Taylor even more optimistic about T-Wolves

Sports

Related Photos

Glen Taylor

October 1, 2012

Taylor even more optimistic about T-Wolves

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer The Mankato Free Press Mon Oct 01, 2012, 10:43 PM CDT

MANKATO — Glen Taylor is always excited about his Minnesota Timberwolves in the preseason, but it’s been a while since his optimism has been matched by the NBA team’s progress.

“I think the players saw last year what we were able to do when everybody was healthy,” Taylor said. “We were close to a playoff team. With the guys we’ve brought in, we think we can take the next step. Now it’s up to the coaches and the players to fulfill that.”

The Timberwolves open a four-day training camp today at Minnesota State’s Bresnan Arena. The team has practices scheduled for noon each day, though none of the workouts are open to the public.

The Timberwolves were 21-20 and had become a fringe playoff team until rookie point guard Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending knee injury in March. Rubio isn’t expected back until at least December, forcing the Wolves’ many newcomers to carry more of the load early.

“We worked with the coaches to bring in some new guys,” Taylor said. “But until they start working together, it’s hard to tell.”

Kevin Love, a two-time All-Star and gold-medal winner at this summer’s Olympics, remains the focal point of the roster, with Jose Berea, Luke Ridnour, Nikola Pekovic and Derrick Williams back at Minnesota State for camp.

The roster has been upgraded with forwards Andrei Kirilenko, Chase Budinger and Dante Cunningham and guards Brandon Roy and Alexey Shved.

“We still have a core group of young guys who will be here long-term,” Taylor said. “We have some young guys, like Kevin and Ricky, who have established themselves, and (Pekovic) had a good year, and we’ll see if he can do that again. Williams had a rough time last year without (an offseason), so we’ll see if he can step up.”

The Wolves, who ended up 26-40 last season and won only five of 25 games without Rubio, finished 10 games out of the final playoff spot. The Wolves haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2004.

Taylor said the keys to the season will be when Rubio returns, and how effective he is, and if the new veterans such as Kirilenko and Roy can find past All-Star form.

He’ll be in the stands this week to get his first look at the full squad.

“I think we’re all excited,” he said. “We have high expectations of getting into the playoffs. It’s a difficult league, and the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th places are going to be very competitive. We have to find a way to get over the hump.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Taylor even more optimistic about T-Wolves

Site Map

Contact Us