Game #-4: Wolves vs. Maccabi Bazan Haifa, Tuesday (7 PM)
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:24 am
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/174118951.html
Three games into a seven-game preseason schedule, the Timberwolves, through a combination of injury and circumstance, haven't yet had ample time to integrate a roster that could have as many as eight new faces on it on opening night.
Starters Andrei Kirilenko and Luke Ridnour have missed two of the first three preseason games. Kevin Love sat out Saturday's 82-75 victory over Chicago at Target Center after he slept wrong on his arm the night before. And coach Rick Adelman chose to play his starters just a quarter in Friday's loss at Indianapolis.
The clock's ticking. Is time getting short for players to develop court relationships with each other?
"Four games left is plenty," said shooting guard Brandon Roy, whose team plays Israeli team Maccabi Bazan Haifa on Tuesday at Target Center. "But you do want to start getting your rhythm. But again, that's the NBA: Some nights some guys may not play, so you have to be ready to step in. We've got some games to get guys healthy.
"The good thing is we don't have major injuries right now, just some minor nicks. If you have a chance to rest a guy like Kevin or A.K. at this time of year, you do it."
Roy played nearly 27 minutes -- a preseason high -- on Saturday and Adelman pondered putting him back in to close the game for a first time. He decided against it because the group already on the floor was playing well, but said he'll do that in the final four games to get Roy accustomed to the playing time and role.
"Rick's a veteran at this, it's nothing he hasn't dealt with before," reserve forward Lou Amundson said. "There's still enough time. We have seven days from our last preseason game to the first [regular season] home game. That will be good to get everybody rested and healthy."