The 2009-2010 Minnesota Timberwolves may need name tags throughout the season to help them get to know each other. With a new President of Basketball Operations (David Kahn), a new head coach (Kurt Rambis), and a multitude of new players (e.g., Jonny Flynn, Ryan Hollins, and Ramon Sessions) the Minnesota Timberwolves are clearly in the beginning stages of a new rebuilding program. According to David Kahn one of the initial steps of the rebuilding process is for the Timberwolves to “become recognized around the league as the leaders in player development.” In order to develop and evaluate the players they have on their roster the Minnesota Timberwolves will provide ample opportunities for their young talent to learn and grow together on the floor. The 2009-2010 Minnesota Timberwolves will develop their talent and willingly forego wins this season with the hope that player development today will bring more meaningful wins tomorrow.
Here are 2009-2010 game-by-game predictions for the Minnesota Timberwolves:
Game 1, Wednesday, October 28th versus Nets– Timberwolves defeat the New Jersey Nets and win their second consecutive season opener (Record 1-0).
Game 2, Friday, October 30th versus Cavaliers– Timberwolves lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers as they close out their opening two-game home stand (Record 1-1).
Game 3, Sunday, November 1st at Phoenix– Timberwolves begin November with a loss to the run-and-gun Suns (Record 1-2).
Game 4, Monday, November 2nd at Los Angeles Clippers– Timberwolves drop the second game of a back-to-back as they fall to the Clippers (Record 1-3).
Game 5, Wednesday, November 4th versus Celtics– Al Jefferson and the Timberwolves lose to Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics at the Target Center (Record 1-4).
Game 6, Friday, November 6th versus Bucks– Timberwolves get a home win over the Milwaukee Bucks (Record 2-4).
Game 7, Sunday, November 8th at Portland– Timberwolves lose to divisional rival Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden (Record 2-5).
Game 8, Monday, November 9th at Golden State– Timberwolves defeat the Golden State Warriors and win the second half of a back-to-back (Record 3-5).
Game 9, Wednesday, November 11th versus Trail Blazers– Timberwolves drop another game to the Portland Trail Blazers (Record 3-6).
Game 10, Friday, November 13th versus Mavericks– Timberwolves drop a home game to the Dallas Mavericks (Record 3-7).
Game 11, Saturday, November 14th at Memphis– Timberwolves win the second half of a back-to-back by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies (Record 4-7).
Game 12, Wednesday, November 18th versus Rockets– Timberwolves fall to the Houston Rockets at the Target Center (Record 4-8).
Game 13, Saturday, November 21st at Portland– Timberwolves lose another game to the Trail Blazers and trail the series 0-3 (Record 4-9).
Game 14, Monday, November 23rd at Los Angeles Clippers– Timberwolves get a road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (Record 5-9).
Game 15, Wednesday, November 25th versus Nuggets– Timberwolves drop another game to a divisional rival as they fall to the Denver Nuggets (Record 5-10).
Game 16, Friday, November 27th versus Suns– Timberwolves get scorched by the visiting Phoenix Suns (Record 5-11).
Game 17, Sunday, November 29th at Denver– Timberwolves drop their third consecutive game with another loss to the Denver Nuggets (Record 5-12).
Game 18, Wednesday, December 2nd versus Grizzlies– Timberwolves beat the Memphis Timberwolves for the sixth straight time dating back to April of 2008 (Record 6-12).
Game 19, Friday, December 4th at New Orleans– Timberwolves fall to Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets (Record 6-13).
Game 20, Saturday, December 5th versus Jazz– Timberwolves get a quality home win over the Utah Jazz (Record 7-13).
Game 21, Tuesday, December 8th at Toronto– Timberwolves lose to the Toronto Raptors for the 11th time in a row (Record 7-14).
Game 22, Wednesday, December 9th versus Hornets– Timberwolves defeat the New Orleans Hornets as they take the second half of a back-to-back (Record 8-14).
Game 23, Friday, December 11th at Los Angeles Lakers– Timberwolves open a three game road trip with a loss to the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers (Record 8-15).
Game 24, Saturday, December 12th at Sacramento– Timberwolves drop the second game of a back-to-back as they fall to the Sacramento Kings (Record 8-16).
Game 25, Monday, December 14th at Utah– Timberwolves lose to the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena (Record 8-17).
Game 26, Wednesday, December 16th versus Clippers– Timberwolves get a home win over the Los Angeles Clippers (Record 9-17).
Game 27, Friday, December 18th versus Kings– Timberwolves lose a shootout to the Sacramento Kings (Record 9-18).
Game 28, Sunday, December 20th at Boston– Timberwolves lose a road game to the Celtics (Record 9-19).
Game 29, Tuesday, December 22nd versus Hawks– Timberwolves drop their third straight game as they lose to the Atlanta Hawks (Record 9-20).
Game 30, Wednesday, December 23rd at New Jersey– Timberwolves lose the second game of a back-to-back to the New Jersey Nets (Record 9-21).
Game 31, Saturday, December 26th versus Wizards– Timberwolves lose to a healthy Washington Wizards team (Record 9-22).
Game 32, Tuesday, December 29th at San Antonio– Timberwolves fall to the Spurs and drop their ninth consecutive road game (Record 9-23).
Game 33, Wednesday, December 30th versus Jazz– Timberwolves lose a home game to divisional rival Utah Jazz (Record 9-24).
Game 34, Friday, January 1st versus Magic– Timberwolves defeat the Orlando Magic and snap their seven-game losing streak (Record 10-24).
Game 35, Saturday, January 2nd at Indiana– Timberwolves lose a road game to the Pacers (Record 10-25).
Game 36, Wednesday, January 6th versus Warriors– Timberwolves outscore the Golden State Warriors to get the win (Record 11-25).
Game 37, Friday, January 8th versus Pacers– Timberwolves drop another game to the Indiana Pacers (Record 11-26).
Game 38, Saturday, January 9th at Chicago– Timberwolves begin a four-game road trip with a win over the Chicago Bulls (Record 12-26).
Game 39, Monday, January 11th at Denver– Timberwolves fall to the Nuggets again and trail the season series 0-3 (Record 12-27).
Game 40, Wednesday, January 13th at Houston– Timberwolves continue to struggle on the road as they lose to the Houston Rockets (Record 12-28).
Game 41, Friday, January 15th at Memphis– Timberwolves lose to the Grizzlies to close a 1-3 road trip (Record 12-29).
Game 42, Monday, January 18th versus Sixers– Timberwolves open a three-game home stand with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (Record 12-30).
Game 43, Wednesday, January 20th versus Thunder– Timberwolves beat divisional rival Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 13-30).
Game 44, Friday, January 22nd versus Hornets– Timberwolves lose a close game to the New Orleans Hornets (Record 13-31).
Game 45, Saturday, January 23rd at Milwaukee– Timberwolves drop the second game of a back-to-back to the Milwaukee Bucks (Record 13-32).
Game 46, Tuesday, January 26th at New York– Timberwolves get a road win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden (Record 14-32).
Game 47, Wednesday, January 27th at Cleveland– Timberwolves lose a road game to the Cavaliers (Record 14-33).
Game 48, Friday, January 29th versus Clippers– Timberwolves open a two game home stand with a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers (Record 14-34).
Game 49, Sunday, January 31st versus Knicks– Timberwolves fall to the New York Knicks at the Target Center (Record 14-35).
Game 50, Friday, February 5th at Dallas– Timberwolves drop a road game to the Mavericks (Record 14-36).
Game 51, Saturday, February 6th versus Grizzlies– Timberwolves defeat the Memphis Grizzlies and win the season series 3-1 (Record 15-36).
Game 52, Tuesday, February 9th at Philadelphia– Timberwolves visit the City of Brotherly Love and drop a game to the 76ers (Record 15-37)
Game 53, Wednesday, February 10th versus Bobcats– Timberwolves close out the first half of the season with a win over the Charlotte Bobcats (Record 16-37).
Game 54, Tuesday, February 16th at Detroit– Timberwolves open the second half of the season with a road loss to the Detroit Pistons (Record 16-38).
Game 55, Wednesday, February 17th at Washington– Timberwolves lose to the Wizards and drop the second game of a back-to-back (Record 16-39).
Game 56, Friday, February 19th versus Bulls– Timberwolves drop their third straight game with a loss to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center (Record 16-40).
Game 57, Sunday February 21st versus Thunder– Timberwolves lose a home game to the Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 16-41).
Game 58, Tuesday, February 23rd at Miami– Timberwolves begin a three-game road trip with a loss to the Miami Heat (Record 16-42).
Game 59, Wednesday, February 24th at Atlanta– Timberwolves fall to the Hawks at Philips Arena (Record 16-43).
Game 60, Friday, February 26th at Oklahoma City– Timberwolves defeat the Thunder and pick up their first win since the All-Star Break (Record 17-43).
Game 61, Saturday February 27th versus Trail Blazers– Timberwolves lose to the Portland Trail Blazers for the 12th consecutive time (Record 17-44).
Game 62, Monday, March 3rd at Dallas– Timberwolves drop another game to the Mavericks (Record 17-45).
Game 63, Saturday, March 6th versus Rockets– Timberwolves get a home win over the Houston Rockets (Record 18-45).
Game 64, Monday, March 8th versus Mavericks– Timberwolves get their second victory in a row by defeating the Dallas Mavericks (Record 19-45).
Game 65, Wednesday, March 10th versus Nuggets– Timberwolves drop another game to a divisional rival with a loss to the Denver Nuggets (Record 19-46).
Game 66, Friday, March 12th versus Spurs– Timberwolves fall to the savvy San Antonio Spurs (Record 19-47).
Game 67, Sunday, March 14th at Sacramento– Timberwolves lose to the Kings for the sixth straight time (Record 19-48).
Game 68, Tuesday, March 16th at Phoenix– Timberwolves win a close game over the high-scoring Phoenix Suns (Record 20-48).
Game 69, Wednesday, March 17th at Utah– Timberwolves drop another game to the Jazz and lose the season series 1-3 (Record 20-49).
Game 70, Friday, March 19th at Los Angeles Lakers– Timberwolves lose on the road to the Lakers (Record 20-50).
Game 71, Monday, March 22nd versus Raptors– Timberwolves get a win over the Toronto Raptors for the first time since January of 2004 (Record 21-50).
Game 72, Wednesday, March 24th at Charlotte– Timberwolves drop a road game to the Bobcats (Record 21-51).
Game 73, Friday, March 26th at Orlando– Timberwolves lose to the Magic at Amway Arena (Record 21-52).
Game 74, Sunday, March 28th versus Suns– Timberwolves begin a three-game home stand with a loss to the Phoenix Suns (Record 21-53).
Game 75, Wednesday, March 31st versus Kings– Timberwolves get a home win over the Sacramento Kings (Record 22-53).
Game 76, Saturday, April 3rd versus Heat– Timberwolves close out a successful 2-1 road trip with a victory over the Miami Heat (Record 23-53).
Game 77, Sunday, April 4th at Oklahoma City– Timberwolves fall to the Thunder and drop the second half of a back-to-back (Record 23-54).
Game 78, Wednesday, April 7th versus Warriors– Timberwolves lose a close game to the Golden State Warriors (Record 23-55).
Game 79, Friday, April 9th versus Lakers– Timberwolves drop another game to the Los Angeles Lakers (Record 23-56).
Game 80, Sunday, April 11th at New Orleans– Timberwolves fall to the New Orleans Hornets and lose their fourth straight (Record 23-57).
Game 81, Monday, April 12th at San Antonio– Timberwolves lose a road game to the Spurs (Record 23-58).
Game 82, Wednesday, April 14th versus Pistons– Timberwolves close the season with a home loss to the Detroit Pistons (Final Record 23-59).
Prediction: The 2009-2010 Minnesota Timberwolves will focus on developing and evaluating the young talent on their roster. They will experience growing pains throughout the season and will win fewer than 30 games for the third consecutive year.
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Information from ESPN.com and NBA.com was used for this article.
