Kurt Rambis has adjusted the starting lineup slightly tonight from Sunday’s preseason opener: This time, he has moved Corey Brewer from guard to small forward and insert Sasha Pavlovic in the backcourt next to Jonny Flynn while Ryan Gomes take a seat to start the game.
Rambis again, on the advice of trainer Greg Farnam, will limit the minutes of Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer.
“This is preseason,” he said. “We’re still trying things.”
Jefferson, who missed the final 32 games of last season with a torn ACL, has scored 28 points in nearly 34 minutes this preseason. Aside from Jefferson’s efficiency, though, the Wolves showed they have plenty of rough spots to work out.
Rambis bemoaned the way his team started and finished the game.
“We’re going to be outmatched a lot of the nights, but we shouldn’t be where our effort hurts us,” he said.
Fans curious about Jonny Flynn, the team’s first-round draft pick, will need more time before getting excited about the former Syracuse standout. Flynn scored 14 points — six at the free-throw line — but he had five turnovers and only one assist. Two of Flynn’s turnovers came in the disastrous first quarter and earned him a long stretch on the bench in the first half.
Flynn wasn’t the only Wolves player who struggled. When Toronto raced out to a big lead in the first quarter, Rambis cited too many defensive lapses.
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