Mike Conley s confidence shines at Timberwolves training camp

Mike Conley has played the role of point guard throughout his basketball career--if you believe in the basketball creed of "point guard is born", then his qualifications are even longer. He always controls the tempo of the game, organizes his teammates and solves problems on the field in real time.

He will be 38 years old next week as he enters his 19th NBA season. If the experience of running a team over the past two decades has taught him anything, it's how to deliver information efficiently: after a loss, he pulled Anthony Edwards aside in the locker room to provide guidance on key possessions; when preparing for the playoffs, he assisted head coach Chris Finch in the video analysis room to make tactical reports sink in.

Conley's age, his lackluster performance against the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, and the Timberwolves' lack of depth at the position have made the point guard the biggest focus of training camp. The fifth-oldest player in the league knows he fell short of his personal standards last season.

If anyone expects Conley to decline in the last year of his contract, they may be disappointed. The team's most notable attribute in the early days of training camp was the determination that emanated from his usually gentle voice. In the five-game Western Conference Finals loss to the Thunder, he averaged only 4.4 points and shot 21% from the field, missing his first career Finals for the second consecutive year.

If you want to inspire each other's greater potential, Conley believes that the best way is to give him control again, and the coach also fully agrees.

"To perform at your best, I think you need to have the ball in your hands, " Conley said at media day. "That doesn't mean I have to take the shot, but as a point guard, I grew up in the specific way of this position-when you initiate the offense, control the rhythm, and guide the flow of the game, you will have a keener sense of the game. "

This is by no means a hard requirement-it will never be the case with Conley's usual tact. He knows this is Edwards' team and that second-year guard Robert Dillingham is looking for an opportunity to take his playing time. This is more like a sincere request to his teammates: please give him trust again and let him display his best organizational talents to create the most comfortable offensive rhythm for everyone.

"When you stick to a certain area for a long time - such as staying in the corner for too long, or not touching the ball for several rounds in a row, your state will stagnate," Conley explained, "Because your playing time is limited, you don't have time to slowly find a rhythm, and you must make an impact immediately. If It will be of great benefit if I can control the situation more decisively. "

Last season, Conley averaged 8.2 points per game, 24.7 minutes of playing time, and 38% two-point field goal percentage, all hitting career lows. His sharp throws in the past also lost his sights. According to common sense, the pace of the game is indeed harsh on the 38-year-old veteran, but both Conley and Finch believe that the problem goes beyond that.

For Conley, the summer of 2024 will be extremely difficult. As a core member of the team that defeated the defending champion Nuggets and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, he hobbled into the offseason with ankle and wrist injuries. Injuries prevented him from practicing properly, resulting in a rusty state when he reported to training camp last season - as of November, he shot only 26% on two-pointers.

As the season progresses, his shooting gradually picks up. Despite limited offensive play, he still maintained a 41% three-point shooting rate throughout the season. From New Year's Day to the end of the regular season, his three-point shooting percentage increased to 45% and his two-point shooting percentage reached 42%. According to cleaningtheglass.com, when he is on the court in non-garbage time, the team's net rating increases by 3.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking third on the team.

"I held myself accountable far more than others last year, " Conley said frankly, "I know that I am far from the level I should be. "

He still had highlight moments in the playoffs: blocking LeBron James against the Lakers in the first round, and bypassing countless screens to chase down Buddy Hield in the second round to help the team regain its defensive nature and defeat the Warriors. What's more, he was far from the only one who was in a sluggish state against the Thunder.

This summer is completely different for Conley. After getting rid of the injury, he was able to devote himself to training, resumed his golf hobby and even scored a hole-in-one for the first time in his career.

"I feel like I'm fully prepared for training camp," Conley said. "It's a relief to be able to go back to shooting training and do things that I couldn't do last summer."

All signs indicate that Conley will continue to be the starting point guard in the new season. Finch believes that his defensive ability to bypass screens and offensive control are the core elements of the Timberwolves' tactical system. The team's key issue in the preseason - the improvement of transition offense, is inseparable from his key participation.

According to assistant coach Micah Norrie, the Timberwolves ranked 27th in the league in transition opportunities last season, but ranked third in efficiency (based on the team's internal tracking data). Another key stat that Finch often cites: The team ranked in the top five in pass returns from the backfield last season. A common scenario is that when Gobert grabs a defensive rebound, Edwards, Conley and Randle will drop back to get the ball at the same time. For this reason, the first rule of the training camp is: if Gobert grabs a rebound and Conley is on the court, only he has the right to return the ball, and the other players must rush forward at full speed to receive long passes to create more transition opportunities.

"I think if this tactic is implemented, the shooting rights of Julius (Randle) and Anthony (Edwards) will never be compromised," Norrie said.

Conley continues to convey the same concept to his teammates: He does not hold the ball for independent offense. He is by no means a new-era scoring point guard, but adheres to the essence of traditional organization to create opportunities for his teammates. He took the initiative to communicate with Edwards and Randall, who prefer to play half-court offense at a high pace, and emphasized the importance of launching a fast break before the defense is in position.

"We discussed it over and over, and I always reminded them, " Conley said, "If I advance with the ball, please believe that it is never for myself. As long as you run, I will pass the ball. I want to always play the role of quarterback-this is my mission. "

Initial signs are that his philosophy is permeating.. "Last year, our players' retreat to the ball resulted in poor tactics execution, especially I - I am always used to returning the ball," Edwards admitted, "Now you just need to run the frontcourt to get opportunities, especially catch and shoot. "

This will open a new dimension for the Timberwolves' offense. Last season, their offensive efficiency ranked eighth, but they firmly believe that if the conversion offense is improved, their ranking will be improved.

Finch's challenge is how to control Conley's playing time while keeping his start. The team needs to preserve his physical fitness for the playoffs and give Dillingham the necessary exercise. Even if the latter would squeeze his time, Conley is still happy to help the rookie grow:

"I see that he is extremely eager to succeed and eager to perform well, which makes me look forward to it. "

Conley also has a passionate desire. He understood the importance of going further to the team and knew how to inject energy into the goal. In his late years, he is no longer humble. If he wants to truly activate the offense, the oldest player in the team must be in charge of the ball.