Timberwolves’ pace may have unlocked Chris Finch’s ideal offense

The Minnesota Timberwolves displayed a significantly faster tempo during their 116-97 preseason opener against the Milwaukee Bucks, playing at an estimated pace of 105.1 possessions per 48 minutes. Chris Schad writes that this shift reflects head coach Chris Finch's desire to inject quickness and better ball movement into the offense, moving away from the slower, isolation-heavy schemes seen in previous seasons.

According to Schad, summer roster moves prioritizing athleticism—such as adding LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga alongside Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards—enabled the offensive improvement. The writer argues that this newfound pace and structured ball sharing validated the front office's offseason approach and could establish Minnesota as a major Western Conference contender.