Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

2017-18 Season Outlook: The optimist, pessimist, and realist

By Josh Bungum

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 09: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts after drawing a foul on a basket against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 9, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 09: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts after drawing a foul on a basket against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 9, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 13: Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts after a dunk in the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 13: Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts after a dunk in the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Pessimist

Well, that was fun, wasn’t it?

Now let’s turn into the largely pessimistic and inherently salty fans this team has forced us to become over this brutal 13-year stretch.

There is honestly no way that the players on this team can stay as healthy as they have over the last few seasons.


Either Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, or Karl-Anthony Towns is destined to suffer a somewhat severe injury over the course of the season. It’s just the law of averages coming back to bite the Wolves in the rear. The team’s non-existent wing depth will be exposed and the team will bleed points and not be able to compete with top-end opponents.

Jamal Crawford will continue his descent from elite 6th man to a flashy, yet unproductive and inefficient, bench player. Taj Gibson’s inability to stretch the floor will cause spacing problems whenever he is on the court. Also, his defensive instincts and knowledge of Thibs’ principles won’t be enough to offset his age and offensive limitations.

Jeff Teague will be the odd man out, realizing that he isn’t as effective without the ball in his hands as was expected when he signed his hefty contract. He will become unsatisfied with his role and fail to fit in with his new teammates, creating tension both in the locker room and on the court.

Thibodeau’s loud barks and bellows from the sidelines start to fall on deaf ears as he fails to win with the team that he personally constructed. His former players in Butler and Gibson are reminded of the grinding that eventually led to Thibs’ demise in Chicago. Instead of getting the young stars to follow their gruff coach’s lead, they grow weary of their situation and start looking for greener pastures prematurely.

The Wolves stumble through a rocky year and somehow miss the playoffs yet again, forcing even the most loyal diehard fans to question their allegiance with such a woebegone franchise.