This is Your Basketball Team

I feel it's appropriate to channel the words of the great, albeit fictional, Norman Dale. Between polarizing off-season moves, national-media criticism of signings, trades and draft picks, and the generally low expectations, we (the few, the proud) Minnesota Timberwolves basketball fans should come to appreciate that this is our basketball team. I, for one, am the most excited I have been for an upcoming Timberwolves Basketball season since the 2004-2005 team was set to tip off.

We already know all of the characteristics that make this team wholly irrelevant to the national (if not local) media unless the team or its front office is being maligned: 15-67 record, questionable draft choices, trading away the "best" player on the team for nearly nothing, and almost everything else Khan does that he gets attention for. On that last point, I wonder if Khan got an advanced screening of Mad Men this summer, saw Don Draper's add in the paper denouncing cigarettes, and thought it would be a good idea to take out an ad about this team's all-too-realistic chances at winning a championship this season. Between that ad, the way Khan goes about shopping his players around, and his candid thoughts to anyone listening, I would take up poker just to get at this guy's table. However, for all of that, he's quietly made some improvements that I have wanted this team to make for years: they added size at nearly every position, added athleticism at nearly every position, got tougher without getting slower, added some shooting as opposed to having no shooting, made a decision on the Love/Jefferson issue (and I believe, the right one), added depth in the right spots, and he managed to do so without damaging the team's future any more than it's already damaged. The only move I was against was the Darko signing; not because I didn't want to bring Darko back, but because I feel like we put in a high starting bid at an auction that no one else attended.

As for the new depth and personnel, I now think it's Rambis' job to show us what he can do. He's armed with the following: 1) some pieces of the puzzle are here and can be used moving forward; 2) some desperation players getting the "second (or more) chance," and for some, this is going to be the last chance to show they belong in the NBA; 3) better spread of depth and not as much conflict as having a Love/Jefferson situation; and 4) some outside shooting to spread the floor. With this new group, I think defense will be an issue; however, I think Rambis has the chance to put out an entertaining and high scoring offense much like we have seen this preseason. Ultimately, now that the team is in place, I think it's up to Rambis to show us how he's going to use this team's talents, and if any of the rotational-genius from the Zen Master has rubbed off.

Between the preseason performance, players with either a chip on their shoulders, contract years or "last chance" status, increased size, talent and depth, I am predicting 28 wins for this year's Wolves squad (contingent on Wolves not tanking at end of season to protect the Clippers pick for the last time). On top of that, I predict that the Wolves will score at least 100 points in 45 games, as opposed to 35 last season.

Finally, like me, I think Wolves and NBA fans should be excited for the following reasons:

Because the preseason results make me think this team will score points and make games fun to watch;

Because the team might be exciting enough to spend some money on;

Because the team finally has some shooting as opposed to no shooting;

Because we have less players that make the entire offense stop when they've got the ball (yeah, you, Al Jefferson);

Because, hopefully, Darko can make one or two trips to both ends of the court without looking as winded as a post-race marathon runner;

Because the Wolves are going to affect playoff seeding in the West by upsetting some teams that take them softly;

Because Minnesota fans have what they've always dreamed of: rooting on one of the best white players in the league;

Because Kevin Love can set the tone after playing with some of the best this summer;

Because my boy, Turbo, will have to play for his job;

Because no one's job on this team is safe;

Because the over/under on the amount of fouls Pekovic will get this year has to be around 330 (just over 4 fouls per game if he plays all 82);

Because I somehow went to passionately rooting for Lebron to somehow not caring if he wins at all in less than 10 seconds;

Because between rooting against the Heat and rooting for Kevin Durant, my desire to watch more NBA seems to be increasing, if that's possible;

Because of my annual belief that the Jazz will go farther than they probably will;

Because, unfortunately, the NFL is making serious strides towards two-hand-touch/flag tackling; and

Because the Wolves and the NBA in general have finally gotten me excited enough to pay more attention and actually want to write about it again. I hope this season gets you excited, too.