OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings week 10 – All-Star break edition

Minnesota Timberwolves:

Week 10: 0-4
Lost to: Bucks 112-139, Bulls 126-133 (OT), Wizards 112-128, Suns 99-118

Opponents this week: Hornets

Offensive Rating: 105.4 (27th) | Defensive Rating: 113.2 (24th) | Net Differential: -7.7 (29th)

Look back through history and you’ll find new coaches tend to provide a spark with players typically responding with an early win. That hasn’t been the case for Chris Finch who began his tenure at the helm of the Timberwolves bench this week. Instead, after four games the Wolves are still searching for a victory with their new bench boss.

While Finch is best known for his offense the narrator pondered how much he picked up from his brief time with the Raptors. Nick Nurse places an emphasis on defense and while he was also first considered an offensive mind, it’s his creativity on defense that is most admired.

Of the four games played this week the Bucks and Suns were going to be tough given their overall competence. The other two matches featured teams (Bulls, Wizards) doing precisely what the Wolves want to accomplish.

So far, in these initial stages, the offense did improve to 112.2 points but the defense was an abysmal 129.5 points per game (YIKES). Granted the Bucks own the top-rated offense while the Suns rank 8th but the Bulls and Wizards rank 15th and 20th respectively. All four opponents scored well above their seasonal average.

Finch is trying to make adjustments without D’Angelo Russell who’ll be out up to six weeks (end of March).  Adding to the adversity, Malik Beasley will also serve a 12 game suspension.

Suffice to say the odds aren’t in favor of Finch coming in mid-season and correcting the Wolve’s fortunes.

Let’s keep an eye on what Minnesota does at the trade deadline. Although Karl-Anthony Towns is locked in through the 2023-24 season no doubt he’s in no mood to play ‘wait and see’ mode much longer.