Why Are The Timberwolves So Good At Defense?
Who cares about Halloween when you have basketball to watch? Last night we had a lot going on, from Cade Cunningham making his long-awaited NBA debut to _. I broke all of that down and more. Let’s get into it.
Boston Celtics (112) vs Washington Wizards (115) – Double OT
This game was WILD. There was no shooting, tough defense, and the game went to double overtime. What more could you want in a game?
The Washington Wizards eventually prevailed thanks to big plays down the stretch from Spencer Dinwiddie and KCP, of all people. The Wizards narrowly edged the Celtics, who in all seriousness, should have won this game.
Does this mean I have to compliment the Wizards? ugh.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have not gotten off to the best start. When they win, it’s because Tatum and Brown both play excellent the help around them is good enough.
But when they lose, it’s frustrating. If one of Tatum or Brown struggles, it’s hard for them to stay in games. It was even harder in this game without Marcus Smart and Robert Williams on the floor.
The Celtics are now 2-4 on the season and just like last year, they seem to be treading water. Having Evan Fournier right now would be incredibly helpful.
Shooting Helps, You Know?
The Celtics shooting was horrendous in this game. Overall, this team lacks gunners from deep and that problem was exemplified in this abomination of something that’s supposed to be easy nowadays.
In the first half, the Celtics shot 0/15 from the 3-PT line. Most of them were good looks, but it was frustrating to see the Celtics keep shooting from outside. Bad shooting can’t be compounded by more bad shooting, you have to try and attack the basket.
But even with that bad shooting, the Celtics trailed by just 6 at halftime. But the poor shooting wasn’t over just yet. The Celtics did shoot fewer 3’s in the 2nd half, but they were just 2/11 overall.
If you were keeping track at home, the Celtics shot 2/26 from the 3-PT line. That’s just 8%, the type of shooting that takes you out of games. The Celtics need more shooting and they have some options.
They drafted Aaron Nesmith in the lottery last year because of his shooting prowess. He ended last season strong, shooting 38% from 3 in 28 games after the All-Star break last season. Why is he getting DNP’s when you lack depth? I certainly like Nesmith over Romeo Langford, Enes Kanter, and Jabari Parker, all of whom got minutes in this game.
Make it make sense, Ime.
Jayson Tatum Is Frustrating
Jayson Tatum has all the talent in the world. He’s a big, bruising forward who is an elite perimeter scorer and shot-creator. Tatum can score from all over the floor, is a good defender, and is developing as a play-maker. That description of Tatum is sparkling, but he is easily the most frustrating player in the NBA.
When he has things going, he’s unstoppable. But Tatum just doesn’t seem to know how to get out of his own way. It’s like he’s trying to make things tougher for himself when he doesn’t have to. When Tatum has things going, the Celtics win. When he doesn’t, the Celtics lose. It’s as simple as that.
Jayson Tatum In Wins & Losses In 2022
Wins (2): 36.0 points – 8.0 rebounds – 5.0 assists – 63% TS – 44% 3-PT – 10/11 FT
Losses (4): 22.0 points – 9.8 rebounds – 41% TS – 15/21 FT – 16% 3-PT
When the Celtics win, it’s because Tatum is more aggressive. His outside shots are falling, but he’s still relentlessly attacking the rim and creating havoc for opposing defenses. In the Celtics’ two wins, he has shot a combined 23 three-pointers. In their 4 losses, he has shot a combined 32 three-pointers.
Something has to click in Tatum’s mind that he has to be more aggressive and stop settling, especially when he’s not shooting well. He has become an All-Star when he’s aggressive, but for whatever reason, he’s hesitant to fully lean into what makes him a great player.
And the Celtics are paying the price because of it.
This season might be eerily similar to last season for the Celtics. Their roster has two excellent All-Stars with some good role players, but they’re not good enough to be consistent. I thought they would be better than the Bulls, but the Bulls look much better than Boston. The Hornets have looked better, heck, so have the 76ers.
The Celtics roster lacks veterans, they lack depth, and they lack shot-creating outside of their All-Stars. The Celtics will be driven by their stars this season and that’s not a good thing. Their lack of depth is because they want Bradley Beal next season. But given how the Wizards have started this season, are we sure that Beal wants to leave?
Washington Wizards
How are they 5-1?
It’s a question I’m still asking myself, but somehow, someway, whatever they’re doing is working. I thought they would be near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and Bradley Beal would be on his way out. But, albeit in just 6 games, they seem lively.
Their new coach, Wes Unseld Jr, knows what he’s doing and the team has looked pretty good this season. Does that mean that everything I said this offseason is now wrong?
Damn it.
They Need More Shooting
Remember what I said about this game? How it had a lot of bad shooting? The same thing applies to the Wizards, who were by no means any better than the Celtics were shooting the ball in this game.
The Wizards finished the game shooting just 28% from 3 (10/36). While that is 3x better than the Celtics in terms of percentage, the Wizards should have made a lot more.
They had so many wide-open looks and they just failed to convert them. I’m primarily looking at Davis Bertans when I say that. Bertans was supposed to be this team’s long-range sniper, but it just hasn’t worked out that way.
Bertans was given an $80 million contract extension, right before the 2020-21 season. The year prior, Bertans had a career year shooting the ball. But it was the first time in his career he had ever given that type of production. In the two years since signing that 5-year deal, the contract has looked worse by the day.
Bertans went from shooting 42% from 3 in 2020 to shooting 39% over the past two seasons. His minutes have dropped in each of the last two seasons, as without his elite shooting, there isn’t a reason for him to be on the floor.
Without Bertans giving the Wizards any scoring, there aren’t many other shooters. KCP is decent, rookie Corey Kispert hasn’t played much, Aaron Holiday isn’t much of a shooter and neither is Raul Neto. Bradley Beal and Spencer Dinwiddie like to score in the mid-range more.
This season, the Wizards rank 21st in 3-PM per game and 16th in percentage. If they want to get better, they’re going to need more shooting.
The New Additions Are…B- Good?
The Washington Wizards added a lot of new rotational players this offseason, mostly veterans. I didn’t expect much from them for a variety of reasons, but they have all performed much better than I have expected them to. Time for me to eat my words.
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma isn’t bad or anything, but he fell out of favor in LA due to his lack of growth. He doesn’t provide much other than scoring, so when he’s not scoring, you get the point. Kuzma was expected to be the role player of the future for the Lakers when he signed that 3-year extension before the 2020-21 season.
But after he was shipped off to Washington just one year later, it seemed like he would never live up to the hype that he showed as a rookie. But he’s looked pretty good to start this season;
15.5 points – 11.8 rebounds – 50% TS
Again, I don’t think Kuzma is anything special. But I do think he’s going to enjoy playing well for a team that wants him.
But it’s still fun to make fun of him, sometimes.
Montrezl Harrell
Ever since the NBA postponed its season in March of 2020 due to Covid, Harrell’s career path has been very interesting. He joined the Clippers late in the bubble due to the tragic death of his grandma. Harrell won 6th Man of the Year in the Bubble, a big achievement for the former 2nd round pick.
But he was a big reason the Clippers collapsed in the playoffs, due to his horrendous defense. He then went to the Lakers for the 2021 season and his flaws continued to show. His numbers regressed across the board and he played just 39 minutes against the Phoenix Suns.
Then the Lakers shipped him off to Washington, where he’s now turning his career around. I’m still trying to wrap my head around this one. Harrell’s intensity and inside scoring has never been a problem, but he’s looked like a very passable option for the Wizards;
19.3 points – 10.2 rebounds – 3.2 ORB – 61% FG
I can’t tell you if what the Wizards are doing is sustainable. They haven’t played great teams yet, their shooting is suspect, and I don’t love their depth.
But even with all of those problems, they are off to a 5-1 start. I don’t know what to make of the Wizards, but it will be interesting to see if they can keep up this level of play for the entire season.
Cade Cunningham Makes His Debut
It’s time. Cade Cunningham, the #1 overall pick in the draft, made his debut with the Detroit Pistons last night. The Pistons haven’t exactly been good without him, but now they become exciting. Cade marks the start of a new era in Detroit, as they try and relive the glory days of the late 1980s and early 2000s.
But not all eras exactly start with a bang. Cunningham only played 19 minutes in this game, as the Pistons look to ease him back from that ankle injury that kept him out to start the season.
In those 19 minutes, Cade was nothing special. He shot just 1/8 from the field and 0/5 from 3-PT range. Cunningham’s jumpers were good looks, but most of them were short. His one basket was a nice drive to the rim, showing you that great balance between size and quickness. But while he didn’t score the ball well, Cunningham did the other things well.
That’s what separates him from Jalen Green. He can create for others. Cunningham’s two assists were things of beauty. With the shot-clock winding down, he fired a full-court pass to Saddiq Bey for a 3-pointer. His 2nd assist came in transition. He slowed himself down and just dumped it off to Isaiah Stewart for an easy dunk.
Cunningham also grabbed 7 rebounds on the night. So while he didn’t score well, he still made an impact. Cunningham isn’t going to play a whole lot for the next few games, as the Pistons don’t want him to reinjure that ankle. But Cade will get better with time as he gets adjusted to the NBA.
The key with Cade is to be patient. There’s a reason he went #1 overall. You saw some good flashes in this game and by the end of the year, he’ll be fully unleashed and helping the Pistons embark into the future.
I’m Still Right About The Minnesota Timberwolves
Look, the Timberwolves should have beaten the Denver Nuggets last night. They led by 14 in the first half and they were rolling. But Denver came back and the T-Wolves went ice cold in the 4th quarter (38% FG). The T-Wolves had a chance to win the game, but then this happened;
Absolute madness is right. It was a great play by Barton and Anthony Edwards just had an awkward angle. Nothing you can do about that. While it’s a tough loss, I’m glad I picked the T-Wolves to make the play-in game. Most had them under the Pelicans (lol), Kings, and even teams like the Rockets.
But the T-Wolves have looked good to start this season. While we all expected them to be an explosive offense led by KAT, Edwards, and D-Lo, their defense has been surprisingly good this season.
Defense?
Going into this season, I certainly didn’t expect the T-Wolves to be an elite defense. They did add Taurean Prince and Patrick Beverley, two good defenders. They already had versatile wings in Jaden McDaniels and Jarred (why two r’s?) Vanderbilt. Josh Okogie is a great perimeter.
But an elite defense? No way. Right?
Minnesota’s Defense In 2022
98.4 Defensive Rating (4th)
41.4 Opponent FG% (3rd)
27.7 Opponent 3-PT% (2nd)
20.2 Opponent Turnovers (1st)
10.8 Steals (4th)
7.4 Blocks (2nd)
17.2 Deflections Per Game (4th)
1.2 Charges Drawn (2nd)
Yeah, that’s a lot. The T-Wolves, through 5 games, have been one of the best defenses in the NBA. They are shutting down opposing offenses. They are forcing turnovers, being active in the passing lanes, and they are a stout defensive team. I think the addition of Patrick Beverley has a lot to do with this. Watching him being a pest is sure to rub off on other guys.
The T-Wolves have also had some guys playing very good individual defense. DBPM (defensive box plus-minus) is a great defensive stat that shows you who is playing great defense. 0 is average and having a negative DBPM is bad. Having something above 1 is excellent.
The T-Wolves have a lot of guys with a DBPM over one;
- Josh Okogie might not be an offensive weapon, but has a 2.6 DBPM.
- Jarred Vanderbilt had a 1.7 DBPM, a continuation of his defense from last season.
- Karl-Anthony Towns has a career high 1.4 DBPM this season.
- Patrick Beverley has a career high 3.6 DBPM this season, as he’s returning to his All-Defensive first team form.
Guys like Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell aren’t good defenders. But these 4 guys, in particular, are playing stellar defense and covering them up. This leads to the T-Wolves being incredibly good defensively, which is something I did not think I would be saying at any point this season.
The T-Wolves currently sit at a solid 3-2 record. They are talented, have a deep roster, and a good coach. I trust their offense and their defense is (apparently) elite. They’re going to be a fun team to watch this season.
Utah Jazz (99) vs Chicago Bulls (107)
This was a good game. The Jazz have been rolling to start the season and so have the Bulls. While the Jazz are essentially the same team from last season, the Bulls are brand new. The newer model won the race in this game.
The Bulls got out to an early lead, the Jazz’s defense was poor and they couldn’t make shots. The Bulls controlled the game and outplayed the Jazz for most of the night, finally getting that statement win they’ve been looking for. It’s also another opportunity to talk about my dislike of the Jazz.
This should be fun.
Utah Jazz
Look Jazz fans, it’s nothing against the players on your team. I like the players on your team, but I just don’t think you’re that good. The lack of perimeter defenders and the over-reliance on the 3-PT shot plus your All-Stars isn’t a winning formula.
That’s not to say the Jazz aren’t good. They are, but I just don’t view them as highly as I do with other teams. This game was a microcosm of that.
Mike Conley Is More Valuable Than You Think
Mike Conley didn’t play in this game and the Jazz scored their lowest point total of the season. Is that a coincidence? No.
Conley, the ageless wonder, has gotten himself a career renaissance with the Jazz. Conley was an All-Star last year, as his combination of elite shooting and playmaking made him the ideal point guard for the Jazz. It’s been more of the same this year.
While Conley’s numbers have dipped early on in the season thus far, he’s still valuable to the Jazz and you saw that in this game. The Jazz shot just 38% from the field and had just 15 assists, which is unusual for them. The Jazz pass the ball a lot, but without Conley, the Jazz became a more isolation-centric team.
Having Conley gives them a floor general. A veteran who can control the game and settle things down if need be. The Jazz missed Conley for nearly all of the 2nd round last year against the Clippers and you saw what happened after they got punched in the mouth.
Jazz Offense W/ Mike Conley: 113.5 ORtg
Jazz Offense W/O Mike Conley: 109.9 ORtg
Jazz AST% W/ Mike Conley: 56%
Jazz AST% W/O Mike Conley: 39.6%
I think that sums things up pretty well.
Is Donovan Mitchell’s Slow Start A Sign Of Things To Come?
Donovan Mitchell’s slow start hasn’t affected the Jazz, but it’s certainly not a great sign that their leading scorer is shooting this poorly from the field. Mitchell improved greatly as a 3-PT shooter last season, but he’s off to a slow start this season.
Mitchell is still a great player and I think he’ll be fine, but does he have to start every single season like this?
22.0 points – 5.2 assists – 3.6 turnovers – 50% TS
ugh, get those numbers off my screen. The good news? This very same thing happened last year when Mitchell broke out and had the best year of his career
Donovan Mitchell’s First 6 Games In 2021
20.2 points – 5.3 assists – 3.3 turnovers – 48% TS
Notice any similarities. In a few weeks, I’m sure we’ll all be talking about how good Mitchell is playing and forget about this whole slump thing.
I still don’t like you Utah.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls started the season very well with their new additions. But after a close loss to the Knicks and a season-altering injury to Patrick Williams, how would the Bulls respond?
It would have been easy for them to slump, or slow down. Instead? They beat one of the best teams in basketball, handily.
The Bench Has Some Wrinkles
With Coby White out to start the season, I wondered where the bench production would come from? I always liked guys like Alex Caruso and even Javonte Green, but the Bulls needed more than that to win. That notion was intensified by the injury to Patrick Williams.
In this game, you saw a lot of other guys get minutes. It worked.
Derrick Jones Jr, who they acquired in a trade, played his first major minutes of the season. He had 3 blocks in 19 minutes was a +18 when he was on the floor. Jones provides some good defense and should offer similar defensive assignments that Patrick Williams had.
Tony Bradley was signed to be a backup for Nikola Vucevic and he too saw his major minutes of the season. He played 13 minutes and recorded two blocks. He was a +19 when he was on the floor. Bradley offers some much-needed size-down low for the Bulls.
2nd round pick Ayo Dosunmu also made his major splash with the Bulls. Dosunmu is a talented scorer and was a +17 in 20 minutes of action.
All 3 of these guys will be getting more minutes now and they all looked great in this game. Other guys like Alize Johnson and Troy Brown Jr. should also expect a boost in minutes with the injury to Williams.
The Bulls are going to have to platoon to make up for Williams’ role. While they don’t have anybody as talented as him, there are a lot of guys than give them good minutes down low. The Bulls did a good job covering up for Williams in this game.
Now the question is, can they do this for the rest of the season?
Hey, This DeMar Guy Is Pretty Good
Nobody liked the DeMar DeRozan signing. I liked it more than most, but I was surprised to see the poor reception. Sure, DeRozan isn’t like most superstars in the NBA nowadays. He’s boring, doesn’t shoot 3’s, and isn’t a very flashy player.
But he’s been on-point to start this season and he was excellent in this game. Next to Lavine, he’s their 2nd option offensively and he’s already fit in nicely.
Against Utah, DeRozan was lethal in the mid-range. He kept attacking Eric Paschall, getting into the lane, and just drilling contested shot after shot. The Jazz played good defense, but it just didn’t matter.
DeRozan didn’t hit a shot farther than 20 feet away from the basket and finished with 32 points on 59% shooting.
And people said he wasn’t going to be good.
I think that the Bulls are onto something. Even with the injury to P-Will, they are a deep team. They showed they have the depth to overcome that problem and looked good against a very good Jazz team.
Their new additions are shining, the defense looks good, everything is lining up for this team. The Bulls are back!
What Are Your Thoughts From Last Nights Games? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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