Minnesota Timberwolves 2010-2011 Preseason Presser

[JNR]

As always, the lights are off to start. A projector whirrs to life and we get this year's preseason video package. We hear the voices of the players as video footage plays.

Kyle Lowry (v/o): "Basketball is binary. You win, or you lose. Sometimes you realize...you can't always win. Sometimes you realize you need to get better."

Kyle Lowry and Chris Bosh hug as they lose Game 6 to the eventual champion Suns. Kyle is fighting tears while Chris has a stoic look on his face. He knows this feeling too well.

Marcus Thornton (v/o): "Sometimes you realize you can't always get better through the draft."

The footage switches to a draft board with all of the teams' logos on it. The Timberwolves logo is missing.

Carlos Boozer (v/o): "Sometimes you realize you can't always get better in free agency."

Footage of The JNR on the phone, sighing and hanging up.

Marcus Banks (v/o): "Sometimes you realize there's only one way to get better."

The music starts to build as the footage switches to the Timberwolves weight room. The camera settles on Chris Bosh, who is sitting at a military press bench, weight behind his head. His eyes burn with intensity as he stares at the camera.

Chris Bosh: "By putting in the work."

A guitar riff cuts through as Bosh roars, lifting the weight above his head. A montage follows, with all of the Timberwolf players working out. Squats, bench, running, suicides, push-ups. After this montage, we cut to the faces of several players and the coach/GM.

The JNR: "When you can't improve externally..."

Kyle Lowry: "You have to improve internally."

Marcus Thornton: "Internally."

Jason Kapono: "Internally."

Matt Barnes: "Internally."

Carlos Boozer: "You have to improve internally."

Chris Bosh: "So let's get to work."

The lights come up and The JNR is standing with his full team behind him.

The JNR: Welcome to our press conference. We were disappointed last season, losing to the champion Phoenix Suns in 6 games in the first round. We have now made the playoffs in 6 straight seasons. We've also lost in the first round in 6 straight seasons. Obviously we wanted to get better in free agency, and we added depth, as well as acquiring Marcus Banks in a trade. But our real goal was to get better internally, and we were able to do that. Kyle, both Marcuses, and Chris each made leaps in training camp, and mostly everyone else stayed steady. The result is a team that we think we finally strike the balance between defense and offense that is required to win in this league.

We haven't decided on a starting lineup yet, but we have two ways we can go: one that maximizes offense, and one that puts our best defenders forward. Regardless of lineup, Bosh, Boozer, and Lowry will be our definite starters at the 5, 4, and 1 respectively.

We can answer any other questions here. Let's get to it.

[NOLa.]

Do you feel Bosh's slump in the past training camp really lit a fire under him after losing to the eventual champs in a close matchup? It's crazy to think a player so good just got so much better with the 3rd biggest jump in training camp.

Sent from my SM-S765C using Tapatalk

[JNR]

Do you feel Bosh's slumo in the past training camp really lit a fire under him after losing to the eventual champs in a close matchup? It's crazy to think a player so good just got so much better with the 3rd biggest jump in training camp.

Sent from my SM-S765C using Tapatalk

The JNR: Chris actually had a great camp last year too. Two years ago he had a rough camp, but I think these past two seasons we've changed the way we train, and Chris has really responded to it.

Bosh: As far as motivation goes, I wouldn't say losing to the Suns fired me up. I just know this team is capable of winning in the playoffs, and I feel like it's on me to get into that weight room and set an example.

[ballsohard]

Who's the team you wouldn't want to play in Round 1 of a playoff series?

[JNR]

Who's the team you wouldn't want to play in Round 1 of a playoff series?

The JNR: Right now? Any of them. *laughs* We have had a bad string of first round losses. Can we just get a bye to the second round? I wish!

[Conroy]

Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, was there any resentment in RFA towards Rondo and the Nuggets when you saw Lowry get offered a max deal and the Nuggets essentially get a discount with Rondo at about $3M less per year? Does it make you feel any better that the money may have motivated Lowry to having a great TC while Rondo, still upset he didn't receive a max offer, took a step back in TC?

[JNR]

Sports Guy Bill Simmons here, was there any resentment in RFA towards Rondo and the Nuggets when you saw Lowry get offered a max deal and the Nuggets essentially get a discount with Rondo at about $3M less per year? Does it make you feel any better that the money may have motivated Lowry to having a great TC while Rondo, still upset he didn't receive a max offer, took a step back in TC?

The JNR: No resentment at all. When RFA started, we sent Kyle a max deal with a little corner cutting to save us finances, with the understanding he would likely try to find a full max deal elsewhere. We think he can be a max player, and his training camp proved it to us. We're really happy to have Lowry leading our squad.

Lowry: I was always going to look for the most money I can get to provide for me and my family. I don't paycheck watch. I don't care what other players get. I work my butt off to make sure I get paid what I think I deserve. That's all there is to it.

[NickMalone77]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: With your teams impressive 6-0 stretch during preseason, do you think this is a team that can dominate in the West or do you think there's still some kinks that have to be worked out before you can lay claim to being the best in the West?

[JNR]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: With your teams impressive 6-0 stretch during preseason, do you think this is a team that can dominate in the West or do you think there's still some kinks that have to be worked out before you can lay claim to being the best in the West?

The JNR: We try not to take stock in preseason results. They proved to us what we already know: that our offense is one of the best in the league, if not the very best. And also that our defense needs some work. I think we have a lineup that would improve our defense significantly, but the preseason lineup was definitely our "Outscore and Outrun" lineup.

[MESSI_2.0]

You spoke of not being able to get out of the first round the previous 6 seasons. Your team seems as though if you can get out of the first round, you could see a championship. What do you think needs to happen this year to end the string of first round losses?

[JNR]

You spoke of not being able to get out of the first round the previous 6 seasons. Your team seems as though if you can get out of the first round, you could see a championship. What do you think needs to happen this year to end the string of first round losses?

The JNR: Great question. I think having home court will help, but more than that I think we need to stop overthinking our gameplan during the playoffs. Too often I've gotten reckless with my lineup and it's gone to bite me. Hopefully if we make the playoffs this year, my talent can be enough to get over the hump.

[fearthebrow]

Random Dallas reporter:

Your team is looking stronger than ever this year. I think most would say you are the favorite to win the Midwest division and that you should make a serious run for the championship. Are you feeling the pressure yet?

[JNR]

Random Dallas reporter:

Your team is looking stronger than ever this year. I think most would say you are the favorite to win the Midwest division and that you should make a serious run for the championship. Are you feeling the pressure yet?

The JNR: We don't put any pressure on ourselves. I know the media will talk, and people like to speculate about the strength of a team based on preseason, cohesion reports, or any old thing we want to speculate on. Bottom line: we know our flaws, we see the Spurs as the best team in the Midwest, and our goal is to make the race for them as tight as possible.

[Eazy P]

With your 6-0 preseason record would you be tempted to go same when entering you DC and What are your expectations for your current wolves team?

[JNR]

With your 6-0 preseason record would you be tempted to go same when entering you DC and What are your expectations for your current wolves team?

The JNR: I've mentioned this to a few friends. I have two lineups in mind for this team. The first lineup I've nicknamed "Outgun and Outrun," and you saw it in preseason. In this lineup, we go:

C: Chris Bosh
PF: Carlos Boozer
SF: Jason Kapono
SG: Marcus Thornton
PG: Kyle Lowry

With Banks, Barnes, and Outlaw getting bench minutes. As you saw, we had the top offense in the preseason, but we also played matador defense. We relied on outscoring our opponents last year and it was only good for 5th in the conference. With the West more open that ever this year, I'm afraid going same will have ill effects.

I've been playing around with a second lineup recently, which I call the "Small Wall" lineup. More focus on defense, less on scoring:

C: Chris Bosh
PF: Carlos Boozer
SF: Matt Barnes
SG: Marcus Banks
PG: Kyle Lowry

With Thornton and Kapono getting the lion's share of backup minutes at the 2, 3, and 4. I think we'll still be a good offense in this lineup, but hopefully mitigate some of the defense issues of the first. For now, I am leaning Small Wall. We'll see in the next few days.

As far as expectations? I think we're a playoff team. I think we can make a division race with the Spurs interesting.

[Darth Vegito]

Talented team. Bosh is godly. Too bad his gm was cast out of heaven.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[JNR]

Talented team. Bosh is godly. Too bad his gm was cast out of heaven.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

The JNR: Uh...was that a question?

[Xist2Inspire]

Random Reporter: Let's talk about Raymond Felton. Brought in to be a starter, then sent to the bench with the arrival of Kyle Lowry. Now with combo guard Marcus Banks on the roster, are you expecting much, if anything, from Raymond this season?

[JNR]

Random Reporter: Let's talk about Raymond Felton. Brought in to be a starter, then sent to the bench with the arrival of Kyle Lowry. Now with combo guard Marcus Banks on the roster, are you expecting much, if anything, from Raymond this season?

GWR: Great question. Raymond is going to get the primary backup minutes at point guard. I'm sure he wasn't happy with the developments of last season and the offseason, but he understands that he has an important role on this team and he will not shy away from it.