From Ray Richardson/Pioneer Press:
Rambis wants Jawai, acquired last week in a trade with Dallas, to shed a few pounds, although Rambis is impressed with the 6-foot-10 forward’s physical presence. Jawai is listed at 280 pounds.
“He gives us something we don’t have, somebody with tremendous size and strength,” Rambis said of Jawai. “He’s also pretty light on his feet, and has good instincts.”
Rambis said Jawai probably would be activated for Friday night’s game against Cleveland to help the Wolves defend a “pretty large guy over there,” a reference to Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal.
At
Canis Hoopus, Britt Robson posts his Wolves season preview
As for Rambis, his first regular season, postgame press conference revealed him to be well spoken, Californian in accent and temperament, and extremely focused and thoughtful–from all evidence, a pretty sharp, patient guy. And, for better or worse, a bit of a contrast to the goofy, iron-range self deprecations of his predecessor, Kevin McHale.
Among spectators at the Wolves-New Jersey Nets season opener Wednesday night at Target Center was Hastings native Craig Kilborn, former host of CBS’ “Late, Late Show.” Kilborn, 47, is having meetings about making a comeback on TV…
It wouldn’t be surprising if Best Buy ends up with corporate naming rights to the Timberwolves’ home, Target Center, if the team and Target can’t reach agreement on an extension. The current deal ends in two years.
There seems little doubt that the Timberwolves will end up trading rights to Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio before next year’s NBA draft.
To whip up interest and welcome fans, Crunch, the Wolves’ bathrobe wearing mascot and other team employees were handing out hot coffee and donuts. But for those basketball fans who’ve grown weary of losing seasons and disappointing crowds, it’s going to take much more from the team to rebuild the excitement.
The team is looking at this as a season of change.
“In year 21 we push the reset button,” said Timberwolves President Chris Wright.
Taylor hired David Kahn as the team’s first executive to carry the title “president” of basketball operations. Kahn set about changing everything, including the slogan.
There was a dramatic unveiling of this on the team’s website Wednesday:
“Let our detractors underestimate us. Let them pat us on the head and say, ‘My, what big teeth you have.’
“Because our direction is clear. The change is real. And our hope is that as long as we stick to our principles and continue to do things the right way, Wolves fans will stand by us. Or better yet, run with us.”
And then came the new catch phrase: “United We Run.”
Flattened by the flu for two consecutive days, Timberwolves point guard Jonny Flynn recovered well enough to start his first NBA game in Wednesday’s opener against New Jersey at Target Center.
If he hadn’t, he would have known what to blame.
Being a rookie.
“Actually, I had the same exact thing Al had last week,” Flynn said, referring to teammate Al Jefferson. “That’s what the doctor said. I think it was from me carrying his bags, doing that rookie treatment for him. He joked around with me when I came to practice. He said, ‘My fault for making you do all that stuff.’
Last year they Wolves were ineffective on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, so it is hard to look at the roster as currently constituted and predict much of an improvement in either area.
Furthermore, Minnesota plays in a deep, tough division featuring top-notch teams likes the Jazz, Trailblazers, and Nuggets. Each of those teams plan on winning at least 50 games this season.
Add it all up – young players/coach/GM/ and the looming peril of injuries – and you have a recipe for far more defeats than victories.
