Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 bold predictions for preseason
5. Aaron Brooks wins the initial point guard battle
Aaron Brooks was brought to Minnesota because of his experience in Tom Thibodeau’s system. It’s important to note, however, Tyus Jones has the same amount of experience in the scheme.
Overall, though, Brooks has him trumped in the NBA experience category which is where I think he’ll gain the advantage in early October.
Presumptuously, he was signed due to concerns about Jones ability to handle full backup point guard duties. He’s also proven to be a better outside shooter and shot creator in the past.
Notably, he struggled last year to the tune of 13.0 points and 5.0 assists per 36 minutes. That was the worst point total of his entire NBA careeFortunatelyley, he’s come to the right place to try to recapture some of his early career magic. Or right coach, rather. The last time he played under Thibodeau, he dropped 18.2 points and 5.0 assists per 36.
The scoring department is where he has the biggest advantage over Jones. His added offensive firepower will be welcome off the bench and be a nice compliment to his teammates.
| Rk | Player | From | To | FG% | 3P% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Brooks | 2008 | 2017 | .413 | .370 | .839 | 2.9 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 16.8 |
| 2 | Tyus Jones | 2016 | 2017 | .389 | .333 | .744 | 3.0 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 9.8 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
By season’s end, my guess is Jones overtakes the backup role. He’s too gritty and smart not to. However, it will take him some extra time as Brooks regains his Thibs magic and comes out of the gates firing.