The Timberwolves may have won again Saturday at home over the Pacers after pulling away in the second half. But Wolves coach Chris Finch, ever the perfectionist, lamented the team’s slow offensive start, which has been a trend of late.

“We have this habit of starting games just not taking great shots,” Finch said. “Offensively, we’re kind of easing our way into games. I’d like to see cleaner starts.”

Over their last eight games, the Wolves are scoring just 101.5 points per 100 possessions in the first quarter, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA over that time.

That’s a full 24 points per 100 possessions lower than Minnesota’s third-quarter offensive rating in that same span. Lately, the Wolves’ offense looks disjointed to open the game and like a smooth sailing ship after the half.

Why is that the case? Star guard Anthony Edwards said it’s as simple as “coming in (the locker room) and getting cussed out” at halftime.

But there’s likely more to it than that. Finch said at the outset of games, the Wolves seem to lack “pop” and aggression turning corners on offense until the game “warms up a bit.”

He noted on Saturday, Minnesota wasn’t sharp. The Wolves weren’t locked into the game plan. Mistakes were abundant.

It’s not unusual for teams to “feel out” the game in the minutes following the opening tip. That could especially be true for Minnesota. The Timberwolves are loaded with various offensive weapons and ways in which they can beat you. Which means the opposing defense has a number of options for trying to slow them down.

Do you double-team Karl-Anthony Towns? Does your top defensive wing guard Towns or Edwards? Do you try to clog the lane to take away driving lanes? Every night, Minnesota may face a different defensive look that will dictate a different offensive approach.

That could mean the Timberwolves are a little less decisive early in games on offense as they try to nail down on the best plan of attack. And it helps explain why they look like such dynamos in the second and third quarters, when they’ve seen enough to know what to expect.

“We like to play in our concepts and stuff, and then we can see what the defense is doing through a variety of actions, and then we can try to drill down on some things,” Finch said.

Towns credited the coaching staff for Minnesota’s halftime adjustments and discussions.

“I think in the third quarter we understand the game a little more. We understand how important that third quarter is at setting a tone early on in the second half,” Towns said. “I think we’ve been doing a really good job of imposing ourselves into a game and find ourselves in a good spot for the rest of the game.”

Because players then know the options the defense has at its disposal, and everyone is on the same page as to how the Wolves will attack the different looks.

“You gather your counters and understand things that are going to work better. You also understand that maybe it’s not the night you’re going to be the shooter. You’re going to be the passer, the facilitator,” Towns said. “I think there is a point to that as well.”

And, as the Wolves have shown this season, when they are on the same page and operating in an efficient manner, their high level of talent takes over. At that point, Minnesota is difficult to stop.

“When we do efficient things,” Finch said, “we can score the ball.”

Sometimes, it just takes a little while to reach that point.

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