Minnesota
Timberwolves
Northwest
| 2010-11 Team Rating | |
| Offense | Defense |
| 101.8 | 108.0 |
| 23rd Overall | 26th Overall |
Stats through Jan. 15
W
10
L
31
PCT
.244
GB
17.5
CONF
3-21
DIV
0-7
HOME
8-12
ROAD
2-19
LinksVideo | Statistics | Tickets | Team
|
Category | Grade | ||
 Kevin Love has been a revelation, putting up throwback numbers. Michael Beasley is thriving with a green light to shoot. Even Darko Milicic has people excited for the first time since, what, 2003?
|
B+ |
||
 The backcourt has been as disappointing as the frontcourt has been encouraging. Point guard (Flynn, Ridnour, Telfair) still is a glut of underachievement. Rookie Wesley Johnson looks overwhelmed many nights.
|
D |
||
 Minnesota is near the bottom in scoring differential, defensive 3-point percentage and fouls, and it is 2-28 when giving up 100 points.
|
D |
||
 Martell Webster, Anthony Tolliver and (until a recent promotion) Corey Brewer gave the Wolves options on the wings. Nikola Pekovic could be counted on to use his fouls.
|
C- |
||
 Rambis alternates from professorial to pedantic, and it is hard to tell if the players respond to his style or trust him.
|
D |
||
D
Summary
It's been said that the Timberwolves finally have a plan, which qualifies as an improvement over recent seasons (when they aimlessly would work toward the lottery, losing emphatically in March and April to boost their chances). But c'mon, that's really faint praise and not nearly ambitious enough.
The talent level is better and losing close games is considered to be a step in the development of really bad teams -- before Minnesota had few close games available to lose. But this is Year 2 for Rambis and President David Kahn, and even Minnesota's famously placid fans are starting to stir. There are too many overlapping guards, the Ricky Rubio situation demands a resolution and other areas need addressing -- for instance, Beasley cannot just be permitted to run feral. He has miles to go as an NBA player.
-- Steve Aschburner
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