Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

Life without Jimmy: Playing big and scoring big

By Josh Bungum

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 1: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves enters the arena prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 1: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves enters the arena prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What to watch for

The stylistic changes the Wolves are set to endure are almost certain to be less effective in the long run than if their four-time All-Star were on the floor with them. But, with the predicament they currently find themselves in, the only way to push forward and maintain success is to focus on the strengths of their current roster and attempt to pull out as many wins as they can through this brutal stretch in the schedule ahead.

They’ll need Andrew Wiggins to step up and revert back to the offensive dominance he showed in the second half of last season. They will also need Jeff Teague, who finally looks healthy and has been playing superb basketball as of late, to continue his trend of being aggressive and looking for his shots without hesitation. Karl-Anthony Towns will have to maintain his historic levels of offensive efficiency and clamp down on the defensive end like we saw for brief stretches earlier in the season.

There are certainly ways to survive moving forward. The Wolves will likely have better spacing on the floor with Bjelica taking many of Butler’s minutes, as Bjelly takes 6.7 three-point shots per 48 minutes compared to Butler’s 4.5 and makes them at a higher clip (Bjelica is at 43.0%, Butler is at 35.6 percent). This factor, allowing more room for Wiggins, Teague and Towns to operate may prove to be very important to keep this team afloat for the next 4-6 weeks.

Next: Timberwolves power rankings: Butler blow soils solid stretch

Increased length to clean up rebounds, better floor spacing and offensive flow, and young stars stepping up with be the factors that decide whether the Wolves will thrive during this difficult time or sink to the bottom of the 10 teams shooting for the eight Western Conference playoff spots. As the schedule moves forward, it should be fascinating to see how everything unfolds.

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