NEW YORK — An old problem for the Timberwolves popped up in their loss to Portland on Sunday.
The team's transition defense allowed the undermanned Trail Blazers to run up and down the floor and score 25 fast-break points. This was a problem that appeared early in the season when the Wolves deployed the two-big lineup of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, but it became less of a problem after Towns went out for an extended time because of a right calf injury.
The Wolves have wanted to exploit an advantage they might have on the offensive glass given their height, so they have not wanted to simply have everybody retreat once a shot goes up.