Timberwolves Time Capsule: Can the New Age Timberwolves Finish What Garnett Started?

Image by Fadeaway World

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to their best start in franchise history, as they currently sit in first place in the NBA Western Conference standings. However, being a young inexperienced team raises the question on all NBA fan’s minds: are the Timberwolves legitimate Finals contenders?

2003-2004 Minnesota Timberwolves

Image by The Sporting News

Minnesota sports fans have watched their beloved Timberwolves struggle for years, as the last time the Timberwolves performed this well was back before some of you reading this article were even born. Yes, this would be the 2003-2004 Minnesota Timberwolves led by the 2004 NBA MVP Kevin Garnett. Garnett paired with Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell ended with a 58-24 record, which granted the Timberwolves the number-one seed in the Western Conference. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, that team lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. 

What stood out about this team was the “big three” and the team’s balanced attack.

Garnett averaged 24.2 points per game (PPG), 13.9 rebounds per game (RPG), 5 assists per game (APG), and an impressive 2.2 blocks per game (BPG). Cassell supported with 19.8 PPG and 7.3 APG, alongside Sprewell’s 16.8 PPG. This trio combined for 64% of the team’s total points on the year and was the main reason for the Timberwolves’ success.

This Timberwolves team ended the year tied for first in the NBA in field goal percentage, top 5 in three-point percentage and free throw percentage, and top 10 in both offensive and defensive scoring.

2023-2024 Minnesota Timberwolves

Image by Carmen Mandato

While the two styles of play differ, the excitement from Timberwolves’ fans is similar to the Garnett days in Minnesota.

The Timberwolves sit atop the Western Conference with a record of 26-11. Somewhat different from the 2004 Timberwolves, the modern-day Timberwolves feature a “big two” in Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns. Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 26.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.9 APG. Also, the offense revolves around Edwards as he has the fourth-highest usage rate in the NBA at 32.8%. This is not to say he is alone as Towns has proven time and time again to be a great second option, averaging 21.7 PPG and 8.9 RPG.

The Timberwolves also have the best defense in the NBA, allowing opponents to score 107.2 PPG. Want to know who the next lowest allowed is? It’s the Houston Rockets who give up 110.2 PPG. These three points of difference are propelled by lengthy wing defenders like Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kyle Anderson, and Anthony Edwards. Interior defense for the Timberwolves has also been arguably league-best, led by big men Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns, who are first and third respectively in big men defensive efficiency.

So, with all this said, are the Timberwolves able to finish what Garnett started? Well, tough question 37 games in but it certainly seems like the Timberwolves are trending in the right direction to make a deep playoff run. What it really comes down to with NBA Playoff basketball is if you have a dominant player that can almost score at will and if you have players to slow down said player.

The first part of that equation comes down to the development of Edwards. As of now, Edwards seems to have the correct mindset and skillset to become this player, as evident in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Edwards was outstanding as he averaged 31.2 PPG, 5 RPG, and 5.2 APG. Not to mention, he was a dominant defensive force averaging 1.8 steals per game (SPG) and 2 BPG. A playoff performance like this reminded Timberwolves fans of Garnett’s dominance, which was the biggest reason for the 2004 Timberwolves’ success.

Now, the defense. McDaniels and Alexander-Walker have proven multiple times this season that they have the ability to make superstar-caliber players very uncomfortable. This has proven to be very effective in teams’ deep Playoff runs, such as Andrew Wiggins with the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 NBA Finals win.

If the Minnesota Timberwolves can continue to thrive in these two areas, who say they can’t get back to the Western Conference Finals?