Timberwolves: What exactly is a glue guy?

Many analysts, bloggers, and fans in general consistently throw around the term ‘glue guy’ when describing role players. What exactly does this expression mean?

Every contending NBA franchise has a player that does the little things so the stars are able to capture the spotlight. Think about the things that Tristan Thompson does for the Cleveland Cavaliers or Andre Iguodala does for the Golden State Warriors. These players have stat lines that do not jump out at the casual fan, but people who watch a lot of NBA basketball know how vital they are to the success of their respective teams.

These players come in all shapes and sizes. The Houston Rockets former point guard Patrick Beverly was his team’s version of this player last season. Al Horford was essentially a glorified role guy for his Celtics team in 2016-17. Swingmen such as P.J. Tucker and Thabo Sefolosha have been placed in this group at different points of their careers.

The point is these players all have very different games and styles, but are all grouped into the same category as someone who holds the team together despite not being the focal point of the team. The term ‘glue guy’ is a difficult thing to define, but is something that most fans have the ability to understand.

What do these players do?

Every one of these players can be described as someone who has a high basketball I.Q. They just have an innate understanding of how to play the game and make things easier for their teams. Their teammates can count on them to make the correct pass, rotate properly on defense, and hold everybody accountable for their assignments. This creates a cohesive team atmosphere where everyone can trust each other.

More from Dunking with Wolves

• The dream starting 5 for Minnesota Timberwolves 5 years from now
• Anthony Edwards’ latest accolade is a great sign of things to come
• In an OT thriller, Team Canada snatches Bronze from Team USA
• Timberwolves start, bench, cut: Mike Conley, Shake Milton, Jordan McLaughlin
• Which Timberwolves roster additions have upgraded the bench?

There will be several moments throughout a game where this player will make a hustle play or spark a run with something that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. Maybe this includes deflecting a pass to ignite a fast break opportunity, or tip out a rebound to get a second-chance point and gain momentum.

Over the course of an 82-game schedule, these plays add up. Specifically for an organization like the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, a player who is able to do these things might be the difference in turning season-crippling blown leads into hard fought victories. Understanding how to close games and right the ship when the momentum is going against you is one of the biggest elements these players can give a team.

How this applies to the Wolves:

Perhaps this was the reason why Tom Thibodeau paid a premium to bring in Taj Gibson this offseason. Thibodeau understood better than anyone what he needed in order to enhance his squads’ resilience and grit in close games. He helped groom Gibson into the player he is today, and knew what qualities he would bring to a young team that hadn’t tasted consistent success in a long time.

Many Timberwolves fans were clamoring for a power forward that had the ability to stretch the floor and make life easier for their stars on the offensive end. Although Gibson doesn’t exactly provide these qualities on offense, his game basically accomplishes the same things on the defensive side of the floor.

Instead of spreading the floor and creating driving lanes and open shots for his teammates, Gibson’s value will come in quarterbacking Tom Thibodeau’s defensive principles on the less glamorous end of the floor. He won’t be hitting open threes, but he will be rotating crisply on defense and turning open layups into contested mid-range jump shots. Thidodeau believes that Gibson’s contributions on defense, as well as his blue-collar work on the offensive end, will bring more value to the Wolves than a power forward who could shoot the outside shot at a high rate.

What to expect next season:

The Wolves are banking on Gibson being their designated ‘glue guy’ this upcoming season. All of his previously mentioned qualities are expected to bring a more consistent winning mentality to players like Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Familiarity with his former (and now current) coach’s system should lead to an increased understanding of how to execute during crunch time.

Wolves’ fans can look at a recent precedent of how this looks. Remember back to the 2015-16 season when Kevin Garnett and Tayshaun Prince were in the starting lineup and the Wolves first unit was among the tops in the NBA in defensive rating? Although Garnett and Prince were both well past their primes, they were able to anchor a top defensive unit that consisted of younger versions of Wiggins and Towns. Natural progressions of the two former number one picks, younger defensive stalwarts in Jimmy Butler and Gibson, and the teachings of defensive savant Tom Thibodeau should (fingers crossed) lead to something similar for the Wolves this season.

Only time will tell if Taj Gibson’s skills will translate to more victories this season for the Timberwolves. If Towns, Butler, and Wiggins are the engine that runs the car, Gibson can be viewed as the oil that keeps it functioning at a high level. If he is able to bring his best to Minnesota, the team will play off of his energy and intelligent play. t his contract as a great signing by Thibodeau, instead of an overpay for a former pupil.

Next: Tom Thibodeau is walking on thin ice

Hopefully, in about eight months we are looking back at his contract as a great signing by Thibodeau, instead of an overpay for a former pupil.