Showtime: Wolves open preseason vs. Bucks

Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams and Rick Adelman make their Target Center debut

December 18, 2011 at 3:08AM
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Milwaukee Bucks. A Wolves trainer checked out Ricky Rubio's ankle on the sideline after he twisted it in first half action.
A Wolves trainer checked out Ricky Rubio's ankle on the sideline after he twisted it in first-half action against the Milwaukee Bucks. (Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Man, was I wrong on those Timberwolves starters for tonight that I tossed out on last night's blog posting.

Maybe.

At least for tonight I was.
Rick Adelman is going retro, starting with five guys that largely comprised last season's starting unit: Luke Ridnour, Wes Johnson, Michael Beasley, Darko Milicic and Kevin Love.

Adelman said he'd "start the group that started last year and go from there."

He also said he'll probably change the starting lineup for Wednesday's second and final preseason game, a rematch at Milwaukee.

Expect Adelman to experiment plenty tonight.

He said Ricky Rubio will play at least half of each of these two preseason games and he's probably going to play two of his three point guards together plenty just to see what he's got and if the Wolves indeed can go that way into the regular season.

The big thing to watch tonight: Who he finishes the game with the score is close.

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Adelman said he hopes to settle upon a 9-man rotation as the season progresses, although he said it could grow to 10 men because of the team's roster and the grueling, shortened season.

"This is a young team, you're going to have give people chances," he said.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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