“Wiggins has actually played pretty well this year, I think. He’s taking and making more threes and is rebounding a bit better. He’s still lousy on defense, though.”
Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Daily content and conversation, on Twitter and Facebook.
We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).
For this weeks Timberwolves edition, life coach and Rambling On Wolves analyst Beartrap McManus discusses the Wolves lousy road trip, the effect of Butler on Towns and Wiggins, and the cost of tanking.
Thanks for your support!
The Wolves have been abysmal so far on their recent road trip. What are their biggest issues on the court?
Man, where to start? They’re regularly murdered on the defensive glass. KAT’s been bad about this, as have the rest of the starters who aren’t Jimmy. On offense, they’ve been especially terrible with their close-range shooting, with KAT and Wiggins both shooting career-low percentages near the rim.
Not having Teague available on this road trip has hurt as well, at least offensively.
Wolves PR is making the point that Towns and Wiggins haven’t had beef with Jimmy in the media or to anyone. How long do you think that lasts?
I really don’t know, but both have been incredibly professional in the face of a ton of bullshit (not just from Butler, but in the way Thibs and the front office have handled it).
Do you think the Butler situation is effecting Towns and Wiggins on the court?
Definitely in the case of Towns. He’s been bad so far this season and has not played well with Jimmy at all. Britt Robson of the Athletic had a great article this past Tuesday on the state of the team thus far. He pointed out that Towns and Butler have the second lowest offensive rating of any pairing on the Wolves that has at least 100 minutes together (and the team as a whole scores much better when Butler is out than with any other rotation player, though Butler is scoring well himself).
Wiggins has actually played pretty well this year, I think. He’s taking and making more threes and is rebounding a bit better. He’s still lousy on defense, though.
What is your take on tanking? There are a few big college names who will be eligible for next years draft, what players would you most like to see the Wolves pick if you could choose?
I’m not a big fan of tanking in general. There are no guarantees. Plenty of teams have tanked their way into nothing, sometimes even sacrificing player development.
It’s a shitty way to treat paying fans as well. I was a Wolves season ticket holder for five years, so I know all too well how depressing it is looking at a stack of tickets for upcoming games at the beginning of March knowing that the likelihood of getting even a competitive game is real slim.
As for college prospects, I have no idea. Years of getting hyped for Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams types have drained most enjoyment and excitement for the draft and lottery process out of me.
Which 1968 album is better, Music from Big Pink or the White Album, and why?
I think you must be confused, Erik. Weezer’s White Album didn’t come out until 2016.
Beartrap McManus is an NBA and Timberwolves expert. He has been a life coach for Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland since before time, a consultant for Rambling On since its founding, and Timberwolves analyst beginning in Series Five. He resides with his wife and twelve kids in Hurley, Wisconsin, where his wife owns a popular supper club.
Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Daily content and conversation, on Twitter and Facebook.
We release three Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and Friday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).
For this weeks Timberwolves edition, life coach and Rambling On Wolves analyst Beartrap McManus discusses the Wolves lousy road trip, the effect of Butler on Towns and Wiggins, and the cost of tanking.
Thanks for your support!
The Wolves have been abysmal so far on their recent road trip. What are their biggest issues on the court?
Man, where to start? They’re regularly murdered on the defensive glass. KAT’s been bad about this, as have the rest of the starters who aren’t Jimmy. On offense, they’ve been especially terrible with their close-range shooting, with KAT and Wiggins both shooting career-low percentages near the rim.
Not having Teague available on this road trip has hurt as well, at least offensively.
Wolves PR is making the point that Towns and Wiggins haven’t had beef with Jimmy in the media or to anyone. How long do you think that lasts?
I really don’t know, but both have been incredibly professional in the face of a ton of bullshit (not just from Butler, but in the way Thibs and the front office have handled it).
Do you think the Butler situation is effecting Towns and Wiggins on the court?
Definitely in the case of Towns. He’s been bad so far this season and has not played well with Jimmy at all. Britt Robson of the Athletic had a great article this past Tuesday on the state of the team thus far. He pointed out that Towns and Butler have the second lowest offensive rating of any pairing on the Wolves that has at least 100 minutes together (and the team as a whole scores much better when Butler is out than with any other rotation player, though Butler is scoring well himself).
Wiggins has actually played pretty well this year, I think. He’s taking and making more threes and is rebounding a bit better. He’s still lousy on defense, though.
What is your take on tanking? There are a few big college names who will be eligible for next years draft, what players would you most like to see the Wolves pick if you could choose?
I’m not a big fan of tanking in general. There are no guarantees. Plenty of teams have tanked their way into nothing, sometimes even sacrificing player development.
It’s a shitty way to treat paying fans as well. I was a Wolves season ticket holder for five years, so I know all too well how depressing it is looking at a stack of tickets for upcoming games at the beginning of March knowing that the likelihood of getting even a competitive game is real slim.
As for college prospects, I have no idea. Years of getting hyped for Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams types have drained most enjoyment and excitement for the draft and lottery process out of me.
Which 1968 album is better, Music from Big Pink or the White Album, and why?
I think you must be confused, Erik. Weezer’s White Album didn’t come out until 2016.
Beartrap McManus is an NBA and Timberwolves expert. He has been a life coach for Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland since before time, a consultant for Rambling On since its founding, and Timberwolves analyst beginning in Series Five. He resides with his wife and twelve kids in Hurley, Wisconsin, where his wife owns a popular supper club.
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