The Wolves were near the bottom in terms of transition opportunities. They have made a commitment to playing more with pace during the preseason, and while Finch said they’re not going to transform into a fast team overnight, he believes they can be at least middle of the pack.
This is important because more transition opportunities lead to more efficient offense overall, and if the Wolves are going to have a shot against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, they’ll need different ways to beat them instead of allowing the Thunder to grind them down in the half court.
Rudy Gobert is 33 years old and Mike Conley is 38, and because big men tend to regress faster than guards or forwards, it’s natural to wonder how much Gobert and Conley have left. There might be plenty of skill and talent left, but will their health also hold up through an 82-game season?
Conley played 71 games last regular season, and Gobert played 72. The Wolves needed them on the floor as much as possible. Conley provided a steady hand guiding the offense once he got over a slow start, and he’s one of the Wolves’ most underrated defenders. The defense falls apart without Gobert. How much longer can they stave off the effects of time?
The Wolves are banking a lot on internal improvement, and that includes some players who have been here a while in Naz Reid, entering his seventh season, and Jaden McDaniels, who is in his sixth. Can they become more consistent offensive weapons?
For McDaniels, the renewed focus on transition can be a good thing. He has the ability to play well in space and finish over smaller defenders when he runs the floor. That’s one way to increase his offensive output.