4. Andrew Wiggins shoots a high percentage
Over a three-week period in February and March, Andrew Wiggins scored 20-plus points nine times in 10 games and shot 48 percent from the floor.
There isn’t a backcourt in the NBA that can match the Rockets in terms of offensive production, but Wiggins is one of the top eight-to-10 offensive small forwards in the game and his scoring can at least help offset some of the disparity.
Just scoring isn’t enough, though. Minnesota needs Wiggins to shoot efficiently and make big shots, particularly from the perimeter. Towns is the Timberwolves’ number one option on offense but the more they rely on him, the more the Rockets are going to sink in on defense to challenge him. As one of the best passing big men in the league, Towns will find the open man if he’s double-teamed. Wiggins can be and has to be the benefactor by shooting consistently.
Harden’s feeling it, the Rockets are starting a run, and Minnesota, needing to answer badly, gets the ball to Towns at the elbow or baseline. He goes to the rim, Wiggins’ man slides in to help, and Towns hits him in the corner for a good look from 3. He misses it, the Rockets grab a long rebound, are off to the races, drain another 3 in transition and things can quickly get out of hand. He makes it, things slow down, the Timberwolves keep the game close and Houston is forced to respect Wiggins from outside, giving Towns more room to operate effectively.
Wiggins was 21 of 44 (47.7 percent) and 8 of 14 (57 percent) from deep in three games against Houston this season, but he went and 2-for-14 including 0-for-5 from deep in the fourth matchup. If he can shoot at the percentages he did in three games, or at least close to it, for four or five games of a seven-game series, Minnesota has a lot better chance of surprising the Rockets and the rest of the NBA.