The Timberwolves are at home tonight to play San Antonio and hoping to make their record 2-2. The Wolves, who have lost two straight since winning their opening game against Sacramento, want to avoid the two wins, 12 losses start of last November.
“I expect the first month is going to be the key to having a great season,” center Al Jefferson told Sports Headliners. “ …It’s a tough month. … Make us or break us. Last year we started out slow and we just never could get back. This year we want to start off good. …I think that could take us a long way.”
Jefferson made those remarks last week before the opening game with the Kings, knowing the November schedule included games with teams that are capable of advancing into the playoffs and having post-first round success. Those teams include NBA champion Boston and title contender San Antonio, plus playoff ambitious Detroit, Portland, Philadelphia and Phoenix.
The Wolves are more talented than the team that was 4-26 at the end of December last year. This is a group that likes one another, too. “All guys on this team are close,” Jefferson said. “Everybody gets along. Everybody’s got the same thing on their mind, winning. Having a better season than last year. I am not saying we’re going to win a championship this year but I know we should do a lot better than we did last year. We should win games we’re supposed to win. A lot of games we lost last year we could have won. …”
It may take some lineup changes, or at least increased playing time to take the Wolves closer to their potential. Rookie forward Kevin Love’s all-around game seems like it could spark the Wolves more if he were in the starting lineup, and also averaging more than 19.7 minutes per game. Guard Rashad McCants, also coming off the bench, is the team’s second leading scorer to Jefferson but is only playing 23.7 minutes per game.
The team also needs better production from point guard Randy Foye. He’s averaging 7.3 points per game and making 22 percent of his shots. He’s averaging a team high five assists per game. Foye needs to be a more creative and consistent playmaker.
Jefferson is leading the team in points and rebounds at 19.7 and 11.7. He will need help tonight against the Spurs, a team that has won 10 of the last 11 games against the Wolves. The Spurs won all four games last season with Manu Ginobili averaging 30.8 points per game. Ginobili, though is recovering from left ankle surgery and won’t play until later this season.