NBA Preview: The Timberwolves and Thunder are two teams in the midst of making adjustments early in the 2017-18 season.
Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) at Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1), Sunday, 7:00 p.m. EST
Line: Thunder -4. Total 211.5.
Some prognosticators are saying that Oklahoma City will need time to get everyone on the same page to start playing well as a unit. The Thunder looked just fine against the Knicks in the opener for both teams on Thursday. However, we are talking about the Knicks here. The Thunder outclassed New York 105-84 in that game.
Oklahoma City’s new “Big 3” combined for 71 points in their regular season debut together. Russell Westbrook notched a triple-double with 21 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. Paul George scored 28 points and added 6 boards and 6 assists while Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points.
As good as the Thunder were on Sunday, they were equally as bad on Saturday.
Oklahoma City fell behind early and never caught up at Utah. The Jazz were on the back-end of a back-to-back. The Thunder, who had a day’s rest for this match-up with Utah, came out flat.
The Thunder will need help from “the others” because their Big 3 cannot do everything. If Saturday night is any indicator, if one member of the Big 3 has an off night, then Oklahoma City has a very good chance of losing.
Westbrook had a terrible night shooting, going 2-for-11 from the field and 1-for-4 from the free throw line for 6 points. Westbrook did have 13 boards and 9 assists. Anthony scored 26 points, while George added 22 points and 5 boards.
Minnesota has three new starters in their lineup. Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson came over from Chicago, while Jeff Teague came over from Indiana. Timberwolves Coach Tom Thibodeau was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls for five years before coming to Minnesota last season. So Thibodeau has already coached Butler and Gibson. Now all Thibodeau has to do is get his two former players to gel with the other starters.
Karl-Anthony Towns, the #1 overall pick in 2015 from Kentucky, is projected to be a superstar in this league for a long time. Towns has all the tools. The 7-footer can bury threes and averaged a double-double during his first two seasons. Last year, Towns averaged 25.1 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game. He is just 21 years old.
Andrew Wiggins, the #1 overall pick in 2014 from Kansas, has improved every season. Wiggins averaged 23.6 points per game last year.
The Timberwolves are coming off a hard-fought 100-97 win at home against Utah on Friday. So the script has been switched for Sunday as now Oklahoma City is on the back-end of a back-to-back while the Timberwolves are rested.
NBA Fantasy Information
Players to look at: There simply is not much value at all with these two teams in the fantasy realm. I will hopefully have my fantasy spreadsheet available this week. That sheet will not be showing anybody from these two teams at the top of any value list.
Paul George (Thunder), SF, $8400. George is no longer a value play on this team at that price, but he comes close. Paul can get low to mid 40s with the Thunder, which is decent for that price.
Jamal Crawford (Timberwolves), SG, $4000. Crawford is averaging 21.3 fantasy points per game after two contests. At that price, if he gets mid to high 20s, then he is getting some value.
Sunday Picks:
Sides: (1) NO, (2) Atl, (3) OKC.
Totals: (1) Atl ov, (2) OKC un, (3) NO ov.
Note: If I have a bet today, I will post it here.
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