M I N N E S O T A   T I M B E R W O L V E S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Outlook

Timberwolves at a Glance Coach: Flip Saunders Last Year: 50-32 (Stats) Key Additions: PG Troy Hudson, SG Igor Rakocevic, PG Pepe Sanchez Key Losses: PG Chauncey Billups, SF Sam Mitchell, PF Gary Trent Projected Starters PG Terrell Brandon SG Wally Szczerbiak SF Kevin Garnett PF Joe Smith C Rasho Nesterovic Key Subs PG Troy Hudson SG Anthony Peeler C Marc Jackson C Loren Woods

By John Hollinger, CNNSI.com

It was a tale of two seasons for the Timberwolves. The first part was wonderful. The team roared to a 30-10 start, fueled by the all-court excellence of Kevin Garnett and the mistake-free play of Terrell Brandon.

What happened afterward wasn't nearly as pleasant. Brandon went on the shelf with a knee injury, and the T'wolves suddenly became very ordinary, finishing the year 20-22 and suffering a humiliating three-game demolition at the hands of the Mavericks in the playoffs. It was the sixth straight year the team lost in the first round of the postseason.

Unfortunately, the offseason provided more questions than answers. Brandon faces a long road to recovery, but the prospect of his return made other guards reluctant to sign with the T'wolves. His shadow loomed especially large over Chauncey Billups, who signed with the Pistons (when a player flees for Detroit, you can pretty much rule out "lifestyle" as the reason). As a result, Troy Hudson will be Plan B at point guard. Additionally, the team had no first-round draft choice, the bench is weak, and the luxury tax prevents the T'wolves from making many upgrades.

Kevin Garnett, F -- Unfairly chastised for Minnesota's continued playoff failures, Garnett was the only T'wolf to show up for the Dallas series last year, averaging 24 points and 19 rebounds in the three games.

In truth, Garnett has been the sole reason Minnesota has made the playoffs. He's a fantastic passer for a big man, doling out five dimes a game last year, and finished third in rebounding with a career-high 12.1 a contest. As usual, he also pumped in 21 points a night and made the All-Defense team. Additionally, an underrated aspect of his game is his durability -- he's missed just 13 games in his seven-year career.

While Garnett's game is as well-rounded as any player's in the league, it would be nice to see him get to the foul line more. His slight frame doesn't lend itself to playing in the post, which tends to make him a 7-foot jump-shooter. That's what keeps him from scoring in the high 20s and winning an MVP award.

Rasho Nesterovic, C -- The T'wolves don't scare anybody defensively, and one of the big reasons is the docile nature of Nesterovic. He's a tepid rebounder who doesn't bang in the post, and generally doesn't patrol the middle the way some of the game's better centers do.

What makes it frustrating is that he has talent. Nesterovic has a good shooting touch and is far more coordinated than most guys his size, but his lack of fire has kept him from producing the kind of results his ability would suggest.

The T'wolves depend on Nesterovic because they have few other options at this position. Kevin Garnett and Joe Smith are skinny, jump-shooting forwards, and Marc Jackson is a poor defender. Nesterovic is the only guy on the team who can provide the post game that balances out the offense and the interior presence to round out the defense. But the T'wolves are still waiting for him to actually do it.

Can Terrell Brandon come back?

Terrell Brandon has always been an efficient player, but last year he was ridiculous. He not only created shots for his teammates (averaging 8.3 assists per game), but he also led the league with a better than 6:1 assist-turnover ratio, and missed one foul shot the entire season.

Unfortunately, he also missed the second half of the season with a severe knee injury, and the team isn't sure if or when he will come back. Obviously, returning from knee surgery at any time carries the risk that he won't be nearly as effective.

It's a scary situation for the T'wolves because their chances for success hinge on Brandon, as last season dramatically showed. If he's out there running the offense, setting up his teammates and throwing in double-digit scoring, this is one of the league's most dangerous offensive teams. Without him, they're pretty ordinary.

Another first-round exit

Fast Facts • Opponents only swiped 542 steals -- the least given up by any NBA team. • Minnesota rebounded 52.8 percent of missed shots in its games last year, the best mark in the league.

Just don't blame it on Garnett. The T'wolves can thank him for getting them to the playoffs every year in the first place, and they'll be able to thank him once again this year. After Garnett, however, this team doesn't have the horses to compete in the Western Conference. Brandon would get Minnesota back to 50 wins if he is fully healthy, but that seems unlikely. Wally Szczerbiak is a nice second scorer but provides little else. The rest of the roster is loaded with question marks, especially with Billups gone.

Overall, it looks like this year will be a step backward for Minnesota. The West may be even more competitive this season, while Minnesota's talent level has dropped off considerably.