A Rebuild In Progress
Jonah BallowRelated Images
From the cellar to a contender is always a tenuous task for any team. The Wolves journey back to the playoffs began with the sound of the buzzer after an April 15 loss to the Sacramento Kings in the season finale. While the offseason offers a degree of uncertainty, Minnesota can look back at the 2008-09 year to to discover some of the highs and lows of the season. The team will use the positive aspects as motivation for growth in the future.
At a Glance
2008-09 Record: 24-56
Longest win streak: 5 games (January)
Best month: January (10-4)
Awards
Western Conference Player of the Week (Al Jefferson)
Western Conference Rookie of the Month (Kevin Love)
Western Conference Coach of the Month (Kevin McHale)
Team Leaders
Points: Al Jefferson (23.1)
Rebounds: Al Jefferson (11.0)
Assists: Sebastian Telfair (4.6)
Steals: Randy Foye (1.0)
Blocks: Al Jefferson (1.7)
Offensive Averages
Points: 97.8
Team rebounds: 41.7
Team assists: 20.4
Field goal percentage: 44.1
3-point percentage: 35.3
Free throw percentage: 76.9
Defensive Averages
Points allowed: 102.7
Steals: 6.2
Blocks: 3.9
The Coaching Transition
Philosophical coaching differences were clearly evident between Randy Wittman and Kevin McHale. Wittman struggled to connect with the young-Wolves squad, which led to a 4-15 start to 2008 and 38-105 record in two seasons as the head coach in Minnesota. Owner Glen Taylor replaced Wittman on December 8 in search of a leader to cultivate the talent on the floor. McHale moved offices from the administration area of the Target Center to the locker room, where he would take over as head coach for the second time in Minnesota.
With minimal practice time, McHale used a different approach to turn potential into wins. The roster reacted favorably to his up-tempo style and father-like demeanor from the sidelines. Each player in the locker room confessed their admiration for the man who has been named to the NBA 50 Greatest Players list. The respect McHale received from the players produced a 10-4 record in January and a Western Conference Coach of the Month award. The Wolves finished with a 20-43 record under McHale but the improvement from the team was visible. Fans at the Target Center started to enjoy the aggression on the fast break in watching a more exciting brand of basketball. McHale moved Randy Foye to primarily the shooting guard position and this helped to create more scoring opportunities. Other players also benefited from McHale’s strategic adjustments. Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Brian Cardinal and Rodney Carney all found a role on the court while improving throughout the year.
Obviously McHale would have liked a full season to work with this Wolves crew along with a healthy Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer. The team McHale built proved to show promise for years to come and his tutelage should provide a solid base for many of the young players on the roster.
January Success
Only the Lakers and Spurs recorded higher winning percentages in the Western Conference during the month of January. Minnesota found a nice groove to start the New Year by increasing the offensive production to 105.1 points per game. Love and Jefferson pounded the glass to help the Wolves earn a rebounding advantage in 11 of 14 games in the month. The 10 wins were the most for the Wolves franchise since 2005 and may have provided a glimpse into the future if the team is healthy.
Valuable Al
There is no doubt that Al Jefferson is on his way to a promising career. The forward/center destroyed opposing teams with an array of low-post moves and rebounding domination. After Jefferson’s devastating season-ending knee injury in early February, the Wolves momentum was halted for the remainder of the year. Without the 23.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, Minnesota struggled to find consistent scoring options from the post position. The Wolves fell to just 7-25 sans Jefferson. During the offseason, Jefferson will remain in Minnesota to work with the local staff to rehab his surgically repaired knee. Next season offers a new beginning for the team while Big Al may play with chip on his shoulder after an All-Star snub. Jefferson is the cornerstone of the franchise; the record clearly exemplifies the importance of his presence on the court.
At a Glance
2008-09 Record: 24-56
Longest win streak: 5 games (January)
Best month: January (10-4)
Awards
Western Conference Player of the Week (Al Jefferson)
Western Conference Rookie of the Month (Kevin Love)
Western Conference Coach of the Month (Kevin McHale)
Team Leaders
Points: Al Jefferson (23.1)
Rebounds: Al Jefferson (11.0)
Assists: Sebastian Telfair (4.6)
Steals: Randy Foye (1.0)
Blocks: Al Jefferson (1.7)
Offensive Averages
Points: 97.8
Team rebounds: 41.7
Team assists: 20.4
Field goal percentage: 44.1
3-point percentage: 35.3
Free throw percentage: 76.9
Defensive Averages
Points allowed: 102.7
Steals: 6.2
Blocks: 3.9
The Coaching Transition
Philosophical coaching differences were clearly evident between Randy Wittman and Kevin McHale. Wittman struggled to connect with the young-Wolves squad, which led to a 4-15 start to 2008 and 38-105 record in two seasons as the head coach in Minnesota. Owner Glen Taylor replaced Wittman on December 8 in search of a leader to cultivate the talent on the floor. McHale moved offices from the administration area of the Target Center to the locker room, where he would take over as head coach for the second time in Minnesota.
With minimal practice time, McHale used a different approach to turn potential into wins. The roster reacted favorably to his up-tempo style and father-like demeanor from the sidelines. Each player in the locker room confessed their admiration for the man who has been named to the NBA 50 Greatest Players list. The respect McHale received from the players produced a 10-4 record in January and a Western Conference Coach of the Month award. The Wolves finished with a 20-43 record under McHale but the improvement from the team was visible. Fans at the Target Center started to enjoy the aggression on the fast break in watching a more exciting brand of basketball. McHale moved Randy Foye to primarily the shooting guard position and this helped to create more scoring opportunities. Other players also benefited from McHale’s strategic adjustments. Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Brian Cardinal and Rodney Carney all found a role on the court while improving throughout the year.
Obviously McHale would have liked a full season to work with this Wolves crew along with a healthy Al Jefferson and Corey Brewer. The team McHale built proved to show promise for years to come and his tutelage should provide a solid base for many of the young players on the roster.
January Success
Only the Lakers and Spurs recorded higher winning percentages in the Western Conference during the month of January. Minnesota found a nice groove to start the New Year by increasing the offensive production to 105.1 points per game. Love and Jefferson pounded the glass to help the Wolves earn a rebounding advantage in 11 of 14 games in the month. The 10 wins were the most for the Wolves franchise since 2005 and may have provided a glimpse into the future if the team is healthy.
Valuable Al
There is no doubt that Al Jefferson is on his way to a promising career. The forward/center destroyed opposing teams with an array of low-post moves and rebounding domination. After Jefferson’s devastating season-ending knee injury in early February, the Wolves momentum was halted for the remainder of the year. Without the 23.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, Minnesota struggled to find consistent scoring options from the post position. The Wolves fell to just 7-25 sans Jefferson. During the offseason, Jefferson will remain in Minnesota to work with the local staff to rehab his surgically repaired knee. Next season offers a new beginning for the team while Big Al may play with chip on his shoulder after an All-Star snub. Jefferson is the cornerstone of the franchise; the record clearly exemplifies the importance of his presence on the court.
