Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things to watch for hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves

Counter offensive

As the Wolves have taken on a defense-first identity since losing their All-Star big man to injury, it’s their offense that has taken a severe hit as they continue to plummet towards the bottom of the Western Conference.

Over that same stretch that they have risen close to the top of the league in defensive rating, the Wolves have the displeasure of having the second-worst offensive efficiency since December 13 as they’re scoring 96.8 points per 100 possessions, ranking just ahead of the league-worst Atlanta Hawks.

Of course, Towns’ absence has loomed large in that regard and the Wolves’ offense has been stuck in mud without the two-time All-Star on the court, as they’re scoring 96 points per 100 possessions. That’s compared to the team-best 113.7 points per 100 possessions they’re scoring with 24-year-old, making for a 17.7 point drop-off.

Towns’ influence on the Wolves’ offense aside, the offensive revolution the Wolves were aiming to have under Saunders’ first full year in charge struggles to show on a nightly basis. Case in point, the Wolves are the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA (32.1 percent) and have the fourth-worst effective field goal percentage (50.1 percent).

The saving grace to their offense this year has been their ability to score in the paint where they average 49.4 paint points per game and they have the fifth-highest free throw attempt rate at 28.8 percent. Unfortunately, they’re facing off against a Bucks team that surrenders the fewest opponent paint points per game (38.5) and they have the third-lowest opponent free throw attempt rate.

Things can certainly change, but the Bucks will certainly give them plenty of problems, in any event.

The Bucks’ matchup with the Wolves will tip off at 7 p.m. central time at Fiserv Forum.