Howlin' T-Wolf

As many of you know, tonight dawned the Wolves’ Annual training camp scrimmage in Mankato. I made the trip down in hopes of observing our product on the court, while tweeting to y’all the observations I make. Well, due to crappy cell phone coverage and a lack of free wifi, I was unable to do so. But nonetheless, here are a few notes I took down from the game.

• To start this thing off right, the Wolves beat the Wolves 77-67. Whoop-dee-doo.

Now I’ll go down the list of player performances:

• Corey Brewer seemed to have gotten considerably worse this offseason, and I say that regretfully because I truly love the guy. The lankiest man on the court even had difficulty weaving through traffic —  that is if he could get there. Brewer’s ball-handling skills are very bad; that’s about as simple as I could put it. Quite often does he try to drive to the hoop but is halted by either a traveling call of a defender’s hand sticking in there to swat it away from his grasp. Bad. As much as I love Brew, he could have trouble finding minutes this season, unless he drastically improves by the season opener.
• Pekovic was a monster tonight. There’s no doubting this guy’s talent. He was banging with Darko all night long, making him look like a girl with her skirt hiked up plenty of times. He scored double-digits in points for sure. His post moves are uncanny and his strength is unmatchable. He wasn’t great on defense, but not bad. He’ll need to improve in that area if he wants to find consistent minutes all season long. But judging on what I saw tonight, Pek will have no trouble making the rotation.
• I was surprised to see such little time coming from our 4th overall pick this summer tonight. Wes Johnson didn’t see much action in the first half at all, but came on stronger in the second, elevating both his play on defense and on offense. I’m almost sure that he didn’t miss a shot tonight, but will say he had a lot of easy, open looks too. That still doesn’t take away from the fact that the kid has a pure shooting stroke; he’s easily the Wolves best pure shooter from all over the court. He has touch from mid-range and likes to push it beyond the arc. So many times did Beasley get in his face, though, and make him put the ball on the floor and that’s where he got in trouble. It was similar to Brewer but a lot less awkward and it didn’t always turn out in the defense’s favor. The only problem I have with Wes is that I think he may get the Kevin-Love-treatment this season. You can quote me on that if you’d like. The rookie will struggle finding consistent minutes this year. I just have that sad feeling.
• Our other wing — wow, we have a ton of wings — Martell Webster was very quiet tonight…Until he started yelling. A few times in the second half, I caught Webster screaming at Wes Johnson for being in the wrong place on a play. Sure, you’re a veteran, but is there any reason to get upset in a scrimmage like this? Not to mention, Webster was one of the only players taking tonight’s game as serious as possible. That veteran mentality could help down the road this season…Or hurt the team. If he’s just going to be screaming at rookies for screwing up, then we’ll get no where. But if Webster focuses his criticism on being positive and constructive, he will be a valuable, suave veteran that will help the team a lot. Oh, and let’s hope his offensive game shows up too. He didn’t hit one three-pointer tonight.
• Anthony Tolliver was the best player on the court tonight. Just drink that in for a second. He was all over the floor and didn’t miss a shot attempt until late in the fourth quarter. Being the undersized 4 that he is, Tolliver needs to, and does, make up for it in athleticism as well as a strong, eclectic skill set on offense. He can dribble drive and pop it from outside. The Wolves made a smart decision grabbing him to back-up Kevin Love this season because I saw some problems with him tonight…but I’ll address that a little later. Anyways, I feel really good about Tolliver this season and think he’ll get good time in the rotation with that high motor of his.
• Darko didn’t do anything great tonight. But nor did he do anything bad. Don’t have much else to say except that the guy does look like he’s in game-shape finally. Oh, and in no way is Darko as great a passer as Vlade Divac. Not even close.
• Easy Beas was the show tonight. He immediately became a fan favorite just by the way he carried himself on the court. His game spoke for itself and his up-tempo attitude and motor showed the fans a playful side to what was thought to be a depressed, pot-smoking soul before he came to Minnesota. Beas had the crowd on their toes multiple times after going up for alley-oops, only to have it slip through his hands. But regardless, Beasley showed some serious versatility to his game. He took on Wes Johnson one-on-one, drawing fouls in the lane left and right while playing the 3. He posted up with Love a few times as a 4 and put a few good post moves on him. His defense was suspect at times, but it’s a scrimmage, honestly, and he played the majority of the game, so i’m giving him a break there. Another problem with Beas is the fact that he puts up a lot of shots, and I mean a lot. But he may have to continue that this season with the lack of scoring coming from anyone else on the roster. Anyways, the crowd saw tonight what should be a consistent performance. I foresee 20-10 games out of Beasley this year, and so just thinking about how we got him for a second rounder makes me happier than this guy.
• You know what didn’t make me happy? Seeing Jonny Flynn on the bench. Because without him, our point guard tandem of Sebastian Telfair and Luke Ridnour are sub-par at best. Ridnour looked good but that’s it. And same goes for Bassy. Get well soon, Flynn.
• And so now we come to Kevin Love. I’ll start off with this: Kevin Love was arguably the worst player on the court tonight. Drink it in, yet again. He looked slow, lazy and completely disconnected to what was going on around him. Either he was really grumpy tonight or just didn’t feel it was important to showcase his talents to all the adorning fans in a scrimmage. Whatever the reason may be, Love looked pathetic. He barely ever touched the ball on offense and when he did his post moves were not impressive. He often passed on open shots from the perimeter to dish the rock off to the top of the key. On defense, it was the same old, same old. He couldn’t defend a tortoise in the paint. Beasley made him look silly at moments. I’m sorry that this rant has to ramble on, but if you were to see what I did, you’d be angry too. This guy’s supposed to be the best player on our team, yet he decides it’s unimportant to participate in tonight’s scrimmage with a hop in his step and some blue-collar competitiveness. That’s just unacceptable in my book. Love should’ve dominated the likes of Anthony Tolliver and Kosta Koufos, no questions asked. But he didn’t, and that’s a problem to me. Maybe it was the knee? Doubt it. I firmly believe that this guy is still on a high from the World Championships and that, since he played with real All-Stars like Kevin Durant, he doesn’t have to try anymore. I want to see more from Love. I deserve to see more from him. And if he can’t deliver that this preseason, fans should take serious offense to his lack of attentiveness to this franchise. Prove me wrong, Love.

Anyways, that should do it, folks. Please continue to follow me on Twitter at JSteinmeyerHTW. Stay tuned for more of the best in Timberwolves coverage!

Tonight, I’ll be attending the Timberwolves open scrimmage down in Mankato. I’ll be tweeting throughout the night with updates on the game, players, coaches, and everything else imaginable, because it should be a really fun time!

So, make sure you all follow me at JSteinmeyerHTW to get the latest news on your Wolves!

Jerry Zgoda’s Twitter account:

Kevin Love back in Twin Cities this morning for MRI on swollen right knee. No other details at this point.#Timberwolves

Hopefully, more details will be coming later on Love’s injury. The Wolves would take a huge hit if Love had to miss any part of the regular season for injury. I’ll be going to the Mankato tomorrow night to watch the Wolves scrimmage each other, so stay tuned for that and follow me on twitter as well. JSteinmeyerHTW

A few days ago, the starting rosters for every NBA team and the individual player ratings were leaked here.

Wondering about our T-Wolves? Here’s there lineup and their “respected” ratings:

Jonny Flynn: 74

Corey Brewer: 70

Wesley Johnson: 73

Kevin Love: 74

Darko Milicic: 57

Shameful, ain’t it? Our best player a 74…You’re better than that in my heart, Senor Amor.

Even rookie Wes Johnson comes in and nabs a 73 compared to veteran Corey Brewer’s measly 70 rating. He was in the running for Most Improved Player last year, right? And J-Flynn at 74? Seems a little high to me…But where they really went wrong was Darko. A 57 should be taken as a slap in the face. Although I’m sure Darko could really care less, but it sure does suck for us Timberwolf/video game fanatics. I bet it was his “contract value rating” that ultimately brought his overall rating down.

Either the guys at 2K11 spent a little too much time working on design (The game looks absolutely sick) or they just forgot to do their homework on our beloved. Now I can’t even pretend that they’re good in virtuality!

Today I had the privilege of talking with Jeff Munneke, Vice President of Fan Relations and Guest Services with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He gave a whole new perspective from the organization’s stand point on the brand and product that is the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Munneke is a 22-year veteran in the NBA —  all 22 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was born and raised in Lake City, MN. He played basketball for South Dakota University and immediately realized that his dream of being a professional basketball player was out of reach. After graduation, Munneke recieved a job with the Minnesota Strikers — a professional soccer team that dissolved after just four years in 1988 — and worked there for one season as a ticket salesmen.

“I thought I sucked at that job because my phone wouldn’t ring,” Munneke said. “I quickly realized that you gotta make the phone ring. Have some fun and ask open-ended questions.”

After that season, Munneke entered a rigourous interview process for a chance to work for “a professional basketball franchise” here in Minnesota.

“They didn’t even have a name yet, but I was so excited for basketball to be back in Minnesota,” Munneke said.

Munneke received one of the nine open positions as ticket salesmen, beating 3,000 other applicants. Currently, Munneke’s main job is working in client relations.

“I believe that we are among the best when it comes to client relations,” Munneke said. “The only thing we need to improve is how quick our services are,” referring to the time lapse that takes place in communication from client to employee. “With social media today, our response time should be as quick as possible.”

But aside from the issues, Munneke enjoys his job, even while being in charge of client relations with a clientele that is 5,000 deep.

“I wake up and I’m excited to go to work,” Munneke said. “This is my dream job.”

When asked about the Timberwolves on the court, Munneke went on to say that the Timberwolves product obviously starts with the productivity on the court but in no way does it end there. Usually when you ask people about the Timberwolves, you get a sarcastic remark about they’re low productivity in the last 5 years (I’m sure most of you know how that feels). But what if someone told you that the Timberwolves, despite only having 15 wins last season, have an 85% retention rate on season-ticket holders and embarked on what was the gutsiest season-ticket ad campaign ever seen by any professional sports franchise, when they sliced season-ticket prices nearly in half, and now have a solidified base of key constituents and contributors within the franchise. Those numbers should impress.

Munneke stressed that his number one goal as VP of Fan Relations is to maintain the retention rate. This is done using a variety of sales techniques and special perks throughout the year to keep fans happy and motivated to stay a part of the pack. For those season-ticket holders, Munneke uses tactics such as on-court events before and after games, meeting players, behind the scenes tours of game-night operations, as well as many others, to get the ticket holders involved in the organization as much as possible. But probably the most important contribution one can make to maintain retention rate is just being a friendly, personable contact for that main constituents: the fans. Munneke is that guy.

Munneke went on to say that retention of fans is no easy feat, especially in our demographic. Minneapolis, a powerhouse of media marketing, is such a competitive city because everything is here: Professional football, baseball, hockey, as well as Big Ten sports. Minneapolis’ sports industry is among the nation’s best, believe it or not. And the competition of trying to sell your product, like a dried up Timberwolves basketball team, to an array of fans of different sports is very difficult. With the crash of the economy, disposable income is hard to come upon, let alone getting people to spend it on your product when there are so many options to choose from. And now even technology comes into play.

“Technology is getting so good that its nice to stay home and watch the game,” Munneke said. “That’s why it’s important for us to make sure that the arena is rocking on game nights, regardless a win or loss.”

All these barriers seem to make it look impossible for the Wolves to sell tickets. Not many people enjoy watching a bad team on a nightly basis, especially when they’re paying hundreds of dollars to go see it every year.

But despite the current state of the team’s roster, the business side of the Timberwolves is flourishing because of guys like Munneke, who know the importance of client satisfaction. Maybe that’s why 85% of season-ticket holders stayed with the team after a horrid 15-win season in 2009-10. Maybe that’s why the Wolves now have over 5,000 season-ticket holders, geared up and ready to go for the 2010-11 season. As peculiar and puzzling as the roster appears, the Timberwolves have things figured out in a clear and concise manner behind the scenes. They’re dedicated to their fan base and are firm believers in the idea that season-ticket holders run the franchise; Munneke wants you to feel like you’re a part of a family with the Wolves. Families understand how to work through and for each other, going out of your own agenda to satisfy someone else, and the Wolves do a good job of that for their family. You can thank Munneke for that.

Here are today’s Wolf Tracks:

Timberwolves News:

• Training camp is here! The sweet scent that is NBA basketball is being wafted under our noses and will be here as soon as we know it. The Wolves have a serious attitude heading into this year’s camp:

“We’re taking some risks, and that part is exciting,” Taylor said. “Winning is important. I’m a fan, and I want to win. If there’s a game I think we should win and we don’t, it’s very upsetting.”

• Wes Johnson is participating in drills, the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury in summer league.
• Kevin Love back on Twitter?! Stay tuned for more…
• The Timberwolves are going to be a fun but low-key type of team next season says David Kahn.
• Did you know Glen Taylor is wealthier than Jerry Jones of the Cowboys?
• Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld predicts 15-20 wins next season…What do you guys think our timber puppies do? I want predictions under the comments section!

Everything’s bigger in Texas — now including team spirit. The NBA’s greatest cheerleader, Brian “The Janitor” Cardinal, has agreed to terms on a contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

In what may be the biggest loss from last year’s roster, Cardinal will boost Dallas’ bench in terms of hooting and hollering from the end of the wood. It’s a sad day knowing that Cardinal will not be returning to play for Minnesota, but hopefully the team can pick up the void in cheering now that Cardinal is gone.

If you haven’t already seen a copy of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ ad in the Star Tribune, I highly suggest you click here or pick one up yourself. (Or click here to see David Kahn’s newest letter to the pack).

The Wolves’ front office has been clear and upfront about how they feel in regards to the team’s current state. It shows in a cornucopia of manners like slicing season ticket prices so that kids in high school could afford to buy some. Or how about last year’s billboard that pointed out the flaws that currently haunt the franchise and showing them to the entire state. And now they’ve taken out a full page ad in the Star Tribune to tell everybody to prepare themselves for what could be another bumpy ride this upcoming season.

Have you seen any other professional sports team take this approach on going through a rebuilding phase? Point out the negatives, identify the goals, be open and brutally honest about the team’s current state. Sounds like a PR person’s nightmare if you ask me.

However, the incredible honesty of the Wolves’ front office should open some doors up for the community to jump in and have their say. This is our team to watch. Why let it be demolished by losing seasons, sketchy roster moves and a poor business direction?

Over the next few weeks, I will be meeting with an assortment of Timberwolves front office officials. Hopefully towards the end of October, I hope to have met with public relations officials, human resources, as well as David Kahn and Chris Wright, the president. Through this series of interviews, I want to analyze the business side of the Minnesota Timberwolves. I want to personally hear what they have to say about their new campaigns, and what’s next after playing the “poor us”-card. I will do my best to write up the interviews, but will simply post important quotes and key points if I cannot lay out the interviews in its entirety.

Hope you guys enjoy it and stay tuned for more.

Here are today’s Wolf Tracks:

Timberwolves Tracks:

• Kevin Love played a staggering one minute in USA’s win over Turkey in the World Championships.
• Jonny Flynn’s rehab has begun; he’s now off the crutches
• Earlier this offseason, Corey Brewer had it be known that he in fact does own a goat. The investigative reporting of Jonah Ballow discovered that Brewer,  in fact, does own a goat. Weird.
• D-League standout Greg Stiemsma was waived by the Wolves. And I was really rooting for the guy.
• Tony Ronzone may just be the best international talent scout in the NBA. Nemanja Bjelica, a second round selection of the Timberwolves, had a great showing at the World Championships and may be a prized European gem.

Here are today’s “mini” Wolf Tracks:

Timberwolves Tracks:

• Lots of hype and expectations are surrounding the Wolves’ top player, Kevin Love. Kelly Dwyer ponders more.
• Hoopsworld previews the Minnesota Timberwolves upcoming 2010-11 season.
• Steve Aschburner of NBA.com ranked the Wolves coaching staff #1 among the league’s best coaches that can play on the court. The Timberwolves roster would have better odds at online betting than beating their own coaches.

1. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Staff: Kurt Rambis, Dave Wohl, Reggie Theus, Bill Laimbeer, John-Blair Bickerstaff

Comment: Size, playmaking, scoring, defense, championship pedigree — the Wolves’ entry has it all. Maybe even bragging rights if it faced the current Minnesota squad.

Other Tracks:

• Serbia knocks off Ricky Rubio and Spain’s national team at the World Championships 92-89 with a buzzer beating three pointer.