Minnesota Timberwolves: It appears that the real Jimmy Butler has arrived
It appears that the Jimmy Buckets version of Jimmy Butler has arrived for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was a disappointing loss on Sunday night for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves had a double-digit lead against the Detroit Pistons, but went tremendously cold from the field in the fourth quarter leading to the loss. While the loss is hard to swallow, what the Timberwolves found on Sunday night might be more important.
Jimmy Butler was the biggest addition ever in the history of the team this past offseason. While we knew that it was going to be an adjustment period to mesh Butler and the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns together, it sometimes looked worrisome for Butler in the scoring column. It is not that Butler didn’t have an impact on the team, just look at the two games that Butler missed earlier this season, but you could feel that more scoring was wanting to come out of Butler’s hand.
Butler has had some games where he has scored 20-plus points, but Sunday felt to be a turning point for Butler in a Wolves uniform. It felt like Butler was ready to take over the game and did at points. Wiggins got hot for a spell, but it was still Butler taking late three-point attempts to try and get the game back in the Wolves’ favor.
Butler missed a free throw attempt late in the game to tie it, but, honestly, the Wolves should’ve never had to put Butler in that situation anyway. The same with Butler missing the attempt at a tie at the buzzer. Both were valiant tries and tries that come from a true leader.
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Butler finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in Sunday’s loss which both are his highest total this season. He also played 42 minutes which is the most he’s played all season and only the second time he’s played over 40 minutes in a game in Minnesota. It was simply the best game that Butler has played in a Timberwolves uniform and that is a very exciting prospect.
The loss is disappointing, but not embarrassing. The Pistons are a really good team that no one should be ashamed of losing to. The positive is that the Timberwolves aren’t going to lose many more games especially if Jimmy Butler keeps playing the way he did on Sunday night.
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The Timberwolves continue their quest for the playoffs when they complete a back-to-back on Monday night. The Wolves will be taking on the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night in Charlotte with tip set for 6:00 Central.