What the absence of Jimmy Butler has shown Minnesota

Andrew Wiggins has grown defensively

The single biggest fear for the Timberwolves went Jimmy Butler tore his meniscus was losing the defensive toughness he brought every night, possibly killing Minnesota’s playoff chances completely.

With Butler on the mend, the Wolves did not drop out of the playoff picture for one second in his absence. Thanks partly to Andrew Wiggins consistently high effort on the less flashy end of the floor.

The 23-year-old has been noticeably more locked in without Jimmy Buckets there to mask his defensive deficiencies, making plays like this one on Dirk Nowitzki – who has 1000 years experience in posting up – has become a nightly occurrence for Wiggins:

With Maple Jordan engaged on defense, the Timberwolves become a much better defensive team (which still isn’t a good one) and when their three-time All-Defense team member returns the pair could join into a formidable wing pairing on both ends.

Below is perhaps the most encouraging defensive play Andrew Wiggins has ever produced. He hounds Washington star Bradley Beal like a rabid dog down the floor and smothers his shot attempt, before sprinting to the opposite corner and locking up Otto Porter all in one foul swoop:

The former Rookie Of The Year has shown flashes of defensive mastery throughout his entire career, but amidst a brutal playoff run without his defensive leader Wiggins has shown he can do it more often than not.

Next: Possible Wolves playoff match-ups

If you’re like me and hungry for more defensive highlights from the Canadian, let’s have a look at one more. Here he puts the shackles on a dancing CJ McCollum, which not many are capable of, forcing him to give up the ball to Jusef Nurkic:

We can only hope he maintains these three lessons and can be easily implemented when Jimmy Butler does return within the next few games.