Finally, a homestand.
Really, since training camp began, the Timberwolves have been nomads. They trained in California. They went to China. Since the regular season began the only thing resembling a homestand for the Wolves were back-to-back home games against Dallas and Charlotte Nov. 4 and 5.
Other than that, back and forth, home and road.
But, at least for a while, that will change. Tonight's game against Orlando is the first of four straight at Target Center over the coming week. The Wolves will get seven days at home, no travel. That's enough time to get some quality practice in, to settle back into a rhythm.
"We're looking forward to it,'' Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said after Wednesday's morning shootaround. "Our schedule was a challenge ear on. This is an opportunity for us to come home, take it day-by-day, be ready to go.''
The schedule – there is a day off between all four games – will give the team time to both rest and to improve with practice time.
"When you look back at the schedule, we went to China,'' Thibodeau said. "We've played 10 road games. We've had a lot of one game in, one game out, a lot of travel involved. This is a good chance for us to gather ourselves, get some good-quality work in, and concentrate om some things we have to improve on.''
--With the Iowa Wolves of the G league in the middle of a week off between games, the Wolves recalled shooting guard Anthony Brown from the G League Iowa Wolves.
Having him here is a benefit both to Brown and to the Wolves, with a handful of full practices coming up. "As we're navigating through having a [G League] team for the first time, that's how we want to use it,'' Thibodeau said. "We want to use it both ways. They have a break, that gives us a chance to bring him back and get a look at him. But also, it helps us with practice, preparation.''
--Thibodeau said he is still considering whether rookie Justin Patton will get a G League stint once he's ready to return to the court.
