NBA Preview Series: Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Year
40-42 (17th in NBA)
OFF: 105.6 (10th)
DEF: 104.1 (14th)
NET: 1.3 (13th)

Projected Rotation (Projected WS/48)

Starters
PG - Ricky Rubio (.096)
SG - Kevin Martin (.130)
SF - Andrew Wiggins (-)
PF - Thaddeus Young (.091)
C - Nikola Pekovic (.168)

Reserves
SF - Corey Brewer (.096)
C - Gorgui Dieng (.120)
PF - Anthony Bennett (.000)
SF - Chase Budinger (.072)
PG - Mo Williams (.062)

Quick Thoughts:
The Timberwolves were actually a pretty good team last season, finishing with a Pythagorean record of 48-34, but they had two fatal flaws. While their starting lineup was one of the most productive in the league when healthy, their bench was one of the worst. In fact, the only team with a bigger difference in net rating between their starting lineup and their bench was Golden State (according to NBA.com).

Unit	ORtg	DRtg	NRtg
Starters	108.5	104.2	4.3
Bench	99.4	104.0	-4.6
Difference	9.1	0.2	8.9

It's no coincidence then that Minnesota was one of the best first quarter teams in the league. However, for whatever reason, they really struggled finishing games. No team in the league had a bigger difference in their 1st half/2nd half splits. 

Half	ORtg	DRtg	NRtg
1st Half	108.3	102.1	6.2
2nd Half	102.6	106.0	-3.4
Difference	5.7	-3.9	9.6

Of course, none of this really matters now that Kevin Love is gone. But there is a foundation of talent in Minnesota that doesn't usually exist on rebuilding teams. With the additional young talent injected into the roster through the Love trade, it won't be long before the Timberwolves are competitive again.

Player to Watch: Gorgui Dieng
It's a shame Dieng didn't come along a few years earlier, because he is an ideal fit next to Kevin Love. He's an elite rebounder who also flashed potential as the rim protector Love has never had next to him. Offensively, he operates mostly around the painted area, where he took 80% of his shot attempts. Now, with Love gone and Thaddeus Young and Anthony Bennett eating up the power forward minutes, Dieng will act mostly as a backup to Pekovic. 


Basketball-Reference.com Play Index:
How many players have had a two-point field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage less than 40% in their first three seasons (minimum 3000 minutes)?

Rk	Player	G	FG%	2P%	3P%	WS
1	Ricky Rubio	180	.368	.380	.323	10.9
2	Lindsey Hunter	204	.377	.381	.368	2.9
3	Daequan Cook	179	.368	.378	.358	1.9
4	Anthony Johnson	182	.380	.393	.310	1.8
5	Keith McLeod	152	.349	.371	.262	1.1
6	Bryce Drew	154	.379	.388	.363	0.9
7	Mark Macon	166	.385	.393	.130	-0.7
8	Junior Harrington	140	.371	.381	.274	-0.9
9	Adam Morrison	161	.373	.391	.331	-1.4

While Rubio is by far the best player on this list, it's not an inspiring list for his future.


Next up, the Atlanta Hawks