Unless you spent your entire summer sheltering yourself under a boulder, you know exactly what the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new mantra was. They wanted to rid themselves of the prehistoric philosophy of the Tom Thibodeau and Jimmy Butler era, the one that cast such a gloomy shadow over the entire organization. Instead of being glued to the start line, watching the rest of the competition stream ahead, they finally decided to catch up.
After the rise of the Golden State Warriors juggernaut, the blueprint was set. Teams now accompany the same ball and player movement that made Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs championship regulars with a penchant for 3-point-jacking and a laser-focus on getting to the rim and free throw line that’s unrivaled in the annals of NBA history.