Wolves host Denver at Target Center tonight, SG position still up for grabs and more
From the Timberwolves:
The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team's two preseason games at Target Center will be televised on FOX Sports North's cable and satellite package. Preseason coverage tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 12 as the Wolves take on the Denver Nuggets at Target Center (7 p.m. tip). FOX Sports North will also televise the Oct. 19 game vs. Indiana at Target Center (7 p.m. tip).
The Wolves' regular season local television schedule will be released at a later date.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
FSN is expected to show 50 regular-season games.
The delay with the TV schedule release involves where and when other games will be televised.
Ch. 45 is no longer the team's other broadcast partner.
The Wolves still haven't finalized details for those other games, hence the delay for a schedule that usually gets released in August.
From Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune:
The veteran point guard signed a four-year, $16 million contract over the summer to come to Minnesota with the promise he'd compete with Jonny Flynn for the starting spot. With Flynn still recovering from hip surgery, Ridnour is the starter until further notice. His job is to run coach Kurt Rambis' offense while learning it. He also has to keep control of a team filled with shooting guards and small forwards as the Timberwolves try to gel into a cohesive unit. When Flynn returns, Ridnour will add "tutor" to his job description.
Ridnour, with the face of a 15-year-old and the post-practice body language of an AARP member, smiled.
"In a way, it is hard," he said of learning and running an offense at the same time. "But I think, especially on offense, it's not as hard as some people make it out to be. It's just playing basketball, knowing the right reads."
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune:
That leaves unanswered only the shooting-guard position, where rookie Wesley Johnson started in London and Corey Brewer started in Paris. That could leave Martell Webster next in line Tuesday night against Denver at Target Center at a position where the Wolves also have Wayne Ellington and possibly Lazar Hayward.
"I have no idea how it will play out," coach Kurt Rambis said when asked about that starter's spot. "We've had guys play really, really well. Martell's had a really good camp. Wes has had a good camp, Wayne has had a good camp. Corey's been solid. Lazar's been solid. It's a good problem to have."
Webster would appear to be the obvious choice. He's 23 -- the same age as Johnson and Hayward, a year older than Ellington and a year younger than Brewer -- but already has played five NBA seasons.
Wesley Johnson Wins Rookie Of The Year If… If everyone else in the field struggles. Unfortunately Wes Johnson isn't putting up big enough numbers and the fact that he's playing for Minnesota means he may not get enough attention. But here is his case… in two games Johnson is averaging a modest 10.5 points 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, but more importantly they haven't lost yet. The Timberwolves are going to be improved this year. They are a fun team to watch and as Johnson figures out his role, he could sneak into the bottom of the Rookie of the Year discussion. He has almost no chance of winning it, but he may get some second or third-place votes, which could steal away a few points from Griffin and Cousins, and make things interest in April.
From the Associated Press:
Despite his poor shooting Thursday, Rubio showed some of what prompted the Minnesota Timberwolves to select him with their first pick in the 2009 draft. He drew a charge on Kobe Bryant in the second half and took part in a series of four consecutive touch passes that ended in an uncontested slam for Fran Vazquez, helping Barcelona overcome a 12-point deficit to beat the NBA champs 92-88.
Bryant isn't among Rubio's critics.
"This my third time playing against him, and he is definitely ready to play in the NBA," the Lakers' star said. "The kid can play. I felt like in the Olympics he played very well and showed a lot of poise and he reads a lot of things that average players don't."
From Michael Cohen/The Daily Orange:
Wes Johnson and Jonny Flynn, that is - two of Polech's all-time favorite Syracuse basketball players.
Friday night, that pair returns to the Carrier Dome for an NBA preseason game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. The two will be joined by current Minnesota teammate and former Syracuse guard Jason Hart in a homecoming for three of SU's most celebrated players from the past decade.