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5 reasons to not worry about the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Jake Paynting

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 04: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during practice at Shenzhen Gymnasium as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China on October 4, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 04: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during practice at Shenzhen Gymnasium as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China on October 4, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 3: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game LA Clippers on December 3, 2017 at 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 3: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game LA Clippers on December 3, 2017 at 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Jimmy G. Buckets

The title says it all, but in so few words.

Although Jimmy Butler has bolstered this team’s scoring load, dragging them near single-handedly to multiple victories, including the recent back to back blockbuster come from behind wins over division rivals Portland and Denver, he isn’t only a scorer.

The Tomball, TX kid is the heart and soul of this Timberwolves team.

Buckets.

Butler leads the team not only in spirit, but in production, too, averaging 20.2 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 dimes and 1.8 steals. An all-round, polished game that is complemented by his innate ability to draw fouls.

But he has taken it to another level lately after his early-season scoring struggles.

In the month of December, Jimmy G. has spread the Christmas cheer, putting up 25.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists with two steals a night. Combine that with the ridiculously low 1.3 times he turns it over on average, and you quickly get the feeling the All-Star has taken over this franchise.

The 6-foot-7 wing uses a variety of shifty mid-range head fakes to bait defenders in to fouling him on jump shot attempts, and initiates contact masterfully on drives to create 3-point play opportunities with the best of them.

This nightly masterclass leads to Butler earning 5.4 charity attempts per game, a team high.

According to NBA stats play tracking, when the former Marquette product is the ball handler in the pick in roll, he gets an ‘and-one’ opportunity 4.7 percent of the time. This clip ranks the three-time All-Star fourth in the entire league, above noted pick-and-roll superstars in Lebron James, John Wall and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Just in case you weren’t impressed yet, there is more Buckets brilliance every where you look in the advanced statistics world.

When looking at ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus model, one of the more accurate for lumping defensive calculations in to a single score, the Timberwolves guard flourishes there, too. Among all shooting guards, he ranks sixth on the defensive end in RPM (1.36), while topping the charts for both the offensive (3.62) and overall RPM (4.98), which is also sixth-best in the entire league.

To put it simply, Jimmy Butler is a superstar. Minnesota Timberwolves fans should be jumping for joy at the fact that they once again get to see one play every single night.

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