Click here for the fourm’s thread for tonight’s game against the Clippers
Game previews:
Kevin Love described the process of improving team defensive philosophies, “We worked on defense today, we just need to really pick it up and communicate. Sometimes out there it’s like a ghost town; we are not talking, were not edging out on our screens, we’re not doing the right coverages. A lot of it has to do with youth and inexperience and being able to trust each other. I think we need hold each other accountable more and that means well step up and play better defense.”

Al Jefferson placed the onus on himself and teammates, “Defense, loading to the ball, learning how to help each other, if I go help Jonny I need to trust that somebody is going to go and help with my guy. We just need to scramble, playing defense is not easy, just got to do it, just got to want to do it.”

From Benjamin Polk/City Pages: Timberwolves feeling the chill
From The Painted Area: Checking In on Ricky Rubio
From The Wages Of Wins blog: Jonny Flynn Makes His Choices and Ty Lawson Has to Stay Home
Al Jefferson is generally considered the “star” of the Minnesota Timberwolves (if a 9-38 team can have a star).  And Flynn — the team’s point guard – does make sure Jefferson gets his shots.  But after Jefferson, the player with the second most shot attempts is Flynn.  Flynn, though, is well below average with respect to shooting efficiency.  So why does he so often call his own number?  Because he probably knows that the more an NBA player scores, the more accolades an NBA player will receive.

And the assistant coaches choices for the Rookie Challenge are not the only evidence in support of this proposition.

Dime: So are you going to Dallas to hang out at All-Star?
Ramon Sessions: No, no, no, no, no, I’m not going out there. I’m going to go back to my college (Nevada), they’re retiring my jersey. So I’m going to go to Vegas/Reno! Get that a little bit!
If there is a respect issue for the Wolves, forward Al Jefferson believes the team’s performance is responsible.

“Why would a team take us serious when they’re up 20 points and we’re not playing hard?” he said. “When we play hard, teams will have to take us serious.”

There were indications in the Wolves’ 109-95 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday night that the Cavaliers might not have been too concerned with Jefferson and his teammates.
There was a lot of merriment and goofiness on the Cavaliers’ side Wednesday night, from LeBron James’ dance-off with an usher to James, Shaquille O’Neal and Anthony Parker tickling Daniel Gibson after Gibson was knocked to the floor. Lots of laughter, not much competition in a routine blowout over the Timberwolves.

In response, the Cavs’ hapless foils on Thursday vowed that someday, somehow, with heaven as their witness, they will extract their blood revenge by …

Oh, never mind.

“If we were in that situation, we’d do the same thing,” Wolves forward Al Jefferson said. “It’s fun when you win. You’re smiling, joking — I don’t think they meant any disrespect.”

For players like Kevin Love and Corey Brewer — who rarely lost in college — the losses are taking a toll.

“I hate to lose too. Every night, you know, when we lose … you go home and think about it all the time,” said Brewer. “I just can’t accept it.”

David Kahn (MN)
So you’re saying you’re not impressed that I drafted three point guards in the first round this year and the worst one is the only one on the roster? It’s not that easy to do.
John Hollinger  (2:48 PM)
I know they’re trying to rebuild and take the long view in Minny, but the draft-day shenanigans don’t look any less head-scratching today than they seemed at the time and the pieces they have are fitting terribly.

Congrats to Timberwolves rookie guard Jonny Flynn and forward Kevin Love for their selection to the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on NBA All star weekend in Dallas. Joining Flynn on the Rookie team will be Chicago’s Taj Gibson, Detroit’s Jonas Jerebko, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings, Oklahoma City’s James Harden, Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi and San Antonio’s DeJuan Blair. Meantime, Love will run with Chicago’s Derrick Rose, the L.A. Clippers’ Eric Gordon, Memphis’s Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo, Miami’s Michael Beasley, New Jersey’s Brook Lopez, New York’s Danilo Gallinari and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook on the Sophomore team. Check out Flynn’s January 24th appearance on Sports Final on our website, www.sportsfinaltv.com .