MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES SCOUTING REPORT
SCREEN/ROLL COVERAGE
REPORT
Number One Defensive Team in The NBA as well as Number One at Defending the Screen/Roll. They do a fantastic job of pressuring the ball and getting into the ball handler. The Funnel everything to Gorbert. Gorbert is Game Time Decision with an ankle issue, which changes their shot blocking and rim protection, but their other bigs do a very good job at going vertical at the rim as well as positioning themselves off of the ball. Conley, Edwards, McDaniels get into the body, show hands, and are disciplined when it comes to staying on their feet. They entice you to over dribble and go 1 and out with 1 pass shots. Teams shoot less than 40% against them in screen/roll and if it is going to be an ISO fest with no movement then they will beat you guys by 40. The ball has to move, direct straight line drives to the paint for pull ups, shots at the rim, or kick outs to ball mat good shots are needed to stay in this one. Naz Reid does a very good job staying in front and contesting shots. Towns is actually improved with his defensive focus, which is a big turn around as a month ago he didn’t give much of a shit.
SCORING ON THEM IN SCREEN ROLL
REPORT
Scoring on these motherfuckers is no easy task. They don’t flinch for anyone as you need to be very disciplined and very deliberate when attacking them in screen/roll. With Gobert you either have to set screens deeper out and pull him away from the basket forcing him to chase, or you have to roll Vic hard to the rim and force Gobert to keep him in front of him to open up pull ups/floaters. Hard drive and kicks in screen/roll will help. Guards that keep their dribble and probe/attack to find lanes can score on them at times but they dont give up. They rotate well on the weak side as well forcing to tough contested shots. You have to attack and force them on their heels and make a read. When Towns is the 5 you have to attack the rim. He is better with effort, but is still very much a non shot blocking threat. You need to continue to attack and be aggressive. I think there will be pull ups, floaters, and finishes at the rim for you depending on situation and personnel. Get Gobert away from the rim and continue to change speeds and keep them guessing. If Vic rolls hard and gets Gobert to back on his heels to open up your floater/finishes.
OPENINGS FOR 3 POINT SHOTS
REPORT
There’s no secret plan to get 3’s in this league. The ball has to move, you have to screen, and there needs to be paint attacks. This team is polarizing defensively , but can be scored on especially from deep. If you can attack them, especially multiple times to get them moving there will be opportunities. In transition you can get some looks on the catch sprinting corners and wings as well as off of the dribble. You’ll get opportunities, just keep engaged ready to shoot and hunt great ones.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES PERSONNEL REPORT
MIKE CONLEY
LAST 10 GAME STATS
GAMES PLAYED 10
PTS | 9.6 | REB | 3.4 | AST | 5.9 |
FG% | 44.4% | FT% | 90.9% | 3PT% | 46.8% |
MINS | 27.5 | 3PT | 2.3 | 3PTA | 5.2 |
TO'S | 1.2 | A/TO | 4.9 | USAGE | 14.7 |
SHOT CHART
FILM
OFFENSE
REPORT
Expect Screen Rolls/Spot Ups. Shooting 44% from 3PT They run him off flares frequently especially split action on post entries to Towns so be aware of that. He is hot shooting the ball from anywhere, just a steady player. Finishes at 68% at the rim which is pretty high. Doesn’t get there a ton, but very effective when he does. Assist/TO is at 5.72 2nd best in the NBA at that category. Gets a lot of action off the ball spotting up off of Edwards/Towns. They move the ball well and he usually does most of this damage with that. You have to pressure him 94 feet and wear him down. When defenders give him space and play off of him he can do a lot of damage. I would pressure him and wear him down over the course of the game. Don’t let him get comfortable. Even though he isn’t a huge offensive player for them he is big with being an efficient catch shoot player/driver. He does make plays for others and if you can get him out of rhythm by doing something that teams don’t usually do and pressure him, that could be a game changer.
TURNOVERS
REPORT
Conley turning the ball over is a rarity, averaging 1.1 TO’s a game and an Assist/TO Ratio of 5.8. Only chance of him making a mistake is pressuring the hell out of him and having active hands. Wear him down so he constantly is having you close to him taking away space. Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.
ANTHONY EDWARDS
LAST 10 GAME STATS
GAMES PLAYED 10
PTS | 28.2 | REB | 6.1 | AST | 5.0 |
FG% | 48.8% | FT% | 70.7% | 3PT% | 36.7% |
MINS | 35.3 | 3PT | 2.6 | 3PTA | 6.7 |
TO'S | 2.2 | A/TO | 2.3 | USAGE | 32.1 |
SHOT CHART
FILM
OFFENSE
REPORT
Heavy ISO/Screen Roll offensive player. Scores from everywhere on the floor. Loves to drive and spin so be aware of that. Aggressive scorer, shooting 38% from 3PT and finishing at 63% at the rim. Stay down on his fakes and stay on his hip. Initiates contact on drives as he is 3rd in the NBA at his position at getting to the free throw line at 6.8 times per game. Efficient scorer shooting almost 47% from he field. Don’t give him easy looks everything contested and do not leave your feet. Just play solid contest everything and don’t send him to the line. Got to consistently show your hands and frustrate him with pressure. Drives left considerably more than he drives right.
TURNOVERS
REPORT
Averages 3.2 Turnovers a game. Loose with the ball at times. You can get steals/deflections on his spins as he exposes the ball. Keep him dribbling and don’t give him space in screen rolls. He will turn the ball over but you need to pressure him, show hands at all times, and stay on your feet. The longer he dribbles around for looking for a driving lane the higher % that there will be a mistake/turnover.
JADEN MCDANIELS
LAST 10 GAME STATS
GAMES PLAYED 10
PTS | 8.4 | REB | 2.4 | AST | 1.6 |
FG% | 43.6% | FT% | 85.7% | 3PT% | 27.8% |
MINS | 27.9 | 3PT | 1.2 | 3PTA | 3.4 |
TO'S | 1.8 | A/TO | 0.9 | USAGE | 15.6 |
SHOT CHART
FILM
OFFENSE
REPORT
Spot up Player/Straight line driver. Shooting 35% from 3PT, but you can’t leave him open especially in the corners. Solid finisher at 68% at the rim. Looking to initiate contact on drives so show hands immediately. Likes to cut so keep an eye out when off ball on the weak side. Gets out in transition. High End athlete, not a great ball handler. Not a high usage player but very active. Stay down on fakes don’t give him an advantage to set hi drives up that goes for jabs as well. Stay solid.
TURNOVERS
REPORT
Not a strong ball handler. Give him pressure and some swipes at the ball on his drives to frustrate him. The more he tries to become creative and dribble the ball the higher chance of turnover. He is good driving in straight line direct drives but struggles with being creative. Doesn’t turn the ball over a ton, just have to know where to attack him.
MONTE MORRIS
LAST 10 GAME STATS
GAMES PLAYED 8
PTS | 4.6 | REB | 1.6 | AST | 1.9 |
FG% | 38.1% | FT% | 100% | 3PT% | 20.0% |
MINS | 13.8 | 3PT | 0.5 | 3PTA | 2.3 |
TO'S | 0.3 | A/TO | 6.3 | USAGE | 18.8 |
SHOT CHART
FILM
OFFENSE
REPORT
Spot up/screen roll player. Not a big part of their offense just spots up and shoots or straight line drives. Doesn’t have an elite skill, just a solid backup point guard . Mid range player for the most part pop up jump shooter on screen roll, average finisher.Acquired at trade deadline still working his way into being consistent for them. Struggling shooting the ball. Play him straight, just be solid contest shots and stay on your feet. Not very athletic more of an off the ball player for them.
NICKEIL ALEXANDER-WALKER
LAST 10 GAME STATS
GAMES PLAYED 10
PTS | 7.9 | REB | 2.6 | AST | 2.1 |
FG% | 40.6% | FT% | 100% | 3PT% | 38.1% |
MINS | 22.3 | 3PT | 1.5 | 3PTA | 3.9 |
TO'S | 1.1 | A/TO | 1.9 | USAGE | 13.9 |
SHOT CHART
FILM
OFFENSE
REPORT
Mostly a spot up player. Good shooting from the corners, especially the right one. Average finisher, but more of a spot up 3PT threat or straight line driver. Contest his shots and be solid. They don’t run a lot to him, but need to know where he is off the ball for drive kick 3PT shots to him. Shooting 37% from 3PT. He likes to fake so stay down , DO NOT LEAVE YOUR FEET, force him to shoot contested spot ups.
TURNOVERS
REPORT
Not a strong ball handler. You can get some strips from him. Force him to dribble the ball more and he can turn it over. Not a huge turnover guy averaging 1 a game, but the more he tries to be creative and you take space away the more he will throw it away and make mistakes.
JORDAN MCLAUGHLIN
LAST 10 GAME STATS
GAMES PLAYED 8
PTS | 1.6 | REB | 1.3 | AST | 1.4 |
FG% | 25.0% | FT% | 50.0% | 3PT% | 40.0% |
MINS | 7.6 | 3PT | 0.5 | 3PTA | 1.3 |
TO'S | 0.1 | A/TO | 14.0 | USAGE | 13.6 |
SHOT CHART
FILM
OFFENSE
REPORT
Inconsistently used. Mostly a spot up player, can make open shots. Doesn’t try to do too much. Not much of an offensive threat can get them into the offense and spot up off the ball. Spot up player, mid range driver.
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