The Minnesota Timberwolves season depends on knees. Whose knee? The answer is Brandon Roy and Ricky Rubio's knees. The T'Wolves were 21-20 40 games into the last season, before Rubio went down with a torn ACL, and then Minnesota faltered going 5-20 for the rest of the short season.
Ricky Rubio looked like a star in the making before his injury and T'Wolves were one of the NBA's most exciting teams. Rubio was averaging 10.6 points per game and 8.2 assist per game. The young point guard was in the discussion for rookie of the year before being injured.
Last season Brandon Roy retired from the NBA due to his knee injury, but has returned after having a blood spinning procedure performed on his knee. Minnesota is hope he returns to his previous form. Back in the 2009-10 season, Roy averaged 21.5 points per game and nearly 5 assist per game. He was named to the NBA All-star game three times and competed in the game twice.
Minnesota also added former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirlenko to the team on a two-year, $20 million deal. The 31-year-old spent 10 seasons with the Jazz before joining CSKA Moscow during last season's brief lockout. The T'Wolves signed 23-year-old Russian guard Alexey Shved as insurance for Brandon Roy.
The team also has J.J. Barea holding down the point guard position in till Rubio is fully recovered from his injury. Barea averaged 11.3 points per game last season and 5.7 assist per game, both were career-highs for the 28-year-old point guard. The team also has Luke Ridnour at the one position.
The Wolves also have one of the best players in the NBA in Kevin Love. He has great offensive skills and can rebound with the best. The team did lose Michael Beasley who just two seasons ago averaged 19.2 points per game, but Kirlenko should fill in nicely.
According to NBA 2K13, the T'wolve will return to the NBA playoffs but will have an early exit. Minnesota takes the Denver Nuggets to seven games in the opening round but ultimately lose game seven in overtime. The T'wolves were short-handed in the series having lost both Barea and Rubio to injuries at the end of the regular season.
Here is how the game simulates the Timberwolves' season:
Regular Season Record: 46-36 sixth in the Western Conference
Top scorers: PG Ricky Rubio 11.9 PPG, SG Brandon Roy 17.4 PPG, PF Kevin Love 24.7 PPG
Leading rebounders: SF Andrei Kirlenko 5.6 RPG, C Nikola Pekovic 7.9 RPG, PF Kevin Love 12.0 RPG
Assist Leader: SG Brandon Roy 3.7 APG, PG Luke Ridnour 3.9 APG, PG Ricky Rubio 7.9 APG
Playoff Opponents
Round 1 Denver Nuggets, The Nuggets win the series 4-3
Round 2: Did not qualify
Conference Finals: Did not qualify
NBA Finals: Did not qualify
Check out our other NBA 2K13 team previews:
Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Los Angeles Clippers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Portland Trail Blazers
Cleveland Cavaliers
