Dunking With Wolves
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3 things on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ holiday wishlist

By Andrew Neururer

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 29: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 29: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 15, 2017 at the Target Center 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 15, 2017 at the Target Center 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

3. Dial Down the Minutes

It’s no secret that the Wolves starters have been playing too many minutes. We have seen so many games these past few weeks of the starters walking back slowly, and their hands on their waist.

Many fans have taken notice:

There are plently other tweets, but you get the point. According to ESPN.com, they have two players in the top-10 in most minutes per game in Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler. Helping that stat along is that Shabazz Muhammad is the backup at both spots and has played poorly enough to have fallen out of the rotation entirely.

Beyond those two, Minnesota has the rest of their starters in the top-40. There’s 30 teams in the NBA, composed of five starters. That means there are 150 starters in the league, and the Wolves have all five of their starters in the top-40. Wow.

Of course, it is kind of a double-edged sword because of the poor play by the bench. Once the Wolves take out the starters with a lead in place, the bench will often come in and find a way to erase that within minutes. Thibodeau has somewhat of a tough choice.

Once Nemanja Bjelica returns from an injury, the hope is that they will run a deeper bench lineup instead of just three players. Of late, we’ve seen a bench lineup that only consists of Jamal Crawford, Gorgui Dieng, and Tyus Jones.

If Minnesota wants to win games later on in the season, or prevent injuries… it’s time to decrease the minutes of the starters. Otherwise, they’ll need to make a move soon to shore up the bench.

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