Homecoming

The Timberwolves visited the United Center last night, and it was homecoming for all those ex-Bulls gone to Minnesota (with Derrick Rose rumored to be on his way north, too).  I miss Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, but Tom Thibodeau, not so much.

There was Thibodeau patrolling the sidelines in perpetual grimace, an act that grows old, or will.  One of the ESPN commentators predicted the T-Wolves will be dangerous in the playoffs.  Express that as a bet, and I’ll take the other end.  Thibodeau teams underperform in the postseason.

Part of the reason is that he runs them into the ground.  Guess who leads the NBA in minutes played?  That’s right, Jimmy Butler at 37.2; not even LeBron James goes that long.  Two other Minnesota starters are averaging 35.2 or more minutes a game.  You can’t run an unimaginative offense when you’re gassed.  T-Wolves fans will see that soon enough.

The Bull were on a seven-game losing streak, which in a way has turned out to benefit their rebuild plans.  The losing streak pretty much coincides with the loss of guard Kris Dunn, who suffered a concussion after losing his balance on a slam dunk against Golden State.  Until then, the Bulls looked entirely capable of sneaking into the playoffs.  Minus Dunn and the subsequent trade of Nikola Mirotic, the baby Bulls can now concentrate on how to close games while they await two #1 draft choices once the season’s over.

Butler scored 38 points while Zach LaVine—acquired for Butler with Dunn and Lauri Markkanen—managed 35.  LaVine scored the winning points at the free-throw line in a 114-113 final while Butler’s desperation heave from the corner missed.  Desperation, Thibodeau—sometimes it’s good the past is past.