Minnesota Timberwolves Season Outlook: The Thibberwolves

Sean Flannery

Contributing Writer

How will Thibodeau fit in with Wolves?

To put it bluntly, the last decade of basketball in Minnesota has been underwhelming.  It has been over a decade since the T-Wolves have made the playoffs, and they haven’t put a winning season together since the early 2000s when KG was dominating the league.  They’ve spent the last 8 seasons in the basement of the league, and most of the time the team was content with losing in order to acquire high draft picks.  Rebuilding has been a long process, but it is all starting to come together for the T-Wolves.  The era of losing basketball in Minnesota is now coming to an end, and the franchise has plenty of things to be excited about.  They have each of the last two Rookie of the Year award winners, just signed one of best basketball minds in the game, drafted a point guard with a whole lot of potential, and have the reigning slam dunk champ.  The T-Wolves are finally ready to move out of the rebuilding mode and begin establishing a winning culture.

This offseason the T-Wolves hired Tom Thibodeau to take over as their coach and president of basketball operations.  He has had a pretty impressive NBA resume to this point: amongst current NBA coaches Thibs has the 4^th highest winning percentage (.657).  The only three active coaches with a higher winning percentage are Gregg Popovich(.692), Steve Kerr(.854) and Tyronn Lue(.659).  Popovich is arguably the greatest NBA coach of all time, and Lue and Kerr both just coached their teams to the NBA Finals.  Furthermore, Thibs was one the quickest coaches to hit 100 wins, and has been an assistant on the highly talented and successful Team USA.

Establishing a Winning Culture

The biggest critique of Thibs as a coach has been that his team’s regular season success does not translate into the playoffs. His critics claim that he is too defensive minded, and wears out his players in the regular season — but in fact its Thibs defensive mind and hardworking attitude that makes him a great coach.  His Bulls teams never made a real run in the playoffs because they didn’t have the talent to match the other elite teams in the Eastern Conference (a.k.a. any team with Lebron on it) Thibs’ presumed weakness is actually a result of his over achieving success in the regular season.  The Bulls’ front office became complacent of the lack of playoff succuess, but they never recognized the necessary adjustments in player personnel to put together a championship team.

The T-Wolves, in recent years, have been very different than Thibs’ Bulls teams.  They have just as much — if not more — talent, but to this point they have underachieved, and lack a winning culture.  In the past years losing seasons didn’t really matter, because it provided better chances to get assets in the lottery.  In the past there appeared to be more focus on gathering high draft picks than competing and winning, but Thibs can change this.  His system, which focuses on playing tough D and outworking teams, should resonate with this young talented team.  Thibs is going to pressure them to be the hardest working and most competitive team every night.

Can The T-Wolves fit In With The Modern NBA?

The NBA has become a league focused around floor spacing and 3-point shooting, which is one area that the T-Wolves have struggled in the past few seasons.  They ranked 25^th in the league in 3pt percentage (.338), but the team’s 3pt percentage should rise next season as the young players develop and with the acquisition of Brandon Rush (.414 3pt%).  Reports say that the defensive-minded Thibs spent his year off going to NBA games studying how to implement a modern NBA offense (and spent a good amount of time watching the Warriors). The T-Wolves probably won’t be a top 5 3pt shooting team, but expect an improvement.

However, the T-Wolves possess the other half of most important part of the modern game: the ability to guard the 3pt line!!! This sounds crazy because they ranked 27^th in the defensive efficiency last season, but the they have a near dream team of defensive assets in the modern NBA: strong, athletic guards and wings that can become elite all around defenders; and long, athletic bigs that can protect the rim and even guard the perimeter when necessary.  Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine are two of the most athletic players in the league, and have the ability to make any backcourt really have to work to score.  And bigs like Karl Anthony Towns, Jordan Hill and Gorgui Dieng have the size to protect the rim, but also have the ability to switch screens to avoid giving up open 3pt shots.  The key to beating 3pt shooting teams is through defensive versatility, and the T-Wolves can be one of the most versatile defensive teams in the league.

The Wolves have the Potential to be Playoff Bound

The pressure to win is finally beginning to set in on the T-Wolves; expect them to answer the pressure with a breakthrough season.  They should be battling for the 7 or 8 seed in the Western Conference at the end of this season (if they were in the East, I would pencil them in now).  The defense will improve greatly and could end up being the kryptonite for teams that are reliant on the 3-ball, while Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony Towns should continue to improve and impress (they could be the next elite duo in the league, like Russ and KD).  Other young players like Shabazz Muhamad, Zach Lavine, and Nemanja Bjelica will continue to improve into important role players as well; and of course, Thibodeau will be implementing his winning attitude and defensive expertise to all of the young and talented players.  Expect to see the Wolves in the postseason very soon.

NBA Opening Night Recap

John Askins
Staff Writer

A ring ceremony in Cleveland, KD in the Warriors blue and gold, Joe Johnson revitalized in Utah among else… needless to say it was an interesting opening night.

No matter, THE NBA IS BACK!  For the next 8 or so months we get to see our favorite athletes run and throw around a basketball into a hoop, and every moment of it is going to be spectacular.

The festivities kicked off at 4:30pm PST, where the Cleveland Cavaliers hoisted their 2016 championship banner, the first in franchise history, into the rafters to be immortalized for eternity, and Warrior fans shed a collective tear.  Although the Cavs and their loyal fans got to bask in the greatness for a few moments, they quickly realized that everyone has a 0-0 record this season and they can’t rest on their laurels.  For the new-look Knicks, this was their chance to prove that they were more than Carmelo, the Zinger, and a few banged-up ex-Bulls.  For a few glorious moments, the they actually looked like a competitive team: Rose was wreaking havoc in the paint (12 first half points) and Melo was making tough shots (13 first half points) … but then in came the hammer.  Kyrie Irving got hot from deep en route to 29 points, Lebron pieced together a clean 19-11-14 triple-double, K-Love helped out with a 23-10 double-double -- and Knicks were promptly obliterated.  Their offense teetered between “Give it to Melo and watch” and “Wild Rose drive”, and $18m-man Joakim Noah finished with a not-so-encouraging 0-6-3 line in 19 minutes.  Yes, that is a zero.  The Knicks fell 117-88 to the Cavs. Cleveland takes on Toronto on Friday, and the Knicks get to rest until Saturday when they take on Memphis in another early season test.

In the second (least advertised) game of the night, the Portland Trail Blazers took on the Utah Jazz.  The Jazz were without star forward Gordon Hayward, but as you may already know he had a more than ample replacement.  Things really heated up in the second-half, as Joe Johnson took over and scored twenty-seven second-half points, finishing with 29 on 12/16 shooting.  At times it looked like the grizzled old veteran was bullying them out there, reminiscent of the superstar who once commanded a $25 million/yr contract.  However, the Blazers were riding a 16-year long streak of winning home openers, and Dame D.O.L.L.A. and C.J. were not about to let that slide away. Lillard got that look in his eye, and the buckets started flowing.  He finished with 39 points alongside McCollum’s 25, and the Blazers bested the Jazz 113-104.  The Jazz’s Rodney Hood added 26 points and a savage jam, George Hill went for 19 points and 6 assists in his Jazz debut; while Portland enjoyed a spark from Allen Crabbe (18 off the bench).

Then came the marquee matchup of the night: The Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.  Many expected a closely contested game, or possibly the Durant-led Warriors even running away with this one -- but eh… this game was full of unexpected things.  The Spurs and their patented calm, collected nature were unfazed by the starpower and steadily pulled ahead of the Dubs from the very beginning.  Kawhi Leonard posted a career-high 35 points and 5 steals, and his running mate LaMarcus Aldridge looked to enjoy his new role as the big man in San Antonio, posting 26 points and 14 rebounds.  Most importantly, Aldridge utilized his size and hit the boards hard, exposing the chink in the Warriors’ armor that the Cavs exploited in last year’s finals.  Zaza Pachulia looked like he wasn’t up to the task of boxing any Spurs big man out, and finished with a mere 2 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes.  Perhaps the most concerning problem is Klay Thompson’s disappearance, who finished with just 11 points.  Thompson at times looked lost out there, and it remains to be seen whether he can fit with the Durant-infused offense.  The Spurs’ Jonathan Simmons put on a nice sideshow, posting a loud 20 points off the bench, and ageless-wonder Manu Ginobili weaved his way to a 10-5-2 line.  

Should Warriors fans be concerned? No, unless you were betting on the projection of 83 wins. Should Knicks fans be concerned?  Maybe.  Should Cavs, Blazers, and Spurs fans be excited?  Hell yes.  Jazz fans, your future is bright, don’t worry.

Basketball is back, ladies and gentlemen.  By the looks of today, it’s gonna be a helluva ride.

  

Reverse Jam's NBA Power Rankings: Week 0

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Matt: 

Buy Low: Minnesota

With the addition of Kris Dunn to a young and ambitious roster that boasts the last two Rookie of the Years, the Timberwolves are going to take a big leap this season and squeak into the playoffs given the growth of young stars: Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns



Sell High: Knicks

As a fan of the Knicks, it breaks my wishful soul to admit that, no - The Knicks won’t peak at 3rd in the East and obliterate teams.  Throwback Melo and vintage Rose aren’t going to appear and complement Porzingod to terrorize the Eastern conference.  If Rose were to somehow play this season at the level as described on my earlier post, then it would be a different story.  Simply put, Melo is getting old, Porzingis is young, and their most hyped offseason acquisitions are a huge gamble.

Daniel: 

Buy low: Houston Rockets

Under the leadership of Mike “Pringles” D’Antoni, Houston looks poised to make some noise in a tumultuous Western Conference. New additions Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon should fit right in with the head coach’s ideology of offense as the first, second, and third priority. Houston has averaged over 123 points per game in the preseason and looks to be a serious challenger to Golden State as the best offense in the league. In the last two years, Houston has the first and third highest three point shooting seasons by volume. Don’t be surprised if they break their own record by launching well above 30 three pointers a game. 

Of course, the defense will be porous at best. Beverley is not the defender he was just two years ago and Ariza can only tip so many passes.  James Harden and Eric Gordon are a defensive tandem incapable of stopping even an average wing duo. The introduction of Ryan Anderson will only put more pressure on the young shoulders of Clint Capela on the defensive end. HOWEVER, if this team can cobble together a defense that ranks above 22nd or so, the offense should be potent enough to secure a top 4 seed in the West.

Sell High: Milwaukee Bucks  

A star emerges… and a team declines. The loss of Khris Middleton cannot be understated. Last season, the Bucks as a team made 440 three pointers, good for 30th in the league. The Bucks were the worst three point shooting team in a league inevitably swinging towards pace and space. Khris Middleton made 143 threes, nearly a third of the entire roster’s total! Couple that in with the loss of Jerryd Bayless, and just like that the Bucks will have to replace well over half of an already abysmal three point total. The Bucks are so concerned that they traded third string guard Tyler Ennis for forward Michael Beasley and traded Michael Carter-Williams for Tony Snell. Tony Snell! Beasley and Snell are not the answer to any sort of basketball question worth asking. Greg Monroe’s fit in Milwaukee also continues to raise both eyebrows and questions. Simply put, this is a team looking to find an identity beyond “the team with all the oversized players.”

Playing around with Big Ball and Point Giannis is all well and good, but at this point, the Bucks look like a team that would be happy to be in the race for the 8 seed. 

John: 

Buy Low: Charlotte Hornets

As sad as it may be, the Hornets 2016 playoff run was ended by somebody who wasn’t even a part of the organization.  Dwyane Wade was ready to pack his bags and think about free agency… then a voice from the crowd made its way into Wade’s ears, and the garbage that was spoken catalyzed a chemical reaction in his brain that caused his body to think it was 2006, and hell was risen.  He hit two straight 3-pointers -- after making a total of 7 all year -- and brought the Heat back in a pivotal Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round.  The Hornets then keeled over in Game 7, and thus ended their season.  This is the legend of the Purple Shirt Man.

But that season is done, and the Hornets are primed for a top-5 finish in the Eastern Conference. While losing Jeremy Lin and Big Al may take some punch out of the bench unit, I don't think the losses will be game-changers.  Kemba Walker has emerged as not only a force at the point, but a true leader and somebody they can lean on when they really need a bucket.  With MKG back at full health, Batum re-signed, and Zeller poised for a breakout, this team is definitely going places.  The squad possesses all of the necessary components to be efficient in today’s NBA: pacing, spacing, and a strong defensive core.  If everyone stays healthy, expect them to make a stand in a tough Eastern Conference.  Keep an eye on this team as the season goes on.

Sell High: Sacramento Kings

Do you smell a dumpster fire?  Maybe a little harsh, but this team has 99 problems.  Rudy Gay, their second best player, has publicly stated that he doesn’t want to play for the team.  Their starting point guard is suspended for the beginning of the season on domestic abuse charges, and his backup is Ty Lawson. No comment.  Ben McLemore makes a good case for least impactful starter in the league, Rondo is no longer there to force feed them good shots, and their “big” free agent pull was Arron Afflalo.  The show revolves around mercurial big man Boogie Cousins, who is incredibly talented but really needs to mature if he wants to get anything done in the league.  So yes, this team has about as much stability as the San Andreas fault line.  Even though they have one of most -- if not the most -- offensively talented big man in the league, I just can't put them ahead of the promising young teams like the Nuggets and Suns.

Not to mention the defense, which will undoubtedly be a bottom dweller.  Cousins is a heck of a shot blocker, but isn’t really the force that guys like Deandre Jordan or Hassan Whiteside are down there.    There'll be a lot of pressure on him perimeter defense that's looking to be average on the best nights.  Many analysts are betting on Sacramento to gather a bag full of wins based solely on DeMarcus’ talent, but I really can’t see them getting too far past the 25-win threshold this season.