https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1/8/16861934/nba-jimmy-butler-minnesota-timberwolves-tom-thibodeau

since the beginning of december, the wolves have literally been the best team in the NBA. 1st in net rating, 1st in offense, 9th in defense. they're on pace to win TWENTY more games than they did last year. right today, butler is a top 5 MVP candidate and thibs is probably the frontrunner for exec of the year. they've even gotten KAT to actually try defensively.

ima really need y'all to talk about it more. word. because there's been a whole lot of greasy talk about those two on this board over the years.

@AaronGleeman

Tyus Jones has now started 10 games. His plus/minus in those games:

+22
+3
+20
+4
+30
+23
+9
-8
+14
+36

Jones has been plus in all but one of his 10 starts, and overall as a starter he's +153 points in 337 minutes or +22 points per 48 minutes.

http://es.pn/2CTlc6h

bron getting old.

Tyus: 6 points, 3-8 shooting, 8 assists to 1 turnover, 2 steals, +36
IT: 9 points, 3-11 shooting, 3 assists to 3 turnovers, no steals, -20

I thought IT was the difference maker. Hmmm.

I would love nothing more than if the Wolves fucked around and somehow knocked out the Warriors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeamKWfJsoQ

The fact that he's only 21 with his basketball IQ, even at the NBA level, is mind-boggling.

http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=8&topic_id=2627956&mesg_id=2627956&listing_type=search

Including one of the best young players in the world in KAT,
another #1 overall, a former All star guard who has been hurt,
and Jimmy, who has been all world for years.

LOL.

They are playing like a loaded team with tons of talent
should play.

Sam Mitchell didn't get this team to play with, as niggas
like that never do.




----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

i love it.

>i love it.

KAT is one of the 3 best big men in basketball, and
is going to be top 5 in the league for the next decade
plus.

Jimmy doing Jimmy.

Wiggins is still Wiggins: maybe the best athlete in
the league.

Teague was an All-star in 2015.

Team is loaded.



----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

https://tinyurl.com/y7tglrgj

Although Wiggins "maybe the best athlete in the league"... come on

(Tyus has better ORtg, better DRtg, better BPM, better VORP, better WS/48-- Teague has a *negative* BPM.)

(Not to discount anything else you're saying, just pointing out that they're better when the 2015 All-Star is on the bench. Carry on.)

>(Tyus has better ORtg, better DRtg, better BPM, better VORP,
>better WS/48-- Teague has a *negative* BPM.)

>>(Tyus has better ORtg, better DRtg, better BPM, better
>VORP,
>>better WS/48-- Teague has a *negative* BPM.


lol

Sam got shafted.

...A non star or whatever bullshit they uttered to just admit they were wrong...

Butler is in the MVP mix....He's leading the Wolves...On both sides of the ball....In the West...

The cracks about "The Mechanic," who happens to be one of the most clutch players in the league in the 4th quarter (his per in the 4Q and overtime is now up to 35.8...For a wild comparison Jordan holds the record at 32.9 back in 96/97) not being the caliber of Klay or whoever now come off as pretty much hilariously foolish....

Now back to breakfast...More Earl Grey....

but butler is as close as it gets. (lebron slower?)

he's won their last 7 head-to-head matchups, and just held him to his lowest scoring game in 10 years.

Wow...never knew that stat....Interesting....

When KAT was slumping and Wiggins continued with his inconsistent fuckery.

It's his team now.

>When KAT was slumping and Wiggins continued with his
>inconsistent fuckery.
>
>It's his team now.


This.....I mean.....it was his team as soon as he was traded there.....

and with Leonard banged up, the wolves hitting a decent stride, I think it'll happen.

the Spurs have played well without Kawhi so I wouldn't count them out yet

where will this team land in the post-season? Fair question to ask since folks have them on that next level, no?

reasonable short term goal for a team coming off a 31 win season and a 14 year playoff drought.

lulz @ "pedestal" btw.

wouldn't be doing.

The team has talent.

What Thibs is doing is playing his guys too many minutes... AGAIN.

Thibs has also not transformed the defense. I thought that's what he was supposed to do.

Now Jimmy is finally playing well. He still shoots too much and plays ball stopping offense.

And Jimmy is still the same guy who blew an 0-2 lead last year to the Celtics after Rondo went down.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4c72xeaBF1qkdieno1_500.gif

-Why wouldn't John Wall be MVP?
-Rondo, Brow and Boogie = DYNASTY!!!
-I could out-GM Danny Ainge RIGHT NOW! He too white, can't identify with the players!
-BIG BLUEGRASS BRAND BABY!!! :-D
-Jay Triano done lost the team! He too young! Ain't no way you losing that much with that many UK players on the roster. He lost 'em!

.

I wanted to throw Jon Hood in there but I thought that might be overplaying the gag.

I just added on mixing in RBOisms.

I guess if KAT don't get all the shine, you got the sad emoji face huh?

My bad.

For future reference...just laugh playboi.

My bad.

they've got the highest scoring offense in the league outside of GS/HOU.

the defense is really starting to coalesce (http://on.nba.com/2mk2avu)

guys are starting to figure out their roles and get comfortable in them.

i think they're on track to be a legitimate title contender within the next season or two.

mixed with the timing of Lavar Ball being in the sporting news cycle for throwing renewed shots at Luke Walton made it too hard for me not to make that reference. I didn't mean anything other than that because honestly, I don't have too much interest in the Wolves this regular season. And I think it's fair that if he is indeed playing his starters for huge minutes in the regular season, it stands to reason they will have it difficult in the post-season.

i mean

http://bkref.com/tiny/6J1gk

that's just ridiculous.

but i do think it's kind of corny that it's literally the ONLY thing people ever want to talk about when they discuss thibodeau. as if him playing his main guys 3 or 4 mpg more than he probably should completely nullifies everything else about him that makes him a great coach.

given that other teams routinely rest their star players during the regular season. I don't follow the Timberwolves too tough, so I dunno if their bench is that weak as to where Thibs is forced to play his starter that hard. I suppose they could do well enough in the first rounds of the playoffs if they play against a lower seeded team that doesn't have the luxury of resting players due to trying get decent seeding, but they'll have to hard to play against top tier teams with reasonably rested players in further rounds.

This has nothing to do with the Timberwolves or this post in general, but it was pretty surprising to see Harrison Barnes and Wesley Mathews so high up on that minutes played list since the Mavericks are toxic refuse. I guess Mark Cuban is a believer of those dudes earning their relatively large paychecks.

Crazy regular season minutes = burnout in May. I think there is some truth to that.

https://deadspin.com/tom-thibodeau-is-destruction-1821265024

>Crazy regular season minutes = burnout in May. I think there
>is some truth to that.
>
>https://deadspin.com/tom-thibodeau-is-destruction-1821265024
>
>

http://hoopshype.com/2018/01/15/jamal-crawford-on-the-wolves-success-tom-thibodeaus-minute-distribution-jimmy-butlers-dominance-lavar-ball-and-more/

You’ve played for so many different coaches. I think it’s up to 18 now. What is Tom Thibodeau like compared to your previous coaches and how has your experience with Thibs been so far?

JC: Nobody is more prepared than him. Nobody. Nobody has watched more film of us, and nobody has watched more film of the opposition. I’m willing to bet anything on that. He just spends so much time preparing and knowing everything about teams, inside and out. He’s unbelievable when it comes to that stuff. People may see him screaming on TV – or actually hear him screaming through the TV – but it’s because he truly loves the game and he’s really passionate. I’ve learned that about him. He’s just trying to get us to be the best versions of ourselves, and he really wants us to take that next step as a group. We’re trying and we’re getting a lot better, and I think we’re hearing his message clearer.