Ricky Rubio has just won Western Conference Rookie of The Month. Also, he is a favorite for Rookie of The Year.

Kevin Love received his well-deserved contract extension. He continues to put up MVP quality numbers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have begun their resurgence as a franchise. They are one of the most fun to watch and exciting teams in the league.

The Wolves record is 10-12 with only three games separating them from the eighth spot in the Western Conference and their first playoff appearance since the 2003-04 season. Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell led the Wolves to the Western Conference Finals that year. Since then Minnesota has had one winning season (2004-05), and have only won 32 games in the last two years.

This year's Timberwolves' team is more talented and has a brighter future than any of the last six teams, but storms are on the horizon. The next two months are going to cause a lot of growing pains for the Timberwolves and their fans. Nobody expected the Timberwolves to make the playoffs this year (and they won't). Yet it's safe to say this team is on the way up, and will be a playoff team soon. 

A young team that's maturing together and learning to be a cohesive unit is expected to be inconsistent—the Timberwolves are no exception. This is a team that beat Dallas and San Antonio back-to-back twice this season. This is also a team that has lost to Memphis, Cleveland, Toronto and Houston. 

Despite the inconsistency, there's a lot to like at the Target Center. The Timberwolves are ferocious on the glass and have shown improvement on the defensive end. Minnesota has two great young talents in Love and Rubio, a deep and solid bench and financial flexibility to improve the team in the offseason.

The next two weeks will be kind to the Timberwolves with four-consecutive games against non-playoff teams, before Dallas comes to town on February 10. From there the Timberwolves get to face the Knicks, Magic, Bobcats and Rockets before the schedule gets brutal. If the Wolves win the games they should, they can enter the February 19 game against the 76ers at 15-16.

Nine of their next 10 games are against playoff teams with the only reprieve being a road game against Phoenix. They get one more winnable game against New Orleans (although with Eric Gordon back they should be better) before they embark on a seven-game road trip—including games at Utah, LA, San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

When Kevin Garnett returns to the Target Center on March 30, the Timberwolves will be a tired and frustrated team. But hopefully a much more experienced and focused team. If there's one thing this Timberwolves' team has shown us, it's that they aren't satisfied with morale-building close losses like the ones against the Heat, Lakers and Hawks. They expect to compete and they expect to win.

They will win eventually—but not this year. Anticipate a strong two weeks followed by a brutal six—finishing with a nice winning-streak to take into next year. 

Prediction: 30-36, 11th in Western Conference

 

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