Early signs of dominant Timberwolves 5-man lineup combinations

We have talked exhaustively about how one of many greatest strengths of the Timberwolves is depth that can enable them to provide situationally-dominant lineups whether or not they’re in want of a bucket or a defensive cease, and we’re already seeing early indicators of success in that space.

It is two video games, so clearly take the whole lot with a grain of salt, however the five-man lineup mixture that includes Donte DiVincenzo, Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert has been machine-like.

These 5 have performed a grand complete of eight minutes collectively in two video games and so they boast an offensive ranking of 170.6 and a defensive ranking of 66.7. That is a internet ranking of 103.9, which is freaking absurd. How absurd? The following-best internet ranking for a five-man lineup mixture that has a minimum of eight minutes collectively on the courtroom this season belongs to Orlando at 72.1.

That five-man lineup was on the courtroom for 4:15 collectively Thursday night time and so they outscored Sacramento 18-1 and held the Kings to 0-of-8 capturing within the Wolves’ two-point win.

What’s humorous and extra telling of how dominant Minnesota is perhaps as soon as they gel all the new items is that the third-highest internet ranking for a five-man lineup combo with a minimum of eight minutes performed collectively belongs to DiVincenzo, Edwards, Alexander-Walker, Reid and Julius Randle. These 5 have a internet ranking of fifty.5 in 12 minutes collectively.

Once more, it is means too quickly to come back to any conclusions, however the Timberwolves are displaying indicators of utmost lineup flexibility and a capability to be prolific on each ends of the courtroom. Alexander-Walker’s robust two-game begin to the season has been an enormous a part of the puzzle for Chris Finch.

Much more spectacular is that DiVincenzo hasn’t shot the ball properly. He is 3 of 14 from 3-point vary. As soon as he will get going, these five-man lineup combos might be terrifying for the opposition. Granted, Randle (6 of 9), Alexander-Walker (6 of 9) and Reid (6 of 11) aren’t going to proceed capturing the lights out on 3-pointers. On the flip facet, Edwards is barely capturing 40.8% total and that quantity is undoubtedly going to rise.

The underside line right here is that Minnesota can put 4 and even 5 succesful 3-point shooters on the ground on the similar time with out experiencing main letdowns on the defensive finish. They’re extraordinarily harmful and that is just the start of what might be probably the most thrilling season in Timberwolves historical past.

As Edwards stated within the Netflix sequence, “buckle the (expletive) up.”