The Minnesota Timberwolves were treated Wednesday night to some good signs. In a preseason game against the Indiana Pacers, the T’Wolves saw early indications of what this largely new team could do.
Andrei Kirilenko was back to his old tricks, making an impact up and down the court without registering noticeably on the scoreboard. A healthy J.J. Barea looked to be back in playing shape, working and winding around a platoon of perimeter screens, finding the open man, and taking smart shots.
Even Alexey Shved, the other newly acquired Russian, showed promise with decent movement and play-making ability, collecting 4 assists. (though his shot selection is still expected to be an obstacle early on).
Among the positive signs stood out one in particular: Brandon Roy looked to be making his way back to form.
The Timberwolves signed Roy this off season, as the 3-time all star announced his return to the game.
The last time Brandon Roy was on an NBA court, he was part of an instant classic of a play-off game. Roy went for 24 points, leading a late charge that saw the Blazers come back from an 18 point deficit in the 4th quarter. In December of the following season, Roy announced his early retirement due to recurring concerns with his knees.
In his first taste of NBA action last night, Roy struggled to find his rhythm initially. He looked hesitant, indicative of the time he spent away from NBA basketball. There was also a moment of concern when Roy attempted to draw a charge, bumped knees with an opposing player, and got up wincing.
Fortunately, Roy played on:
“It’s not anything new,” Roy said. “I’ve been taking some bumps in practice. Those are normal. I went knee to knee. I was like, ‘Hey, this is just part of the game.’ It’s just good to take those hits now so I know I can turn around and respond.”
All in all, Brandon Roy showed some substantial progress. The 3rd quarter saw Roy score 8 points, totaling to 13 on the night to go with 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and 1 turnover.
Roy looked more like his old self in the second half, scoring with a mix of spot-up jumpers, pull-ups, and driving finishes with both hands. The Timberwolves are set to visit Bankers Life Fieldhouse to play the Pacers one more time, this Friday at 7:00 pm.
Mohamed Abdihakim is a journalism student at Florida Atlantic University. He is a Phoenix Suns fan, who is not prepared for the possibility of Nash winning a title in a Lakers jersey. Mohamed is also a contributor at “Les Snobs”. Interests include International basketball, Mad Men, and blues music. Nearly all stats are credited to Hoopdata or Basketball-Reference.
Twitter handle: @Abdi_hakim
