Last Week:2↓
2023-24 record: 56-26
OffRtg: 114.6 (17) DefRtg: 108.4 (1) NetRtg: +6.3 (3) Pace: 97.8 (23)
Key addition(s): Rob Dillingham, Joe Ingles
Key departure(s): Kyle Anderson
Three numbers to know:
The Wolves allowed 2.2 fewer points per 100 possessions than the league’s second best defense last season. That was the third biggest differential in the 28 seasons for which we have play-by-play data.
They had the league’s best record (16-19) in games they trailed by double-digits.
The conference finals were their second worst five-game stretch of defense (118.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) all season.
Key question: How much better does Anthony Edwards get?
Edwards has seen a jump in true shooting percentage (scoring efficiency) every season he’s been in the league, but his mark of 57.5% last season still ranked just 29th among 50 players with a usage rate of 25% or higher. His assist/turnover ratio (1.68) ranked 35th among that same group. He was more efficient at both in the playoffs and with no reason not to continue improving, he’ll be able to push the Wolves into the top half of the league offensively.
You have to wonder how much longer Conley (37 in October) can hold up as a starter, though he shot 95-for-208 (45.7%) on pull-up 3-pointers, the best mark for a player with at least 100 attempts in the 11 seasons for which we have tracking data. But the defense should still be there, despite the loss of a critical contributor (Anderson) on that end of the floor.
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