the ball to Rudy Gobert.
Gobert barely walks out of the lane when he would not get the ball. Defensive 3 seconds name and Anthony Edwards will get pissed.pic.twitter.com/PJzw7DPnSc
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) November 22, 2024
As Toronto went down on the opposite finish of the courtroom, Gobert hit Barnes with a foul, leading to two made free throws for the Raptors.
With Toronto’s win just about in hand within the ultimate seconds, Randle got here down for Minnesota’s ultimate possession and fired a tough and low go to Gobert out of frustration. It certain felt like Randle was attempting to point out up Gobert for complaining about not getting the go earlier.
There was all the time going to be spacing issues with the Randle-Gobert entrance courtroom. The pairing has truly been actually good for the Wolves statistically thus far: with Randle and Gobert each on the courtroom, Minnesota has a +6.22 net-rating, per PBP stats. That’s significantly better than the quantity with both or each off the ground.
Nonetheless, discovering chemistry within the NBA takes time, particularly once you take away a star participant like Cities from an incredible crew final yr. This yr’s Wolves are nonetheless discovering their footing, and slipping a bit on the defensive finish offers them far room for error. Gobert has rubbed each teammates and opponents the incorrect means for a very long time, and it certain looks like him and Randle are nonetheless ironing out the small print of their partnership.
Wolves followers had been upset after the sport:
We’ll see how this performs out, however that’s a textbook efficiency that ought to set off a gamers solely assembly.
Criticize the coaches all you need, however grown adults making $30 million performing like kids on the courtroom is past embarrassing.
Kyle Anderson rolling over in his grave.
— Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) November 22, 2024
Gobert misplaced them this sport. Loads of issues went incorrect and this Wolves crew is just not a superb one however you throw your toys out of the cot in an necessary second of a sport and that is the shit that occurs. Shouldn’t have seen the ground after it.
— Jake Paynting (@HowlsAndGrowls_) November 22, 2024
The Wolves aren’t the one crew struggling to stay as much as excessive expectations this yr. The crew that beat them within the Western Convention Finals, the Dallas Mavericks, are additionally solely 8-7 and now dealing with a wrist harm to Luka Doncic. Within the Eat, the Philadelphia 76ers are someway the worst crew within the league, and the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t been significantly better.
It’s solely Nov., and there’s nonetheless a whole lot of time for the Wolves to search out their groove. There’s clearly going to be some rising pains alongside the way in which.
