The Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves are two franchises which can be in higher locations now than they had been a yr in the past, with the previous in good place to make the playoffs on the present tempo and the latter main the Western Convention.
However whereas these groups have totally different roster compositions and quick objectives at hand, they’re extra related than you suppose. Because of this, there are classes to be discovered no matter what the standings present.
To debate macro and micro themes that join the 2 franchises, Rockets beat author Kelly Iko and Timberwolves beat author Jon Krawczynski chatted following Minnesota’s 122-95 win over Houston on Friday night time. Right here is their dialog:
Iko: Blissful New Yr, Jon! Thanks for doing this.
We’re getting nearer to the official midway mark of the season and by now, it’s clear the place each the Timberwolves and Rockets stack up within the West. Minnesota is 25-9 and has maintained a constant lead over the convention, whereas Houston is 17-16 and chugging away, making an attempt to maintain up whereas hovering round .500.
Look a bit nearer, although, and issues aren’t that totally different. Each groups are seventeenth and 18th in offense and first and second in protection, based on Cleansing the Glass. Each groups are within the backside half of 3-point proficiency, connecting on round 38 % of 3s (12 makes an evening) and each dish out 25 assists per sport. Houston rebounds higher than Minnesota, which is each odd and hilarious, however we’ll get into the whole lot.
Given these similarities, Jon, what’s it in regards to the Wolves’ season that has set them aside? Is it merely the expertise on the high?
Krawczynski: All the time nice to meet up with you, Kelly. It’s been a terrific begin to the season for each of those groups, particularly contemplating the place they’ve been in current occasions. The sport on Friday night time featured the 2 groups with the most important leap in win share in comparison with final season, with the Rockets main the NBA with a plus-.263 compared to final season and the Wolves a plus-.215. So each fan bases have cause to be amped by means of the primary two-plus months of the season.
A few issues have helped the Wolves get off to a greater begin than Houston. First, as you stated, they’ve extra expertise on the high of their roster than Houston. No shade on Fred VanVleet or Alperen Şengün, however Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Cities and Rudy Gobert are three established stars on this league. Some will quibble with that designation for Gobert, however he’s a multi-time All-Star, three-time NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr and he has been taking part in a few of his finest basketball to start out this season, so he qualifies. Add to it Mike Conley’s steadying presence and Naz Reid off the bench, and the Wolves have a ton of expertise to work with nightly.
Secondly, this group has now been collectively for a minute. They struggled final season whereas making an attempt to determine one another out after the Gobert commerce, then introduced in Conley on the deadline in February. However they’d a full offseason and coaching camp to set a basis for them, so there’s way more synergy and cohesion with the group to start out this season. That’s why it took them till Video games 32 and 33 on the schedule to lose two in a row. They know one another properly sufficient to make changes to determine issues out once they aren’t going properly. Chris Finch, who’s teaching his third full season in Minnesota, helps with the continuity and identification as properly.
Whereas in Houston, VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, two of their high three in minutes performed, are new to the roster and Ime Udoka is in his first season as coach. The Rockets have seen an enormous enchancment from final season, however my guess is that can solely get higher because the group coalesces with time collectively.
Iko: In his fourth season, Edwards has firmly cemented himself among the many sport’s finest, an athletic, multi-faceted guard averaging 27-5-5 on excessive quantity and good effectivity. In distinction, Jalen Inexperienced has regressed in Yr 3 (had a constructive, much-needed week lately) and is placing up numbers eerily just like his rookie marketing campaign, not the best developmental arc.
On the floor, each gamers are comparable. Inexperienced and Edwards have athleticism and three-level scoring. Each have a penchant for the emphatic and are fairly expressive on the ground. It’s doubtless a part of the explanation why Edwards is so keen on Inexperienced, having seemingly taken him underneath his wing. After the primary sport of Inexperienced’s NBA profession — Edwards’s second yr — the 2 spent a couple of hours collectively speaking basketball. That night time, Edwards outlined the whole lot that was going to occur quickly for him — taking his sport to a different stage and being named an All-Star. He additionally defined to Inexperienced what he wanted to do to achieve those self same objectives.
Edwards hasn’t come off the bench since his rookie season, and I don’t suppose Inexperienced is being benched anytime quickly. However when did you begin to see Edwards flip a nook? And do you suppose Inexperienced can attain that stage?
Krawczynski: Inexperienced has all of the bodily expertise to ascend as excessive as he needs. I’ve seen him be unguardable in opposition to the Wolves, and I’ve additionally seen him disappear. You understand his character and make-up a lot greater than I do, however let me let you know what I’ve seen from Edwards to assist propel him ahead.
When Edwards was drafted No. 1, there have been questions on his love of the sport and work ethic. It seems that these questions had been absurd. Plainly most of them originated from one poorly researched predraft story that put an excessive amount of inventory in a vanilla interview that Edwards gave for the undertaking.
From the second he arrived in Minnesota, his love for the sport has been evident. He works arduous on his craft, loves being round his teammates and hates to lose. No participant was extra disenchanted when the Wolves misplaced to the Nuggets within the first spherical final season than Edwards, and that fueled the most effective summer season he has had as a professional.
Right here is one other key for Edwards: He’s self-aware, coachable and younger at 22 so he’ll make errors, poor selections and have occasional lapses. However when the teaching employees or the vets discuss to him about what went incorrect and the way he can enhance, he virtually all the time comes out the subsequent sport addressing the problems. Living proof: Within the few video games main as much as the loss to New Orleans the opposite night time, there was a number of speak about how the offense had grown stagnant and the Wolves wanted higher ball motion. Edwards was taking part in slightly an excessive amount of ISO ball and it was serving to to clog issues up.
Edwards got here out on Wednesday with an eye fixed on passing the ball. He had 4 assists within the first quarter. As the sport went on, the workforce shot poorly and couldn’t get issues going. After the sport, Edwards stated one of many keys going ahead shall be to place the ball in Conley’s arms extra typically. That’s spectacular recognition and humility for a lead scorer of his expertise. He needs to do what it takes to win, and that earns him respect within the locker room, even when he’s making errors.
Have you ever seen something related with Inexperienced on that entrance?
Jalen Inexperienced and Anthony Edwards. (Carmen Mandato / Getty Photos)
Iko: Form of. Inexperienced has been one of many largest endorsers of the VanVleet acquisition and has deferred to him on a number of events this season. He’s stated all the appropriate issues and appears to have the backing of everybody in and out of doors of the locker room, however I feel he’s been too deferential. I’ll clarify.
I’m unsure should you obtained an opportunity to catch the tip of final week’s Rockets-76ers matchup, a calamity of a closing possession that culminated in a Jock Landale contested layup try although Houston wanted to get a 3 off. Inexperienced truthfully had a window at taking it, however he regarded like he was centered on not messing up and giving up the ball somewhat than simply being aggressive and residing with the results. After the sport, Udoka made it clear to Inexperienced — who had exploded for 31 factors on the night time — that he needed him to take the final shot.
Ime Udoka stated Jalen Inexperienced was the primary possibility on HOU closing possession, both taking a fast 3 or an open look off a display.
Added that he felt Inexperienced had an opportunity to get a shot off initially, however burdened that Jock Landale wanted to discover a shooter after receiving the ball.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) December 30, 2023
That’s who the Rockets need Inexperienced to be. The man. Possibly not the 1A, appears to be like prefer it’s Şengün, however a robust 1B.
But it surely’s going to take a number of management and assist to get Inexperienced there. You talked about VanVleet earlier, do you see similarities with Conley, a veteran level guard you appear to like masking?
Krawczynski: Completely. Conley is slightly bit older, however man you see so many issues he and VanVleet share in frequent. Each are big-time leaders, guys who you are feeling snug with when the ball is of their arms late in video games. Each have been winners on this league for a very long time, although VanVleet already has the title Conley continues to be chasing.
Coaches and executives speak about tradition on a regular basis. You want gamers like Conley and VanVleet if you’re making an attempt to ascertain that tradition, particularly when you will have younger stars in your workforce who must be proven the way in which.
I can’t let you know what number of occasions we stroll into the locker room after a Wolves sport, win or loss, and Edwards is choosing Conley’s mind. Conley isn’t afraid to inform the younger fella when he messes up. However he’s additionally swift to reward him when he does the appropriate factor.
You could possibly make an argument that Conley is probably the most precious participant on the workforce. They don’t have one other nice level guard possibility behind him, and he’s additionally hit a ton of huge photographs in his comparatively brief time in Minnesota. When he doesn’t play properly, as was the case in opposition to New Orleans the opposite night time, the Wolves typically don’t play properly as a workforce.
Once I noticed the Rockets land VanVleet, I knew that it was going to be cash properly spent. It’s arduous to place a price ticket on that form of presence.
From a egocentric perspective, it’s been nice to have Conley in that locker room for us. Each media session is an training. He’s participating and beneficiant together with his time. I’ve discovered lots from him. I think about VanVleet is comparable for you?
Iko: Positively. He’s shortly turn into a favourite in Houston, not solely from a participant’s perspective however from the media as properly. Whether or not the Rockets play properly or poorly, he’s all the time there to present well-thought-out explanations and is their unequivocal chief on and off the ground.
It additionally helps that VanVleet is having fun with a little bit of a profession resurgence as properly, at the same time as he’s approaching 30. I don’t like to make use of the time period “prime” with level guards as a result of they’re just like working backs in my view — heavy utilization and reps at early ages that are likely to put on down because the years go. However this season, VanVleet is averaging a career-high in assists (8.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (4.84), capturing his highest mark from 3 (40 %) since 2017 on nice quantity, whereas additionally taking part in a whopping 37.4 minutes per sport. Not solely is he a stabilizing presence, however he’s by no means needed to dominate the ball and has inspired Şengün and others to tackle extra of a scoring function. He’s been value each penny he signed in July.
However talking of Şengün, I needed to get your ideas on related approaches from each Houston and Minnesota. Each groups are stocked with veterans however their finest or most vital participant is aged 22 or youthful, talking of Edwards and Şengün. It’s labored out thus far for the Wolves, however is that the trail you see the Rockets taking as properly — and is it the optimum one?
Krawczynski: It’s supreme. I bear in mind the late Flip Saunders took over a Wolves workforce with Karl-Anthony Cities, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins all of their first or second years. He introduced in Kevin Garnett to be the large vet with Cities, Andre Miller to be the guard vet for LaVine and Tayshaun Prince to be the wing vet for Wiggins. He was adamant that younger gamers want good veteran leaders to indicate them the way in which and train them what it takes to be professionals. Once you spoke to individuals across the league in regards to the Rockets earlier than this season, one of many most important criticisms was there wasn’t that sturdy veteran management for Inexperienced, Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr.
Now, KG, Miller and Prince had been all properly previous their primes on that workforce. However with VanVleet, Brooks, Jeff Inexperienced — guys like that who not solely are nice vets however nonetheless have loads of sport left — it is going to be so helpful for the Rockets kids, together with Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore now. I imagine you could be too younger on this league. I do know followers typically get enthusiastic about that and assume that progress shall be linear they usually attempt to undertaking over the lengthy haul with youth and draft property. However unhealthy habits could be developed within the incorrect conditions, and it looks like the Rockets have achieved an excellent job of addressing that.
It’s one of many under-the-radar features of the Gobert commerce that many missed final season. Sure, they obtained Rudy as a result of they thought he might assist them win immediately with Cities in his prime and (on the time) D’Angelo Russell there as properly. However one of many massive elements few individuals talked about wasn’t the ceiling they believed Gobert might assist them attain, however the ground as properly. With Gobert on the roster, they knew that their possibilities of being within the playoffs had been very excessive.
It seems they wanted to win the second Play-In sport to get there, however they did it. And so they by no means would have been there had they not had Gobert on the roster final season and Cities lacking 52 video games with a calf harm. The Wolves knew they wanted to construct a workforce that was taking part in significant video games whereas Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid, the younger core, had been nonetheless on their rookie offers.
Dropping could be arduous on a younger participant’s growth. The Wolves needed to ensure Edwards was within the playoffs. It labored. And it has helped him immensely. Now in Yr 4, Edwards is on the workforce that has the most effective document within the West. That offers him an actual concept of what it’s prefer to play with a goal in your again. You can not overstate the significance of that have.
Inexperienced, Şengün, Smith and Thompson would be the main beneficiaries of the Rockets being again within the playoff hunt. These video games imply one thing now. There is no such thing as a speak about lottery odds and dropping on objective. VanVleet, Brooks, Inexperienced and Udoka have made successful the objective once more in Houston. It doesn’t assure they are going to all develop to achieve their full potential. But it surely offers them a significantly better likelihood.
Iko: I agree. Yet one more factor I needed to the touch on earlier than letting you go. The most important cause why they’re even within the playoff hunt now could be due to the defensive enchancment they’ve made throughout the board.
It’s a special setup to what Minnesota has, no twin towers or Gobert-like rim protector is manning the center for Houston, however the Rockets have been in a position to leverage their pace, physicality and size to disrupt half-court offenses, specializing in “shrinking the ground,” switching and general harassment. Şengün has been in a position to keep on the ground and even swap some, which pleases Udoka given his significance on the opposite facet of the ball. Tari Eason and Smith have taken leaps too. Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Inexperienced and Aaron Vacation have been versatile and aggressive. Amen Thompson has proven potential when he’s been on the ground.
Their protection has naturally dropped some since Brooks has been out with an harm, however the Rockets are significantly better positioned to win video games now than they’ve been at any level throughout their rebuild due to this shift.
I do know the Wolves are main the pack proper now — and their protection additionally has been profitable — however do you see that as a practical path to competition due to it? Are we nonetheless within the age of protection wins championships?
Krawczynski: This can be a nice query and I’ve been giving it a ton of thought lately. The brief reply is I’m unsure.
The longer reply: J.J. Redick mentioned this on his wonderful podcast and I discovered it compelling. The sport has been so rigged towards offense that I do marvel if a workforce can win a title doing it with protection. Scoring is thru the roof. Spacing, effectivity and the general expertise of the gamers nowadays make getting stops tough. I imply, everybody could make photographs within the league now.
The occasions the Wolves have in bother this season have been once they have been lured into observe meets. It’s arduous for them to maintain up when it’s simply going shot for shot in opposition to one other workforce knocking the whole lot down.
However I do suppose it’s a terrific recipe for regular-season success. Protection is a extra sustainable game-to-game than a red-hot offense. And defense-first groups typically play more durable on a nightly foundation. The harder-paying workforce is in fine condition in a regular-season sport.
Emphasizing protection is an effective way to develop younger gamers. It teaches them to concentrate to element, watch movie and instill a aggressive stage that’s typically absent from groups that wish to stand up and down.
I’m not saying you’ll be able to’t win a title when protection is your calling card. However you want some stability. You possibly can’t have a top-five protection and an offense within the 20s and anticipate to outlive within the playoffs.
The Wolves have loads of firepower to enhance their offense over time. If they only cease turning the ball over at a ridiculous price, their effectivity numbers will make an enormous leap. Edwards and Cities are two of the most effective offensive gamers within the sport. Gobert is extremely environment friendly and a terrific display setter. Conley is capturing the three in addition to he ever has and Reid is dynamic off the bench.
The components are there, however they should play higher than they’ve.
(Photograph of Fred VanVleet and Mike Conley: Carmen Mandato / Getty Photos)
