Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves

The Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves second-round showdown is one of the most intriguing postseason matchups. Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert openly despise one another. Green has already erred by failing to take Anthony Edwards seriously. Minnesotans continue to regret choosing Johnny Flynn over Steph Curry in the draft.

Then there is the sentiment of Timberwolves supporters toward Jimmy Butler. The fact that Jimmy Butler does not appear in front of Minnesota supporters is equally accurate.

The way Minnesota responded to preparation time during the previous year's playoffs astounded even itself. The Timberwolves loudly attributed that to their defense in both their 2-0 road start against Denver and their 4-0 sweep of the Suns.

Compared to seasoned teams, younger teams gain more from preparation and practice. Given that they lack some of the institutional expertise and discipline of veterans, the younger squad need that concentration. Minnesota's defense could benefit from the five days break, especially after Golden State just lost to 103 points in a Game 7 against a weaker defense and as Steph Curry is dealing with a thumb injury.

Is it a disadvantage or an advantage? The NBA either placed the Golden State Warriors at a disadvantage by scheduling their second-round series tip-off less than 46 hours after a grueling road Game 7 victory, or it gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a well-earned edge for closing their first-round series in five games, granting them five days of rest before facing a fatigued opponent.

Regardless of perspective, this scheduling clearly favors the younger, more athletic, and deeper team.

The Timberwolves face a tough challenge in this series, but Golden State’s exhausting seven-game battle against Houston positions Minnesota well for a Game 1 win.

When Timberwolves fans mock Jimmy Butler, dubbing him “General Soreness” or questioning his absence from Minnesota games for nearly four years, they have ample justification. His early 2018 season excuse of “general soreness” to sit out games invites ongoing criticism, and avoiding four of six games at Target Center since his bitter exit suggests a lack of courage.

Yet the skepticism about Butler extends beyond these stories. The numbers tell a clear tale.

Simply put, Jimmy Butler doesn’t live up to his clutch reputation when facing a hostile crowd.

In two games at a packed Target Center since his contentious departure, Butler has averaged just 14 points on 35% shooting. In a single game at Target Center with fewer than 2,000 fans due to pandemic restrictions, he managed 30 points on 47% shooting. In four games against the Timberwolves outside Minnesota, he’s averaged 19.25 points on 51% shooting.

This pattern isn’t limited to Minnesota. Across eight revenge games at his former teams’ arenas—including the 76ers and a Heat game in March, but excluding the pandemic-affected Minneapolis game in 2021—Butler has averaged 17.25 points on 48% shooting, with a mere 18% from three-point range. He’s also skipped 11 other potential games in Minnesota or Philadelphia.

In contrast, in 12 games at his new teams’ home courts against former teams, Butler has averaged 21.3 points on 49% shooting, including 52% from three, missing only two such opportunities to boost those stats.

These figures are from the regular season. It’s worth noting that Butler performed well in Philadelphia during the 2022 playoffs. However, Miami dropped two of three road games in that series, with Butler shooting 29% from three on the road compared to 36% at home, attempting two more threes per game away. Much of his better road scoring came from free throws, a less reliable source in today’s postseason.

Jimmy Butler has consistently avoided facing the Target Center crowd. It’s telling that his most iconic Timberwolves moment occurred in a practice. Golden State shouldn’t count on him for road scoring in this series.