How the Philadelphia 76ers stack up against the Northwest Division
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Projected Starting Five:
- Jeff Teague
- Andrew Wiggins
- Robert Covington
- Noah Vonleh
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Other Notable Players — Josh Okogie, Gorgui Dieng, Jarrett Culver, Jordan Bell, Shabazz Napier, Tyrone Wallace
In a crowded Western Conference, the Timberwolves don’t feel like they’re on the rise. Losing Derrick Rose, Tyus Jones and Taj Gibson hurts, even if Vonleh represents a sturdy replacement in the starting five. The Wolves just didn’t add much.
One silver lining, however, is Covington’s return. A top-10 defensive talent, Covington flipped Minnesota’s putrid defense into a positive when on the floor last season. He missed significant time due to injury, but is prepared to enter 2019-20 at full strength. His defense alone is a major boost to the Wolves’ rotation.
There’s also more room for growth on Karl-Anthony Towns’ end. He’s arguably the most talented 25-or-under big man in the NBA, but Towns can still improve on the margins. His defensive upside is somethings fans will monitor. He has the chance to change his reputation.
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If the Wolves compete for a playoff spot, it will rest largely on Towns and Covington’s shoulders. But Minnesota will also need contributions from its young talent. Ty Wallace is a solid prospect at point guard. Culver and Okogie will fill valuable minutes on the wing.
There’s also that Andrew Wiggins character. At this point, it’s foolish to expect major improvements from Wiggins, who has been treading water for quite some time. He seems locked into his archetype — an inefficient volume scorer with middling defense.
If Wiggins can drastically alter his shot selection, become a more willing passer and starting defending, then Minnesota’s chances of making a postseason bid increase exponentially. The talent has always been there for Wiggins. I’m just not sure he can make the leap.
The Sixers typically handle Minnesota well. Ben Simmons can lock up Wiggins, Embiid can out-physical Towns and the rest will work itself out. Philadelphia will sweep the season series.