Today, we move on to bigger and brighter things (okay, that's a complete overstatement): Kevin Garnett's Minnesota Timberwolves!
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| Nothing ever changes, really. |
1. Andrew Wiggins - SF 16.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 13.9 PER
The #1 overall draft pick last year (for the Cavaliers) has played in every game this season, is top 5 in minutes played in THE LEAGUE, and is already a great defender. Those who were expecting the Second Coming of LeBron James on the offensive end knew deep in their hearts that they were being ridiculous, but his offensive game isn't a train wreck. His game is less shooting and more athleticism currently, like many superstars that have come before him (see: Kobe, LeBron) - so there's still hope that his shooting numbers will increase as he grows into his "NBA game". He's a blue-chipper already, and the future is so bright because his high-ceiling potential seems like such a sure thing. I like Andrew Wiggins, if you couldn't tell.
2. Nikola Pekovic - C 12.5ppg, 7.5rpg, 0.39bpg, 16.7 PER
I also like Nikola Pekovic, and let's be real: his physical appearance likens him to Gimli, except tall (How terrifying a combination is that?! That would give Gimli a huge range for his axe, which was his major drawback. Seriously. Holy crap). Anyway. Pekovic is a monster on the boards in seemingly every game I watch of his, yet only averages 7.5/game. Why? I don't know, maybe I'm his good luck charm or something. The major drawbacks to Pekovic's game are health (he's never played more than 62 games in a season) and defense (see his pitiful blocks numbers above - HE'S 6'11'' AND WEIGHS 295 LBS). But when he's on, he's like a Montenegrin (yup, that's the correct demonym) Zach Randolph. And on this roster, that's good enough for 2nd.
3. Zach LaVine - PG 10.0ppg, 3.5apg, 11.0 PER
Zach LaVine can jump. And water is wet. But also, Zach LaVine can shoot too! 37% from 3-point range isn't anything to sneeze at, and he shot 94 of them, so that's a bunch of points coming in multiples of 3. I know the slam dunk competition doesn't count towards wins or losses for the Timberwolves on the season, so it really doesn't matter in the end, but LaVine showed a really easy confidence that made me feel more optimistic about his future.
4. Ricky Rubio - PG 10.3ppg, 8.8apg, 1.7spg, 15.3 PER
Woohoo! Pretty Tricky Ricky is here! Ricky Rubio makes watching/playing basketball seem more fun, and that honestly added into his ranking up this high. That is, it's fun until he's left alone on the 3-point line, and he goes all wide-eyed, and he clangs another shot off the back iron. Yup, Rubio still hasn't figured out that all-important aspect of the game: the shot. That didn't stop him from shooting though, 85% of his field goals attempted this year were jumpshots, with 35% of his 2's going in and an incredible 17% of his 3's finding the bottom of the net. That's not the good kind of incredible, either. Dude is a wizard on the defensive end though, and makes at least one pass per game that makes you cover your mouth and look away out of sheer respect for the hustle.
5. Kevin Martin - SG 19.7ppg, 39% 3FG, 16.4 PER
Kevin Martin doesn't play defense, doesn't pass, doesn't rebound, and doesn't tip well at restaurants. Ok, maybe that last one is an unfounded accusation. So why is he #4 on this list? Because Kevin Martin can flat out score. Inside, outside, fallaway J's, drawing fouls, the whole shebang. Kevin Martin has unconventional form, but it goes in more often than not.
6. Shabazz Muhammad - SF 13.5ppg, 39% 3FG, 20.0 PER
I think Shabazz must be learning from Kevin Martin, because his stat line emulates Martin's - sweet shooting, and not much else. For what it's worth, Muhammad led this team in 3FG%. So there's that.
7. Gary Neal - SG 11.8ppg, 35% 3FG, 15.2 PER
Mr. Never Cold is a plug-and-play bench scorer, and that kind of role is welcome on any team. Now, his scoring would definitely be more welcome on a team that actually plays in games that matter, but Gary Neal continues to shoot the ball well from everywhere he hoists it up. There's still some residual resentment from when he played for San Antonio, I'm not going to lie.
8. Gorgui Dieng - C 9.7ppg, 8.3rpg, 1.73bpg (!), 17.3 PER
Emeka Okafor 2.0 is an absolute force on the defensive end. Almost 2 blocks per game! Whew. I definitely didn't see that coming when I watched him play at Louisville. Hopefully he can add in some low-post moves to allow his defense to continue to shine.
9. Anthony Bennett - PF 5.2ppg, 3.7rpg, 11.4 PER
Yikes, this is ugly. If Gorgui is Emeka 2.0, then can Anthony Bennett be Kwame Brown 0.5?
10. Chase Budinger - SF 6.8ppg, 36% 3FG, 12.3 PER
Budinger didn't turn into the all-around player that some people thought he might've been.
11. Justin Hamilton - C 9.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.50bpg, 18.8 PER
Doesn't seem to be a scorer, doesn't have exceptional rebounding numbers, but has really pleasantly-surprising block numbers, especially for the amount of minutes he's playing.
12. Adreian Payne - PF 7.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 8.2 PER
The former standout at Michigan State has worked his way into the starting lineup, which is saying something. The rest of his game may still be in the college/pro-ball limbo, so the hope is that it continues to develop a la Greg Monroe.
13. Kevin Garnett - PF 7.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 19.4 PER (in 5 games with Minnesota)
The Big Ticket is back in Minny, giving T-Wolves fans over the age of 25 a reason to come to the Target Center. However, gone is the automatic 20-10 guy of the late-90's/early-00's, as Garnett is now a defensive mouthpiece on one end, and an endless loop of pick-and-pop 20-footers on the offensive side. KG keeps gettin' dem checks though, and continues to be the Barry Bonds of career earnings: setting the bar so high that no one may ever reach it ($315 million and counting).
14. Lorenzo Brown - PG 3.9ppg, 3.2apg, 10.5 PER
I didn't know who Brown was before I started doing this research, so the thing that elevates him above Hummel is that he fills out the stat sheet more. Splitting hairs, though.
15. Robbie Hummel - SF 4.4ppg, 3.0rpg, 10.1 PER
Dude was great at Purdue, though.
Oh, and one last thing...
2015 First-Round Playoffs Predictions (since you asked):
Western Conference
1 Warriors over 8 Pelicans in 5
2 Rockets over 7 Mavericks in 7
6 Spurs over 3 Clippers in 5
5 Memphis over 4 Trailblazers in 6
Eastern Conference
1 Hawks over 8 Nets in 4
2 Cavaliers over 7 Celtics in 5
3 Bulls over 6 Bucks in 6
5 Wizards over 4 Raptors in 7
Out-of-Left-Field Prediction:
Even though they'll inevitably succumb to the Bulls, the Milwaukee Bucks will be the 1st-round surprise breakout team, since they really haven't come to the public consciousness yet and they've got a nice little thing going up there. #fearthedeer (is that still a thing?)
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