Go Back |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Go To Articles Directory Home Page To get the current article, - See Below (at the bottom of the page) -. For top news titles, see below. Web sites and videos listed in this page are frequently updated. If you find that this page is useful (quality of web sites, images and videos, ...), you can add it to your favorites. Bookmark Page ! |
NBA Preview: Timberwolves
NBA Preview: Timberwolves By WagerWeb.com and Ecobika Sports Betting Ricky Davis led the Minnesota Timberwolves in assists per game last season. Enough said. OK, not enough said yet. Davis averaged 4.8 assists a game. Now enough said. It's no wonder the Timberwolves acquired Mike James from Toronto in the offseason. Granted, James has proven to be more of a scorer than passer, but he did manage a career-high 5.8 assists a game with the Raptors a year ago and should fill the point guard position nicely. The addition of James will allow Davis to perform as a pure scorer, at which he's most comfortable. Along with Kevin Garnett, who remains one of the top 10 all-around players in the game, the Timberwolves should receive somewhere between 55 and 65 points a game from that trio. And if rookie off-guard Randy Foye displays the explosiveness shown in the Las Vegas Summer League, this team could be the most improved in the NBA. Another 10 victories would give it 43 and slide the Timberwolves back into the playoffs ... where they would likely lose in the first round. Just like old times. The midseason acquisition of serviceable center Mark Blount and strong backups in the backcourt such as Troy Hudson, Marko Jaric and Trenton Hassell should make this a better team than it was a year ago. Key additions: G Foye, G James Key subtractions: G Marcus Banks
Player to watch: The Timberwolves lacked a pure point guard last season, which led to offensive sluggishness and inconsistency. James must fill that role for this team to return to its status as at least a playoff threat. The Timberwolves don't need James to score 20 points a game as he did for the Raptors a year ago. They do need him to increase his average of 5.8 assists a game and dish off to Davis and Garnett for shots close to the basket and medium-range jumpers, which both can hit with consistency. Defenders must respect James, which will also open the floor up for Davis and Garnett. The Timberwolves had too many players who didn't understand their roles last season. If James appreciates his role as the floor general and doesn't get caught up in his own numbers, everything else could fall into place. Outlook: Minnesota simply didn't have enough talent surrounding Garnett last season to contend. This team lost its confidence early and never regained it. But the acquisition of James and additions of Davis and Blount for full seasons could rocket the Timberwolves into second place in the Northwest Division. One key will be the progress of Foye, who will be given significant playing time at off-guard. But the Wolves just didn't play as a team a year ago. If all the talent on this roster jells, there's no reason Minnesota can't finish at least .500. And in this division, that could mean second place. Click here at get ready to the ACTION About the Author: . Click here at get ready to the ACTION
|