Minnesota Timberwolves at Atlanta Hawks
Date: December 23, 2024
Time: 6:30pm CST
Location: Target center
TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio reporting: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Can the Wolves find some Christmas magic in Atlanta?

They say there’s no better place to spend the holidays than home. For Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday night is a chance to bring some Christmas spirit back to Minnesota with a show against the Atlanta Hawks. The Timberwolves desperately need another win after a tough week, and what better way to do that than with their franchise star playing in front of his hometown crowd?

But let’s be honest: This team’s December was the basketball equivalent of a Hallmark Christmas movie. You think you’re going to get a warm, fuzzy turnaround story, and then – bam! – your offense will dry up like the turkey your cousin Greg left in the oven for six hours. Sure, the Wolves started the month well and held their opponents defensively into the 80s and 90s. But in the last two games, that defensive identity disappeared faster than Buddy the Elf after drinking too much syrup.

The good, the bad and the ugly

It wasn’t all bad. The wolves have Flashes of the team we thought they could be were shown. When the defense clicks, it looks like a true playoff squad. But if not? Yikes. Over 100 points allowed in two losses to the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors? That’s not enough for a team that’s struggling to find a foothold on offense.

Here’s the problem: The Wolves’ offense was a mess. Mike Conley just wasn’t the calming veteran presence they were hoping for. There isn’t much depth behind him at point guard. Rookie Rob Dillingham has been electric in limited action, but Chris Finch appears unwilling to hand him the reins. And let’s not even get into the stopgap solutions, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dante DiVincenzo taking turns running the offense.

Then there is the distance problem. Neither Rudy Gobert nor Julius Randle pose a threat from deep, meaning the defense can pressure the ball and force Anthony Edwards into a barrage of threes. If those shots are fired, great. When they don’t, like Friday against the Warriors, the offense stalls. Add Randle’s love of bully ball, and you have a recipe for stagnant possessions and frustrated teammates.

What needs to happen in Atlanta

If the Wolves want to get back on track, it starts with defense. I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s true. When the Wolves take action against D, they win games. It’s that simple. They need Rudy, Randle and Naz Reid to own the paint and make life difficult for Clint Capela and Atlanta’s bigs. Trae Young is listed as a game-time decision, but let’s assume he plays. The Wolves’ wings, particularly Jaden McDaniels and Alexander-Walker, will need to swarm him and limit Atlanta’s looks from deep.

Offensively, the Wolves need to find some flow again. We can’t have a repeat of Friday night’s disaster, when it felt like they were trying to set a record for most scoreless minutes in a quarter. Ball movement is key. The Wolves have to keep the ball bouncing, make the extra pass and – this is a crazy idea – get a few free throws. Edwards will be motivated to perform in front of his hometown crowd, but Finch will have to put him in the right positions to be successful. No more isolated hero ball; let the offense work for him.

And for the love of all things happy and bright, avoid the slow start. The Wolves can’t dig themselves a hole early and expect to fight their way out, especially against a Hawks team that has played well of late.

Why this game is important

This four-game stretch against the Knicks, Warriors, Hawks and Mavericks was always going to be tough. Most fans probably would have been happy with a 2-2 split, but after losing the first two, the margin for error has disappeared. A win in Atlanta would not only right the situation, but also set the stage for a potentially momentum-boosting Christmas Day showdown with Dallas.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: The Western Conference results are closely. The Wolves are holding on to the 10th seed, but are also just five games away from No. 2. This season is far from lost, but they need to start picking up wins, and that starts on Monday night.

Final thoughts

This game is a gut check for Minnesota. Do they have the mental strength to bounce back from two bad defeats? Can they find their defensive strength and secure a win? These are the questions the Wolves must answer — not just in Atlanta, but over the next 10 days as they navigate a brutal December schedule.

Because as frustrating as this team can be, the talent is there. We saw it. They just need to play to their strengths, implement the fundamentals and, most importantly, stay tight on defense.

So here’s hoping Ant puts on a show for his hometown crowd, Wolves rediscover their identity and we all get a little festive cheer in the form of a much-needed win. It’s not too late for this team to turn things around – after all, there’s still plenty of basketball left. And who doesn’t love a good Christmas redemption story?