The Minnesota Timberwolves are 16-11 entering the third month of NBA action, ranking fourth in the Western Conference standings. Along with the Timberwolves, these are the top 10 storylines, players and games to watch this week around the NBA.
Timberwolves Schedule
Dec. 12 – vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Dec. 14 – vs. Sacramento Kings
Dec. 16 – Phoenix Suns
Has Butler taken over the offense?
After topping 20 points in eight of the first 22 games, Jimmy Butler has hit the 20-point mark or better four times in the last five outings. He also hit the 30-point mark twice in the last five games, a feat Butler hadn’t yet accomplished with his new team. He is starting to become the scorer that defines a game, something many anticipated he’d do when he first joined the team. The question that he can answer over the course of this week: Is this the new normal for Butler?
More deep shots for Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins averages 4.2 3-point attempts per game. If Wiggins is to shoot himself out of scoring slumps -like the one he is currently in- he will have to take closer to seven shots from range.
Do not disappoint Butler
James Harden is out for blood, along with the MVP award
Is Beal the better Wizard?
John Wall has been out for eight games with a knee injury, but the Washington Wizards have stayed afloat by going 4-4. During the stretch, Bradley Beal has averaged 33 points, quite the jump from his 24.1 point average in the 18 opening games.
While Wall is the more versatile player, Beal is the best pure scorer on the team, maybe even the East. He has topped 20 points 19 times – five of which came after the Wall injury – this season and 30 points five times. Despite having to battle the best defender in Wall’s absence, and playing one All-Star short but with the same miserable bench, the Wizards are still hanging around because of the offense of Beal.
Victor Oladipo Deserves An All-Star Spot
The former Indiana Hoosier is averaging 23.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, leading the 16-11 Indiana Pacers the fifth spot in the East.
The Simmons Hook
The knock on Ben Simmons coming out of college was his shooting. He has done a beautiful job compensating in his first season, working around it by not playing out of his range and sticking to what he can make.
Shots like this:
New Cooks, Same Dinner?
Despite chef Stephen Curry going down for the Golden State Warriors with an ankle injury, the team keeps chugging along. It does help that the team has four potential Hall of Fame players on the roster, but it is also due to the work the front office has done building an entire team.
Rookies like Quinn Cook and Jordan Bell have slid into the roster when called on, stepping up despite their youth. It is a testament that this team is not stumbling on greatness; they go out and find it. The proof is constructing an entire roster, from the All-Stars to the G-League.
Game To Watch: Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers
This is the first time this season that the red-hot Oladipo-led Pacers will face-off against his former team. Russell Westbrook and the troubled Thunder, on the road, squaring-off with a charged up Pacers squad is an under-the-radar great game.
Game To Watch: San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets
The Rockets have not played the Spurs since the preseason and it is a premier duel featuring the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the West. The Texas rivalry has always produced electric play and should be a wire-to-wire watch.
Listen to Colton on Locked On Wolves!
