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Minnesota Timberwolves: Who’s Up and Who’s Down a review of Tom Thibedeau and starting five performance.

By Ken Bradley

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 01: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts with Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring a three pointer during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 1, 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. Minnesota won the game 104 -98. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 01: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts with Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring a three pointer during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 1, 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. Minnesota won the game 104 -98. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JANUARY 20: Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves runs down the court during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2018 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 – JANUARY 20: Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves runs down the court during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 20, 2018 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) /

Taj Gibson

Taj Gibson Minutes 25.8 33.6 UP
Power Forward Points 9.6 12.1 UP
32 Years Old Assists 1.0 1.3 UP
9th season Rebounds 6.4 7.4 UP
Overal Grade UP

Taj Gibson is completing his tenth season and it’s his best season in the NBA which is remarkable at 32-years old. Obsessive-compulsive minute counters are likely to be concerned he’s playing a career high in minutes. He’s never averaged above thirty-minutes in any of his previous seasons. Prior to this season the most minutes he’s logged was (28.7) during the 2013-14 season.

While sports analysts have legitimate reasons to critique Tom Thibodeau’s player usage, Taj has flourished with additional minutes.

He is shooting above his career average; with the 2013-14 the only season he scored more thirteen-points on average per-game. His field-goal-percentage is (.571) and free-throws-percentage (.760) are both at all-time highs.

His assists above his career average and only slightly lower than his best season 2015-16 when he assisted (1.5) per-game.

Gibson is pulling down more boards than his career average with the single exception being his rookie year when he grabbed (7.5) rebounds while only playing just shy of twenty-seven-minutes per-game.

Gibson’s overall grade is UP, UP, UP, not only because he’s having a career year but he’s been a very important part of improving the Wolves defense and culture. In addition, he’s a versatile player with the ability to play center or forward and defending multiple positions.

If anything, Taj Gibson’s performance often get’s lost in the chatter about Jimmy Butler, Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. He’s been a Star-Starter in a quiet and respectful Minnesotan kind of way.

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