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Mid-Week Matchup: San Antonio Spurs 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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SHENZHEN, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in action against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in action against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

Point Guard: Jeff Teague vs. Tony Parker

Tony Parker has an amazing resume. Coming into his 17th year, he is averaging 16.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. He is a five-time NBA champion. No matter how well he does, he always seems to be underrated by the media who favors 3-point shooting and flashy passing. In some ways, Parker is in a similar category as longtime Memphis Grizzlies point man Mike Conley.

Last season, however, the Frenchman has started to show his age. In 2016-17, he averaged career lows, or near-career lows, in every category. Parker averaged 10.1 points per game, his lowest output since his rookie season. He averaged half a steal a game, the lowest of his career. Parker also had 4.5 assists a game — second-lowest only to his rookie year. Even his per-game rebounding average of 1.8 was the lowest in his illustrious career.

Unlike Parker, Jeff Teague is in the prime of his career. He is also coming to a team that has scorers around him, making the point guard’s job much easier. Guys like Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins will help Teague both distribute and score. With the ability of both Wiggins and Butler to drive into the paint at will, Teague will have plenty of opportunity to knock down triples. His 35.7 3-point percentage should improve with him being one of the better three- ball shooters on the team.

Teague’s numbers are very solid for a starting point guard in the NBA; he averaged 15.3 points, 7.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game last season while starting every game last season with Indiana.

Digging a little deeper into the stats, Teague last season did things that Parker has not done since the 2012-13 season. The former Atlanta Hawk had a player efficiency rating of 19.2 last year. Compare that to Parker’s last three seasons of 13.0, 16.2, and 15.9 and Teague’s PER looks even more impressive.

I hear you saying, “But Max, Parker is in the twilight of his career. Look at the full scope of his numbers”. While the longtime Spur might have the better career numbers, Teague is currently the better player, and that gives him the advantage here.

Advantage: Jeff Teague

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