At the All-Star break, the Minnesota Timberwolves sit tied for the fifth seed in the loaded Western Conference with a 34-22 record. That’s a solid mark in a brutal conference, but it also comes with a bit of a caveat - there have been several games that were well within reach, only to slip away late.
Some of those losses fall on the players, sure. But others?
They point directly to the head coach’s clipboard.
Chris Finch has done a lot right this season, but there’s no denying that late-game execution and rotation choices have cost this team. And with the second half of the season looming - and playoff seeding tightening - those are areas that need to be cleaned up fast.
Crunch-Time Chaos: The Wolves Need a Clearer Late-Game Identity
Let’s go back to late November - two back-to-back heartbreakers against the Suns and Kings. The Phoenix game, in particular, was a stomach-punch.
Minnesota led by eight with just 51 seconds left... and still lost. That’s not just bad luck - that’s a collapse.
Poor inbound plays, questionable timeout usage, and an overall lack of structure in the final moments all played a role. And in those situations, the spotlight turns to the coaching staff.
Now, to be fair, the Wolves have actually been one of the better clutch teams in the league overall. A big reason for that?
Anthony Edwards. The 22-year-old has been the NBA’s most reliable clutch scorer this season, and he’s bailed the team out more than once with late-game heroics.
But relying on Edwards to play Superman every night is a dangerous game - especially when he has an off shooting night or defenses key in on him in the postseason.
When that happens, the Wolves’ offense tends to stall. The ball sticks, possessions get stagnant, and they fall into a pattern of late-clock isolations that rarely end well.
That’s not a sustainable formula. Finch and his staff need to implement a more structured, team-oriented approach in clutch situations - something that doesn’t rely so heavily on individual brilliance.
Rotation Tweaks: Time to Tap Into the Bench Depth
Beyond late-game management, Finch’s rotation decisions have also raised eyebrows. This is a deep roster, but too often, the Wolves have leaned on lineups that just don’t fit the matchup - especially when Rudy Gobert runs into foul trouble.
Right now, Gobert is the team’s only consistent seven-footer in the rotation. When he’s off the floor, Minnesota has often turned to a frontcourt pairing of Naz Reid and Julius Randle.
That duo brings offensive punch, no doubt, but defensively and on the boards, it’s been a struggle. Against bigger lineups, that combo has been exposed repeatedly.
Enter Joan Beringer. The young big man has mostly been stuck at the end of the bench, but he offers something this team lacks: vertical spacing and rim protection.
He’s not a cure-all, but in matchups where size matters, Beringer can give you valuable minutes as a lob threat and interior defender. It’s time to give him a real look.
And it’s not just the frontcourt that needs a shakeup. In the backcourt, Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr. have both shown flashes that warrant more consistent roles.
Shannon brings elite speed in transition and has quietly become a reliable corner three-point shooter. Hyland, meanwhile, is a microwave scorer who can give you 15-20 points off the bench when he’s in rhythm.
These aren’t just end-of-the-rotation guys - they’re potential difference-makers.
The Mike Conley Question
One looming question is what happens when Mike Conley returns. The veteran point guard has been a steady hand in the past, but with the emergence of Ayo Dosunmu and Hyland, the backcourt rotation is getting crowded.
Dosunmu has brought a level of energy and defensive tenacity that’s hard to ignore, and Hyland’s scoring punch gives the second unit a spark. If Finch goes back to leaning heavily on Conley, it could stall some of that momentum. This isn’t about disrespecting Conley’s résumé - it’s about recognizing where the roster is headed and who’s producing right now.
The Bottom Line
The Timberwolves have the talent to make real noise in the West. Edwards is blossoming into a bona fide star, Gobert anchors the defense, and there’s real depth up and down the roster. But if Minnesota wants to move from “solid playoff team” to serious contender, it starts with adjustments from the top.
Finch doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel - just tighten the screws. Sharper late-game execution.
Smarter, matchup-based rotations. And a willingness to trust the bench when the situation calls for it.
Do that, and the Wolves won’t just be fighting for a top-six seed - they’ll be a team no one wants to see come playoff time.