I’d Be Shocked if Jimmy Butler Doesn’t Play Tonight vs Denver

So, in case you haven’t heard, the Timberwolves play their biggest game in 14 years tonight in Denver. A win would mean a much higher chance to get into what we’ve been calling the “Bonus Zone” over on Instagram. Most Wolves Fans know it as the 4-6 seed in the Western Conference.

What a HUGE game tonight… #twolves #timberwolves #nba #nbaplayoffs #alleyesnorth #denver #nuggets

A post shared by Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) on Apr 5, 2018 at 12:29pm PDT

If our favorite professional basketball team can play well enough over the next four games, to wiggle their way into one of those spots, then we can spend the days before our much awaited return to the NBA Playoffs (13 years) cultivating “expert” opinions on whether we can actually pull out a series victory. If we can’t finish higher than 7th in the West, then the only thing we’ll be arguing is whether a first round exit was worth the draft pick we gave up for the short playoff appearance.

Anyone who’s followed the NBA with even an eye half-open, over the last few weeks, knows that; while a 7 or 8 seed may mean a playoff birth, it also means an early playoff death sentence. Nobody is beating Golden State or Houston. Period. Sure, a Chefless Warriors squad will make things easier. But, not easy enough.

Currently, the Timberwolves sit in the 7th spot in the West but that race is tighter than the basketball shorts kids are wearing these days.

In other words, the Wolves need to win. Otherwise, our return to the NBA Playoffs will have an empty-hollow feeling, a lot like the make-up sex with that ex you don’t really want to make-up with…

Luckily for the Timberwolves, their best player is nearing his return, after a knee injury that many worried would keep him out a lot longer than the rest of the 2018 regular season. Jimmy Butler is itching to return. That is clear to anyone paying attention. But, when will that be?

Well, if you saw/heard what he said earlier Thursday (and can read between some lines), the answer is clear.

Thibs and Jimmy Butler both say there’s a chance he’lol play tonight, depending on how he feels warming up

— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) April 5, 2018

Butler also said this about how his body responded from the workouts on Mon and Tue:

“I feel like I’m a really good player. I can still put the ball in the basket a little bit and I feel like I’m ready to get out there with my guys. We’ll see how I feel before the game. ”

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 5, 2018

It’s TONIGHT.

“We’ll see how I feel before the game”., he says…

I would  be COMPLETELY SHOCKED if Butler doesn’t play tonight. At this point, it doesn’t look like he’s had any setbacks and barring one occurring before game time, we have to see Jimmy. He knows what’s at stake. He knows that a win tonight means everything. Unless something happens, number 23 will be back on the floor. There’s just too much on the line.

Call it petty but Thibs and the Wolves would be milking Jimmy’s return like this, no matter his actual status. It forces the Nuggets to game plan for both scenarios.

I know guys like Jerry and Jon can’t say it but Jerry sure wants to…

Blog up from shoot in Denver, where Jimmy Butler sounds like a man ready to play in a crucial game against the Nuggetshttps://t.co/160JO08JP8

— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) April 5, 2018

I’ll come out with it for you, Jerry;

See you tonight, Jimmy. Let’s do this.

Eric Strack (Founder/Tweeter)

MinnesotaSportsFan.com