Minnesota professional sports teams have not always had the best luck in the regular season or the playoffs. Whether it is due to injuries, the coaching, or the roster, they have yet to become a consistent threat. This year, the Minnesota Timberwolves have had an unexpectedly successful season as they have been consistently ranked one of the top teams in the West Conference, much different than last year.
The Minnesota Timberwolves ended their 2023-24 season with a record of 42 wins and 40 losses leaving them ranked 8th in the West going into the postseason. This year their record is currently 52 wins and 23 losses, and they are consistently being ranked the first, second, or third team in the West.
In my opinion, the main difference between this season and the last season that has assisted their success is the defense. Although there is no doubt that the offense has played a key role with Anthony Edwards averaging 26 points per game, Mike Conley averaging six assists per game, and their ability to out-perform their opponents in the 3rd quarter, the defense has greatly influenced countless of their games. The Wolves have consistently been ranked as the top defensive team in both the East and the West Conferences combined due to their ability to hold many teams under 100 (allowing an average of 106.2 per game).
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I think that the main components of the defensive success have been Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Anthony Edwards, and many of the subs. Jaden McDaniels guards the highest threat of the opposing team every game and almost averages a steal a game. Rudy Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner (2018, 2019, 2021) and averages over 2 blocks per game. Anthony Edwards is a defensive threat averaging 1.3 steals per game. Every game, all of the subs come in with high energy and pressure. Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker come off the bench and both average roughly one steal per game.
Another main component in my opinion is the home crowd. Most athletes can agree that the more hype the fans are, the greater the game feels. The Timberwolves historically do not have a top crowd in attendance compared to other programs, but this year the fans have had more of a spark. One specific moment I witnessed in person that showed the increased love for the game and the players was “Naz Reid Towel Night”. As Naz Reid is a crowd favorite, this marketing choice drew in countless fans as they offered a free Naz Reid towel to the first 15,000 fans in attendance. A highlight of the night was when all of the fans proudly held up their Naz Reid towels chanting his name. These home game experiences have assisted the Wolves in a 27-10 home court record versus their 22-19 record last year.
Even though the Wolves’ track record does not favor their odds as they have never won an NBA title, I still believe that this could be their year and that they are a top-ten team in their likelihood of taking the trophy home.