Minnesota Timberwolves NBA News - Timberwolves Basketball Blog http://www.wolveslocker.com Minnesota Timberwolves Sun, 06 May 2012 20:03:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 en The Minnesota Timberwolves had another rough time in 2011-12 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-had-another-rough-time-in-2011-12/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-had-another-rough-time-in-2011-12/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 20:03:58 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-had-another-rough-time-in-2011-12/ Injuries really held the Timberwolves back last year as they were in the playoff hunt for an extended time before bowing out of contention. They finished up with a 28-38 (42.4%) record during the 2011-12 season. Here are the players who made the biggest impacts in my eyes last year:

Team MVP: Kevin Love - 23-year old power forward Kevin Love had another outstanding year for the T-Wolves in 2011-12. He played in 55 games (all starts) for the Timberwolves last year and he averaged 39.0 minutes, 26.0 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He is one of the best power forwards in all of basketball.

Biggest Surprise: Nikola Pekovic - When Darko Milicic went down to injury, the Timberwolves turned to 26-year old Nikola Pekovic at center and he was outstanding. Pekovic played in 47 games (35 starts) for the T-Wolves last year and he averaged 26.9 minutes, 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He will likely be the T-Wolves starting center when the 2012-13 season begins.

Biggest Disappointment: Wesley Johnson - 24-year old SG/SF Wesley Johnson got to start for the T-Wolves last year and he didn’t do much. He played in 65 games (64 starts) for the T-Wolves last year and he averaged 22.6 minutes, 6.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He only shot 39.8% from the floor, 31.4% from three point range and 70.6% from the free throw line last year. I doubt he will be starting for the T-Wolves in 2012-13.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-had-another-rough-time-in-2011-12/feed/ The rookies of the Minnesota Timberwolves showed promise in 2011-12 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-rookies-of-the-minnesota-timberwolves-showed-promise-in-2011-12/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-rookies-of-the-minnesota-timberwolves-showed-promise-in-2011-12/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 19:44:48 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-rookies-of-the-minnesota-timberwolves-showed-promise-in-2011-12/ The rookies of the Timberwolves showed a lot of promise for the future last year. 21-year old point guard Ricky Rubio worked his way into the starting lineup quickly and he looked solid before a season ending injury. Rubio played in 41 games (31 starts) for the Timberwolves last year and he averaged 34.2 minutes, 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He only shot 35.7% from the floor and 34% from three point range last year. The T-Wolves hope that Rubio’s shot selection will improve in the near future. Forward Derrick Williams was the T-Wolves first round pick last June. Williams played in 66 games (15 starts) for the T-Wolves last year and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He only shot 41.2% from the floor, 26.8% from three point range and 69.7% from the free throw line last year. Williams is going to have to improve his shooting if he’s going to start getting more minutes in the near future. He does have a nice upside. 21-year old shooting guard Malcolm Lee didn’t get much court time as a rookie. Lee played in 19 games (0 starts) for the T-Wolves last year and he averaged 12.8 minutes, 3.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 39% shooting from the floor.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-rookies-of-the-minnesota-timberwolves-showed-promise-in-2011-12/feed/ The Minnesota Timberwolves looked solid under Rick Adelman http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-looked-solid-under-rick-adelman/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-looked-solid-under-rick-adelman/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 19:37:35 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-looked-solid-under-rick-adelman/ Until injuries ravaged the Timberwolves’ roster in 2011-12, 65-year old head coach Rick Adelman had them thinking playoffs. The T-Wolves finished up with a 26-40 (39.4%) record in 2011-12. Adelman now has a 971-656 (59.7%) record during the regular season in his 21 years in as an NBA head coach. He is also 79-78 (50.3%) in the post-season in his career to date. I think Adelman is the right man to get the T-Wolves back to the playoffs….maybe as early as next year.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/05/06/the-minnesota-timberwolves-looked-solid-under-rick-adelman/feed/ Denver Nuggets 131, Minnesota Timberwolves 102 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/26/denver-nuggets-131-minnesota-timberwolves-102/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/26/denver-nuggets-131-minnesota-timberwolves-102/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:18:32 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/26/denver-nuggets-131-minnesota-timberwolves-102/ The T-Wolves were outrebounded 48-29 and they didn’t play much D as the Nuggets shot 62.9% from the floor, so the blowout loss shouldn’t surprise anyone. J.J. Barea (20 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists) and Nikola Pekovic (18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot) led the way for the Timberwolves in this game. Michael Beasley (13 points), Wayne Ellington (12 points) and Martell Webster (11 points) also pitched in for the T-Wolves last night. The Timberwolves finished up the 2011-12 season with a 26-40 record.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/26/denver-nuggets-131-minnesota-timberwolves-102/feed/ Golden State Warriors 93, Minnesota Timberwolves 88 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/23/golden-state-warriors-93-minnesota-timberwolves-88/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/23/golden-state-warriors-93-minnesota-timberwolves-88/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:07:52 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/23/golden-state-warriors-93-minnesota-timberwolves-88/ The T-Wolves only shot 36.6% from the floor and they were outscored 24-13 in the 4th quarter which did them in last night. Nikola Pekovic led the way for the Timberwolves last night with 19 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot. Martell Webster also had a solid game with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist last night. Anthony Randolph (14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocked shots) and J.J. Barea (14 points, 2 rebounds, 12 assists and 1 steal) also pitched in last night for the T-Wolves. The Timberwolves are now 26-39 on the year.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/23/golden-state-warriors-93-minnesota-timberwolves-88/feed/ The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to have found their center of the future http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-minnesota-timberwolves-appear-to-have-found-their-center-of-the-future/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-minnesota-timberwolves-appear-to-have-found-their-center-of-the-future/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:12:45 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-minnesota-timberwolves-appear-to-have-found-their-center-of-the-future/ 26-year old center Nikola Pekovic played in 65 games (11 starts) for the Timberwolves last year as a rookie and he averaged 13.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. But, starting center Darko Milicic got injured early this year and Pekovic took over there and he is not looking back. Pekovic has played in 45 games (33 starts) for the T-Wolves this year and he is averaging 26.7 minutes, 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He is also shooting a rock solid 56.2% from the floor so far this year. He looks to be the starting center for the Timberwolves when the 2012-13 season begins.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/the-minnesota-timberwolves-appear-to-have-found-their-center-of-the-future/feed/ Minnesota Timberwolves 91, Detroit Pistons 80 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/minnesota-timberwolves-91-detroit-pistons-80/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/minnesota-timberwolves-91-detroit-pistons-80/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:58:51 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/minnesota-timberwolves-91-detroit-pistons-80/ The T-Wolves were up 68-48 after three quarters last night and they held the Pistons to a paltry 36.3% shooting from the floor to pull away for a nice road win. Nikola Pekovic (23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot) and Anthony Randolph (15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in 27 minutes on the floor) led the way for the T-Wolves last night. J.J. Barea did a good job of running the offense last night as he finished up with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists and 1 steal. Michael Beasley (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot in 24 minutes) and Derrick Williams (11 points and 4 rebounds in 16 minutes on the floor) also pitched in for the T-Wolves last night. The Timberwolves are now 26-38 on the year.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/20/minnesota-timberwolves-91-detroit-pistons-80/feed/ Memphis Grizzlies 91, Minnesota Timberwolves 84 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/18/memphis-grizzlies-91-minnesota-timberwolves-84/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/18/memphis-grizzlies-91-minnesota-timberwolves-84/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:34:05 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/18/memphis-grizzlies-91-minnesota-timberwolves-84/ The Timberwolves only shot 35.6% from the floor and it did them in last night. J.J. Barea led the way for the T-Wolves with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal last night. Nikola Pekovic also had a rock solid game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot. Wayne Ellington pitched in with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 27 minutes on the floor. The Timberwolves are now 25-38 on the season.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/18/memphis-grizzlies-91-minnesota-timberwolves-84/feed/ The Minnesota Timberwolves are likely to shut down Kevin Love for the rest of the year http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/17/the-minnesota-timberwolves-are-likely-to-shut-down-kevin-love-for-the-rest-of-the-year/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/17/the-minnesota-timberwolves-are-likely-to-shut-down-kevin-love-for-the-rest-of-the-year/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:56:27 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/17/the-minnesota-timberwolves-are-likely-to-shut-down-kevin-love-for-the-rest-of-the-year/ The T-Wolves are likely to shut down starting power forward Kevin Love for the rest of the season due to a concussion. Love has played in 55 games (all starts) for the Timberwolves so far this year and he is averaging 39.0 minutes, 26.0 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph are likely to see a bump in P.T. with Love out of action. Michael Beasley has played in 43 games (7 starts) for the T-Wolves so far this year and he is averaging 23.2 minutes, 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Anthony Randolph has played in 30 games (1 start) for the T-Wolves so far this year and he is averaging 13.8 minutes, 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Beasley and Randolph are talented players but the T-Wolves are going to miss Kevin Love the next two weeks.

]]> http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/17/the-minnesota-timberwolves-are-likely-to-shut-down-kevin-love-for-the-rest-of-the-year/feed/ Indiana Pacers 111, Minnesota Timberwolves 88 http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/16/indiana-pacers-111-minnesota-timberwolves-88/ http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/16/indiana-pacers-111-minnesota-timberwolves-88/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:45:35 +0000 alleyoop http://www.wolveslocker.com/2012/04/16/indiana-pacers-111-minnesota-timberwolves-88/ The Kevin Love-less Timberwolves had no shot tonight against the Pacers. The Pacers were up 93-63 after the first three quarters before calling off the dogs. The T-Wolves only shot 36.8% from the floor and they were outrebounded 58-45 in this game. J.J. Barea only shot 5 of 14 from the floor tonight, but he led the way for the T-Wolves with 14 points, 1 rebound and 9 assists. Michael Beasley also had a solid game with 13 points and 5 rebounds tonight. Derrick Williams only shot 3 for 15 from the floor tonight, but he still finished up with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot in 30 minutes on the floor. Nikola Pekovic pitched in with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 1 blocked shot tonight. The Timberwolves are now 25-37 on the year.

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