Friday:  Bucks @ Timberwolves at 7pm on FSN

Accuscore Prediction:  Bucks win 103 - 97

Game Thread:  Click here

Thoughts:  As a draft Brandon Jennings guy I grimace everytime he rips it up.  I'm hoping for a little friendly back and forth between he and Luke tonight.  That said I think this game is won or lost in containing Bogut.  This team hasn't been able to contain skilled 7 footers since KG left.  Roy Hibbert likes to prove this by scoring double is average each time he comes to town.

Saturday:  Timberwolves @ Grizzlies at 7pm on NBA Free Season Pass

Accuscore:  Grizzlies win 106-102

Game Thread:  Click here

Thoughts:  The games against the Grizz are fun because we've been drafting at the top with them for years so most of their guys are players who could be Wolves.  A major contingent of Wolves fans have especially wanted OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay at times.  If Rudy Gays shot is falling the Wolves will have a hard time containing him.  I'm wondering if we'll see a little more of Corey Brewer this game so he can run around with him.

The Wolves really need to think about having a win before they head down to Miami.  While both the Bucks and Grizz are better than them neither are going to be consistent performers who can't be beaten on an off night.

UPDATE: Michael Beasley ($6.2M), Kevin Love ($4.6M), Jonny Flynn ($3.4M), Kosta Koufos ($2.2M) and Wayne Ellington ($1.15M) all had their options picked up.  Koufos is the only minor surprise there.  Corey Brewer did not work out an extension with the team and will be a restricted free agent next summer ($4.97M tender).

Signing info per Star Trib and Salary info per ShamSports.

Game 1:

While rewatching this game a few things struck me that I didn't really soak in during the live broadcast.  First off Kevin Love was a mess during the 3rd quarter.  Except for one pretty looking 3 he was turning the ball over on short interior passes, missing 3 foot lay-ins or getting left holding Luther Head's lunch.  As much as I lamented his 4th quarter on the bench I can halfway see it given that disaster.  I'll excuse Kurt this once I guess.

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Yay, the T-Wolves will broadcast the remaining non-FSN games on TV this year.  And what do ya know, they'll actually be in HD (praise the Lord!)  And they didn't even drop the ball by missing out on the Wolves-Heat tilt next Tuesday.  They sure cut it close enough, but hey, at least we can all watch LeBron and Co. destroy us in fabulous HD.

From the Wolves website:

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team's regular season local over-the-air television schedule for the 2010-11 season, which includes a new partnership with WFTC My29. The Wolves' television schedule will feature 12 games on WFTC My29, including seven Target Center dates and five telecasts from the road. All 12 games will be available in HD.

"We are excited to add My29 as our new over-the-air partner" said Timberwolves Sr. Vice President of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer Ted Johnson. "My29’s commitment to local programming is a great fit for our franchise as we introduce our exciting, young players to Minnesota."

The new partnership with WFTC My29 is part of an integrated marketing relationship that will include ticket promotions, in-arena promotions, community involvement and other promotional elements.

“As part of our station’s ongoing commitment to quality local sports programming, we are pleased to bring our viewers the Timberwolves," said Carol Rueppel, Vice President and General Manager of WFTC My29/KMSP Fox 9.

The Wolves' My29 local television schedule tips off on Tuesday, Nov. 2 against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in Miami (6:30 p.m.). Other highlights in the Wolves' My29 broadcast schedule include the Target Center contest with the Miami Heat on April 1; the game against the Boston Celtics on March 27; and the game against Kobe Bryant and the NBA Champion L.A. Lakers on Nov. 19.

WFTC My29 is part of the Fox Television Stations group, one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.21% of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.

Minnesota Timberwolves WFTC My29 Television Schedule:

Tuesday Nov. 2 at Miami 6:30 p.m. WFTC
Friday Nov. 19 vs. L.A. Lakers 7:00 p.m. WFTC
Saturday Nov. 27 vs. Golden State 7:00 p.m. WFTC
Saturday Dec. 11 at Chicago 7:00 p.m. WFTC
Saturday Dec. 18 at Denver 8:00 p.m. WFTC
Saturday Jan. 15 vs. Orlando 7:00 p.m. WFTC
Friday Jan. 28 at Utah 8:00 p.m. WFTC
Saturday Feb. 5 vs. Denver 7:30 p.m. WFTC
Friday Feb. 25 vs. New Orleans 7:00 p.m. WFTC
Saturday March 5 at Washington 6:00 p.m. WFTC
Sunday March 27 vs. Boston 6:00 p.m. WFTC
Friday April 1 vs. Miami 7:00 p.m. WFTC
All Times Central

 

For the first time in years, the wolves couldn't win the season opener against a Kings team missing their best player, and with Cousins playing dreadful 1st half basketball. A shame, really. Several recaps and thoughts will follow, but a couple bullets:

-Wes' first NBA basket was a soaring one handed jam over Luther Head. Hopefully this is indicative of something, (if he manages to ever get off the bench of course).

-Target Center was actually a fun place to be last night.

-Michael Beasley settling for jumpshots is an easy way to lose the game. When he takes it to the tin, good things tend to happen. Him and Ridnour halted 2 or 3 Sacramento runs (along with Tolliver).

-Flynn can't come back and keep Sebastian on the bench soon enough. Bassy had some key buckets, but overall a rotten performance. He simply tried to do too much, and shot several erratic layups which disrupted fast breaks and/or potential opportunities to regain momentum going into the 4th. It was a tie between him and Darko for who generated the highest number of "collective crowd groans."

-Brewer is probably pretty disgruntled. After some time, it may be best to part ways in some capacity. Not sure he has much to offer in 10 minutes a game when he isn't shooting the ball well. Kind of feel bad for the guy.

-Ellington played ok, but was abused one-on-one several times last night and may not be starting material. Wes on the other hand, provided a lot of energy and hustle from the wing position. He didn't shoot the ball well from outside but made some nice plays to score on the inside.

-Pekovic is awesome in every respect, minus the fouling, 3-second calls, and as my friend pointed out last night: tiny feet. Otherwise, his drop step is money.

-I'm surely beating a dead horse here, but Rambis' substitution patterns last night were nothing short of embarrassing. Playing Love under 24 minutes in a very winnable first game of the year is just not what you want to do for a young man's confidence. Dreadful coaching decision, and everyone knows it but Kurt. Love has every right to be upset about it. Sure, Tolliver was playing great basketball and Love had a few rotten minutes to start the 2nd half including 2 turnovers in 3 minutes, but to sit him most of the 4th is nothing short of disrespectful to the new "franchise player." Seems sensible to assume Love's 4th quarter production would have been enough to win. If this pattern continues, and if Ellington and Tolliver are relied upon to give this team crunch time buckets, we are perhaps in for a very long season after all. Rambis also went 11 deep with over 2 minutes left to go in the 1st quarter. The pre-season is when rotations are ironed out, not the regular season. Play starters starters minutes, have the Tollivers come in the add some energy and light a fire under the ass of the starting unit... and then sit. Would Boston sit Garnett the whole 4th while Big Baby played most of their season opener? Never. Anyhow, let's see how Friday's game goes before continuing any more irrational rants.  On to some links:

Jerry Zgoda Star Tribune recap of the game

A Wolf Among Wolves recap

Jim Souhan posts a writeup on Beasley, including a mention of him leaving the game without speaking to reporters. Best part of the article? "When someone asked why Rambis held out his best player, Rambis said, "That's your opinion.""

Howlin' Twolf posts a recap of last night's game

FSN North recap

Timberwolves.com recap from Jonah Ballow

Now this is interesting: From Zgoda: Team not contracting; are seeking draft pick from Blazers for Webster Injury?

Perhaps the standard physical evaluation would have helped after all, ya know, since it has been widely circulated the injury has bothered him since April. As some have pointed out, perhaps it wasn't inflamed, but still, overall a very suspicious thing. Typical Blazers and Kevin Pritchard swindling and sinister activity.

Since you are reading this site, you probably already know that the Wolves kick off the 2010-11 season tonight at Target Center vs. the Sacramento Kings.  GO US.  I predict a win.  Check out all kinds of analysis and chatter in the TWB Forum Game Thread for tonight. I'll be at the game with Wally World.  Yay for us.  Support the team.  Hoo rah.

Tyreke Evans (DUI Suspension) and Sam Dalembert (injured vag) are out for the Kings tonight.  Hopefully Cousins doesn't go off for like 22 and 15 against us, but if he does, also equally hopefully (terrible grammar and I know it) Wes Johnson will score more than 6 points, or something like that. With Martell Webster being out, Wes will certainly get the opportunity to show us what he can do, assuming his hammy is all healed up.  What is it with our team and injuries?  Good grief.

Word on the street is that Telfair will also play tonight.

Just a few links that I wanted to make sure everyone saw:

- KLove apparently has a new blog over at GQ.com.  Intriguing.  And I love it so far:

I wanna end this first post with a message for my man over at ESPN, Bill Simmons. I heard that on his podcast, he was going through all the Vegas over-unders for every NBA team's 2010-11 season win totals. Apparently, according to Vegas, the over-under for our team is the lowest in the league, just 23.5 wins. Well, first of all, fuck them. No, I'm just kidding! But then I heard Bill took the under on our team—he said he thinks we're gonna win LESS than 23.5 games. Well, OK, Bill. You're my guy. You're a good friend. But you take it out on the Timberwolves a little too much. You need to give us a little more respect! And don't worry, that respect will be earned. We will GLADLY show you. Mark my words: we're going over 30 wins this year.

- The T-Wolves partied like Rockstars after the exhibition game at Syracuse vs Detroit?

- NBA Playbook asks how the T-Wolves can run the Triangle Effectively.  Good read.

(Roy Hibbert dropped 27, 16, and 6 without Darko playing to keep him in line.)

Despite not having the contributions of Danny Granger, the Indiana Pacers beat the Wolves to give us our only two losses so far this pre-season.  Last night we fell 124-128 in OT.

I wasn't at the game, and may or may not have fallen asleep before the game was aired on FSN on tape delay in the wee hours of the morning.  Looked like an exciting and fun game though, with a ton of points being scored (and OT to boot.)

The Wolves were without Martell Webster, Jason Hart, Maurice Ager, and Darko.  Clearly that is why Roy Hibbert went off for 27 points, 16 boards, and 6 assists.  Pekovic's 6 fouls in 13 minutes must not have done the trick.  Apparently Darko had stiffness in his neck and Martell had a sore back. 

One thing that has been mentioned in the Forums Game Thread and that I agree with... the Wolves wing situation/rotation has actually become MORE muddled and unclear as the pre-season has progressed.  That's obviously not a good thing and needs to be figured out sooner rather than later.  I think we all know Brewer is more or less gone (bye bye will miss your goat. )  Otherwise, I have no idea who should start at SG, who should play with whom, who should play the most minutes, etc.

Check out the TWB Forums Game Thread from last night for thoughts and analysis.

RECAPS:

- Jonah Ballow from Timberwolves.com

- Kent Youngblood from the Star Tribune

AFP PHOTO / IAN KINGTON (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (AFP/Getty Images)

The Wolves won their first pre-season game, beating the Lakers in London 111 - 92.  Overall we looked pretty good, and the team is clearly much more energetic, athletic, interesting, and less sucktastic than seasons past.  There's potential for a solid season here folks.  At least, something much more than the cesspool we've been wading through the last 3 years.  I know, I know... it's pre-season and Kobe only played 6 minutes.  Still, baby steps.

Rather than regurgitate everything that's already been posted about this game, I'm just going to link to the game thread in the TWolves Blog Forums, where there is a huge wealth of analysis, discussion, and game recappage going on.  The discussion can be found HERE.

Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune's game news and notes can be found HERE.