The Timberwolves are still very demanding and attach great importance to defense. The defensive efficiency is ninth in the league. It is not as good at elite defense as last season, but it is still good enough. The three-point shooting percentage has increased to 378% in the past month, making it one of the league’s first three-pointers. DiVincenzo, Conley, and McDaniels gradually regained their three-point shooting, but the Timberwolves still couldn’t win the key game.
Many voices and ball commentators attributed the Timberwolves’ first war crime to forward Lando, believing that he held the ball for too long and played too individualistically, unable to integrate into the team and become a teammate. In addition, he likes to shoot three-pointers. Either it causes congestion in the interior and cannot open up space, or his style of play and outside shots are too demanding of the ball and cannot help the team.
I don’t see it that way at all.
Landau averaged 20.1 points and 7 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves this season, shooting 48% from the field and 367 from three-point range, both of which were quite good. He ranked first on the team in assists per game with 4.5 assists and averaged 5.5 free throws per game. He has the most teams, and he is not a defensive black hole. The Gray Wolves have a poor record and the team chemistry has not changed as expected. If we really want to find war criminals, the first three will not be able to turn to Lan Dao.
In the first six weeks of the season, the Timberwolves’ three main players, Conley, DiVincenzo, and McDaniels, all experienced significant gaps in shooting and three-point shooting, which was a major reason why the Timberwolves’ record was out of control. However, in the past four weeks, the shooting and game conditions of these three main players have gradually returned to the same level. The team’s three-point shooting percentage has also reached the first-line level of 3.78%. Edward, Walker, and Reed still have top offensive and defensive output. It is still difficult for the Gray Wolves to win. If you want to play football, you have to start changing it from the personnel combination, lineup adjustment and team.
The Timberwolves urgently need another key transaction to improve rotation efficiency and lineup configuration.
The Timberwolves have no salary space and lack the chips to impress the Heat in trading small forward Butler, but why not give it a try? The Timberwolves build a team around Edward, and there may be many changes that can be made by taking Butler.
Edward needs a veteran teammate, and everyone dislikes Butler, but the Timberwolves, who are 10th in the Western Conference, have no choice. A big gamble is the best opportunity to stop the decline and rebound.
