The Timberwolves want to play fast. Here's the question: Why?

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas, left, and Anthony EdwardsTimberwolves President Gersson Rosas was with Houston before he was hired two years ago, and one of the elements he brought with him from the Rockets organization was an emphasis on playing "fast."

That can mean a lot of things, which we will get to in a moment, but one statistic that helps quantify it is "pace" — the number of possessions a team has every game. The Rockets over the past decade often have been in the top five in the league in that category, a result of seeking out opportunities early in the shot clock.

Such a style can work for a team if — a big if — it is suited to play…