NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers are right where they want to be

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN- APRIL 26: New Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau throws out a first pitch prior to the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians on April 26, 2016 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 6-5. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

. . Minnesota Timberwolves. 25. team. 86. Coming in right behind the Brooklyn Nets in both the power rankings and the surprise column to open the 2016-17 NBA season is the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Great Lakes own were supposed to see an immediate jump in their win total since adding beloved coach Tom Thibodeau to the staff, but so far the wins aren’t piling up as expected. The team’s only win came at home over the Memphis Grizzlies as their opponent had chosen to rest their star players. <p>Even without the immediate improvement in the team’s win/loss record, there are already glimpses of the coaching switch paying off for the Timberwolves. Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine both seem to have taken a leap in their play and Karl Anthony-Towns is rounding into form as a do-it-all player that impacts both the offensive and defensive ends of the game. These three players are firmly planted as this franchise’s future and this season is the one where they are really going to need to show and prove that they have what it takes to bring this team up from the cellar of the West.</p> <p>As the season goes on, common sense suggests that Minnesota will start to rack up wins and Thibs will put himself right back into the race for Coach of the Year by season’s end. This team is still young and though Thibodeau is one of the top coaches in the NBA, it takes time for a young group to learn how to win. We’re watching Minnesota go through that phase now, but once they are out of it it will spell trouble for the rest of the league. Kris Dunn is getting extended minutes as the team’s starting point guard with Ricky Rubio out with an elbow injury. If Dunn can start making an earlier than anticipated impact don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves are able to flip Rubio for some much needed veteran leadership this year.</p>

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