SI.com has an opposing team’s scout analyze the Wolves.
This could be a bit of a surprise team. They finally have some pieces, some maturity. They’ve got Randy Foye and Mike Miller in the backcourt and Kevin Love and Al Jefferson up front.
The key is getting a great perimeter offensive player in Miller to balance with the inside presence of Jefferson. Miller can put the ball down if you play him tough on the jumper. He’s a good kid, a little bit full of himself, but that’s why he is good. Even during the bad years in Memphis, he kept himself in good physical shape. He’s a workaholic, a perfectionist in his shooting. He can be good as an example of work ethic to his young teammates…
This isn’t a playoff team, but I can see them winning 35 games and letting everyone know they’re on the rise this year.
The Wolves will take today off and then return to practice Sunday at their Target Center facility to prepare for Wednesday’s season opener against Sacramento. Now that the final cuts have been made — barring a late move before Monday’s final roster deadline — injured center Jason Collins is expected to return to practice sometime next week, possibly starting Thursday.
Randy Wittman said he still doesn’t know exactly what Collins will provide because he hasn’t coached him yet.
Scott Howard-Cooper/Sacramento Bee previews the Northwest Division:
Newcomer to watch: Mike Miller. His arrival in Minnesota will be typically understated — under-the-radar player, under-the-snowbank team — but Miller is a nice building block and part of a future that suddenly has hope. He shoots with range, handles the ball, rebounds and moved well. And at age 28, he can still be a building block for the Timberwolves.
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Mike Miller:
Now so accomplished at three-point shooting that he has been tagged by some as a one-dimensional player, Miller changed himself from slasher to shooter when he walked into Indiana’s Conseco Fieldhouse early for a game against the Pacers six years ago and found Reggie Miller all alone shooting by himself, nearly three hours before the opening tap.
In a moment was born a routine he exercises daily all summer and before every practice, every shootaround and every game in season: He shoots from designated spots on the floor until he makes 10 shots from each spot and he doesn’t leave until he has made between 250 to 400 shots every time. Last summer, he even brought Jefferson into the gym on evenings to shoot with him.
“Some guys might never leave the gym if they tried to do that routine of his,” Wolves point guard Randy Foye said.
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune also has a scouting report on Mike Miller.
Grew his hair out dramatically three years ago after sporting a shaved head for much of his career. “I’ve had times when I’ve felt like shaving it off again, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet,” he said. “We’ll see what happens before the season opener.”
Corey Brewer and Chris Richard attended a Reading and Learning Center Dedication on October 24, 2008 at The City Inc in Minneapolis.
From the Brainerd Dispatch:
Project New Hope was recently selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball organization as recipient of a FastBreak Foundation $10,000 grant.
In November, the Timberwolves will be honoring military families and Project New Hope was selected as the best Minnesota project for Minnesota military families.
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