Over the next month, we’ll be talking with a variety of people who cover each NBA team to find out a little bit about their team, and how they expect the season to go. We’ll also find out what they believe will be the most intriguing matchup when the two team’s meet during the regular season. We continue with the Northwest Division with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We’re joined by Zach Bennett of, amongst other places, SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus. You can follow Zach on twitter @ZacharyBD.
Game Dates
Friday, November 7th @ Orlando
Friday, April 3rd @ Minnesota
Last Season: 40-42; Finished 10th in Western Conference
October 30th: Minnesota 120 Orlando 115 (OT)
April 5th: Orlando 100 Minnesota 92
Projected Starters
Point Guard: Ricky Rubio
Shooting Guard: Kevin Martin
Small Forward: Andrew Wiggins OR Corey Brewer
Power Forward: Thaddeus Young
Center: Nikola Pekovic
Q: Can I have Andrew Wiggins? Please? On a serious note, do you feel like he’s going to be under a lot of pressure to prove he’s “got it” this season after being moved for arguably the best power forward in the league in Kevin Love? Or will he be able to grow and flourish there?
A: Andrew Wiggins is ours, and I don’t believe there’s a narrative out there that sends him to Orlando. As far as pressure to prove he’s ‘got it,’ expectations for Wiggins this season will vary depending on who you ask. Unfortunately, because of the hype that surrounded him last year, prior to the draft, and up until he was selected with the first overall pick, there will be some who insist Wiggins become an effective starting player with little-to-zero differences. Casual fans — Really, any of those who don’t pay much attention to how long it takes players to develop — would likely be those who expect Wiggins to put up 20 points per game while locking down an opponent’s best offensive threat. This is simply not plausible and is an unreasonable thing to ask of any rookie.
I tried to set reasonable expectations for Wiggins (the rookie) not long ago. Mind if I plug? No? OK. Expectations for Andrew Wiggins; The Rookie. Some of the advanced metrics used in various draft models that compared Wiggins to Gordon Hayward and Harrison Barnes, to name a few. (From my mentioned column)
"Hayward scored only five points, grabbed two rebounds while playing an average of only 16 minutes in 72 appearances as a rookie with the Utah Jazz. Barnes scored nine points, tallied four rebounds averaging 25 minutes per game in 81 appearances with the Golden State Warriors. Barnes recorded very similar averages in his second season, while Hayward has gradually improved since entering the league and posted a 16-5-5 season in his fourth year with the Jazz."
Assuming Wiggins is healthy and plays with the starters, or is part of a competent rotation, I figure asking 10 points and five rebounds per game while playing a vital role on the defensive end wouldn’t be egregious. He will have the opportunity to grow here. Talking with Glen Taylor, he expects Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad to contribute more than they did last season, as Rick Adelman was hesitant to play rookies. Wiggins is a member of a young core including Zach LaVine, Anthony Bennett, Thaddeus Young and Ricky Rubio. This group, including Dieng and Muhammad, will share the expectations. Not everything will be on Wiggins shoulders.
Q: Ricky Rubio is going into his fourth season in the league. What area’s of his game do you want to see him take the next step in this season?
A: Much is made about Ricky Rubio’s scoring and that’s not a conversation I generally partake in. Sure, he’s not the greatest shooter. That’s OK. Rubio doesn’t need to create his own shot in isolation situations. If he’s able to improve his finishing skills at the area around the rim, I’d be thrilled. His passing, obviously, speaks for itself, while Rubio’s defensive skills are above average by point guard standards. If he can get to the rim and finish, or simply get to the free throw line by initiating contact among the trees, Rubio will be a dangerous player. It’s all dependent on his ability to get to the rim.
More from Games
- Orlando Magic FIBA World Cup: Franz Wagner can be a star if he takes it
- 2023 FIBA World Cup: Germany’s success is a model for the Orlando Magic
- Orlando Magic 2023 FIBA World Cup: Paolo Banchero made the right choice with Team USA
- Orlando Magic 2023 FIBA World Cup: Moe Wagner vs. Goga Bitadze
- Orlando Magic FIBA World Cup: Paolo Banchero is blocking shots now
Q: What’s one matchup that you’ll be watching when the Magic and T-Wolves meet?
A: People forget that the Wolves season opener last season was probably one of the top-five best games of the year. I’ll be watching Victor Oladipo. I’m sure Flip Saunders will be, too. It was rumored Flip coveted Oladipo and wanted to move up for him in the draft. Alas, this was not the case. V.O. is a solid defender, from what I hear, so going against Rubio, LaVine, Kevin Martin, Wiggins, or Mo Williams is going to be a key factor in the game in my opinion.
Q: What do you think are fair expectations for the team this season? Could they fight for a playoff spot?
A: I expect them to struggle, but there’s plenty of upside and they could surprise a lot of people. Jerry Zgoda, a beat writer for the Star Tribune (a paper recently purchased by Glen Taylor, though he’s not really involved with the business– just a fun factoid) has spent most of his life covering the Timberwolves. Zgoda projected 39 wins for this team next year. Compared to other bloggers and what people are saying on the Twitterverse, that’s a fairly high number. I’ve seen as low as 25 wins. I’ve seen mid-30s. If I had to choose a number I guess it’s 33. Don’t hold me to that.
It would be unfair to ask this team to make the playoffs this year. Although I do believe it’s imperative they reach the postseason sometime over the next three years. How this club responds to scoring droughts and in late game situations will decide how many wins they tally this season.