Jonah Maves

1 week ago | zonecoverage.com | Jonah Maves

It’s hard for rookies to get minutes under Chris Finch. The Minnesota Timberwolves have a talented roster. Still, throughout the grind of the regular season, it was difficult for Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. to get consistent opportunities. Still, Finch called Shannon’s name when the Timberwolves needed a change of pace off the bench in their Western Conference Finals matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Finch briefly experimented with Jaylen Clark as the ninth man in the rotation.

2 weeks ago | zonecoverage.com | Jonah Maves

The Minnesota Timberwolves shot a playoff-high 51 three-point attempts (3PA) in their Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. According to tracking data, 39 of those shots were quantified as “open” 3PA. The Timberwolves only made 11 of their open 3PA. Ultimately, rotational role players Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Donte DiVincenzo shot just 4 for 24 on their open threes.

3 weeks ago | zonecoverage.com | Jonah Maves

A mid-season injury changed everything for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Right when they turned a corner with their retooled roster, winning 5 games in a row in mid-January, Julius Randle came up gingerly after an overextended layup early in the second quarter against the Utah Jazz. Randle suffered a groin strain, an injury that would ultimately force him to miss the entire month of February.

4 weeks ago | zonecoverage.com | Jonah Maves

The Minnesota Timberwolves have one of the league’s most well-rounded guard rooms in the NBA. Among the starters, veteran Mike Conley is a consistent presence of balance, and the budding superstar Anthony Edwards can get a bucket at will. However, Minnesota’s primary bench options, 3-and-D specialist Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the three-point marksman Donte DiVincenzo, have unlocked an abundance of lineup flexibility throughout the season.

1 month ago | zonecoverage.com | Jonah Maves

Finding impact players off the bench in the NBA playoffs is difficult. Head coaches rely upon their best players and series lineup fits to give their team the best chance to win. Therefore, when a bench player has a slow start to begin a series or does not match up well with the opponent, their minutes are often in jeopardy. Naz Reid is last season’s Sixth Man of the Year award winner, but he can’t always find a way to make an impact every night.