The Timberwolves are off to a fast start this season (4-2) on the backs of their two young stars Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, back-to-back No. 1 overall picks now wreaking havoc on opponents.
Wiggins, the first pick of the Cavaliers last season before he was traded to Minnesota as the centerpiece of a Kevin Love deal, is averaging 19.8 points and learned valuable lessons while he carried the Wolves as a 19-year-old rookie. Wiggins has scored 30-plus points in back-to-back games, improved as a 3-point shooter, and most importantly has help now.
Towns, a 7-foot athletic marvel, doesn’t have to worry about carrying the team on his shoulders. Wiggins can already do that, freeing Towns to be a double-double machine. The rookie is averaging 15 points and 10 boards while instantly becoming an elite rim protector (three blocks per game). And while both are putting up impressive scoring figures on a nightly basis, their common denominator is defense.
Wiggins’ defensive numbers aren’t particularly impressive because of the nature of his position and assignments. He was a teenager last year tasked with shutting down the likes of James Harden and Kevin Durant.
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He gave them fits at times, but at the end of the day MVP candidates going up against rookies will get theirs, even if it’s not efficient. Towns has been a revelation, posting a 21.6 PER through Minnesota’s first six games (league average is 15). It’s early, but Towns is just 0.3 off the leader in that category, Pistons center Andre Drummond.
The play of these two has Minnesota thinking playoffs, and drawing comparisons to the Thunder, who rose more quickly than anyone expected behind Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka. For the Wolves, that third piece is guard Zach LaVine, the reigning NBA Dunk champ.
LaVine’s minutes have been limited; he’s only playing 18.2 minutes, but in that time he’s averaged 8.7 points and four assists. For the time being, veteran Kevin Martin and his 17.6 points a night are blocking LaVine, but it’s the youngster who holds the key to the future.
Ibaka was raw as well, offering shot-blocking, and the ability to pick up points off rebounds and dunks. Now, Ibaka still provides the shot-blocking, but he’s evolved into a capable 3-point shooter, and someone the Thunder can run plays for. LaVine’s challenge will be to utilize his athleticism to become a lockdown perimeter defender, and Westbrook-esque rebounder.
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