22-year old power forward Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been named the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season. Love played in 73 games (all starts) for the T-Wolves last year and he averaged 35.8 minutes, 20.2 points, 15.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He was also a very efficient shooter as he hit 47% from the floor, 41.7% from three-point range and he nailed 85% of his free throws last year. Love predicted himself that he would lead the league in rebounding if he just had a starting gig, so he backed up his talk. Love has now played in 214 games (132 starts) in his first three years with the Timberwolves and he has averaged 29.8 minutes, 15.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Kevin Love could be a serious player for the NBA’s MVP Award down the road if he can stay healthy and the T-Wolves can start winning more games.

The Timberwolves’ rookie class played well at times and not so good at other times, but that’s they way a lot of rookies are in their first taste of the NBA. 23-year old SG/SF Wesley Johnson played in 79 games (63 starts) for the Timberwolves last year and he averaged 26.2 minutes, 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He only shot 39.7% from the floor and 69.6% from the free throw line last year and that’s just not good enough. Johnson will have to work on his shooting over the summer because he’s going to have to play shooting guard in Minnesota with Michael Beasley entrenched at small forward (which is Johnson’s best position). 25-year old center Nikola Pekovic finally decided to come overseas and give the NBA a shot. He proved to be a bruiser for the T-Wolves under the basket. Pekovic played in 65 games (11 starts) for the Timberwolves last year and he averaged 13.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He also is a good shooter as he hit 51.3% of his shots from the floor and 76.3% from the free throw line. Pekovic could start to push Darko Milicic for minutes as early as the 2011-12 season. 24-year old small forward Lazar Hayward played in 42 games (0 starts) for the Timberwolves last year and he averaged 10.0 minutes, 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He only shot 35.7% from the floor last year but I blame that partly on his very inconsistent P.T.

The Timberwolves didn’t play any D last night as the Rockets shot 50% from the floor and it hurt them badly in this game. The T-Wolves were outscored 31-13 in the 4th quarter last night and it finished them off. Michael Beasley led the way for the Timberwolves last night with 34 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Anthony Randolph also had a very solid game with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 1 blocked shot last night. Martell Webster (11 points) and Nikola Pekovic (10 points) also pitched in for the Timberwolves last night. The Timberwolves finished the 2010-11 regular season record of 17-65 which will make them the favorite in the NBA Draft Lottery for the #1 overall pick.

The Timberwolves shot 54.7% from the floor and they outrebounded the Suns 45-35 last night, but, they were outscored 14-6 when it counted the most in overtime. Michael Beasley led the way for the Timberwolves last night with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. Anthony Randolph (24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals), Anthony Tolliver (22 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists) and Luke Ridnour (21 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot) also had solid games for the T-Wolves last night. Nikola Pekovic pitched in with 10 points in thie game. The Timberwolves are now 17-64 on the year.

The Timberwolves were down 101-69 after three quarters when the Nuggets called off the dogs! The T-Wolves were outrebounded 49-38 and they didn’t play ANY D as the Nuggets shot 52.3% from the floor which explains the beatdown. Martell Webster (15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot in 33 minutes) and Lazar Hayward (15 points, 2 rebounds and 1 blocked shot in 16 minutes) led the way for the Timberwolves last night. Michael Beasley (14 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists), Wesley Johnson (13 points), Anthony Randolph (13 points), Wayne Ellington (10 points) and Jonny Flynn (10 points) also pitched in for the T-Wolves last night. The Timberwolves are now 17-63 on the year.