Game 66: Minnesota Timberwolves (38-27) @ Utah Jazz (31-30) - 10:30 PM ET

[TheDominator273]

So because he made a half hearted effort to slap his arms, that makes it less dirty? This looks far more physical and more dangerous.

Yeah a half hearted attempt at the ball makes it more of a basketball play. It's a hard foul for sure, but not dirty. I'm not sure how you're failing to see the difference. Body checking a player into the first row is a much dirtier play than a hard foul swiping across someone's arms from behind.

The only reason he swipes at his arms is so that he can’t get the shot up, Rubio isn’t getting a shot up so he didn’t have to. That’s just as dirty.

And preventing someone from getting a shot up is a basketball move, even if there is hard contact. It was excessive and unnecessary contact for sure, but the fact that it was a basketball move makes it far less dirty than what he did to Rubio which is why fans are upset at the play.

If he did the same thing to Austin Rivers (random player that's pretty universally disliked that is around the same size as Rubio) people would be just as upset. Just because we root for the Wolves doesn't mean we have to support or condone the actions of our team's players when they are in the wrong.

It's all compounded by the fact that we need every win we can get right now to make the playoffs and we had already lost KAT for the game due to a bad call and his immaturity. Both KAT and Teague put the team in a poor situation because they could not handle their emotions. Both deserve criticism as such.

[karch34]

I remember last year we lamented that when Beverly cheap shotted Rubio we had no one that stepped up and lacked toughness. Yeah what Teague did was unnecessary but at least we have a bit of an edge even if misguided. Towns does get a lack of foul calls for someone of his caliber so I can understand the frustration, but his complaining isnt going to change it. I think we chalk it up to emotion and hope we learn from this.

[Folklore]

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Adams got Teaged

[Note30]

The gymnastics that people are performing in this thread to try to make this a "picking sides" issue are pretty impressive.

That hit on Ricky Rubio was disgusting and dangerous; Jimmy Butler not only condoning the behaviour (but rather ENDORSING it) is equally gross, and strongly disappoints me as a fan.

Are you going to tell me that I am against Jimmy Butler after my extensive post history supporting him? All because I find him to be a phenomenal basketball player in no way means I am going to say "yeah, you get them, guys!" What is going on here is **** absurd, and my post history showcases my consistency on dirty plays like that (my only official RealGM warning is because of me unloading about Draymond Green on the General Board).

If this is a gross hit, it means you are probably just soft,

Easy to say when you're behind a keyboard.

[Narf]

The gymnastics that people are performing in this thread to try to make this a "picking sides" issue are pretty impressive.

That hit on Ricky Rubio was disgusting and dangerous; Jimmy Butler not only condoning the behaviour (but rather ENDORSING it) is equally gross, and strongly disappoints me as a fan.

Are you going to tell me that I am against Jimmy Butler after my extensive post history supporting him? All because I find him to be a phenomenal basketball player in no way means I am going to say "yeah, you get them, guys!" What is going on here is **** absurd, and my post history showcases my consistency on dirty plays like that (my only official RealGM warning is because of me unloading about Draymond Green on the General Board).

Just to make you feel better, the Timberwolves had a fan event at a bar and Jimmy Butler showed up to hang out with fans. I highly doubt he was sober when he tweeted this.

Agree with the mental gymnastics though. Teague is a little bitch and this was a punk move.

[Mattya]

The gymnastics that people are performing in this thread to try to make this a "picking sides" issue are pretty impressive.

That hit on Ricky Rubio was disgusting and dangerous; Jimmy Butler not only condoning the behaviour (but rather ENDORSING it) is equally gross, and strongly disappoints me as a fan.

Are you going to tell me that I am against Jimmy Butler after my extensive post history supporting him? All because I find him to be a phenomenal basketball player in no way means I am going to say "yeah, you get them, guys!" What is going on here is **** absurd, and my post history showcases my consistency on dirty plays like that (my only official RealGM warning is because of me unloading about Draymond Green on the General Board).

If this is a gross hit, it means you are probably just soft,

Easy to say when you're behind a keyboard.

Easy to say because we see a lot worse even today. Let alone the fouls we saw back in the 90s or even further back. If this is gross you just are too sensitive.

[Mattya]

Yeah a half hearted attempt at the ball makes it more of a basketball play. It's a hard foul for sure, but not dirty. I'm not sure how you're failing to see the difference. Body checking a player into the first row is a much dirtier play than a hard foul swiping across someone's arms from behind.

The only reason he swipes at his arms is so that he can’t get the shot up, Rubio isn’t getting a shot up so he didn’t have to. That’s just as dirty.

And preventing someone from getting a shot up is a basketball move, even if there is hard contact. It was excessive and unnecessary contact for sure, but the fact that it was a basketball move makes it far less dirty than what he did to Rubio which is why fans are upset at the play.

If he did the same thing to Austin Rivers (random player that's pretty universally disliked that is around the same size as Rubio) people would be just as upset. Just because we root for the Wolves doesn't mean we have to support or condone the actions of our team's players when they are in the wrong.

It's all compounded by the fact that we need every win we can get right now to make the playoffs and we had already lost KAT for the game due to a bad call and his immaturity. Both KAT and Teague put the team in a poor situation because they could not handle their emotions. Both deserve criticism as such.

BS. So I can tackle someone behind but since I didn’t allow him to get his shot up after I decided to tackle him, it’s a basketball play? Give me a break. Now that’s some mental gymnastics. But we have had to play this mental gymnastics game with Rubio defense forever.

Support is different than trashing players, saying they are gross, making up some nonsense about Teague decking Rubio, Rubio being more Minnesotan than Jimmy. Yeah sure sounds like support to me.

[Dalvin]

Guys, it's not just about taking sides whether you're team Butler/Teague or team Rubio. We're all Timberwolf fans here.
I don't know why people have to have an us against everyone mentality. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's a bad foul, any ill intent to hurt another person is never worth celebrating.

I admit being classy never brought wins (being crass, rude or dirty doesn't do much in getting wins either), but it gives you respect. Which as a human being (which these players are), is worth more in real life.

[TheDominator273]

The only reason he swipes at his arms is so that he can’t get the shot up, Rubio isn’t getting a shot up so he didn’t have to. That’s just as dirty.

And preventing someone from getting a shot up is a basketball move, even if there is hard contact. It was excessive and unnecessary contact for sure, but the fact that it was a basketball move makes it far less dirty than what he did to Rubio which is why fans are upset at the play.

If he did the same thing to Austin Rivers (random player that's pretty universally disliked that is around the same size as Rubio) people would be just as upset. Just because we root for the Wolves doesn't mean we have to support or condone the actions of our team's players when they are in the wrong.

It's all compounded by the fact that we need every win we can get right now to make the playoffs and we had already lost KAT for the game due to a bad call and his immaturity. Both KAT and Teague put the team in a poor situation because they could not handle their emotions. Both deserve criticism as such.

BS. So I can tackle someone behind but since I didn’t allow him to get his shot up after I decided to tackle him, it’s a basketball play? Give me a break. Now that’s some mental gymnastics. But we have had to play this mental gymnastics game with Rubio defense forever.

Support is different than trashing players, saying they are gross, making up some nonsense about Teague decking Rubio, Rubio being more Minnesotan than Jimmy. Yeah sure sounds like support to me.

Don't try to twist my words, if someone tackles another player from behind it's pretty clear it's not a basketball play, but that's not what happened on the Crowder foul.

I've also never said anything about Teague being gross or Rubio being more Minnesotan than Jimmy. All I've been saying is that Teague's foul on Rubio is the kind of play that doesn't belong in the game. He clearly lost his temper and hurt his team with a reckless play. It has nothing to do with the fact that Rubio is still a fan favorite for many Wolves fans. It has to do with Teague blowing his top in a crucial situation when he was needed while he was supposed to be a veteran leader.

There's no mental gymnastics going on here. I am a Timberwolves fan and will cheer for the team first. That doesn't mean I have to like or condone actions of the teams members when they are in the wrong. Do you think all Bengals fans should blindly support Vontaze Burfict when he cheap shots a player just because he wears their favorite teams uniforms?

This discussion has been going in circles, and it's clear that we aren't on the same page with what happened and that isn't changing so I'm going to move on.

[Mattya]

And preventing someone from getting a shot up is a basketball move, even if there is hard contact. It was excessive and unnecessary contact for sure, but the fact that it was a basketball move makes it far less dirty than what he did to Rubio which is why fans are upset at the play.

If he did the same thing to Austin Rivers (random player that's pretty universally disliked that is around the same size as Rubio) people would be just as upset. Just because we root for the Wolves doesn't mean we have to support or condone the actions of our team's players when they are in the wrong.

It's all compounded by the fact that we need every win we can get right now to make the playoffs and we had already lost KAT for the game due to a bad call and his immaturity. Both KAT and Teague put the team in a poor situation because they could not handle their emotions. Both deserve criticism as such.

BS. So I can tackle someone behind but since I didn’t allow him to get his shot up after I decided to tackle him, it’s a basketball play? Give me a break. Now that’s some mental gymnastics. But we have had to play this mental gymnastics game with Rubio defense forever.

Support is different than trashing players, saying they are gross, making up some nonsense about Teague decking Rubio, Rubio being more Minnesotan than Jimmy. Yeah sure sounds like support to me.

Don't try to twist my words, if someone tackles another player from behind it's pretty clear it's not a basketball play, but that's not what happened on the Crowder foul.

I've also never said anything about Teague being gross or Rubio being more Minnesotan than Jimmy. All I've been saying is that Teague's foul on Rubio is the kind of play that doesn't belong in the game. He clearly lost his temper and hurt his team with a reckless play. It has nothing to do with the fact that Rubio is still a fan favorite for many Wolves fans. It has to do with Teague blowing his top in a crucial situation when he was needed while he was supposed to be a veteran leader.

There's no mental gymnastics going on here. I am a Timberwolves fan and will cheer for the team first. That doesn't mean I have to like or condone actions of the teams members when they are in the wrong. Do you think all Bengals fans should blindly support Vontaze Burfict when he cheap shots a player just because he wears their favorite teams uniforms?

This discussion has been going in circles, and it's clear that we aren't on the same page with what happened and that isn't changing so I'm going to move on.

That looks like the same foul to me, with the only difference being Crowder going for a shot. I have never cared if you think it’s stupid to commit that foul in that situation here, but I do think it is gymnastics to make it seem these two hits are that different. So to me this is only going to look like fans calling this “cheap” or whatever stuff have said in this thread because it’s Rubio. I’d be far more angry about getting taken out from behind going up for a shot than being checked and sliding into the front row.

[King Malta]

Pretty sneaky hit IMO, but if it was anyone but Rubio I doubt we see the level of furor that we've seen on this board about it.

I don't like Teague, I don't really want him on this team, but the fact that he's an agro little p***k is one of his positive attributes as far as I'm concerned. Not many teams that win are 'nice' or 'fair', they've usually got a sizable serving of nasty to them and we're going to need that if we're going to contend at any point soon.

[Killboard]

iMO thw difference between a useful and defensible punk and a indefensible and useless punk is, after who you are going. I don't want any respect for Rubio past here, but I don't remember Rubio making a dirty play in all his time here. I would have supported Teague or Jimmy if the play were against a dirty player or to defend a teammate. Plus Teague already slapped Bjellica in the face without reason. Do you remember Bjelly making a cheap shot against anyone?

[AirP.]

I still would like to know why Teague did the foul. This wasn't a foul in the moment, I could understand that way more than running 1/2 the court and basically shoulder blocking him, not only that but Rubio getting up quick, almost like he expected it. Butler tweeting about it the way he did seems to indicate that something has been brewing for a while that at least Teague and Butler knew(probably more) knew about. Then again, maybe it's Jimmy just happy to see some real emotion from this team.

There's multiple possible problems between Rubio/Teague. With Teague signing as fast as he did, there's no telling how far in advance he verbally committed to the Timberwolves(or had talks), possibly while Rubio was still in Minnesota or so Rubio believes? Maybe Rubio or even others have talked(let it get back to players in Minnesota) about how Rubio was a better fit in Minnesota?

We probably won't find out what it was really about until a few years down the road.

[PharmD]

Pretty sure the issue isn't any more complicated than Jimmy and Teague don't like that wolves fans still love Ricky and dislike Teague.

[Calinks]

Pretty sure the issue isn't any more complicated than Jimmy and Teague don't like that wolves fans still love Ricky and dislike Teague.

I question that theory though. To start the season there was Rubio animosity and I don't know if many fans were that vocal about Teague at that time, maybe so. With that said though, I don't understand why these guys don't see how many fans could like Rubio. The guy was a big part of this franchise for over half a decade. Generally fans grow attached to franchise players. I think its pretty unreasonable for players to expect fans to just erase all attachments to a previous player over night, especially when the new players have hardly been here. That doesn't make sense.

Like if I wound up on the Bulls right after they traded Noah and I was a center, I wouldn't take offense if fans were still rooting for and supporting Noah. He has a rapport and reputation with that team that I don't. My goal would be to achieve those same levels and surpass them with my own play and that takes time.

[Killboard]

Pretty sure the issue isn't any more complicated than Jimmy and Teague don't like that wolves fans still love Ricky and dislike Teague.

I would say Teague was bringed in by Jimmy. Jimmy is trying to justify a teamate who he bringed in. The reason behind the Rubio trade wasnt that however, Thibs already wanted him out before the Jimmy trade was on the gates. I would have understand the Rubio trade better if Thibs were more creative and were better at playing for his player strenghts. But as for now he has shown 0 creativity. He has his sets, which probably are good and with little flaws, but they are also super strict and doesnt have any flexibility. He also likes to make hockey substitutions who arent used by any other coach in the league, and he isnt outsmarting anyone with that.

Im very disapointed with Thibs his defensive acumen overall. He had 160 games already and we still in the bottom 5, even bringing the experienced "rough" guys, and overpaying both starters (which mean we have no depth at 2 positions, and the next season could not have any depth at PF neither). Butler injury isnt a excuse as Denver, Utah, Pelicans and San Antonio all had star players injured for several games. Clippers and OKC also had starters losing several games.

[CP1981]

I don't know if it's animosity. They tried to get Teague to say something about Rubio after the previous game but he didn't take the bait. He said a lot of positive things about Rubio.

Usually when a guy commits that type of foul it's because they are frustrated the other guy is getting the best of them but Teague was giving Rubio the business so It might have been over a no call. I don't know

[AirP.]

That looks like the same foul to me, with the only difference being Crowder going for a shot. I have never cared if you think it’s stupid to commit that foul in that situation here, but I do think it is gymnastics to make it seem these two hits are that different. So to me this is only going to look like fans calling this “cheap” or whatever stuff have said in this thread because it’s Rubio. I’d be far more angry about getting taken out from behind going up for a shot than being checked and sliding into the front row.

They weren't the same. Teague did go after Crowder like he was going to shoulder block him but used his right hand to stop the shot from going up, sure it was a hard foul and he did bump/push him a bit like he did with Rubio.

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The flagrant on Rubio wasn't stopping anything, Rubio had the ball near the sideline with Teague and 3 other Timberwolves back on defense so he wasn't stopping an easy basket. The flagrant on Crowder at least was to stop a shot, Rubio's flagrant wasn't stopping anything.

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[minimus]

I have been advocating for more active defense with hard fouls. I still think we need someone like Andrew Bogut who was known as "dirty player". However, this Teague's foul is not dirty play it is dumb play. Because there was no need in this foul and Teague actually let his team go down. It is not so hard to understand. Same Bjelica sometime commits some good, hard fouls. But he never crosses the line.

[Mech Engineer]

The Teague foul really was weird considering that the Wolves already had lost KAT and there was no Jimmy/was a B2B. I think Rubio must have said something in the play a few seconds before the foul and Teague completely lost it. I doubt Teague does that if it was some insult hurled some time back. It was a terrible, terrible foul considering Teague was playing well.

I guess it is a learning experience Thibs can use to show everyone that these kind of impulse acts costs games. I think the Wolves will bounce back in home games and make the playoffs.