Minnesota Timberwolves preview by Dave Kelsey
What can the T-Wolves learn from the 2006-07 season to help them improve their 2007-08 campaign?
The 2007-08 season will most surely be a trying challenge and a true test of character and resolve for the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the departure of Kevin Garnett, a new era is upon us. The success or failure of this season depends largely on the young group of individuals who now comprise this team. Can this unique group of youngsters band together by bonding both on the court and off? Will this incredibly young team be mentally focused for the entire grinding 82-game season, and can they prove to the plethora of detractors that they have the skills and determination to succeed in this league?
This squad of "Timberpups" is most assuredly loaded with leaps and bounds of potential, but can that potential become realized? Can this young squad overcome the rigors a difficult season and create the synergy required to achieve success as a team? These are but a few of the questions facing this Timberwolves team on the eve of the upcoming NBA season.
The most important thing for the young Wolves to take from the 2006-07 season is the understanding of the game and the experience that was gained from playing at the NBA level. Being that this team is so incredibly young (nine players under 25 years old), experience will be vital to their collective development. Aspirations aside, last season was not successful for our young Wolves or the players that came over from the Boston Celtics. Excluding our rookies and the injured Theo Ratliff, everyone on the current roster was given an ample amount of playing time last year. From that experience it is up to each individual player to better learn the nuances of the game and how to play together as a team.
The few remaining veterans on the Wolves such as Ricky Davis, Juwan Howard, and Trenton Hassell will be relied upon heavily to help guide the character and development of the other remaining young players. To improve the upcoming campaign, everyone will need to draw upon the experience in the league that they do have, while continuing to develop and mesh with each other every day. The faster this squad gels as a team, the more likely their chances are to achieving success next season. As long as our youngsters display a positive and team-based attitude, there is no reason to not expect that this can become a very successful group at some point in their careers.
