The Timberwolves at the All-Star Break

At the All-Star Break  -- 
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2018.html


What the Wolves are good at:


1) Playing Games -- 61 games, most in the league


2) 2 Point shots -- 4th best overall % for all FG, 8th in 2Pt %


3) Assisting - 6th


4) Scoring Points - 4th, also 3rd in Offensive Rating


5) Steals - 2nd most steals, allowed the 2nd least.


6)  Turning the ball over -- we never do (4th best) and our opponents always do (we force the most)


7) Free Throws -- shoot the second most, make the most, shoot the third best percentage.


8) Free throw "defense" - allow the 10th least, opponents shoot the 23rd best %.






What the Wolves are "just OK" at


9) Rebounding - we are 14th, opponents are 9th


10) Blocks - we are 19th, opponents ate 15th.






What The Wolves Suck At.


ANYTHING to do with actual defense


11) FG% allowed - next to worst


12) 3 Point Defense -- allow the most attempts, the second most makes and the 8th best %


13) 2 point defense - last in 2 point % defense


14) Assists allowed -- second most allowed.


15) Points allowed -- next to worst, also 26th in Defensive Rating




Unusual Style of Play


Despite having many athletic players they can rely upon for offense, the Wolves have play at the 8th slowest pace of play in the league.


Despite being the absolute worst defenders versus the two-point shot (allow almost 54%) the Wolves still outscore their opponents from two-point range....and by a LOT:


Wolves' Total Points -- 6694 -- 4,054 points on 2s, 1446 points on 3s and 1194 points on FTs


Wolves' Opponents -- 6515 -- 3568 on 2s, 2019 on 3s, 928 points on FTs.




So every game the Wolves are


1) Outscored on threes by 9.3 points
2) Ahead on 2s by 8 points
3) Overcome that deficit by scoring 4.4 more points at the line. 




21 games to go.