After a much-needed day off, the Timberwolves practiced on Thursday morning in anticipation for their upcoming nine-day road trip.
“I mean it is (tough), it’s a lot of work,” Karl-Anthony Towns said of their recent four games in five days. “You’re talking about banging against Western Conference opponents all the time, that’s some of the best talent, so it’s rough, four games in five nights against great talent like that, it’s a little rough.”
Minnesota will first take on the very talented Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, a team that has beaten the young Wolves in seven straight matchups.
“Can’t turn the ball over, you can’t turn the ball over against anybody so I don’t think it’s just against Oklahoma City, you just can’t turn the ball over and expect to win,” Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said of the upcoming matchup. “That team is fast, big and athletic, we all watched them last night, they’re good.”
The always dangerous Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook lead a team that looks to be coming into their own late in the season.
“Well he either gets 40 points and 10 assists or 25 points and 20 assists, so I mean at the end of the day he’s going to have the ball in his hand and he’s going to score,” Mitchell said of Westbrook. “I just think for us, you have to accept that Westbrook and Durant are going to score some points, you just can’t let the other guys get into double-digits. You can’t let Kanter come in and go 8-for-10, you can’t let Anthony Morrow come in and make three or four threes. (Serge) Ibaka is going to get some points but you can’t let Ibaka get 20. Durant’s scored 30 points on everybody the last month, so obviously we’re going to try to stop them, but Westbrook and Durant are going to shoot enough and do enough to get theirs, we just have to contain the other guys.”
One issue that has been difficult for the Wolves to overcome recently is their defense in the paint. With Steven Adams, Alex Len and Dwight Howard to come during the road-trip, Minnesota will have to rely on their heart and scrappiness to win the battles down low.
“If you watched San Antonio, they just physically mauled us. Until we get some time to get a little bigger and stronger and their bodies mature, there are nights where it doesn’t matter what the concept is, like Robin Lopez just beat us up, he’s too big,” Mitchell said. “Our guys, I give them credit, they fight, they scratch, they claw, but there are just some nights that the physicality of the game is just too much for us because we’re small.”
Nemanja Bjelica May Be Coming Back
Having missed the last 11 games with a foot injury, the 27-year-old Serbian forward believes he’s ready for action.
“I did some individual stuff, basketball things and today I practiced for the first time with the team, so I will be with the team and I am ready,” Bjelica said. “I hope I will finish the season healthy and without injury, so that’s the most important thing. I’m happy to be back out on the court. So far we’ve done a good job, we lost some games but we just need to play hard, 48 minutes, don’t give up and play for every ball.”
Bjelica has endured two unfortunate set backs this season when it looked like he was just getting into his groove. Fortunately for the rookie, he has a little over a month to try and get acclimated to the NBA game before the season ends.
“I think Belly is mentally strong enough, he’s had some good moments for us, obviously it helps if he stays healthy, but injuries are a part of the game and how you come back and respond is part of it,” Mitchell said.
With ‘Professor Big Shots’ back on the floor, it not only gives Minnesota more depth in the frontcourt, but also spreads the court out as Bjelica has proven to be able to knock down the open shot from deep.
“You want to see the best for your teammates, I’m just happy for him to be on the court,” Towns said. “He’s going to bring that 3-point presence and it’s going to open the floor up.”
