There might not be a perfect word to describe the first 17 games of this important Timberwolves season, but judging by the reactions of players, coaches and fans, this one keeps springing to mind: unsatisfying.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t like the defensive inconsistency or the recent fourth-quarter play of his team. Players look annoyed on the court as they try to figure out how the sum of some impressive parts can be a more effective whole. And fans are seeing all those fits and starts play out on a game-by-game basis.
The strange thing is all this unsatisfying frustration has come in the midst of a 10-7 start — still a 48-win pace, still far better than anything this franchise has approached since Kevin Garnett was in his prime.