Size Matters: Butler improves Timberwolves’ defense
By Ken Bradley
The addition of Jimmy Butler makes the Timberwolves an all-around better team. But don’t overlook the impact that adding his size to the wing will have on the entire roster and the nightly matchups the Wolves will face.
In many aspects of life, size matters, and the NBA is no exception. The Timberwolves had this confirmed to them during the absence of Jimmy Butler in back-to-back losses last week. The Timberwolves increased their wing defender size during the summer in adding Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, who can both defend multiple positions.
The additions of both veterans helped the entire team get bigger.
Butler can defend guards and forwards and Gibson and can guard fives, fours, and threes. The duo offers advantages on both ends of the court, but especially defensively. Likely as important, Jimmy Bucket’s arrival allows Wiggins to shift to the guard position, which gives him his own size advantage.
Early this year, former Timberwolves coach Sam Mitchell said the following KSTP’s Doogie Wolfson’s Scoop episode 88 podcast:
"Playing defense in the NBA is the hardest thing to do … It takes time to learn how to be a good team defender."
The Timberwolves’ recent loses against the Pacers and Spurs are proving Mitchell and his successor, Tom Thibodeau, are correct, which is why potential is traded for experience.
Butler and Gibson are strong defenders that can cover multiple positions and become a guiding force to the rest of the pack, helping them understand Alpha-Wolf-Thibodeau’s commands. Butler is, without a doubt, the primary leader of the two and his presence provides benefits for existing players.
While Towns and Wiggins are superb athletes and offensive players, Butler and Gibson are here to develop them into dominant defensive players.
2017-18 Small Forward Rankings
A recent Sporting News ranked Jimmy Butler seventh-best small forward, following Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Gordon Hayward. The recent and unfortunate injury to Hayward would move him up at least one tick, of course.
All of these players are also considered overall near the very top of the NBA, which is exactly why having an elite defender at this position is essential to having success. Teams will not make the playoffs without a solid defender at the three-spot to slow down the best players in the league.
2017-18 Shooting Guard Rankings
Last year, a Sporting News ranking of shooting guards James Harden, Klay Thompson and C.J. McCollum as the top-three shooting guards. Neither Andrew Wiggins nor Zach LaVine, who split time at the two-guard for the Wolves last year, made the top-16, nor the “just missed the cut” group, thus not being ranked in the top-20 at the other key wing position in the NBA. (Wiggins was probably seen as more of a small forward when this ranking was done.)
The 2017-18 Sporting News ranking of top shooting guards are very similar, with the exception of Wiggins now making an appearance in the six-spot.
According to Sporting News, the Timberwolves have the sixth-best shooting guard in Wiggins and seventh-best small forward in Jimmy Butler, which is a significant improvement from last year when no Wolves player even made the list.
2017-18 Point Guard Rankings
Sporting News ranked the usual point guard suspects near the top of the list in Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry and Chris Paul. Former Wolves guard Ricky Rubio settled in at 14th, and Jeff Teague made the “just missed the cut” list.
I disagreed with the decision to trade Rubio and sign Teague, primarily because of the impacts to the salary cap. Keeping Rubio provided more budgetary flexibility, which seemed like a logical reason to stick with him unless a top-10 point guard could be added.
Neither are top-10 point men and each have their strengths and weaknesses. Rubio’s defense and court vision are his strengths, and scoring is still considered his weakness. Teague keeps opposing defenses honest by providing more reliable 3-point shooting, but lacks the defense and size Rubio provided.
I give President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau the benefit of the doubt that he picked the right point guard. The wins and losses of the season will determine if he has chosen the better player, of course.
Fitting with the theme of this article, however, the Wolves did get smaller at point guard, which can have an impact on perimeter defending.
Remember, Size Matters
Butler stands 6’-8″ and weighs 236 pound. That’s 30 pounds more than either Wiggins or LaVine. Jimmy B provides the team additional size to defend larger perimeter players like Durant, James, and Leonard at the small forward position, and the likes of Harden, Thompson or Bradley Beal at the shooting guard spot.
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Timberwolves will never get far in the West without the ability to slow down teams like the Warriors, Rockets, and Spurs. Butler provides the player needed to pressure opposing teams best player. Wiggins can now shift to defend smaller players, putting him and the entire team in a better position.
Comparing Butler & Wiggins — With Perspective
Wiggins and Bulter are the same height but that’s where the comparison ends.
Butler came into the league as a defensive specialist that with discipline and dedication became a very good offensive player. It’s his defense that has made him one of the better players in the league.
Wiggins, however, is an elite offensive player and it’s his defense that keeps him from being ranked higher in various publications.
Wiggins is something like 20 to 40 pounds lighter than most of the best players at the small forward spot league-wide. He has a size advantage on many other shooting guards in the league, however, with James Harden being the notable exception in terms of the best that the league has to offer.
Butler at 22 years of age was playing his rookie season in this league. He played 42 games for Thibodeau’s Bulls and averaged just over two points per contest and played about 8.5 minutes a game.
Wiggins at 22 is starting his fourth season as a professional. Over his career, he’s played in nearly every game, averaging 36 minutes of playing time, plus 20 points and five rebounds per game.
Wiggins isn’t perfect, but he is a more impactful player at the age of 22 than Butler was, as the former was just entering his rookie season.
After Butler-less loses to Pistons and Pacers, it’s fair to be concerned, but it’s also safe to believe that Thib’s decision to trade multiple assets for Butler puts the entire team in a better position to win.
Next: The effect of Jimmy Butler on the Timberwolves
Butler’s absence has demonstrated that the Wolves missed their new leader. Jimmy Butler has made the entire pack bigger and stronger, and that will help them take down opponents throughout the season.