After officially naming Ryan Saunders the long-term head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saunders got to work speaking with the media, and was very honest about what he thought needed to be fixed when it comes to the team if they want to make it back into the postseason.
Saunders: defense is something we need to clean up. … more switching, double switching, possible zone at times and just being able to guard situations without helping off corners
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) May 21, 2019
Speaking to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, Saunders noted that the Wolves defense is something that absolutely has to be cleaned up. Saunders noted that things like switching, double switching, and incorporating zones is something that the team has to be able to do better, especially if the team wants to continue being competitive.
Saunders will look to improve a Wolves team that has been looking for consistency for some time. After taking over as head coach last year following the firing of former coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau, Saunders led the team to a 17-25 record. Despite the poor record, Saunders has proven to be a likable coach, and is experienced enough to help build the young roster of the Wolves while also managing some of the more veteran players.
With a full offseason coming up, Saunders is also expected to begin rounding out his staff, and will reportedly be looking to bring in a “defensive guru” to help get the team to newer heights. With defensive standouts like Robert Covington on the team, it’s not exactly absurd to think the team could turn their defensive play around with the right coach, and if they can, the Wolves might finally be ready to be a consistent player in the Western Conference playoffs.
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