The Timberwolves won their first game of the season Wednesday night after losing five straight. Only one loss was by more than eight points. With 10 new players who weren’t even on the roster last season, the franchise’s marketing campaign has been telling us to “See What They Can Do.” Here are early impressions of both the team and several individuals.
The Wolves could have a couple more wins if they had shot more free throws or been better defensively. Before Wednesday night’s 108-103 win over Sacramento, the Wolves had shot 92 free throws, while their opponents attempted 202. Against the Kings, the Wolves had eight more free throw attempts than Sacramento.
A characteristic of the Wolves so far is that they don’t consistently stop other teams with their defense, including in the fourth quarter. Matching basket for basket won’t produce wins without some key defensive plays. The right players on the floor and fewer defensive lapses will help.
The development of rookie forward Corey Brewer, an energy guy with exceptional defensive skills, and the return of injured guard Randy Foye boosts the likelihood of the Wolves winning with some frequency. When Brewer and center Theo Ratliff (he’s been an early season NBA leader in blocked shots) are in the lineup, the Wolves have two exceptional defenders, one who can guard on the perimeter, the other in charge of internal security.
Foye potentially solves two problems. As a rookie last year, he was exceptional in the fourth quarter, scoring 48 percent of his points for the season during the final period and overtime. The Wolves need a third reliable fourth quarter scoring alternative to join forward/center Al Jefferson and guard Rashad McCants. The return of Foye means he starts at point guard, replacing Marko Jaric and Sebastian Telfair, neither of whom has played like an NBA starter early in the season.
McCants, now in his third season, is producing like an emerging star, averaging 18.6 points per game and making more than 50 percent of his field goals, including three pointers. McCants, who had a career high 33 points Wednesday night, needs to sharpen up on defense and avoid unnecessary fouls that lessen his playing time.
Before the season it seemed a possibility that Foye, not a natural point guard, might play a lot of minutes at shooting guard, his more natural position, but the play of McCants has muted that notion. At least for now.
With McCants, 23, either putting up jump shots near or far, or creatively driving to the basket, and with Jefferson, 22, tossing in six footers near the basket, the Wolves have developed an effective one-two scoring formula in early games. Jefferson, 6-10, 265, is not only effective near the basket because of his size, he has extraordinary footwork.
The Wolves look organized offensively, defensively and in their collective heads. Coach Randy Wittman has the team playing with energy, an absolute must for a young group trying to figure out who they are and how to play with one another.
The Wolves play Washington at home tonight (Friday) and New Orleans is at Target Center tomorrow night.