Minnesota Sports Forum

Alright, training camp is under way and the Timberwolves media has been post pictures and clips. Here is one with Dilly tossing up a lob pass to Rudy for the slam. Nice!

https://x.com/Timberwolves/status/1841198965439746057

Dillingham first guy in the gym this morning getting up shots 2 hours ago.

also
Jace frederick
@JaceFrederick
Conley and KAT were Minnesota’s best 3 point shooters last year by %

But not all shooting is the same. Volume matters

3PAs per game last season:

Conley + KAT: 10.6 combined

DiVincenzo over his last 35 games: 11.9

I'm glad Dane asked Finch about the shooting volume, because too many good shooters come here and either forget how to shoot or stop being willing to shoot. Donte needs to break that cycle.

WildWolf2813 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2024 10:41 pm I'm glad Dane asked Finch about the shooting volume, because too many good shooters come here and either forget how to shoot or stop being willing to shoot. Donte needs to break that cycle.

During Finch's tenure the 3 point shooting issue you describe has been much less of an issue both in volume and percentage. Some guys have shot a career high from 3 including Conley and his volume hasn't really dipped despite taking fewer overall FG attempts. Sure there have been some guys that haven't shot the 3 well (in addition to not playing well at all) but that happens to most teams. There have been a number of guys that have been successful in that area both as acquisitions including NAW and guys the Wolves have developed. Donte may represent that guy that has a history of being a volume 3 point shooting guy that the Wolves simply haven't had on their roster since Russell and Beasley left. Forbes, one of those failures who seemed like a guy that could help in the volume and percentage area is out of the league and having some issues and is only 31. It seems like it might not be fair to pin his failures on the Wolves.

In 3 full seasons under Finch here are the rankings in terms of 3 point attempts and percentage.

2021-22 1st and 12th

2022-23 15th and 13th and remember this was after trading for Rudy and Towns only playing 29 games.

2023-2024 23rd (15th in makes) 3rd Its also worth considering that the Wolves were near the bottom of the league in FG attempts last year which accounts for some of why they were lower in overall 3 point attempts. I don't think playing at that pace is what Finch really wants to do. He is a guy that spent all that time in Houston when they were working on the taking a ton of 3s etc. We will see if some of the personnel they brought in this off-season will help with all of this.

Finch had Beasley in his first year and he was a big driver of 3-point volume. We've missed him to the extent that Naz Reid not withstanding, it's really nice to have someone off the bench that can get red hot and shoot you back into a game (or extend the lead). The great news is that Donte is a better all-around version of Malik Beasley.

"Movement Shooter" has been a big missing piece in my opinion over the past couple of seasons. Obviously the team has prioritized defense (Rudy acquisition), vet experience (Conley acquisition), and shot creation (Dillingham pick) with their earlier big offseason moves. DDV checks the Movement Shooter box in a big way....assuming he maintains the level he reached last year with the Knicks, as that was definitely a tier above all his prior seasons.