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Timberwolves Notes: Jimmy Butler takes the NBA by storm

By Ben Beecken

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 8: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is introduced before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 8, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 8: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves is introduced before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 8, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Timberwolves are winning, and with that has come a lot of attention — and rightly so — for their new superstar, Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler was a consensus top-15 player last year for the Chicago Bulls and has made the last three Eastern Conference All-Star teams. It’s not like it’s news to anyone that he’s really, really good.

But here we are, with the NBA blogosphere/national media being reintroduced to the talents and abilities of one Jimmy G. Buckets.

As has been well-documented, Butler used the first five or six weeks of his time in Minnesota to acquaint himself with his new teammates and integrate himself into this version of Tom Thibodeau’s offense, one that includes a pair of high-usage players that had been used to shooting the ball as often as they liked in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Now, he’s back to an arguably better version of his 2016-17 self.

In related news, ESPN.com is ranking top top-10 NBA players weekly, using the game score stat “as a starting point”. It isn’t clear what the exact criteria is to be ranked on this list, but at any rate, Butler ended up sixth for the Jan. 1 through Jan. 8 version of these rankings. The article cites Butler’s recollection of how easy it is for him to get to the free throw line at a high frequency, as he’s averaged 10.4 free throw attempts per game over the last three weeks.

Elsewhere, Kevin O’Connor of TheRinger.com posted a Timberwolves-centric column that was published on the morning of the Wolves emphatic victory over the Cavaliers. The piece focuses on the greatness of Butler but discusses the team’s overall success, including Butler’s impact on the culture and the want-to (of Towns, in particular) that has led to what is the league’s fifth-ranked defense since Dec. 6.

"Butler was becoming the alpha with his combination of scoring, passing, defending, and leading. But the team was disconnected on defense early in the season. They won, but it was ugly. Minnesota’s defense ranked 25th on the morning of December 6. Since then, it ranks fifth.The Wolves have one of the NBA’s older rosters, but Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are still just 22 years old. Minnesota’s youth—and lack of depth—is one of the reasons it was bad last season, Thibodeau’s first there. But the example set by Butler and Taj Gibson—upon whom Thibdeau typically heaps praise—has helped Towns, who was a defensive eyesore early in the season. Increased aggression and better effort and focus have led to a leap on that end."

The column is fair and a good read, and even includes reference to O’Connor’s outlandish claim from about a month ago that Tom Thibodeau should be fired for the heavy minutes he’s playing his starters. (Points for throwing oneself under the bus there, Kevin.)

A semi-random but interesting note related to Butler and Towns’ recent dominance: both Wolves stars rank in the top seven in the NBA in win shares, but they are the players in the top-10 with the two lowest usage rates; Towns’ checks in at just 22.5 while Butler’s sits at 24.6 percent. Anthony Davis (27.5) and LaMarcus Aldridge (28.8) are the only other players in the top-10 in win shares with usage rates below 30 percent.

One last tidbit for your mid-week edition of Timberwolves notes: Jamal Crawford‘s comments to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin regarding his free agency and the Cavs’ recruitment of him were interesting to say the least.

Long story short, Crawford chose the Wolves over teams like the Cavs and the Warriors because he wanted to grow with a team instead of just winning an easy ring, which is a sentiment he’d shared on a couple of podcasts back prior to the season starting. But when asked about the timing of his free agency decision, Crawford admitted that if Isaiah Thomas, who is his best friend, had been traded to Cleveland prior to Crawford signing in Minnesota, he would have almost certainly joined the Cavs instead.

Next: 5 players the Wolves should consider for 10-day contracts

Check back with us at DWW throughout the day on Wednesday as we get you ready for Timberwolves vs. Thunder, which will be broadcast on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.

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