The Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Timberwolves need a better defense strategy with effective players
The Minnesota Timberwolves had struggled since their formation in 1989. The team has struggled to rack up points and make it to the main games. One pattern that everyone's seen is the lack of great defense within the team.
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Context
Sports has been a favorite past time for millennia. In North America, the primary sports are hockey, baseball, football (American football), and basketball. Within these sports there are different teams also known as franchises. The Minnesota Timberwolves is one of the National Football League (NBA) franchises.
The Argument
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a well-known basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was formed in 1989.
[1] Ever since, they’ve been struggling to get good play records. Currently the Timberwolves have been deemed as one of the worst NBA teams.
One major reason for that is their serious lack of defense. In 2013 and 2014, the team was one of the highest defensive teams.
[2] Currently, their rank is 28 which is two points better than Miami Heat (smaller numbers are better than larger numbers).
[3] That’s considerably less than what they used to be.
The reason why they have such poor defense is caused by a few factors. First, there’s a lack of proper defenders. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves having been picking effective defensive players during drafts.[2] Second, there’s a lack of communication between players during games.
[4] Third, the players aren’t aggressive enough to stop the ball from reaching their net.[4]
Defense is one of the most important aspects of a winning game. There’s only so much offense can do. Without defense, the team will get crushed every single time. Unless the Timberwolves bulk up their defense, they won’t be having any successful games.
Counter arguments
The Minnesota Timberwolves could have a better defense. However, improving their offense can make up for what their defense lacks. Recently, the Timberwolves gained a new power forward named Karl Anthony Towns. His skills could easily make him a top 10 offensive player in the NBA.[4]
In relation to ineffective communication, that is an optional strategy in sports. Communication is deemed as one of the most important strategy of a team. But communication is not all that important in defense. The first and foremost obligation is to guard someone. As long as a defensive player is defending an opposing player, they’re doing their job.
The term “going after the ball” isn’t cut and dry. It is very subjective. The phrase is usually said by people who watch the game and scrutinize a player’s performance. They don’t know the feeling of having to guard, chase, or defend in a high-pressure game. Therefore, the Timberwolves could very well be doing their best to keep calm and make a good play.
The Timberwolves are just trying their best. They’ve got a good offense. Maybe their defense needs tweaking. But at least they’re still moving forward and making a name for themselves.
Proponents
Premises
[P1] The Timberwolves players to defend against opposing players.
[P2] There’s lack of communication which causes players to defend against the wrong players.
[P3] The defensive players don’t try to go after the ball.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] The Timberwolves have enough offensive players to make up for the lack of defense.
[Rejecting P2] If team members are defending opposing players, they’re doing their job.
[Rejecting P3] The concept of going after a ball is subjective.
References
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Minnesota-Timberwolves
- https://dunkingwithwolves.com/2020/06/30/minnesota-timberwolves-5-draft-prospects-upgrade-perimeter-defense/
- https://www.lineups.com/nba/team-stats/minnesota-timberwolves
- https://dunkingwithwolves.com/2020/08/18/minnesota-timberwolves-3-areas-to-improve-defensively/