Timberwolves 2023: Consistency, Experience, Playoff Potential
How the 2023-’24 Timberwolves’ Consistency and Experience Set Them Apart from Past Teams and Elevate Their Playoff Potential
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A lack of focus. Inconsistency. Lethargy. These are typically common descriptors for Timberwolves teams of the past, even the better versions since 2004. The 2018 playoff team, for instance, finished 47-35 but barely squeaked into the eighth seed in part because they played down to inferior teams. Take a look:
2018 Record versus teams <.500 record overall: 24-10
2018 Record versus Western Conference teams <.500 record: 18-4 (They were also 4-0 versus the Clippers who did not make the playoffs but had a winning record)
2018 Record versus Eastern Conference teams <.500 record: 6-6
2018 Record versus Eastern Conference teams with a <.500 record on the road: 1-5
What can we learn from this? Every game matters when you’re good and though they were a 17-24 team on the road, they were 30-11 at Target Center that year. Considering the Timberwolves needed Game 82 to beat the Nuggets and clinch a playoff berth, every game matters when you are trying to win. Their 34 wins versus the West tied for second-most for Western Conference teams, yet struggled against 25-win teams in the East on the road. In 2018, two games separated the eighth seed from the third seed; converting just two or three of those wins could have sent them from the fringes of the playoffs to host a first-round series.
This Team Is Quite Literally, Built Differently
Fast forward to 2023-’24, and the first-place Minnesota Timberwolves just handed the three-win Memphis Grizzlies a 119-97 defeat on Sunday. This is a game that the 2018 team could very well have dropped. That is the contrast between this team and other recent versions: they don’t play with their food.
On October 30, the Timberwolves lost in Atlanta to a Hawks team they led 86-65 with nine minutes in the third quarter. Over the final 19 minutes of the game, the Hawks outscored the Wolves by 40 in what is inarguably the worst loss of the season. The Hawks are fine and it’s not that they lost to them, but how.
Since that embarrassing defeat, the Timberwolves have lost twice: a schedule loss in Phoenix and a home loss in which Sacramento came firing out of the gate with no Jaden McDaniels for Minnesota. These were respectable losses. There appears to be a night-in, night-out focus with this team and have consistently handled the teams they should. Even their last-second victory over the Pelicans, they could have tried coasting with no Zion Williamson but overcame adversity to hold on to the victory.
A Thrilling Blend Of Youth And Experience
Yet, when they have lost these games, it does not feel like the wheels could come off of the whole thing. So far this season, the Timberwolves are 4-0 in games after losses. That is the type of short memory that teams need to have. A lot of the conversation about the composition of this team is about whether they are younger or older. While they are tied for 20th in average team age, this core does have two playoff runs under their belts. They have had to play in higher stakes games with their season on the line and responded. Losing to a few playoff-caliber teams early in the season is something this team can handle with the amount of experience they have already gathered.
This team may be on the younger side but they do have two playoff runs of postseason experience. If you are looking for something that could separate them from the current holder of second place in the West and Minnesota’s Tuesday opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, that experience could be it. The Thunder are young, talented and making way in the conference, but these Timberwolves are a year or two ahead. That isn’t to say the Timberwolves will beat the Thunder, but young talent and experience can carry a team a good way in this league.
Seasons Are Made Or Broken On The Margins
How far this team can go will rely on this team sustaining its home record, yes, but also in how they win winnable games like Sunday. The 2018 team could not do that and went from narrowly missing home-court advantage in the first round to a first-round meeting with the 65-win Rockets. When matchups can make such a difference, putting themselves in the best position by winning the games they should is crucial.
The season is long and while this team is off to arguably the best-case start to the season, it will take focus to go into Washington or Chicago in January and February and take care of business. Banking the wins they can is a must. Regardless, it is clear that this Timberwolves team may have a floor as the second-best in franchise history if they continue this level of consistency.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING my Guy!!!
On paper Friday was respectable, but they looked like CRAP the entire game... Sloppy, disengaged and just not smart.... Too much turkey perhaps? The score was not indicative if how badly they got stomped... I know that there will be clunkers in the season, but man, of all the games to not get up for?
We were there for my Son's 13th birthday (!!!). Mune hooked us up with some awesome court side pre-game access. Still the best in the biz and I'll ride with the Wolves regardless of how good they are solely because of him!