Post by Minnesota on Nov 14, 2015 17:27:27 GMT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - After last season expectations for the 2002 ABCA season were fairly low in Minnesota. While the team had the 5th overall pick (along with other mid round selections) in the upcoming draft no one expected a team that won 19 games last year would be eyeing a playoff birth.
All of that changed when Paul Westphal signed with the Timberwolves. His 18 million dollar deal was the highest starting salary offered to any available Free Agent in year 1. Suddenly the Wolves found themselves in a position to acquire Patrick Ewing and expectations were made.
A team building for the future finds it's future stars taking up supporting roles in the new offense. As the new season started guys were finding adjusting to the new team dynamic to be a struggle. Something wasn't clicking with that team so a move had to be made. Some folks thought that Wiggins would be the guy to go. There were also rumors circling rookie PG Guy Rodgers.
Ultimately Paul Westphal, the man who started the whole shift in culture, was traded to Mexico City in exchange for All-Star (and maybe more importantly All-Defensive Team member) Sergei Belov.
"Sergei hits the glass," said teammate Kevin Garnett. "It's nice to see a little guy like that show toughness in the paint. It's inspirational, man. Makes me wanna go out there and fight a little harder. Mix it up a little more. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!!!"
"We never thought we'd have almost as many wins by Christmas as we did all of last year," said reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins. "It's great to be competing every night. We're learning a lot about how to win from guys like Patrick [Ewing] and Sergei [Belov]"
Since the trade Patrick Ewing has seen his game flourish - he's up almost 4 ppg and earned Player of the Week honors last week. Adding Blair Rassmussen and moving Guy Rodgers to a back-up role has boosted the bench production quite a bit.
The Timberwolves currently sit 17-10 which ties them for the West Divison lead with another surprising team, the San Francisco Warriors. Current ABCA Champion the Vancouver Grizzlies are just two games back in arguably the tightest race in the league so far.
The team's expectations are to make the playoffs. That kind of improvement would be an impressive step toward being relevant. They've had a lot of games at home and will need to improve their road record if they hope to hold on to home court in the first round.
Minnesota's front office feels the team has enough skill in the starting line-up to maybe win the division. They feel the need to bolster the bench and will be looking to do so as we near the Trade Deadline.
Overcoming injuries and off-nights are what separate the good teams from the champions.
All of that changed when Paul Westphal signed with the Timberwolves. His 18 million dollar deal was the highest starting salary offered to any available Free Agent in year 1. Suddenly the Wolves found themselves in a position to acquire Patrick Ewing and expectations were made.
A team building for the future finds it's future stars taking up supporting roles in the new offense. As the new season started guys were finding adjusting to the new team dynamic to be a struggle. Something wasn't clicking with that team so a move had to be made. Some folks thought that Wiggins would be the guy to go. There were also rumors circling rookie PG Guy Rodgers.
Ultimately Paul Westphal, the man who started the whole shift in culture, was traded to Mexico City in exchange for All-Star (and maybe more importantly All-Defensive Team member) Sergei Belov.
"Sergei hits the glass," said teammate Kevin Garnett. "It's nice to see a little guy like that show toughness in the paint. It's inspirational, man. Makes me wanna go out there and fight a little harder. Mix it up a little more. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!!!"
"We never thought we'd have almost as many wins by Christmas as we did all of last year," said reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins. "It's great to be competing every night. We're learning a lot about how to win from guys like Patrick [Ewing] and Sergei [Belov]"
Since the trade Patrick Ewing has seen his game flourish - he's up almost 4 ppg and earned Player of the Week honors last week. Adding Blair Rassmussen and moving Guy Rodgers to a back-up role has boosted the bench production quite a bit.
The Timberwolves currently sit 17-10 which ties them for the West Divison lead with another surprising team, the San Francisco Warriors. Current ABCA Champion the Vancouver Grizzlies are just two games back in arguably the tightest race in the league so far.
The team's expectations are to make the playoffs. That kind of improvement would be an impressive step toward being relevant. They've had a lot of games at home and will need to improve their road record if they hope to hold on to home court in the first round.
Minnesota's front office feels the team has enough skill in the starting line-up to maybe win the division. They feel the need to bolster the bench and will be looking to do so as we near the Trade Deadline.
Overcoming injuries and off-nights are what separate the good teams from the champions.
