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Minnesota Timberwolves: November player grades

By James Grieco

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Derrick Rose #25 celebrates with Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 26, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 102-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Derrick Rose #25 celebrates with Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 26, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 102-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

After a disastrous 0-5 road trip threatened to end the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season prematurely, the team rebounded strongly, finishing with a 7-7 November record.

As this wacky NBA season continues, most fans around the league need this public service announcement: The Minnesota Timberwolves are 7-2 since trading Jimmy Butler. They finished off their November by obliterating the San Antonio Spurs 128-89 on Wednesday.

Despite Butler’s constant proclamations and his success in Philadelphia so far, each game continues to prove that the Wolves do not need Butler to win. Much of the NBA world may have moved on after the drama fizzled, but Minnesota is currently playing the best basketball of the Tom Thibodeau era.

Why is that? Well besides all the chemistry-related elements, the team is finally playing consistent defense. Over the nine games the Wolves have played without Butler, eight of which featured Robert Covington and Dario Saric, the team has a 99.8 defensive rating — the best mark in the NBA over that stretch. In October, the Wolves were 27th in defensive rating with a 114.2 mark.

While Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins have stepped up their defensive play, the lion’s share of the credit thus far has to go to the team’s new acquisitions:

On that positive note, let’s dive into each player’s individual grade for November.

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