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Mid-Week Matchup: Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

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) /
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PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 6: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves smiles before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 6, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 6: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves smiles before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 6, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Small Forward: Andrew Wiggins vs. Trevor Ariza

I feel like, every time we talk about Andrew Wiggins, we always have to put an asterisk by any statement we make. That asterisk being “This is before he is going to make his big jump and explode into an All-Star”.

Statements like “Currently, Wiggins is basically just a 20+ point per game scorer” or “Wigs is an awful off the ball defender”.

While the former number one overall pick might have a lot of growing still left in him, Trevor Ariza knows what he is.

He is a 12.4 point, 5.3 rebound, and 2.4 assist per game role player for a very good squad. A guy who shoots 35.4 percent from deep while shooting 6.6 threes a game. Something that Ariza does that Wiggins doesn’t is show consistency on the defensive end. Through his 15 year career, the Houston small forward has never posted a negative defensive plus/minus. Wigs, with all his athleticism and length, has yet to post a positive defensive plus/minus number through three years.  

Wiggins, however, can cover up for his flaws on defense with his elite level offense. He has upped his points per game by at least three every season. He also improved on something the Wolves need desperately: 3-point shooting. He went from 31.0 percent during his rookie year to dropping to 30.0 percent his second season. In the former Kansas Jayhawk’s third year, however, his long ball percentage skyrocketed to 35.6 percent.

Both seem to be cemented to the third option status on their respective teams. If I want a third option, there are not a lot better than Andrew Wiggins.

Advantage: Andrew Wiggins

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