Category: Timberwolves

 

The anticipation and mystery starts with 21-year-old Ricky Rubio.  The rookie Spanish point guard could be an instant rock star here, early disappointment, or more likely both.  Whatever the story, there will be excitement surrounding him perhaps matching or exceeding any rookie debut in franchise history.

Rubio is handsome, plays with flair and speaks broken English.  His surprise passes could sometimes break a teammate’s nose.  We can dream he’s another Pete Maravich while being prepared to settle for the second coming of Jason Williams.

While Rubio is maybe a rock star in waiting, this team has other age-26 and under personnel who could be a lot of fun to watch.  Start with the NBA’s leading rebounder and All-Star forward, 21-year-old Kevin Love.  This is a guy, by the way, who at least one local writer labeled mediocre during the preseason of Love’s rookie year.  What did we tell you about preseason judgments?

In the Rubio mania, rookie forward Derrick Williams, 20, has received less attention than a No. 2 overall pick in the draft would expect.  This kid is an explosive scorer and versatile player who will get a look by Adelman at both power and small forward.  At Arizona his career field goal percentage was .586 percent (.511 on three point attempts).  Word is his attitude is good, and how do you not like a guy that enjoys old-time TV including “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?”

Adelman said last week he wants to win now and that “potential” to win gets coaches fired.  Wolves fans hope he coaches more production out of a talented trio who often show us both potential and disappointment.  The threesome of forward Michael Beasley (22), center Darko Milicic (26) and guard Wes Johnson (24) can within moments both make fans stand and applaud, but also shake our heads with disapproval.

But, hey, that’s why Adelman and his staff have arrived on the scene.  Their task is to make the league’s worst defensive team better, convince players to share the ball on offense, reduce turnovers and bust their tails every game.  If that sounds like an ambitious to-do list, then you understand why early judgments are a no-no.

Ten games are a place to start with informed opinions.  The 10 games after that will be even better.  Best yet?  At the end of the 66 game strike-shortened season.

 

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News, quotes and opinion from the Timberwolves pre-training camp opening news conference:

New coach Rick Adelman impressed with his no nonsense talk.  He said last season’s 17-65 team played “horrendous” defense and that must change.  As Houston’s coach, he recalled coaching against the Timberwolves in the final game of the 2010-11 season and seeing the league’s most generous defense.

“We (the Rockets) got whatever we wanted in our first option,” he said.  “We never even had to go anywhere else.”

The 65-year-old Adelman has played and coached a lot of basketball.  He plans to put a stop to the Wolves’ habit of giving up easy baskets including in transition defense.

He described the Wolves as a “pretty good offensive team” but negatives include leading the NBA in turnovers and not producing enough assists.  He and his staff will preach changes on both offense and defense during a short training camp and two exhibition games leading up to the season opener at home on December 26 versus Oklahoma City.

“There’s a trust level in the way you play the game at both ends of the court that we’ve gotta ingrain in them (his players),” Adelman said.  “We’ve gotta make them understand this is how we’re gonna play.”

Adelman wishes he had more veteran leadership on a team that could have five starters 25 and younger.  He’s labeled forward Kevin Love, 23, as a team leader.  Adelman said Love will have the ball in his hands more this season.  “There’s no way he should average two or three assists per game,” the coach said.

Love said he grew emotionally over the summer, almost crying when recalling conversations with family that he declined to detail.  He’s ready for leadership including being a “facilitator” in the offense and utilizing his superb court awareness.  He’s also ready to “hopefully get this team going in crunch time.”

Assists will increase, too, with the arrival of point guard and passing whiz Ricky Rubio.  Love broke up the press confidence when asked his impression of Rubio after scrimmaging with him: “I think he passed the sh.. out of it.”

Love reduced his weight after a summer in which he deliberately ate better.  Gone is the baby fat and flab of the past.  He looks like a different person and seems more mature.

While Love is a certain starter, Adelman will encourage competition for playing minutes.  There will be no set starting team for early practices.

The Wolves will have 16 fewer games during the strike-shortened upcoming schedule to better last year’s 17 wins total.  Take the bet the Wolves will do just that.

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