10/27/2009 - 16:26
Aiming to Play
by
Matt Martino
Will Big Al be in uniform when the Minnesota Timberwolves open their 2009-2010 season this Wednesday at the Target Center against the New Jersey Nets?
While people in the organization are hopeful, the answer has yet to be determined.
"I have no idea," Kurt Rambis told the Star-Tribune in response to Al’s status. "His illness is a non issue. His Achilles is what we’re addressing now and we’re helping him work through that."
"We’ll see how he is tomorrow. That’s how we’ll keep going. We’ll keep evaluating him the following day, keep increasing his activity and see how he handles it."
Big Al worked hard this offseason to be ready to go in 2009-10 (Getty Images). |
Minnesota’s president of basketball operations, David Kahn, seems to be more optimistic and does not think his star player's sore Achilles will prevent him from suiting up for the season-opener.
"No," Kahn said in an interview with FanHouse. "I think we were lucky to this point that he hasn't had any kind of minor setback. (The Achilles problem) is a minor setback, and, until he misses a regular-season game, I'm not going to worry about it."
"His Achilles is not on his knee side (on the leg opposite of his knee injury). It's been tender. So it's a precaution. He's resting. He also had a terrible cold, so he's at the hotel resting. He's fine."
The team took precautions all through the preseason with No. 25 and his recovery from knee surgery. The Wolves did not call his number in the second half of the first two games and made him sit the final three preseason contests.
In his absence, the Wolves closed the preseason with two comeback victories against the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.
"We had to learn how to play without the big guys," Corey Brewer said after his team's win over Detroit.
"We knew we couldn't just throw it into Al and get 20. We all knew we had to step up."
Despite two victories without their go-to player, Big Al is still Minnesota’s go-to player and their success is predicated on his play and health.
Last season was evidence of No. 25’s impact. Al had a career year (23 points, 11 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game) and led the Wolves to 10-4 record in January. In the month of February, he averaged 25 points on 50 percent shooting and 14.6 rebounds before tearing his ACL and missing the remaining 32 regular season games.
Minnesota finished the month of February at 2-11 and 24-58 for the season after the loss of their anchor.
Al, along with his front court mate Kevin Love, hope to have healthy seasons this year and team up with what looks to be a promising group of perimeter players.
"It's a great confidence boost for everyone to play without our best player [Al]," Ryan Gomes told the press after the Toronto game.
"When they [Al and Love] come back we'll be a much stronger unit."
PLAYOFF HOPES
In "two to three years," president David Kahn believes the Wolves can be a playoff contender in the Western Conference.
Big Al has more immediate plans.
"Everyone is saying two or three years, but I don't believe that," he told the Pioneer Press. "It's all about us going out there and playing the way we should. Next summer is a big market for players. I believe we can make a mark this year and maybe make the playoffs next year."
In the last five years, 44.6 is the average number of wins to make the Western Conference Playoffs. That’s approximately a 20 game improvement from last year’s record if Minnesota hopes to claim the No. 8 spot in an always-competitive West.
With No. 25 in the middle and Kevin Love on the other block, the Wolves can bang with anyone down low. It’s up to perimeter players such as Corey Brewer, Ramon Sessions, and Johnny Flynn to harness those flashes of brilliance in the preseason into consistent regular season production.
If that happens and the Wolves become a balanced team, it is conceivable that this young Minnesota squad could make a playoff push this year.
RELATED STORIES
Al’s Achilles still an issue with opener three days away (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, October 25, 2009)
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wolves/2009/10/25/als-achilles-still...
New-look Timberwolves preaching patience in Year 1 of another rebuilding program (St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 24, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13635909
Minnesota Timberwolves use 22-4 run to beat Detroit (St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 22, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13623258?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Timberwolves Not Worried About Al Jefferson's Latest Injury (FanHouse.com, October 20, 2009)
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/timberwolves-not-worried-about-latest...
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
