has been oft-criticized by a variety of sources. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 2014-15 SCHEDULE It’s worth noting that certain advanced metrics, such as ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus, consider Love a good defender. However, while Love does fine in one-on-one situations, his help defense and rotations leave a lot to be desired. In fact, Minnesota ranked 29th in the League in points allowed in the paint last season. Part of the problem is the lack of a rimprotecting DATE OPPONENT TIME Oct. 29 at Memphis 8:00 Oct. 30 Detroit 8:00 Nov. 1 Chicago 8:00 Nov. 5 at Brooklyn 7:30 Nov. 7 at Orlando 7:00 Nov. 8 at Miami 7:30 Nov. 12 Houston 10:00 Nov. 14 at New Orleans 8:00 Nov. 15 at Dallas 8:30 Nov. 19 New York 8:00 Nov. 21 San Antonio 8:00 Nov. 22 Sacramento 8:00 Nov. 26 Milwaukee 8:00 Nov. 28 at Los Angeles 10:30 Nov. 30 at Portland 9:00 Dec. 1 at Los Angeles 10:30 Dec. 3 Philadelphia 8:00 Dec. 5 Houston 8:00 Dec. 6 at San Antonio 8:30 Dec. 8 Golden State 8:00 Dec. 10 Portland 8:00 Dec. 12 Oklahoma City 8:00 Dec. 14 Los Angeles 7:00 Dec. 16 at Washington 7:00 Dec. 19 at Boston 7:30 Dec. 21 Indiana 7:00 Dec. 23 at Cleveland 7:00 Dec. 26 at Denver 9:00 Dec. 27 at Golden State 10:30 Dec. 30 at Utah 9:00 Jan. 1 Sacramento 8:00 Jan. 3 Utah 8:00 Jan. 5 Denver 8:00 Jan. 7 Phoenix 9:30 Jan. 9 at Milwaukee 8:30 Jan. 10 San Antonio 8:00 Jan. 13 at Indiana 7:00 Jan. 16 at Phoenix 9:00 Jan. 17 at Denver 9:00 Jan. 19 at Charlotte 2:00 Jan. 21 Dallas 8:00 DATE OPPONENT TIME Jan. 23 New Orleans 8:00 Jan. 25 at Atlanta 6:00 Jan. 26 at Oklahoma City 8:00 Jan. 28 Boston 8:00 Jan. 30 at Philadelphia 7:00 Jan. 31 Cleveland 8:00 Feb. 2 at Dallas 8:30 Feb. 4 Miami 8:00 Feb. 6 Memphis 8:00 Feb. 8 at Detroit 6:00 Feb. 9 Atlanta 8:00 Feb. 11 Golden State 8:00 Feb. 20 Phoenix 8:00 Feb. 23 at Houston 8:00 Feb. 25 Washington 8:00 Feb. 27 at Chicago 8:00 Feb. 28 Memphis 8:00 Mar. 2 Los Angeles 8:00 Mar. 4 Denver 8:00 Mar. 7 Portland 8:00 Mar. 9 at Los Angeles 10:30 Mar. 11 at Phoenix 10:00 Mar. 13 at Oklahoma City 8:00 Mar. 15 at San Antonio 7:00 Mar. 16 Brooklyn 8:00 Mar. 18 at Toronto 7:30 Mar. 19 at New York 7:30 Mar. 22 Charlotte 7:00 Mar. 23 at Utah 9:00 Mar. 25 Los Angeles 8:00 Mar. 27 at Houston 8:00 Mar. 29 at New Orleans 4:00 Mar. 30 Utah 8:00 Apr. 1 Toronto 8:00 Apr. 3 Orlando 8:00 Apr. 7 at Sacramento 10:00 Apr. 8 at Portland 10:00 Apr. 10 at Los Angeles 10:30 Apr. 11 at Golden State 10:30 Apr. 13 New Orleans 8:00 Apr. 15 Oklahoma City 8:00 * All Times Eastern. presence. Backup center Gorgui Dieng is much better at patrolling the rim than either Pekovic or Love, but he’s a major liability on offense and shouldn’t be relied on to play extended minutes. Besides Dieng, the Timberwolves simply don’t have a rim protector on the roster. If there’s a silver lining to the Love trade, it’s that Minnesota acquired a couple players who profile as good defenders. Young may have been Philadelphia’s only decent defender last year and should represent an upgrade over Love at the power forward position. Meanwhile, Wiggins’ defense was widely praised at Kansas and he projects to be a plus defender in the NBA as well. It’s not difficult to see the Timberwolves being a tall, lanky, and pesky defense in a couple years. As of right now, Minnesota’s defense will probably be closer to average. Pekovic remains a big body on the inside who is tough to beat in the post, Rubio remains as a constant threat to pick pockets, and players like Young and Brewer are capable defenders as well. However, the team still lacks a top shot-blocking presence and young rosters like Minnesota’s often have trouble with team defense early on. This team shouldn’t be too bad defensively but there will probably be some ugly moments throughout the season. Offense If there’s an argument to be made for Love as a genuine NBA superstar despite his lackluster defense, it’s that he may have single-handedly made the Timberwolves a good offensive team last season. Minnesota finished ninth in the league with an offensive rating of 108.9 despite having some serious offensive limitations. The biggest limitation comes in the form of Rubio, a uniquely talented player who simply cannot shoot the ball at an acceptable level in the NBA. Rubio is a prodigious passer and a solid defender, but is a rare example of a starting point guard who defenses will leave open on purpose. Rubio shot 38.1 percent from the floor last season, which is a poor percentage for any player but a career high
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