It's not a myth that Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau heavily relies on his starters during games. It is a known fact for NBA critics and fans alike, that Thibs puts on a heavy load for his starters.
Not many players have spoken out against their coach's practices. They are a team, after all, and the foundation of their relationship is built on trust. Playing heavy minutes is alright as long as the team racks up the victories. Yet when the body takes its toll, the trust they have built and worked upon is immediately put into question.
As reported by Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, Wolves starting guard Jeff Teague admitted that they, too, get tired and Thibodeau should also utilize the bench:
Teague on the bench: "Guys get tired. I think they need opportunities. … Hopefully Thibs sees that they can really help."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) March 26, 2018
Teague, perhaps, is the first player who reacted to Thibs' practice. Many critics and fans have pointed to Thibs as a person possibly responsible for Derrick Rose's injuries when he coached (and overworked) him in Chicago. Recently, it was Jimmy Butler who was on the receiving end of a knee injury during a non-contact play. He's averaging 37.1 minutes per game which is quite a load for any player.
As reported by Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, Wolves starters have played 69.6 percent of Minnesota’s available time so far, on pace to become the fourth highest minutes per game average of all time, with their starters playing a combined 177.2 minutes per game. The all-time record is held by the ’86-87 Celtics’ with 190 minutes per game.
On this criticism, Thibs simply replied:
“I think people sometimes get caught up in the wrong stuff. The most important thing is the winning.”
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