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Minnesota Timberwolves Timberwolves face emotional, physical challenges
The Minnesota Timberwolves open the 2000-01 campaign Oct. 31 in Dallas against the Mavericks. Here are a few questions the T'wolves will have to address this season, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of those issues. Sports Illustrated's season preview will be posted Oct. 25. CNNSI.com wants to know: 1) How will the tragic death of popular shooting guard -- and Kevin Garnett's idol -- Malik Sealy affect team morale? 2) Will Chauncey Billups provide much-needed production at two-guard? 3) How will the as-yet-to-be-determined punishment for the Joe Smith signing affect the team?
4) How much higher can Kevin Garnett raise his game? 5) How much longer can coach Flip Saunders keep this center-less team with an aging, shallow bench in the upper echelon of the Western Conference? The key to Minnesota's season will be the play of its two-guards and small forward Wally Szczerbiak in support of MVP candidate Kevin Garnett. The loss of Sealy hits on a psychological level as well as physical one -- the twosome of Billups and Anthony Peeler must provide an outside shooting threat for Saunders' defense-first system.
Biggest Offseason Move: While Smith's signing garnered the headlines - mainly because of its illegality - the signing of Billups was the most important. The T'wolves must get production from the shooting guard spot and are pinning their hopes on the erratic (37.5 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from 3-point range) third-year gunner, who played only 13 games last year because of injuries. Circle the Date: On Jan. 27, the Portland Trail Blazers make their first visit to the Target Center since breaking the hearts of the Timberwolves in the first round of last seasonšs playoffs. Standout Stat: 7-13 Minnesotašs record in games Malik Sealy did not start at two-guard.
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