No matter what I see these days timberwolves It seems to add a few inches vertically for Andrew Wiggins. In the opening eight seconds of Sunday afternoon’s game in Minneapolis, Wiggins blew both hands off the half-court logo and crashed on a left-handed alley-oop over. Rudy Gobertone of the biggest shot blockers in the game.
The tone setting sequence is: As the clip begins, notice his Wiggins at the top of the logo. Warming himself up, he enters the proceedings. next, Karl-Anthony Towns A bump that acts as a shock. Suddenly, Wiggins ran down the runway for a dunk.
These were the first two of 47 points in the first quarter. Warriors76 at halftime and 137 when the 137-114 win was all over. The Timberwolves have a problem. They are 5-6 at home, with a below-league scoring percentage and in the early stages of a Gobert-centric overhaul that has created rotation and chemistry challenges.
But the list of the Warriors’ best wins this season is short. If you limit it to roads, it is microscopic. Away from the Chase Center, they entered the worst road record in the league, 1-9. Its only win was a getaway in Houston. Stephen Curry When Klay Thompson Slip through the lottery rockets.
They didn’t need Curry’s outstanding performance against the Timberwolves.He scored 25 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Thompson made his 3 of his 5. Wiggins scored his 15 fairly efficiently after the game-opening dunk. draymond green 19 points and 11 assists.Starting lineup — the four and Kevon Looney — outscored Minnesota by 16 points in 18 minutes, extending the cumulative plus-minus for the season to plus-141. There are no other five-man combinations. NBA Better than Plus 66. they were dominant.
But that wasn’t the story. Despite having the best lineup in the league, the Warriors are unlikely to top .500 because the bench is so fluid that he sent Steve his car in a 20-game search for rotation answers. There were hardly any. It looks like they’ve finally found a stable 10-man group in the last few games. It all came together for their most complete win of the season against the Timberwolves.
jordan pool Scored 24 points in 27 productive minutes on the bench. Kerr tied much of Poole’s court time to the green. He attacked Minnesota and put up 17 shots, a game-high tie. Poole’s early-season slump is defined by that hesitation — he’s dancing on the border as he ponders his next move.
It wasn’t a Sunday issue. The pool was decisive.See him doing a slow catch-and-go drive here Anthony Edwards Directly close Gobert’s chest.
Pool is often in the backcourt Donte DivincenzoDiVincenzo quietly returned to the rotation after missing the entire 0-5 game with a hamstring injury in the third game of the season. He may be producing more rhythm. Against the Timberwolves, he had his loudest game to date, striking out four of his threes and adding his season-high 14 points.
However, the overall picture is Jonathan Kuminga It was the most glorious aspect of Sunday’s perfect effort. James Wiseman Stalled in the G League. Moses Moody Can’t break rotation. Kuminga is the only one of his three recent lottery winners to know the present. Although it was not very embodied until recently, Kuminga jazz To his best effort of the season on Friday, given the circumstances.
Kuminga’s final line doesn’t scream out of the box score. He had 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist in 20 minutes. But without Kerr embracing the nuanced side of Kuminga winning and witnessing it keep him on the court, he can’t even get close to 20 minutes.
Here is an example.Kaa protects Kuminga D’Angelo Russell (Side note: The Warriors got the draft pick they used for Kuminga in a deal with Russell). He slides with Russell but bites Pump Fake. It is fine. Effort mistake. Green sees a slip-up, spins and contests Russell his floaters.
But what matters is Kuminga’s reaction. After Green rotates, Kuminga identifies a corresponding mission. Gobert is the only one under the hoop. Gobert ranks fifth in the NBA in his offensive rebounding. he feasts on the glass Kuminga slid in and hip-checked Gobert under the rim, keeping him off the rebound and giving Poole plenty of time to collect it. He then runs up the floor in front of Gobert to create a favorable transition opportunity.
Kuminga impressed enough to earn a spot in the closing lineup of the first half. Here, he faceguards Edwards on the inbounds and lures Gobert into a dangerous pass over the top.Gobert’s pass is wrong and leads to a turnover. Kuminga is not credited for stealing, but he stole it by force.
He stays on the court as Kuminga limits mental mistakes and defends with enough effort. When he’s on the floor, the Warriors can use his set of rare skills on the offensive side.
The Timberwolves did some mini-runs. Kerr called a timeout late in the second quarter after several buckets at Minnesota. During a timeout he created this slip design for Kuminga. Kuminga carried out the action with all his might. It led to an and-1 layup.
The win put the Warriors ahead of the Timberwolves (10-10) in a cluttered Western standings. They say he’s 11-10, and overall he’s won three straight and five straight when he’s not off the starter. They’re taking a break before Tuesday night’s game in Dallas. Mavericks4 consecutive losses.
Rotation is stable. Starters together remain dominant. Thompson suddenly became hot. The pool may wake you up. Kuminga may be thinking about how to operate within a limited role. three-game homestand with the Bulls, rocket When Pacers Waiting for later in the week. Everything is starting to set up nicely for the Warriors.
(Jonathan Kuminga walks past Nas Reed Photo: Nick Wosica / USA Today)
