Back to basics is one of the concepts Thibs loves to shout and repeat constantly. And he did it also after a 107-100 victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday night.

“I think you keep it simple. That’s important. You want to try to get good at a few things and then add it once you’re good at those things. Just day by day. Both guys are great workers. They were here early, that gives us some time to do some extra work, and they stay late. So, their preparation helps.”

Saric and Covington showed to give a lot of credits to the basics since their debut in a Timberwolves uniform. But is not just a matter of “willingness”.

Both have at least three key features which the T-Wolves are lacking: high basketball IQ, spatial awareness on defense, working efficiently with a low USG%.

Two things to like about the 2 new addictions from the Butler’s trade.

How these three skills meshed on the court with their new teammates?

CORRECTING BAD TENDENCIES

You can’t count on a single game to track improvements, even if the Wolves had a +21 largest lead, but you can at least compare what it’s working with them on the court with what didn’t work since now.

Covington helped to correct the two major defensive issues of the T-Wolves. Protecting the basket on transitions and securing defensive boards.

Most of the T-Wolves don’t check how much space they control on the ball side and on the help side, they don’t know when is time to stress the ball handler to the sideline and when protecting the basket on full-court defense.

The attention also leaped on guarding on-ball screens and trying to adapt.

Saric guarded Davis 2 times, but he immediately clicked that was better switching on here. He puts his body smartly to avoid the entry-pass.

Few other T-Wolves gets through screens like this, nobody is able to stop ball handler’s momentum and seal him moving laterally.

SKIP PASS IS PAYING DIVIDENDS

High-risk ball reversal has been a key part for the best T-Wolves freelance offense in the last two wins because it started at the right time: when the help is still positioned inside the paint.

T-Wolves created a lot more of open looks from long distance. Last year, the Wolves averaged 5.2 3PA in the 1st quarter. With 4:59 to play in the same quarter, the Wolves were already 4/8 from 3 against the Pelicans. There’s margin to further increase the quality if Towns start to swing the ball beating the double team on time.

Towns doesn’t get the window to come out from that defensive collaboration. He wasn’t in the right spot for that pass.

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