D’Angelo Russell effect is obvious for Timberwolves | Brainerd Dispatch

The ball ended up in the hands of D’Angelo Russell, who sized up Portland forward Larry Nance Jr. at the top of the arc and fired away.

Splash. Splash.

Two straight triples on back-to-back possessions helped the Wolves draw even with the Blazers en route to their 116-111 road victory that snapped the team’s five-game losing streak.

And they weren’t easy shots, either.

“I mean, deep step back threes. I thought I had a pretty good contest,” Nance Jr. said. “Those are good shots, so hats off to him for that.”

That’s what Russell does. It’s what he brings to the Wolves and part of what the team has missed five times this season when Russell has been out of commission. The Timberwolves are 12-10 with their starting point guard this season, and 0-5 without him.

It should be noted four of the five games Russell has missed were against teams currently three-plus games over .500, so it’s possible if not likely the Wolves would’ve lost those, anyway.

But Minnesota is clearly a better team when Russell is on the floor. As much is to be expected for any max-salary player. But it stands out with Russell because the Wolves have hardly been competitive when he’s been out.

Minnesota is outscoring opponents by 9.1 points per 100 possessions this season when Russell is on the floor — far and away the best mark of any rotation player on the team. The defense is miles better with Russell than without him.

“He managed the end of the game (Sunday) really, really well,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Defensively we were locked in and he has really good defensive instincts, particularly when he’s off the ball. He’s just really good at being in the right place.”

The point guard has served as a quarterback on both ends of the floor, with his communication aligning his team’s efforts.

“He’s needed,” Wolves guard Anthony Edwards noted. “His IQ, the leadership he brings, and everything he brings to the table every night. He’s needed out there, for sure.”

Edwards himself had been struggling more offensively of late without Russell on the floor. That he got things back on track in the game in which Russell returned from ankle soreness likely isn’t a coincidence.

“(Opposing defenses have) gotta guard [DLo]. Not only can he give us good looks, you gotta stop him. He’s thinkin’ score,” Edwards said. “So once you stop him from scoring, then he can pass it to me and I can score. Or he can pass it to KAT, and KAT can score. Or he can pass it to (Patrick Beverley), and PB can (score), yeah. And (Jarred Vanderbilt) is cutting and getting every offensive rebound. So it’s like pick your poison at that point.”

That might be one of the biggest reasons for the stark contrast in Minnesota’s play with Russell and without him. Yes, Russell is a very good player who has an all-star appearance under his belt. But he’s also one of Minnesota’s only shot creators. If he isn’t initiating the offense and breaking down or shooting over opposing defenses, then who is?

Beverley is much more effective playing off the ball than dominating it. Jordan McLaughlin and Leandro Bolmaro have flashed their limitations this season while serving as Beverley’s backups when Russell is out.

Everyone seems to be pushed into a role they aren’t best suited for when Russell is out. That might speak as much to the limitations of the Wolves’ current roster as anything else, but the point stands: If the Wolves are to contend for anything of any significance this season, they’ll need Russell on the floor to do it.