The Other MN Sports Team
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While I know that Adrian Peterson had a record-setting day yesterday, and that obviously he should be the focus of any posting, I am not going to write about him. This weekend was the first time any of us were able to watch the Timberwolves in regular season action. Although we had to sit through Tom Hanneman talking, the games were very exciting and enjoyable to watch.
As it was pointed out in the Star Tribune, the starters were Rashad McCants and four players whom we acquired from Boston for KG. Through the game we inserted mostly our young players along with a little of Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner.
I think I may have be one of the few who expects this team to be very competitive, very quickly (just don’t call me Sid). They aren’t a bunch of rookies like the Bulls were post-MJ. I understand that many will like to compare our team to what happened after MJ, but MJ retired... KG was traded. The Wolves got back some very talented players from Boston.
Al Jefferson broke-out last year, but will break out even more this season. Through two games he is averaging 16 points and 12.5 rebounds, and that is without us making him the go to guy down low. That will come, but 16 and 12.5 doesn’t look too shabby.
Ryan Gomes played pretty average in the opener with 9 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists but really showed what he can bring with a 19 point, 7 rebound game on Sunday.
Gerald Green has barely gotten off the bench, but his time will come, and when it does we’ll find out about him.
Theo Ratliff has been a huge surprise. Those at ESPN said that he was too old and always hurt. So far he has shown that he is in great physical condition, and is averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 block shots per game. He is the physical presence that we have never had at center.
The biggest surprise to me has been Sebastian Telfair (or Seba, or Basi as Jim Peterson annoyingly refers to him). Yeah he is only averaging 9 points and 6 assists per game, but the big number is only 1.5 turnovers per game. He has run the offense very smoothly and looked poised. Remember…he is finally at an age of college graduation, so maybe he’s ready.
Our other players that we have as holdovers are providing energy as well. Rashad McCants is our leading scorer with 18 per game, and has a 49% FG% (55% from 3-point range). That’s much better than Ricky’s old 30%. Greg Buckner is playing Hassell’s old role, but doing a better job. He actually knows how to put the ball in the hoop. Craig Smith is banging around inside, and Corey Brewer is playing like a rookie, but has looked very good at times on defense.
I challenge everyone at ESPN who said we would fail. Are we going to make the playoffs? Probably not, but are we going to get blown out by 20 every night? I don’t think so. This may be a team that loses a lot of games, but ESPN…we aren’t a bunch of scrubs, we are up and coming players who will hang in there with everyone and give us enjoyable basketball to watch.
