Sam Mitchell: Wiggins should 'be aggressive and take the ball to the basket'

Andrew Wiggins has already learned how to get to the free-throw line at a fantastic rate. That's why, before Monday's game against the Spurs, one which the Timberwolves would eventually lose 101-95 to fall to 11-20 on the season, coach Sam Mitchell told his star second-year player to keep heading to the rim.

From Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune:

Wiggins finished Monday's game 8-of-18 from the field with 18 points. The bad news? He didn't shoot too well from outside the paint. The good? He got to the line eight times, though he made only a couple of those free throws. More importantly, Wiggins went 5-of-5 on attempts inside five feet of the rim. 

Wiggins' three-point shot is still inconsistent. If he's open, he can make them, but he's obviously not confident in his accuracy from long range just yet and is making a mere 24 percent of his threes on the season. So, for him to be efficient, Wiggins truly does need to keep penetrating at the rim. He's not finishes as efficiently around the hoop as he did a season ago (he made 67 percent of his attempts at a rim a season ago compared to just 59 percent this year), but at least he's getting there more. Once Wiggins develops the instincts that allow him to distribute in penetration, those numbers will probably improve, if only because the defense will have to be more wary about defending the pass as opposed to just the shot. 

For now, though, keep getting to the hoop, Andrew. You're doing just fine on that front.