Dunking With Wolves
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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 18: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 18, 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 18: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high five during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 18, 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) /

3. Chemistry will forever build

Just like the ageless wonder Jamal Crawford will forever be 21 years of age, the chemistry on this Minnesota Timberwolves will forever build with every practice session, team bonding experience and game — win or lose — that they go through.

Which, of course, can only bode well for improved play, which seems greedy to ask for sitting at a comfortable 19-13 in the early stages of what is sure to be a historic Timberwolves year.

The inconsistency bug has taken its turn to infect a multitude of Minnesota players in the early part of this teams gelling progress.

The major scoring slump that is currently plaguing Andrew Wiggins seems to be the pick of the bunch, however, with the usually-dynamic scorer averaging just 14.4 points per game on 36.3 percent shooting, including an abysmal 23.3 percent from 3-point land during his recent swoon.

But it hasn’t just been Maple Jordan who has had his ups and downs.

Karl-Anthony Towns had a slew of games that have had many question his and coach Tom Thibodeau’s ability to create the best of Towns’ ungodly talent, though many of those fears have been put to bed. According to NBA stats, Towns has averaged 24.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest over his last six outings. Plus, he’s buried a staggering 48 percent of his 3-point attempts in that span.

Here, with Minnesota’s NBA Math’s TPA chart (a combination of total points added and defensive points saved), that the big KAT is surprisingly strongly rivaling the aforementioned super-stardom of Jimmy Butler.

I’d say that’s making fairly good use of the seven-footer looking to make his first All-Star appearance (please, go vote for him).

Jimmy Butler started the season seemingly not quite sure what role to take: the scorer or the passer. Jeff Teague has only recently looked vastly comfortable in the offense he is employing, the Timberwolves have had most all their stars hit both form slumps and purple patches.

Think about the damage they can do when the machine is up and running on all cylinders. When Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are all firing, this team will give opposing defenses absolute nightmares. The fifth-place offensive rating that the Timberwolves possess could actually dramatically improve.

And when the defense comes along, look out.

If that’s not a reason to embrace this roller-coaster, then I’m not sure what is.

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