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Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
Email / Twitter

Kurt Rambis DOWNLOAD MP3 Wayne Ellington DOWNLOAD MP3

Wolves vs. Raptors 7 PM - Target Center
WHERE TO WATCH: KSTC-45
WHERE TO LISTEN: KFAN AM 1130

Scouting Report:
Big Picture:
In the past four years, the Nets record has dropped every season and now the franchise must face the inevitable rebuilding process. Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Kenyon Martin, and Vince Carter are just distant memories at this point. This team seems to be in limbo with the desire to acquire a new arena (in Brooklyn) and a Russian billionaire is attempting to become the NBA's first non-North American owner. New Jersey finished the preseason with a 1-6 record but only played three different teams. On the positive side, the Nets feature two cornerstone pieces at point guard (Devin Harris) and center (Brook Lopez).

Backcourt:
Most pundits around the league felt New Jersey got a steal by trading Kidd for Harris. Last year, Harris proved to be a top-flight point guard while averaging 21.3 points a game and earning a spot on the All-Star roster. The Minnesota backcourt will have to give Harris space on the perimeter or the 6-3 guard will use a quick change of pace dribble to reach the lane. Ramon Sessions faced Harris four times last season in the Eastern Conference, so he should have an upper hand in experience over Jonny Flynn. However, Flynn can match Harris' speed and test him on the defensive side of the floor. At the shooting guard spot, New Jersey received Courtney Lee from the Magic for Carter. Lee was not necessarily ecstatic to go from a contender to a cellar dweller with the Nets. Last year, Lee hit 40 percent of his 3-point attempts for Orlando. Lee can play three different positions and is only in his second season, which provides New Jersey with a young backcourt.

Frontcourt:
Target Center fans would have enjoyed a matchup between Lopez and Kevin Love as the two big men enter their second year in the league. Love will have to watch from the sidelines for the next month but Lopez is primed for a breakout season. The 7-footer averaged 13 points and eight boards in 2008-09. Lopez has yet to develop a consistent low-post game but this year offers an opportunity for the former Stanford standout to become a focal point in the paint. The Wolves frontcourt should limit easy buckets or second-chance points from Lopez. Yi Jianlian remains a mystery for New Jersey after only playing 61 games last season. The third-year forward lacks toughness and can be pushed out to perimeter where he settles for jumpers. The Nets hope Jianlian live up to the hype this year as he dedicated a portion of the offseason to develop his low post skills.

What To Look For:
A rejuvenated Wolves' fan base understands the uphill battle the franchise faces. Since the departure of Kevin Garnett, Minnesota has searched for an identity. With president of basketball operations David Kahn, head coach Kurt Rambis, a new coaching staff, and nine new players, this team is fresh and ready to ascend. Tonight, the Wolves need to take advantage of the spark from the home crowd. Minnesota should jump out early with a relentless attack, as the Nets were deficient on the defensive end of the court last year. A win over New Jersey will help build confidence heading into the contest against Cleveland on Friday night.

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