Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

What the absence of Jimmy Butler has shown Minnesota

By Jake Paynting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 28: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 28: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 11, 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 – MARCH 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 11, 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) /

Karl-Anthony Towns is alpha material

When Zach LaVine went down with his ACL injury midway through last season, Karl-Anthony Towns went off a nightly basis until the final night of the campaign – so he did have experience as the main man on an NBA team.

That was on a lottery team looking ahead to an early summer however, this time around the 22-year-old would need to lead his team to the playoffs in a playoff picture that was could send the fourth seed out of the frame with a single loss.

KAT obliged handsomely, posting some gaudy numbers without his All-Star running mate. Including the unforgettable 56-point franchise record night against the Atlanta Hawks:

Towns has put up superstar numbers as the Wolves’ unquestioned first option on offense. He has averaged 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on a nightly basis, still hitting 53.6 percent of his field goals including hitting a sizzling 43.1 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Fans were crying out for the big man to get more shots with Butler in the line-up. Without him, Towns is getting three extra shot attempts per game, and his efficiency hasn’t fizzled whatsoever.

With a generational talent like KAT on the court, the offense must flow through him consistently, this is a vital lesson for Butler and Tom Thibodeau.

If Thibs can tweak his offense slightly when his prodigal son returns, that will allow the Timberwolves All-Star center to garner more of the scoring responsibilities. Minnesota’s already impressive offense will add another string to its bow.

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