It’s begun, Timberwolves fans.
Media day was Monday at Target Center, leading into training camp on Tuesday at the new Mayo Clinic facility across the street from the arena.
There’s nothing new about media day, but it’s hard to deny how infectious the optimism of this annual event always is, and this year was no different.
Here’s a smattering of tweets from the folks in the media that were in attendance on Monday.
A mere pup now w/ KG, Andre, Tayshaun aboard, Kevin Martin: "I want to give Flip and Milt a special thanks for making me feel young again."
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) September 28, 2015
Former resident old man Kevin Martin was apparently quite the jokester at the podium, quipping about the even-older free agent acquisitions, as well as his broken wrist performance last fall at the expense of the New York Knicks.
Martin on how he scored 38 points with a broken wrist: "Luck. We were playing the Knicks. No, joking.''
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) September 28, 2015
Ricky Rubio had a few things to say regarding leadership and how excited he is to lead this team in the upcoming season. He stated reaching the playoffs and playing all 82 regular season games as his goals. Also, there’s this:
Rubio said he hit 89 out of 100 three-pointers after a workout recently. I record for he, he said.
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) September 28, 2015
In addition to Rubio’s improving but not one-hundred percent health, we should talk about Nikola Pekovic, who still isn’t really doing much on his surgically repaired feet and ankles.
Pekovic hopes to start practicing in 'Six, seven weeks.''
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) September 28, 2015
Two things from media day: Pek expects to run again in 5 weeks, deems himself out til December; Ricky needs to play himself to full health
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) September 28, 2015
The fantastic Darren Wolfson over at KSTP in the Twin Cities has quite a bit of video and some additional quotes, so be sure to check that out, too.
Interim head coach Sam Mitchell was asked about the Wolves’ lack of three-point shooting from a year ago and what that might look like while he is leading the team in Flip Saunders’ absence, and he gave a very Flip-like response.
Mitchell: "You have to earn the right to shoot threes.'' Have to prove it in practice before getting the in-game green light.
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) September 28, 2015
Sam: "We're a different team. .... We have to see what they can do. What i won't do is say we're going to do this, this and this.
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) September 28, 2015
There are a few players on the current roster that are average (or better) three-point shooters, and there isn’t any reason why a few of the obscenely high number of mid-range jumpers shot by Saunders’ squad a year ago can’t be pushed back a few feet and be launched from beyond the arc.
Seth Partnow over at FanSided’s own Nylon Calculus broke down Mitchell’s flippant comment about “the flow”, showing that the Wolves’ wings attempted the most catch-and-shoot mid-range shots of any team in the NBA.
And humorously, in a gallows sort of way, the Wolves were actually better shooting catch-and-shoot three-pointers from beyond the arc from a raw, field goal percentage standpoint.
We’ll have additional media day and training camp coverage as we move through the week and begin to look ahead to preseason play.
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