Overacting against the NBA preseason is a dangerous game. Ultimately, it’s a small sample size that means nothing in the long run. However, there may be some legitimate trends and takeaways, whether that’s the way marginal rotation/roster players are performing or a concerning trend that’s resurfacing.
Unfortunately for the Minnesota Timberwolves, one fear about their roster construction has already been confirmed. The Wolves’ point guard room is a major focus of their roster. The team’s decision-making has also plagued them in recent years.
In consecutive preseason games, the Wolves have scored more than 20 goals, including 23 against the New York Knicks on Thursday and 20 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Both games ended in overtime losses. For reference, the Utah Jazz’s 17.2 turnovers were the highest in the league last year.
Minnesota committed just 11 turnovers in the preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets, but back-to-back 20-plus turnover games should be a concern given the makeup of this roster.
Turnover issues are nothing new for the Wolves
Last season, the Wolves ranked 18th in turnover per game and 22nd in turnover per game. The year before, Minnesota ranked 22nd in turnovers per game. There was a concern that Wolves’ decision-making problems could worsen without Nickeil Alexander-Walker, something that now seems even more worrying.
Whether it’s not being able to navigate double teams, ill-advised passes or simply taking the ball away, this Wolves side struggles to take care of the ball. Again, it’s just two preseason games. However, these issues are similar to those of last year, and given the setup of the Wolves squad, it’s fair to say that turnover could be a real problem.
The Timberwolves’ turnover problems reflect their roster construction
The Wolves lack a guard who can organize the offense outside of soon-to-be 38-year-old Mike Conley. Granted, Conley didn’t play against the Knicks. Yet he did against the Pacers, and just looking at the roster lineup, you can assume this will be a key issue for the Timberwolves.
Rob Dillingham has some good playmaking skills, but the 20-year-old is still trying to learn how to run an NBA offense.
Anthony Edwards’ main flaw is playmaking, and it’s unclear if that will change this season. Notably, he had three turnovers and no assists during Thursday’s game. Throughout the match, Edwards struggled to get the right readings, especially when under pressure, which was a major problem for him.
Julius Randle is a skilled and versatile passer, but more of a point forward than a main distributor. Yet Randle himself occasionally makes mistakes in his decision-making. Donte DiVincenzo is a solid, connecting playmaker, but far from a lead guard. Naz Reid is an accomplished passer for his size, but again, he is not a lead decision maker. Likewise, Jaden McDaniels has made strides as a playmaker, but he is primarily a threat off the ball.
Another major issue is that Rudy Gobert’s hands have apparently gotten worse; in back-to-back games, he has committed five turnovers. The Wolves hope to get Gobert more involved, but that will be difficult if he can’t catch or control the ball.
While the Wolves have some talented playmakers, overall they don’t have a trusted decision-maker (other than Conley) who can help avoid these mistakes. Furthermore, given his age and declining skills as a scorer, Conley seems destined for a smaller role.
Even though it’s only two preseason games, it seems like the Wolves’ lack of playmaking and poor decision-making could hurt the team. If this issue continues into the regular season, a trade could be in the offing.
#preseason #Timberwolves #fatal #flaw #painfully #obvious