By; Jonah Sprinkel

After a trio of games against tanking teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves play the Utah Jazz tonight. The Jazz currently hold the 7 seed in the Western Conference and are possibly the last playoff team the Wolves will face during the regular season. There has been bad blood between these teams from the very beginning of the season. So much bad blood that it forced Jimmy Butler out of Twitter retirement. With playoff seeding on the line, I fully expect there to be a kerfuffle or two.

What: Wolves vs. Jazz
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
When: 6 pm CT
Where to watch: Fox Sports North
Where to listen: 830 WCCO
 
What to watch for

Towns v Gobert: Rudy Gobert is an All-NBA defender who might take home the Defensive Player of the Year award this season. Towns is averaging 25.5 points, 13 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks with shootings splits of 53/46/83 since Jimmy Butler went down. Towns is 2-7 against Gobert in his career. With the 4 seed a possibly, Towns must continue to elevate his game if the Wolves are going to win.

Target Center atmosphere: This is the biggest regular season game the Timberwolves have hosted in over 10 years. This is the type of game where home court advantage matters tremendously. An engaged crowd could swing the outcome of this game. Target Center has not been known for its energy in a very long time. As the product on the court has changed, so must the crowd. The Wolves deserve fan support no matter how frustrating the team has been at times.

Ricky Rubio: Ever the fan favorite, Rubio returns once again to the arena he once called home. Last time he was here, things did not go so well for the Spaniard.

Rubio, who is questionable for tonight's game, will surely be looking for revenge in the form of victory. Expect a Super Saiyan version of the former floppy-haired point guard.

Injury Report

Minnesota: Jimmy Butler (knee) is out. Derrick Rose (ankle) is questionable.

Utah: Ricky Rubio (hamstring) is questionable. Thabo Sefolosha (knee) is out. 
 
Projected starters

Minnesota: PG Jeff Teague, SG Andrew Wiggins, SF Nemanja Bjelica, PF Taj Gibson, C Karl-Anthony Towns
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Utah: PG Ricky Rubio, SG Donovan Mitchell, SF Joe Ingles, PF Derrick Favors, C Rudy Gobert
 
Prediction
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The Wolves are tired. This is due to the many minutes played and the recent road trips. But, thanks to the roaring Target Center crowd, this squad should catch their second wind and come out on top. 103-99 Wolves.

By: Louie Vicchiollo

The Timberwolves are in action tonight in Dallas against a struggling Mavericks team. Dallas is currently 13th in the West, with a record of 23-52 on the season. The Timberwolves are expected to be without Jimmy Butler again, but good news came in the form of Butler getting cleared for all contact activities today. With a Wolves win tonight, the Timberwolves would improve to 44-33 on the season. The Pelicans, who are one spot above the Timberwolves, are in action tonight against the Cavaliers, so with a Pelicans loss and a Wolves win, the Wolves could be in 6th with a half game lead over New Orleans.

What: Wolves @ Mavericks
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
When: 7:30 PM CT
Where to watch: FSN
Where to listen: 830 WCCO

What to watch for:

Another must win: These are the games that can either propel the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance in 13 seasons, or haunt Wolves fans at the end of the season. The Dallas Mavericks are in the "tankathon" race, and should be an easy win for the Timberwolves. 

KAT after a big night: After dropping 56, a franchise record, against the Hawks, watching the level of energy Karl brings tonight will be something to watch for. Hopefully Karl can get 20+ field goal attempts, and continue his dominance from the other night.

Quick Notes

Karl-Anthony Towns is just one of eight players to ever record a 55+ point, 15+ rebound game.

The Mavericks are 1-6 in their last 7 games.

Projected Starters

Minnesota: PG Jeff Teague, SG Andrew Wiggins, SF Nemanja Bjelica, PF Taj Gibson, C Karl-Anthony Towns

Boston: PG Dennis Smith Jr., SG Harrison Barnes, SF Dorian Finney-Smith PF Dirk Nowitzki, C Dwight Powell

Prediction

Wolves win. 113-104

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the game. Go Wolves.

Posted by: Dan Slaubaugh

In the midst of their first playoff run in 13 years, the Wolves are losing crucial basketball games while looking joyless on the court and more than half the fanbase is pointing fingers at President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau. This fascinating development called for a discussion among the OTP staff, which you'll read below. Because old men Zach and Seth were asleep, you're left with Jonah, Louie, and myself. Enjoy!
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Dan: Monday night, the Wolves turned in their worst performance of the season against a Memphis Grizzlies team actively trying to lose the rest of their games. On a night the Wolves had a real opportunity to make some ground in the Western Conference standings, it was an utterly embarrassing and pathetic loss against a team that had lost 17 consecutive road games and 23 of 24 games overall (a streak that extends back to late January). Consequently, and for good reason, Wolves Twitter was collectively irate at head coach Tom Thibodeau for the atrocious performance by his team and the long-term concerns that continue to be exposed over the course of the season. With that being said, I must ask: Is Tom Thibodeau capable of leading the Wolves to an NBA Finals down the road? It may sound like a silly question considering the team hasn't made the playoffs in 13 years, but if we don't think that's even a possibility for the future, then what are we even doing here?

Louie: No. Absolutely not. He has an ancient coaching style and refuses to adapt to the modern NBA.

Jonah: I agree 100% with Louie. In 2010, the Orlando Magic led the NBA in made 3 pointers at 770. In the same year, the Chicago Bulls opponents only attempted 1308 3 pointers and made 427 of them. This year opponents have attempted 2238 3-pointers against the wolves and have made 818. Thibs basically concedes 3’s and that’s all teams shoot in the modern NBA. This stat speaks volumes to me. In a league where the three-pointer is the most valuable weapon, the Wolves are horrendous at defending against it.

Louie: As we have said before, it’s very worrisome that a coach who took a year off to learn cannot adapt when it is so clear. Or listen to his players.

Jonah: Exactly Louie. Multiple Wolves players have now voiced their frustration over playing too many minutes or not letting the bench play. These aren't rookies talking. These are league vets who have seen it all. They know the stress of multiple high-minute games.

Dan: Great point, Jonah. The fact the players are calling out Thibs publicly shows fatigue is on their minds. When Thibs was brought in to be the POBO/Head Coach of the Wolves, most people thought he would bring a toughness and defensive expertise that would take the Wolves to the next level. So far, he's done neither of those and hasn't shown anything to suggest he learned anything during his year-long sabbatical from the league. We've got the expected bad stuff (overplaying starters, not developing bench/young guys, signing ex-Bulls, old-fashioned offense) but none of the good stuff (toughness, defense). Truly frightening.

Jonah: Is it a bad thing that the majority of the fanbase was able to predict what would happen to this team as soon as Thibs was hired?

Dan: I guess Minnesotans just know their basketball.

Louie: One thing that worries me is what will come out after the season concludes. It wouldn’t surprise me to see stories come out about how dysfunctional the locker room is. Players don’t seem to want to play for each other, and they don’t look like they’re having fun on the floor. I would never want this to happen, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was true.

Jonah: You're right, Louie. If you look at the successful/quality teams around the league they celebrate with their teammates when things go well. There are smiles on the court and in the locker room. There is no joy inside Target Center.

Dan: Which certainly won't help the Wolves attract free agents this summer, that is, if any want to come to Minnesota. Thibs' history of over-working players and complete dismissal of the bench will make it almost impossible for the Wolves to draw quality free agents. That's a killer for a team that clearly needs a slew of quality rotation players to support their core players. 

Jonah: Also, the Wolves track record as a franchise in general won't help either. Thibs was brought in to change the culture. In my opinion, the culture has, at best, remained the same.

Louie: The wolves just seem to be stuck between a rock and a bunch of hard places. Do you trade making the playoffs for multiple first round picks? Do you need to miss the playoffs for ownership to take certain action? Do you need to make the playoffs and keep Thibs to keep Jimmy? A lot of moving parts.

Jonah: Is the owner willing to take action after having the best season sans KG or is he happy simply being a middle of the road franchise?

Dan: Those are all great questions. Personally, I would like to see the Wolves make the playoffs if they can get a top-7 seed. That would allow them to face a Steph-less Warriors team and maybe, just maybe, push the series to six-plus games  if Jimmy Butler returns and matches the all-star level play he showed before he got hurt. In addition, the drought would end, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins would get their first taste of the playoffs, and welcoming the defending champions to Target Center for playoff basketball in April would be all sorts of fun. On the other hand, I think I'd rather they miss the playoffs then get the 8-seed and get swept by the Rockets. The series would not be enjoyable, and the Wolves would have two 1st round picks in this summer's NBA Draft (for more on that, click here). 

Louie: I agree. The drought would end, which I think is important for the culture of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball and the Timberwolves fan base. Like I have said before: winning solves a lot of teams problems

Jonah: Winning does solve problems. But winning may only further encourage Thibs to continue down this road of high usage and little bench activity.

Louie: Agreed. We need to win the right way, and hopefully, that means Thibs changing his ways and learning to win in other fashions.

Jonah: I think the idea that Thibs will/can change is a pointless hypothetical at this point. He had time away to examine his mistakes and change his ways and he came back more set in his ways than ever. 

Louie: Would you rather see him go as coach or POBO? If you had to choose one.

Jonah: Man, that's a tough one. It's choosing between the lesser of two evils. I'd have to say coach though.

Dan: Coach. I think someone like Dave Joerger, who the Wolves had interest in the same summer Thibodeau was hired, could get much more out of the current roster Thibodeau has constructed. 

Louie: I’m on the coach train as well. Fizdale could be fun.

Jonah: Unless there's anything else, any closing thoughts gentlemen?

Louie: I’m all good

Jonah: Dan?

Dan: Nothing besides the fact that if the Wolves lose to the Hawks (another team actively trying to lose) tonight, Wolves Twitter will be the scariest place on planet earth. So, go get them Hawks, Wolves. Please, for our own mental health ... Beat. The. Hawks. 

Jonah: Amen.

Louie: Yessir.

By; Jonah Sprinkel

Well. The Minnesota Timberwolves have their first winning season since 2004-05. Their first winning season without Kevin Garnett on the roster. They couldn’t have won their 42nd game in a more Wolves like fashion. It was ugly and frustrating. They blew a lead. Karl-Anthony Towns complained. The only difference is Andrew Wiggins had a double-double. The team’s performance against the New York Knicks left much to be desired. Things must improve if this team plans to at least be competitive in the post-season.

In true Wolves fashion we'll forget the Knicks game and look to the future.

What: Wolves @ 76ers
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
When: 5 PM CT
Where to watch: FSN
Where to listen: 830 WCCO
 
What to watch for

Towns v Embiid: In the three games these two have played against each other Towns has been the statistical superior. However, Embiid has achieved the only statistic that really matters with a 2-1 record over the Timberwolves.

The last time these two suited up opposite each other Embiid’s Instagram trolling sparked a fire inside Town’s defensive furnace. With Jimmy Butler’s return still unclear and the playoffs looming large, it would be wonderful if Embiid took another shot at Towns right about now.

Wolves minutes/defense: Say what you want about Tom Thibodeau’s minute distribution and workload. Yes, his approach to the game is antiquated. But, look at these on/off numbers since Jimmy Butler’s injury and tell me what he’s supposed top do.  (GM Thibs built this roster and that’s another conversation for another day)

By: Louie Vicchiollo

The Timberwolves have 10 games left in the regular season, and as they currently sit in 7th, with just two games separating them and the 9th place Nuggets, each one of these final games have an increased amount of importance. The Timberwolves are still without Jimmy Butler, who mentioned earlier this week that a possible regular season return might be in store, but they will have to battle the Knicks without their superstar. 

One thing that should be noted about the Wolves schedule, is that they just finished a brutal 33-game gauntlet, as pointed out by reddit user u/Granny_Danger: "The Wolves have officially wrapped up their most daunting extended stretch of the season: 33 games that started January 5th. Those 33 matchups included 24 games versus playoff bound teams, 15 (!!) of which came against groups in the top 3 of their conference (TOR, BOS, CLE, HOU, GSW, POR). They were without Jeff Teague for three of those games (2-1), and without Jimmy Butler for 10 of them (5-5). The wounded Wolves finished that stretch 17-16, and have certainly stayed afloat with Jimmy out."

The Knicks currently sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 26-46. They are 2-8 in their last 10, and what may be more important to Knicks fans: according to Tankathon.com, they would currently select 9th in this year's upcoming draft. Kristaps Porzingas has been out since February 6th, and the New York fans already have their eyes set on recently NBA-declared freshman Trae Young from Oklahoma, who said "it would be a blessing to be drafted by the Knicks".

What: Wolves @ Knicks
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
When: 6:30 PM CT
Where to watch: FSN
Where to listen: 830 WCCO

What to watch for:

A must win (?): The Wolves are towards the end of a packed Western Conference playoff race, and just finished their most difficult stretch of the season. It is imperative to win as many games as possible for the rest of the season, especially against teams that the Timberwolves should be able to handle easily even with Jimmy Butler out. FiveThirtyEight gives the Wolves a 65% chance to win tomorrow night, so it is a game the Wolves very reasonable can cash out on.

Battle of the bigs: Not only will big men battle it out tomorrow night in Karl-Anthony Towns and Enes Kanter, but the big contracts that were paid out this year, Andrew Wiggins and Tim Hardaway Jr. should be a fun comparison throughout the night. 

Quick Notes

Karl-Anthony Towns has taken 15+ field goals his last 5 games. Look for this to continue tonight. 

Derrick Rose is expected OUT with an ankle sprain suffered last game.

Projected Starters

Minnesota: PG Jeff Teague, SG Andrew Wiggins, SF Nemanja Bjelica, PF Taj Gibson, C Karl-Anthony Towns

Boston: PG Emmanuel Mudiay, SG Courtney Lee, SF Tim Hardaway Jr., PF Michael Beasley, C Enes Kanter

Prediction

Wolves win. 107-102

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the game. Go Wolves.