A Wolf in Eighth Seed's Clothing: Fast-Improving Minnesota May Be Playoff Bound

I sometimes surprise myself with what I have to say about my own respective team, and although this does not come as a surprise to me, I can understand if you are shocked by my prediction. In fact, I embrace the shock.

The Timberwolves are entering a new season with a new GM, a new coach, and a whole new roster.

With the past behind us, we can only take a look at the future.

Although I expect to get a TON of controversy, mediocrity, discussion, disappointments, and extremely long anecdotes on why my opinions are not true, I am here to inform you that the 'Wolves will be fighting for the No. 8 spot in the playoffs.

The Eastern Conference has become incredibly stronger, and while the Western Conference did not get stronger, I beg to differ when people say that it has not become weaker.

It has weakened, and I am a solemn believer that a team breaking 40 wins in the West can make the playoffs next season.

The 8 teams that made the playoffs last year in the Western Conference:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (65-17)
   
2. Denver Nuggets (54-28)
   
3. Portland Blazers (54-28)
   
4. San Antonio Spurs (54-28)
5. Houston Rockets (53-29)
6. Dallas Mavericks (50-32)
7. New Orleans Hornets (49-33)
8. Utah Jazz (48-34)

As we hardcore NBA basketball fans know, on paper, the Lakers, Nuggets, Blazers, Spurs, Mavericks, New Orleans, and Utah are going to be in the playoffs next year. The big question remains. Will the Houston Rockets make it?

The Houston Rockets gained Trevor Ariza, but lost Ron Artest, have a questionable Tracy McGrady, and a "who knows" Yao Ming. The Houston Rockets are likely looking to slip.

Let's look at the teams in the Western Conference that did not make the playoffs:

1. Phoenix Suns (46-36)
2. Golden State Warriors (29-53)
3. Memphis Grizzlies (24-58)
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (24-58)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-59)
6. L.A Clippers (19-63)
7. Sacramento (17-65).

Take into consideration that I said "they would be competing for it".

I am a firm believer in the idea "the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer".

Basically, the whole top of the Eastern Conference got richer, gunning for a championship. These teams include the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, etc.

We sat back and watched the "the poor getting poorer", except for one team—the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Whoever you are, everyone knows that the Timberwolves made the most moves out of all the teams in the NBA this offseason.

They drafted possibly the two best point guards in the draft, who are both franchise-caliber players in Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. They drafted a sharpshooter two-guard who would've been the Los Angeles Lakers' choice in Wayne Ellington, and signed a very underrated center in Ryan Hollins for a very reasonable price.

Not to mention that they got a potential great head coach in coach Kurt Rambis, Phil Jackson's right hand man.

The Phoenix Suns got weaker, and are starting over their franchise. Steve Nash's stats have been on the decline for the last 4 years, and Amar'e Stoudemire is in trade talks every week.

The Golden State Warriors gave up Jamal Crawford for virtually nothing.

The Memphis Grizzlies are relying on Hasheem Thabeet and Sam Young to propel them. While Sam Young looking good, Thabeet has a lot to work on, as he only averaged nine points and four boards per game in the summer league.

I'd have to say that the Western Conference 8th playoff spot is looking pretty good for teams like the Thunder and the Timberwolves.

The Roster

Yes the roster is in need of some tweaking, but I do believe that it can work very well. Most likely, Rubio will be in a Timberwolves uniform come next year, so let's look at the roster.

PG- Ricky Rubio/Jonny Flynn/Bobby Brown/Chucky Atkins

SG- Rodney Carney?/Wayne Ellington/Corey Brewer/Damien Wilkins

SF- Ryan Gomes/ Rodney Carney?

PF- Kevin Love/Pecherov/Songaila

C- Al Jefferson/ Ryan Hollins

David Kahn, the GM, has stated that the Timberwolves are going to be a running team, with a half court offense featuring Al Jefferson.

David Kahn has said that the Wolves need one more wing. There has been rumors that David Kahn is interested in bringing Rodney Carney back for the right price. He was athletic, and has probably the fastest first step of anyone in the league. He's that quick.

Rodney Carney would complement offensively and defensively, so why wouldn't Kahn bring him back?

That would make the roster complete temporarily, as he can hit an open three consistently.

On paper, with a roster including Rodney Carney and Ricky Rubio, the team would have a perfect balance of running, defense in the frontcourt, passing, and shooting.

With Ryan Gomes and Kevin Love developing a three point shot, you have potentially four guys on the court that can hit a open three pointer. This makes things much easier for Jefferson, as he would use all of that space to destroy the opposition down low.

Off the bench, we would have a tall 7 footer who can shoot a three pointer in Pecherov.

Ryan Hollins, another 7 footer who will be getting around 20 minutes of playing time, is a complete defender and athlete in the paint.

Corey Brewer, who's recovering from rehab, shot 45 percent from three-point range last season before his injury. He also brings a great defensive mindset with a chip on his shoulder.

Wayne Ellington is a sharpshooter and complete guard.

And if Rubio comes over, maybe even Jonny Flynn could start at shooting guard. But if not, then another PG signed from free agency.

Overall, the potential is there for the Wolves to really do some damage as a young team.

The Roster Broken Down.

Al Jefferson (C/PF): Al Jeffeson averaged 23 Points and 11 Rebounds last season. He's probably the best low post scorer in the league. Last year, he only had Ryan Gomes and Randy Foye to shoot when he passed the ball out, but he's not a great passer.

Next year, he will have Ryan Gomes, who will shoot whenever he gets open, Wayne Ellington, who is a sharpshooter, Pecherov, who shoots because he's tall and can hit the shot, Jonny Flynn, who shot over 50 percent from the three-point line in the summer league, Kevin Love, who is developing an all-around game, and possibly Rodney Carney, who is becoming a stud.

It seems to me that with the improvement of Kevin Love and Ryan Gomes, and the new players we acquired, the Timberwolves have the potential to be a dangerous all-around team. I look for Al Jefferson to average 23 points and 10 rebounds next year.

But he will do it with more efficiency, being that he has more shooters around him to spread the floor.

He will have one thing that he didn't have last year: a playmaker in Jonny Flynn or Ricky Rubio. Al Jefferson sets himself up for easy baskets, and Flynn/Rubio will have a great time getting the ball to him, thus making Al Jefferson much more efficient.

From a defensive standpoint, Al Jefferson is going to need to put in some work. But then again, I think that Al Jefferson is going to make an improvement on his all-around game, and possibly break the 2.0 BPG mark.

Kevin Love (PF/C): Probably the gem of the team. A guy who is known for his outlet passing in this league, and his incredibly high basketball I.Q.

Kevin Love is known to be out of shape, and un-athletic, so why is it that he averaged 11 points and nine rebounds in only 25 minutes last season? He was third in offensive rebounds, but virtually tied for second and ninth in rebounds overall.

Kevin Love will take on a slightly more offensive role next season. He will be responsible for throwing outlet passes to guys like Jonny Flynn, Ricky Rubio, and Ryan Gomes after he gets the rebounds.

Kevin Love also has the potential to be a finesse big man in this league. He has been seen dishing the ball as well as a point guard without the penetration. He has actually hit a three pointer in his NBA career, something a lot of big men have never done.

Love is very underrated, and now already a veteran to the Minnesota Timberwolves because of all of the new trades, he is ready to step up his game. He could very well lead the league in offensive rebounds next year.

His defense is not more of a shot blocker, but he has the potential to be a lockdown defender. Like I said, he has an enormous basketball I.Q. You could call him a less athletic, but smarter Blake Griffin.

Kevin Love will see at least 30 minutes on the floor each night, a vast improvement from last season. He most likely could start at PF, but if Ryan Hollins impresses during the training camp, he could be coming off the bench like he did last year with Al Jefferson starting at PF.

Ryan Hollins (C/PF): The only true center on the team, and with his shot blocking and dunking abililty, it wouldn't suprise me to see Ryan Hollins getting around 20 minutes on the floor.

Please consider:

1. No. 7 in Offensive Rebounds per 48 Minutes.
2. No. 11 in Rebounds per 48 Minutes
3. No. 14 in Blocks per 48 Minutes.

All for a guy that averaged 10 minutes a game last season.

Outside of the Stats

Just watching him in his games, Ryan Hollins brings so much to the game:

1. High Energy: He plays with so much intensity, his most watched moment would have to be his put back dunk over Tim Duncan. He was called for a technical because of his high energetic reaction. Incredible high energy.
   
2. High Athleticism: Ryan Hollins is an incredible athlete, and to be his size, it's something that really makes him special. One display of athleticism would be Ryan Hollins put back dunk over Anderson Varejao.
3. High Defensive Intensity: Ryan Hollins has the stats to prove it, but he's incredibly intimidating. One of his best blocks would have to be against the San Antonio Spurs on George Hill. He has an emotional intensity that's going to compliment Al Jefferson.
4. Others: He moves well without the ball and with the ball. With Flynn and possibly Rubio, that is a dangerous combination of athleticism, passing and size. One example would be an Assist of the Night from Jason Kidd on a alley oop.

Ryan Gomes (SF/PF/SG?)

Gomes seems to add something to his game every year. At one point in time, he was an undersized power forward who had good footwork and amazing strength. He was not the most athletic player, but always had a good work ethic.

He added a mid-range game to his arsenal and became a very deadly developing spot-up shooter. His scoring average has increased every year. In four years, his average has gone from 7.6 points per game to 13.3.

He has never been a go-to guy, yet despite being taken 50th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, he somehow managed to command respect.

After developing a mid-range game, he developed a three-point jump shot. Gomes isn't afraid to shoot, and can often be seen creeping behind the arc, waiting for the pass.

He has been often criticized for not driving the ball that well or breaking down a defense. While skills in the latter leave a lot to be desired, he has started driving a bit more than usual and has shown flashes of finesse with his layup game.

There's no doubt that Gomes will add another notch to his offensive game. Remember, he has an increased role now. Timberwolves' President of Basketball Operations David Kahn has said himself that Gomes needs to show him "something" this year, claiming that he does not know Gomes' clear-cut role on the team.

After Jefferson's season-ending injury, Gomes averaged 16 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and .346 from three-point range.

With Foye and Mike Miller gone, I expect Gomes to get more touches from the outside. Gomes will average anywhere from 16 to 19 points per game next season, helping give him a great breakout year.

With the lateral speed of a shooting guard and the strength of a power forward, Gomes is very good as a defender, something many realized last season.

He's highly tenacious while being quiet. He does not fold under pressure, even when matched up against the likes of Kobe Bryant. Gomes has never been a great shot blocker, but can be considered a lock-down defender.

He will likely seek more time at the small forward position, and if he can learn to break down defenses, dare I say shooting guard?

He seldom turns the ball over (1.56 turnovers per game) and has stays out of foul trouble (2.20 fouls per game).

With low turnovers and fouls, Ryan Gomes makes the team very efficient.

Jonny Flynn (PG)

Absolutely a great point guard in the making. So many Chris Paul/Flynn comparisons.

Always embracing and highly tenacious at the same time.

Jonny Flynn was Co-MVP to Blake Griffin in the summer league, averaging 15 points and 7 assists per game.

If you watched the video of Flynn in the first sentence, there's no need for me to get into him offensively and defensively, but I will anyway.

The summer league revealed Jonny Flynn to be an excellent shooter. Shooting over 50 percent from the three-point line makes him deadly. With his slashing and penetration ability, he's almost unreadable.

Incredible athleticism, and absolute dominance when it comes to leadership, he never shies away from contact. In fact he embraces it, and has some of the best body control I've ever seen.

Incredible quickness, and high charisma. The absolute package for any point guard.

Jonny Flynn will probably average 12-15 points and 6-8 assists per game his first season. He WILL be in the talks for the rookie of the year, providing that Ricky Rubio does not show up this season.

All I have to say is that if Rubio comes in another year and not this season, prepare to be traded, because Jonny Flynn is the truth, and he won't start over Flynn if he plays like I predict.

Wayne Ellington (SG)

A champion, a sharpshooter, a true off-guard and an absolute steal with the 28th pick. Probably the biggest steal in the draft after the Dejaun Blair/Spurs pick.

He's fast, and has above-average athleticism. He loves to shoot the ball, and he shoots it very well. In the summer league, he shot over 50 percent from the three-point line, and .875 from the free throw line—the makings of a pure shooter. He took as many as nine three-point shots in a summer league game, and as little as two.

He loves to shoot. He doesn't turn the ball over much, due to the fact that whenever he has the ball, he's shooting it. He's highly efficient, and like I said, he's not afraid to shoot.

His defense needs work, but although he's not the best, he is not the worst either.

Wayne Ellington will average anywhere from 10-13 points per game.

Corey Brewer (SG/SF): Corey Brewer is a 6'9'' SF/SG who suffered a torn ACL injury in only 15 games of play through the 08-09 season.

Corey Brewer was averaging a measly 6.2 PPG in his sophomore season, and 5.2 PPG in his rookie season. However, there is a huge difference in his percentages. As a rookie, Corey Brewer had a 37.4 FG percentage, and as a sophomore, Corey Brewer had a 41.1 FG percentage. As a rookie to a sophomore, Corey Brewer went from 19.4 three-point percentage to 41.7 three-point percentage.

Corey Brewer is not known for his offense as of yet, but it's his defensive abilities, long arms, and hard work ethic that makes Corey Brewer look like a young Ron Artest. He has been known to make scoring harder for guys like Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, and Carmelo Anthony, holding them all to less than 50 percent shooting before he got injured.

Corey Brewer is an X-Factor.

Ricky Rubio (PG): A golden boy type of player. At the age of 18, he already possesses an otherworldly passing ability.

Succeeds in almost every category.

Ten points and six assists per game in a European League full of franchise big men.

Shooting over 40 percent from the three-point line.

Hardcore fast break player and great halfcourt offensive player.

Passes are almost always on point, and a hard work ethic.

Averaged over two steals per game, with a crazy wingspan.

There's not too much I can say about Ricky Rubio until he plays over here. But against Team USA in the Olympics, he had six points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Oleksiy Pecherov (C/PF): Another big man from Europe that can really shoot, but has a lot of potential in other areas.

In the Eurobasket 2009 against Hungary, Pecherov scored 28 points while pulling down 17 rebounds. Not bad, as he can be the gem of the draft pick trade.

Rodney Carney (SG/SF): An absolute stud who is an enormous athlete. He's not afraid to dunk on anybody at all. In layman's terms, he's a more athletic/less idiotic Rashad McCants.

He can shoot the deep ball and can hit an open jumper consistently. He shot 35 percent from the three-point line last year, and can create his own shot from time to time.

I just hope that David Kahn re-signs him.

Final Thoughts

My prediction is a stretch, but the potential is there.

The 'Wolves are also not done wheeling and dealing, and I think a big trade will be made by the end of the season, similar to the Chicago Bulls/Sacramento Kings trade that propelled Derrick Rose and the Bulls to the playoffs next year.

This roster can run. Al Jefferson has slimmed down 30 pounds and is ready to run. We have a shot blocker and another big man that can hit outside jumpers and spread the floor when Jefferson is drawing double teams.

We're a lock at the point guard position, and the only thing we are missing is another wing. Corey Brewer could make a tremendous comeback, and Ryan Gomes can step his game up as well. Rodney Carney could also be re-signed.

Considering all of that happens, the Timberwolves have a fighting chance for the 8th seed in the playoffs, knowing that the West is weakening in its lower seeds.

But will it happen? Who knows.

But I do know that this team is going to be very scrappy next year with coach Kurt Rambis, and they will play great for him because they all have tremendous respect for him.

With captains Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes stepping their game up, they will propel the Wolves back to a respective status.

The Wolves are howling, but will it be loud enough?

And when they do make the playoffs, well that's a whole 'nother article.

Thanks for reading!