"I’d considered going with Andrew Wiggins for my third choice, as he really has played well this season, but I feel like his more lackluster games really stand out, especially given the importance of his role on the team. So I'm going to go with..."
Rambling On is Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Daily content and conversation, on Twitter and Facebook.
Our weekly Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs are released on Tuesday (Minnesota Wild related) and Thursday (Minnesota Timberwolves related). Monthly content on pro Minnesota sports teams is released during the first week of the month or when there's big news.
Our Wolves analyst Beartrap McManus has some obvious and some subversive choices for the three MVPs of the Wolves season so far.
Thanks for your support!
Let's keep this one simple: who are the three MVPs of the Wolves season so far?
KAT is the only clear choice here. He’s addressed his defensive issues from last season, especially since Jimmy Butler was traded. He remains a dominant force on offense and his second All-Star selection is well deserved. His only real weakness is an inability to not foul.
Robert Covington’s effect on the team was immediate and his absence has contributed greatly to their struggles. He decisiveness and ability to space the floor on offense made him an effective and relatively low-use compliment to Towns and Wiggins. His presence on the floor also really helped open things up for them. There’s really not enough that can be said about his defense. He racked up steals, strips, and deflections with his combination of length and instincts. He’d also defend the larger wing, allowing Wiggins to be more effective guarding smaller wings. The Wolves played their best stretch of basketball during the month between the Butler trade and his injury.
I’d considered going with Andrew Wiggins for my third choice, as he really has played well this season, but I feel like his more lackluster games really stand out, especially given the importance of his role on the team. I’m going to have to go with Tyus Jones. He’s been one of the most efficient players in the league in terms of assist/turnover ratio and had stepped up his shooting after a truly terrible start to the season. He’s the ultimate glue guy and performed well with both the bench and starters.
I should probably mention Derrick Rose here, as I’m sure Erik and others are wondering why I didn’t include him. His inability to stay healthy (seems hypocritical after choosing Covington and Jones, I know) is obviously a hindrance, but the game-to-game nature of it makes it tough to establish consistency.
He’s obviously made a remarkable comeback after several years of being a non-factor for the Knicks and Cavs, but he still isn’t what he used to be, and hasn’t changed his approach to reflect that. He’s certainly won them some games with his heroics, but can also shoot too much on a team with a historically great and gifted offensive player in Towns. He tends to dominate the ball too much late in games, allowing defenses to focus on him and his teammates to become unengaged.
Ultimately, Rose has absolutely had some great moments in a Timberwolves uniform this season, but I wouldn’t put him on this list.
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.
Our weekly Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs are released on Tuesday (Minnesota Wild related) and Thursday (Minnesota Timberwolves related). Monthly content on pro Minnesota sports teams is released during the first week of the month or when there's big news.
Our Wolves analyst Beartrap McManus has some obvious and some subversive choices for the three MVPs of the Wolves season so far.
Thanks for your support!
Let's keep this one simple: who are the three MVPs of the Wolves season so far?
KAT is the only clear choice here. He’s addressed his defensive issues from last season, especially since Jimmy Butler was traded. He remains a dominant force on offense and his second All-Star selection is well deserved. His only real weakness is an inability to not foul.
Robert Covington’s effect on the team was immediate and his absence has contributed greatly to their struggles. He decisiveness and ability to space the floor on offense made him an effective and relatively low-use compliment to Towns and Wiggins. His presence on the floor also really helped open things up for them. There’s really not enough that can be said about his defense. He racked up steals, strips, and deflections with his combination of length and instincts. He’d also defend the larger wing, allowing Wiggins to be more effective guarding smaller wings. The Wolves played their best stretch of basketball during the month between the Butler trade and his injury.
I’d considered going with Andrew Wiggins for my third choice, as he really has played well this season, but I feel like his more lackluster games really stand out, especially given the importance of his role on the team. I’m going to have to go with Tyus Jones. He’s been one of the most efficient players in the league in terms of assist/turnover ratio and had stepped up his shooting after a truly terrible start to the season. He’s the ultimate glue guy and performed well with both the bench and starters.
I should probably mention Derrick Rose here, as I’m sure Erik and others are wondering why I didn’t include him. His inability to stay healthy (seems hypocritical after choosing Covington and Jones, I know) is obviously a hindrance, but the game-to-game nature of it makes it tough to establish consistency.
He’s obviously made a remarkable comeback after several years of being a non-factor for the Knicks and Cavs, but he still isn’t what he used to be, and hasn’t changed his approach to reflect that. He’s certainly won them some games with his heroics, but can also shoot too much on a team with a historically great and gifted offensive player in Towns. He tends to dominate the ball too much late in games, allowing defenses to focus on him and his teammates to become unengaged.
Ultimately, Rose has absolutely had some great moments in a Timberwolves uniform this season, but I wouldn’t put him on this list.
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.
RSS Feed
