Wolves Updates 11-10 Part 2

The Wolves practiced for about two hours this morning at Oracle Arena, working to stop their 1-5 start (exactly the same as a year ago) and a five-game losing streak with a victory at Golden State Tuesday night to end their three-game Western swing.

At practice’s conclusion, Kevin Love sang “Happy Birthday” to Craig Smith, who turns 25 today.

From Don Seeholzer/Pioneer Press:

“He has no singing voice, no rhythm at all,” coach Randy Wittman cracked. “It’s hard to believe that he’s got a relative that seemed to have that.”

Love, in his defense, said happy birthday isn’t his song and that he would have nailed the Star-Spangled Banner.

Asked if that was his first and last singing gig, he said: “No, I’m going to have to do it again. They’re going to make me dance, too, so I’ve got to figure out what new flavor I’m going to bring next time.”

Marc Stein/ESPN has the Wolves at the bottom spot in his weekly power rankings.

Looks like pulling out a two-point win over the Kings on opening night wasn't exactly an omen. The Wolves are 0-5 since and showing their youth, with three of those losses coming by four points or fewer.

From John Focke/Timberwolves site:

The Wolves will look to end their 5-game losing streak on Tuesday in Oakland when they face off with the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State, who lost Baron Davis to the Clippers during the off season, will be without Monte Ellis Tuesday after he injured his ankle in a moped incident this summer.

Wolves assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff said even with those guys out, the Warriors do have Corey Maggettee, and a Don Nelson-coached team will create some match up issues.

"With a Don Nelson coached team, they can go off at any moment. They have the ability to score the basketball and they are gonna try to score in a hurry. So you have to be consistent in your game plan and what you do, and play at your pace. You can't get caught up in the game that they want to play; they want to go up and down, up and down. You have to control the tempo, not saying you don't want to run when you have opportunities, but you don't want to get caught up in their style of game."

From Jay Weiner/MinnPost:
Sports fans and cheerleaders must also ponder the real numbers. Add up the attendance of the Twins (2.3 million fans), Vikings (630,000), Timberwolves (600,000) and Wild (760,000) on an annual basis and it doesn't come close to the 14 million Minnesotans who attend art shows, concerts and theater statewide.

(Of course, citizens watch their teams on TV and listen on radio, too, adding to the level of interest.)