Welcome to the 2022-23 version of the Wolves Weekly Spotlight. Each Thursday, we’ll observe the progress of the gamers who’re making an attempt to assist Minnesota compete for a championship and provides updates on different gamers from the earlier week.
This is the fifth version of the 2023-23 Wolves Weekly Spotlight.
Guard D’Angelo Russell
Russell has been requested to tackle one thing of a special position with the Timberwolves this season, making an attempt to manage the sport and make the proper play.
He’s not being requested to be one among Minnesota’s fundamental scorers however quite a distributor. Russell’s 17.8 factors per 36 minutes is his lowest since his rookie season again in 2015-16 (16.8) however his assists per 36 of seven.6 is the third highest.
However, that doesn’t imply Russell can’t put the ball within the hoop. He proved that within the Wolves’ two video games final week.
Maybe it’s the Karl-Anthony Towns impact or maybe it’s simply stepping up when wanted, however Russell had his two-best scoring video games in Minnesota’s final two contests – 27 in opposition to Oklahoma City and 28 vs. Indiana, each crew highs – whereas shooting a mixed 55.9% from the sector, 40.0% from 3 and making all 11 of his free-throw makes an attempt.
In the win over the Pacers, Russell tallied 15 factors to assist Minnesota to the victory. It was simply the second time this season a Wolves participant had 15+ factors within the remaining quarter, Anthony Edwards being the opposite in opposition to Memphis on Nov. 30 with 17.
Russell completed this one earlier time with the Wolves when he had 15 at Philadelphia on Nov. 27, 2021.
It’s not like Russell can’t rating. He averaged over 20 factors in 2018-19 and 2019-20, the latter being his first yr in Minnesota, coming over in a late-season commerce. His common has gone down each season since. From 21.7 in these 12 video games in 2019-20 to 19.0 to 18.1 to fifteen.5 this season.
“C’mon, man. Y’all seen it before,” Russell stated after Wednesday’s win over Indiana. “Humbly speaking, I feel like I just try to come alive no matter how the game’s going in the fourth.”
“It’s a mentality,” he later added. “I all the time attempt to assault these moments versus sort of sitting again and letting it occur. I consider in myself that a lot,” Russell said. “I attempt to be the man, if I can, to have my palms on it. If it is not shooting the shot, it is making the cross, so I simply consider in myself that a lot.”
Seeing is believing. And we consider.
— Anthony Edwards continues to do all of it. In Minnesota’s two video games he averaged 36.2 minutes, 26.0 factors, 6.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 6.0 steals. Yes, you learn that final one appropriately. Edwards had six thefts apiece in opposition to the Thunder and Pacers, this following a five-steal recreation Nov. 30 vs. Memphis. He and Toronto’s OG Anunoby are the one gamers this season with three consecutive video games of 5+ steals. In Timberwolves historical past, solely Terrell Brandon in 2001 has such a streak (additionally three video games from Jan. 17-21, 2001).
— Rudy Gobert pulled down 21 rebounds in opposition to Indiana on Wednesday. It was the third time this season he’s had 20+ boards. That’s already tied for the eighth-most 20-rebound video games in a season in franchise historical past. Kevin Garnett owns six seasons of three+ with a excessive of eight. Kevin Love holds the crew document with 13 20+-rebound video games in 2010-11.
— Center Naz Reid averaged 12.3 rebounds regardless of taking part in solely 20.7 minutes per recreation (he had 18 in opposition to Oklahoma City then seven in 11 1/2 minutes vs. Indiana). Reid is averaging 9.2 rebounds per 36 minutes and 12.0 per 100 possessions, each of which might be profession highs.
— Luka Garza, who performed a couple of minutes in Wednesday’s win, had a great with the Iowa Wolves of the G League. He posted 33 factors Dec. 2 then went for 44 with 15 rebounds Dec. 5. Garza tops the G League with 29.8 factors per recreation and is tied for fourth in 3-point share at 50.0% (hitting 20 of 40).
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