From Elie Seckbach/Fanhouse: Kevin Love Talks Ricky Rubio, Mark Madsen’s Love Life, Twitter and More (video)
From the Timberwolves site:
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced the team’s local television schedule for the 2009-10 season. The Wolves’ over-the-air television schedule will feature 15 games on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45 and 40 games on FOX Sports North cable and satellite package. The schedule will include 27 Target Center dates and 28 telecasts from the road.
The Wolves’ local television schedule begins with the season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 28 vs. the New Jersey Nets at Target Center on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45 starting at 7 p.m. The FOX Sports North schedule tips off on Friday, Oct. 30 against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Target Center (7 p.m.). FOX Sports North also will air Wolves Live before and after every telecast, as well as Wolves Weekly, a half-hour weekly show featuring news items and stories about Timberwolves players and coaches.
The Wolves’ local television schedule begins with the season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 28 vs. the New Jersey Nets at Target Center on KSTC-TV, Ch. 45 starting at 7 p.m. The FOX Sports North schedule tips off on Friday, Oct. 30 against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Target Center (7 p.m.). FOX Sports North also will air Wolves Live before and after every telecast, as well as Wolves Weekly, a half-hour weekly show featuring news items and stories about Timberwolves players and coaches.
The Timberwolves will only be broadcasting 55 games on local television this season. That number is down from 75 a season ago.
It would be one thing if the Wolves were on national television quite frequently as it would offer another way for Wolves’ fans to catch the games. However, given the fact Minnesota isn’t exactly one of the most compelling teams to many folks outside of Minnesota, you will not see the Wolves getting a lot of national run in 2009-10. Of course, if Ricky Rubio actually signs that could change a bit.
NBA League Pass will act as a savior for many hardcore Wolves fans assuming they don’t live in an area where the games might be susceptible to being blacked out. But even if people in Minnesota can find the games on the opposing team’s feed on League Pass, fans often enjoy watching games with their local broadcast teams. Unfortunately for fans in Minnesota, this won’t be an option for 27 games next season.
It would be one thing if the Wolves were on national television quite frequently as it would offer another way for Wolves’ fans to catch the games. However, given the fact Minnesota isn’t exactly one of the most compelling teams to many folks outside of Minnesota, you will not see the Wolves getting a lot of national run in 2009-10. Of course, if Ricky Rubio actually signs that could change a bit.
NBA League Pass will act as a savior for many hardcore Wolves fans assuming they don’t live in an area where the games might be susceptible to being blacked out. But even if people in Minnesota can find the games on the opposing team’s feed on League Pass, fans often enjoy watching games with their local broadcast teams. Unfortunately for fans in Minnesota, this won’t be an option for 27 games next season.
It will be interesting to see if the Timberwolves, in need of a legitimate small forward, make a run at Memphis’ 6-8, 240-pound Rudy Gay, who can become a restricted free agent next summer and might not be affordable for the Grizzlies. Ricky Rubio could be worthwhile trade bait.
From Luke Byrnes/Hoopsworld: Top 5 Centers
2. Al Jefferson, Minnesota: The 24-year old Jefferson was in the midst of a career season before a ruptured ACL in his right knee ended the 2008-09 season for the Timberwolves center. You can say what you want about posting big numbers for a bad team, but Minnesota appeared to be making strides after an awful start to the season (4-23) by winning 13 of the team’s final 23 games with Jefferson in the lineup, including wins over playoff-bound New Orleans and Chicago. Jefferson has a nice post game based on fundamentals more than athleticism so his knee injury shouldn’t stunt his growth terribly and he will continue to become one of the best big men in the NBA.
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