Timberwolves Roundup: Rose opens up, West predictions

New Timberwolf Derrick Rose opened up to ESPN about proving his doubters wrong. Plus, a take on the Western Conference playoff race.

There aren’t many players in the NBA today that are more controversial than Derrick Rose, who also happens to be the latest edition to the Timberwolves. (Or, Timberbulls, if you’re exasperated by the roster complexion of Tom Thibodeau’s new/old team.)

I’ve covered many of the issues with Rose and the addition of the former league MVP to the Wolves’ current roster, so we don’t need to rehash them here. But, in summary: Rose hasn’t been a good NBA player since the 2011-12 regular season, prior to the first of his series of knee injuries. He’s also had his share of off-the-court issues, and recent … sabbaticals from the league have left some questioning his commitment.

All that said, it makes sense that Rose would feel the need to defend himself. And Nick Friedell of ESPN.com did just that after Timberwolves practice on Saturday.

Here’s Rose, speaking to those who feel as though he’s completely washed up.

"“I’m 29, they’re acting like I’m 39. I’m still able to push the ball up the floor, they’re acting like I’m in a wheelchair. All these injuries — like even coming here to take my physical [the Timberwolves medical staff] looked at my physical, they couldn’t believe how my body was in good shape."

And Rose, on the reuniting of the perennial contending Bulls of just a few years ago.

"“I think every player that was on that team probably thinks about the days that they had when we had things rolling,” Rose said. “But if anything, I feel like it pushed you, I feel like it pushed everybody because you want a taste of it. It’s almost like winning a championship I would think. You want to feel that again, we made it to the conference finals, that’s the furthest I made it, but s—, I want to get there again. … I want to, if I have the opportunity, just feel a championship, you know what I mean? Just get there so that I could say it. Once I get there, you never know what could happen. But the reason for me coming back here is for me just to be comfortable, be around people that I know. They understand me, I understand them, and I can communicate with them.”"

Rose has plenty more to say to his critics in the above-linked article, and clearly feels as though he can play at a high level. It’s interesting to hear such confidence coming from a player who was rumored to be contemplating retirement just a couple of months ago. But, there it is.

Elsewhere, ESPN’s NBA writers and Insiders conducted a roundtable regarding the muddled Western Conference playoff picture. The questions asked included the question of which first-round playoff matchup could threaten Golden State the most (Minnesota with a fully-healthy jimmy Butler was mentioned) and which first-round matchup would be most fun to watch (Wolves-Pelicans was brought up, as well as any two Northwest Division teams facing off).

The third question posed was, of the Timberwolves, Spurs, and Thunder, which team is most likely to miss the playoffs. Two (and a half?) of the five contributors listed the Wolves, while Amin Elhassan lists the Spurs, with their tough remaining schedule and lack of Kawhi Leonard.

Kevin Arnovitz thinks it will be either the Wolves or Spurs that will miss out, and that it hinges largely on Leonard’s health. Both squads have exceedingly tough remaining schedules.

Next: The Towns vs. Davis debate rages on...

We’ll have continuing coverage of the Butler-less Wolves throughout your weekend, as well as notes on Sunday afternoon’s nationally-televised Wolves-Warriors tilt on ABC.