It was very similar to the product the Timberwolves produced at the start of the final frame six days prior to San Antonio.
Ball movement and energy lead to good shots and a good atmosphere in attack, which almost seems to inspire better defensive play.
“That’s the type of basketball we all want to try to play,” Wolves guard Mike Conley said.
It’s certainly the most effective edition, and apparently the one that brings the most cheer.
“I don’t know why we don’t always have it,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said of the joy his players showed early in the fourth quarter against the Clippers. “Sometimes we just get a little too caught up in our heads at the moment when things aren’t going well offensively, and that’s been one of our fatal mistakes over the last two years. If we forget that, make the right play and play the game in front of us with a little bit more pop, then it often works out really well.”
That’s the style of play that involves everyone and seems to offer the most opportunities for players like Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid – more than skilled goalscorers who thrive when opportunities arise organically.
“Just when the defense is broken, when (defenders) are trying to rotate, it’s easier for me to drive away the catch or make certain moves or do certain things,” said McDaniels, who scored 27 points in the win over the Clippers. Those points came on just thirteen field goal attempts. Reid scored 19 points on 7 for 11 shooting, including the game-winning triple in the final 15 seconds.
It’s no mistake that the shot came after three passes that threw the Los Angeles defense into turmoil and left Reid wide open in the corner.
“That was a big foul,” Reid said.
Indeed. But how can Minnesota bottle that on a more consistent basis? Because the first three quarters were the opposite. Slow offense where neither the ball nor bodies were moving, allowing the Clippers to stack their defense, but they saw fit to slow Minnesota down without penalty on the back end.
McDaniels was asked about any consistent themes from Minnesota’s current five-game winning streak, but couldn’t name any. How could he? The Wolves are Jekyll and Hyde and are currently working their way through every game on both ends of the floor.
It works in the meantime. But results from real content require a more consistent standard.
“I think it’s just a switch that just goes off,” Reid said. “(Saturday), Jaden got it going. Going into the fourth, we all kind of just followed suit. But there were things happening early in the game that needed to happen over a period of 48 minutes, instead of two quarters or a half.”
Mike Conley said Minnesota is the key to playing right out of the gate. Once the rhythm is established, it’s hard to stop. And life would be easier for players off the bench if they entered a match that is already being played in a strong attacking flow.
Boredom and complacency are the main culprits of Minnesota’s inconsistency this season, which stems from back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals.
But it’s hard to get bored when you’re having fun performing every night. Some styles of play are much more fun than others, as evidenced by the excitement the players showed in the fourth quarter on Saturday.
“Everybody’s eating. Everybody’s killing. Everybody’s excited,” Reid said of the ball-movement bonanza.
“We just share the ball with each other, everyone touches the ball in possession,” McDaniels said. “Miss or make, that’s a good possession when everyone touches the ball and everyone plays freely and with confidence.”
“Those of us who are a part of that know how much fun it is,” Conley said. “It’s a completely different game when we’re all active and involved. Whether you shoot or not, you just feel more energy.”
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