Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

Mid-Week Matchup: Timberwolves vs. Thunder

By Max Neuhaus

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Andrew Wiggins #22, Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during the 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 22: Andrew Wiggins #22, Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during the 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 8
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves pose for portraits during 2017 Media Day on September 22, 2017 at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Courts at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Shooting Guard: Jimmy Butler vs. Andre Roberson

The highlight of the Timberwolves offseason faces off against the worst starter for the Thunder. This one seems like a no-brainer.

Butler is a legitimate superstar and a top-15 player in The Association. He has the ability to not only put up 25 points a game, but he can also stop the other team’s star player.

A great sign for Butler is that he had his best years under his current head coach Tom Thibodeau. While his best stats might have come under Fred Hoiberg, Thibs molded him into the player he is today. Jimmy Buckets went from 2.6 points per game his rookie season to 20 per game in just four short years under the current Wolves coach.

If we were just talking about the defensive side of the ball, this would be a much closer argument. Roberson operated with success almost exclusively, on the defensive end. Last season, the Thunder shooting guard was 28th in the league in defensive win shares at .042. Butler sat at .051. For reference, Draymond Green was at the top with .062.

Roberson is almost invisible on the offensive end; last season was his highest scoring average at 6.6. Once again for reference, the scoring-challenged Ricky Rubio scored 11.1 points per game last season for the Wolves.

It is almost impressive to see a playoff team like Oklahoma City have a starter that averages 6.6 points per game. In some ways, it made Russ’ MVP winning season that much more notable. With that being said, he will not be asked to score much this season with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony on the roster.

Butler is among the elite in the NBA, and very few players can win an argument on who the better player is. Let’s put this head-to-head matchup into that category.

Advantage: Jimmy Butler

Home/Timberwolves News