New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz - Teams on the rise - NBA Feature (Part-2)
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves has been struggling big time for a long period now. The team finished with the worst overall record during the 2010-2011 season. Their head coach Kurt Rambis, who was offered a 4 year contract in 2009,
failed to make an impression in the first two years and the team posted two of the worst season records in the franchise history. The twin cities franchise managed 15 and 17 wins in the last two years respectively and Rambis was eventually fired nearly a month
back.
However, the sun finally seems to be shining on the Wolves. A series of events in the off season have practically ensured that the Timberwolves will make a substantial improvement in the next season.
The team already had one of the best post stalwart in the form of Kevin Love. Love earned the reputation of a constant double-double threat by posting 53 consecutive double- doubles in the last season. The only thing that Kevin
lacks at this moment is experience and after three years of bitter failures, this season might turn out to be a launching pad for him.
And he is not alone this time around.
Ricky Rubio, the Spanish star that the Wolves thought they will never have has finally arrived. He is a terrific playmaker and perhaps just the kind of assistant, Kevin needs at the moment.
A major addition that is made by the Minnesota Timberwolves to support their superstar Kevin was the selection of the prolific forward Derrick Williams in the 2011 NBA Draft. Williams is a terrific perimeter shooter and has the
versatility to play at both the small and power forward position. This will in effect take the scoring burden off from Love and will allow him to be more creative with his play.
And in case, Williams takes time to settle, there is always the option of Michael Beasley.
Having so many resourced on their roster now, a new beginning certainly beckons the Timberwolves in the next season and it won’t be a big surprise if the team manages to make it to the play-offs, which has been an impossible task
for them since the last seven years.
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz fought really hard during the 2010-2011 season to clinch the play-off berth in the Western Conference. However, despite all their efforts, the Jazz were eliminated from the race in the last stretch. In the last season,
the Salt Lake City franchise saw two of its most valuable assets leave in the mid season. First, the legendary coach Jerry Sloan left, due to reported differences with the team management and a certain Deron Williams.
Three days after his departure, Williams was shipped to the New Jersey Nets, leaving the franchise with a super star and in a limbo.
However, some lucrative draft picks this year have given the Jazz, a much needed boost.
With the third overall pick, Utah drafted the best foreign prospect in the shape of Enes Kanter. Kanter is an outstanding player who dominates on both the ends of the court which will become a valuable asset for the team in no
time. The Jazz also landed the prolific shooting guard Alec Burks who has the potential to mature into a constant scoring threat.
With the two picks, Utah has catered for a centre and a shooting guard and with Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Devon Harris already in the mix, there is only one way, Utah is going to go and that is upwards.
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