By Stephen Nover
Spurs minus 3 hosting Timberwolves
I usually don’t put much stock in preseason. But the Timberwolves going 1-4 in preseason while allowing an average of 123.8 points per game is telling.
It tells me that Tom Thibodeau still can’t get Minnesota to play good defense. The Timberwolves have been bad both on the road – going 17-24 last season compared to 30-11 at home – and on defense where they were 29th in defensive field goal percentage.
Chemistry is a real problem, too, with the Timberwolves. Jimmy Butler is their best two-way player, but he’s been a major distraction with his strong desire to get traded.
I don’t see the Timberwolves being ready for this caliber of opponent. The Spurs had their own in-house problems last season in regards to the status of Kawhi Leonard. That has been resolved with Leonard dealt to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan.
San Antonio has the coaching edge with Gregg Popovich and the scorers with DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay and Pau Gasol to exploit the Timberwolves’ porous defense. The Spurs lost their projected starting point guard, Dejounte Murray, and his backup, Derrick White. But Popovich has had ample time to adjust.
There’s a mental factor, too, that works against Minnesota as the Spurs are 13-1 in their last 14 games versus the Timberwolves, including defeating them the past nine times at AT&T Center.
(Editor’s note: Stephen Nover is one of the top NBA handicappers in the country. He is 292-239-10 for 55 percent on his premium/free NBA plays during the last two seasons and opened this season in style with an easy winner on the Celtics. If you’re interested in obtaining Stephen’s selections please message or email him.)
