Alex Bader
BADER'S TAKE
Time for rebuild #345,235?
After a 3-1 start to the season that had fans thinking this year would be different, It wouldn't. The Timberwolves showed their fans that nothing has changed by going 1-7 in their last eight games. After 12 games played, they sit in 12th place, at 4-8.
How much more can fans take?
It is like this Timberwolves team is on a plane that is on fire and nose-diving into the ground, and they are playing hot-potato with the parachutes.
They ended their six-game skid against the Lakers with a dominant performance on Friday. However, they reverted to their old ways and considered the one win good enough and they completely failed to show up against the Clippers the following day.
They have found a way to win a game, but now need to find consistency in their offense.
Karl Anthony Towns is supposed to be the leader, the captain, the guy to look to when the team is struggling.
He has been a fraud and a phony so far this year. He is getting paid $31 million to play this year, but where is he?
He is in his seventh year of the NBA and should be showing the skill and consistency that he is being paid for.
There are no more excuses for him, he needs to step it up.
He had a great shooting night against the Lakers and was a huge reason for why the Wolves got the win to end their losing streak. He was efficient and strong on the boards, he came to play.
However, Saturday against the Clippers, KAT looked like he has all season so far - invisible. He looked disengaged and that set the tone for the rest of the team. He looked frustrated with the lack of touches he was getting.
He was getting bodied by Winslow and Batum in the post, he is too big to let that happen.
D'Angelo Russel has also looked horrible in the early going of the season and looked completely uninspired against the Warriors and Clippers.
He got completely outshined on Wednesday by Wiggins against the Warriors cementing what many believe to be a trade win by the Warriors.
He took 16 shots to get 15 points on Saturday against the Clippers.
DLO is another star that the Wolves need to step up, instead, he did virtually nothing and brought zero intensity to the game on Saturday.
He has brought very little so far this season.
Anthony Edwards is only in his second season, he still has to grow and learn. He needs to learn how to be consistent with his shot but also needs to learn how to prioritize the team instead of his own play.
He nearly dropped 40 against the Warriors, but then had only nine points against the Lakers. He then dropped 21 points against the Clippers and was arguably the best player on the floor for the Wolves.
We need to give him some benefit of the doubt because he is young and the fate of the franchise cannot be solely on his shoulders. The future can be ANT but he is not ready yet.
KAT and DLO need to carry the franchise. They are the ones being paid the big $, they need to step up.
ANT will play his hardest almost every single game. He always brings the intensity and urgency - even if he is making some poor decisions and his shot isn't falling - he still will bring the tenacity.
Something that KAT and DLO need to learn how to do on a nightly basis.
Is it time for a rebuild again?
No. There is no need to tank this season and go for another lottery pick. The Wolves should go all in for the playoffs. Here is why;
Still early - the season is still early and the Wolves still have 70 games to play, a lot can change during that time. They need to get it right sooner than later to prove that they are a different Wolves team
They have shown moments of greatness - they have beaten the Bucks and the lakers. They can win games but they need to be consistent.
This team has talent - ANT, DLO, and KAT are all very talented players. They have strong depth in Beverly, Beasley, Reid, Vanderbilt, Okogie, and others. They have the talent as individuals, it just comes down to them playing as a team and putting it together. With all the criticism the players are getting so far, the coaching staff should also be criticized for their performance. They need to find a way to get the offense working. The Wolves could have the best talent in the world but with the wrong system, they would still be a bad team.
"That's been the battle all year," said Coach Finch. "We just haven't all clicked at once, for one reason or another.
'Trade KAT'
No, KAT isn't the only problem and so it would be stupid to trade away KAT when this team has several issues on their doorstep.
Say what you will, but KAT still is one of the best bigs in the league.
However, I will say that if KAT wants to start winning, it all starts with him. He sets the tone and the team follows his lead no matter if it is positive or negative, we saw this against the Lakers and the Clippers. He needs to stop complaining to refs about calls, he needs to get into the post and use his body and stop shooting the stupid threes.
A trade would be hard as well since KAT is a max salary player, there would be very few teams even able to make a trade and fewer that would want to at this time.
I think that ANT should become the face of the franchise but like I said earlier, he just isn't ready and could benefit from learning without having the pressure of the franchise on his shoulders. He wants to win more than KAT, and brings more energy and intensity to the game.
In the long run, the Wolves should decide to make ANT the face of their franchise and move on from KAT after his contract expires in 2024. But for the time being they need to make it work with their current big 3.
Will they be a playoff team or will they be a lottery draft team again?
Those are questions that will get answered as the season continues.
If they want to be a playoff team, they need to fix their problems NOW. The Coaches need to start figuring out how to work an offensive with KAT, ANT, and DLO. The players need to be consistent in their shooting and make sure they are making smart basketball plays.
Finally, they need to finish out games when they have the lead. Too many times this season they have had the lead in the third and fourth quarter but failed to finish the game.
If they fail at these things and continue to lose games they will be in a dark, yet all too familiar place.
It all starts tonight, when the Wolves face off against the Suns at Target Center.
Minnesota failed to win a single game on their last home-stand. If the Timberwolves are to get back into the good gracious hearts of the fans, they will need to come to play and put on a stellar performance against last year's runner-ups.
If they don't, well I am unsure how much more pain this fan base can take.
Can you name a more toxic relationship than the Timberwolves and their fans? Comment if you can!
Comment your thoughts on the Wolves! Will they turn it around or is it time for another rebuild?
What's Next:
Minnesota (4-8) vs. Phoenix (9-3) at the Target Center Tonight, November 15th. Tip-off at 7 p. m.
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