You’ve got the undefeated Timberwolves (OK, they’re only 1-0 and how they are that, who really knows?) and the winless Cleveland Cavs set for tomorrow night at Target Center.
The Wolves practiced for more two hours this afternoon to get ready for LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and the Cavs, who lost at home to Boston on opening night and then lost at Toronto Wednesday night.
“He probably won’t be too happy,” Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said of James. “He has also been around long enough and been the leader of a team long enough and in the playoffs long enough to know it’s a long season. The reality is most people won’t even remember how you start off a season.”
“That has been given strong consideration, yes,” Rambis said.
For more than a week, assistant coach Bill Laimbeer has drilled Jawai — a 2008 second-round pick who has been traded from Indiana to Toronto to Dallas to Minnesota since then — on low-post maneuvers.
Rambis has been impressed with Ellington’s skills and work ethic since training camp. He believes the coaching Ellington got from Roy Williams at North Carolina has helped his transition to the NBA. Ellington said the Tar Heels didn’t play any zone defenses. It was all man-to-man, which made it easier for him to pick up some of the defensive concepts Rambis has brought to the Wolves.
“Everything Wayne does is done in a highly professional manner,” Rambis said. “He seems more mature than his first year in the league. He’ll still have his ups and downs, his good games and bad games, but we like him and we see his potential.”
Flynn is tough to project, as he’s competing for playing time with a strong player in Ramon Sessions. But whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, Flynn’s leadership and quickness should earn him quality minutes and solid production.
Like Evans, and Derrick Rose last season, his jump shot should improve as the season evolves. Flynn scored 18 points with 2 assists and 3 turnovers, and made some clutch plays late, as Minny came back to win its opener against the Nets.
“He is young so he is a little uncertain about what he wants to do right now and what he can do and developing that trust that leaders have to have in order to lead their ballclub. He is still learning things himself, while he is trying to figure everything out and grasp all the things I am trying to preach and teach to him to do out there on the floor.
But, he added, “I prefer to find makers.”
Rambis still is searching. His Wolves made just 1 of 7 three-point shots in Wednesday’s opening-night victory over New Jersey, and that was by 32-year-old sub Brian Cardinal. The Nets, by the way, were 0 for 8 on three-point tries.