2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 23rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their first season with head coach Rick Adelman, the team finished the lockout-shortened season with a 26–40 record, nine wins above their previous season and finished in 12th place in the Western Conference. This season saw the debut of 2009 draftee Ricky Rubio, who was a contender for the Rookie of the Year Award until he tore his ACL and his lateral collateral ligament after colliding into Kobe Bryant during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers and was out for the rest of the season.[1][2] Following the season, Brad Miller retired.

2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coachRick Adelman
General managerDavid Kahn
PresidentDavid Kahn
Owner(s)Glen Taylor
ArenaTarget Center
Results
Record26–40 (.394)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Northwest)
Conference: 12th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports North
RadioWCCO-AM 830
< 2010–11 2012–13 >

Key dates

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Summary

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NBA draft 2011

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 2 Derrick Williams Small forward / power forward   United States Arizona
1 20 Donatas Motiejūnas (traded to Houston Rockets) Power forward / center   Lithuania Lithuania
1 23 Nikola Mirotić (from Houston Rockets traded to Chicago Bulls) Power forward   Spain Spain
1 28 Norris Cole (from Chicago Bulls traded to Miami Heat) Point guard   United States Cleveland State
2 31 Bojan Bogdanović (from Miami Heat traded to New Jersey Nets) Small forward   Croatia Croatia
2 38 Chandler Parsons (traded back to Houston Rockets for cash) Power forward   United States Florida
2 43 Malcolm Lee (from Chicago Bulls) Shooting guard   United States UCLA
2 57 Tanguy Ngombo (from Portland Trail Blazers) Small forward   Qatar Qatar

Roster

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2011–12 Minnesota Timberwolves roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 11 Barea, José Juan 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1984-06-26 Northeastern
F 8 Beasley, Michael 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1989-01-09 Kansas State
G 22 Ellington, Wayne 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1987-11-29 North Carolina
G/F 4 Johnson, Wesley 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1987-07-11 Syracuse
G 3 Lee, Malcolm 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1990-05-22 UCLA
F/C 42 Love, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1988–09–22 UCLA
C 31 Miličić, Darko 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1985-06-20 Serbia
C 52 Miller, Brad 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 261 lb (118 kg) 1976-04-12 Purdue
C 14 Peković, Nikola 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 290 lb (132 kg) 1986-01-03 Montenegro
F 15 Randolph, Anthony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1989-07-15 LSU
G 13 Ridnour, Luke 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1981-02-13 Oregon
G 9 Rubio, Ricky 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1990-10-21 Spain
F 44 Tolliver, Anthony 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1985-06-01 Creighton
G/F 5 Webster, Martell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1986-12-04 Seattle Prep (WA)
F 7 Williams, Derrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 241 lb (109 kg) 1991–05–25 Arizona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Pre-season

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Due to the 2011 NBA lockout negotiations, the programmed pre-season schedule, along with the first two weeks of the regular season were scrapped, and a two-game pre-season was set for each team once the lockout concluded.


2011 pre-season game log
Pre-season: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 December 17 Milwaukee W 117–96 Michael Beasley and Kevin Love(21) Kevin Love (15) Ricky Rubio (7) Target Center 15,013 1–0
2 December 21 @ Milwaukee W 85–84 Kevin Love (22) Kevin Love (16) Luke Ridnour (6) Bradley Center 2–0
2011–12 season schedule

Regular season

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Standings

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Northwest DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
y-Oklahoma City Thunder4719.71226‍–‍721‍–‍1210–366
x-Denver Nuggets3828.5769.020‍–‍1318‍–‍156–766
x-Utah Jazz3630.54511.025‍–‍811‍–‍229–466
Portland Trail Blazers2838.42419.020‍–‍138‍–‍254–1066
Minnesota Timberwolves2640.39421.013‍–‍2013‍–‍204–966
Western Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1c-San Antonio Spurs *5016.75866
2y-Oklahoma City Thunder *4719.7123.066
3y-Los Angeles Lakers *4125.6219.066
4x-Memphis Grizzlies4125.6219.066
5x-Los Angeles Clippers4026.60610.066
6x-Denver Nuggets3828.57612.066
7x-Dallas Mavericks3630.54514.066
8x-Utah Jazz3630.54514.066
9Houston Rockets3432.51516.066
10Phoenix Suns3333.50017.066
11Portland Trail Blazers2838.42422.066
12Minnesota Timberwolves2640.39424.066
13Golden State Warriors2343.34827.066
14Sacramento Kings2244.33328.066
15New Orleans Hornets2145.31829.066

Game log

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2011–12 game log
Total: 26–40 (Home: 13–20; Road: 13–20)
December: 0–3 (home: 0–2; road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 December 26 Oklahoma City L 100–104 Michael Beasley (24) Kevin Love (12) Ricky Rubio (6) Target Center
19,406
0–1
2 December 27 @ Milwaukee L 95–98 Kevin Love (31) Kevin Love (20) José Juan Barea
Ricky Rubio (4)
Bradley Center
17,352
0–2
3 December 30 Miami L 101–103 Kevin Love (25) Kevin Love (12) Ricky Rubio (12) Target Center
19,356
0–3
January: 10–8 (home: 5–5; road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
4 January 1 Dallas W 99–82 Kevin Love (25) Kevin Love (17) Ricky Rubio (7) Target Center
15,115
1–3
5 January 2 San Antonio W 106–96 Kevin Love (24) Kevin Love (15) Luke Ridnour (9) Target Center
14,514
2–3
6 January 4 Memphis L 86–90 Kevin Love (27) Kevin Love (14) Ricky Rubio (10) Target Center
17,404
2–4
7 January 6 Cleveland L 87–98 Kevin Love (29) Kevin Love (14) Luke Ridnour (6) Target Center
16,943
2–5
8 January 8 @ Washington W 93–72 Kevin Love (20) Kevin Love (16) Ricky Rubio (14) Verizon Center
13,095
3–5
9 January 9 @ Toronto L 87–97 Jose Barea (16) Kevin Love (14) Ricky Rubio (6) Air Canada Centre
14,097
3–6
10 January 10 Chicago L 100–111 Luke Ridnour (22) Kevin Love (13) Ricky Rubio (12) Target Center
19,356
3–7
11 January 13 @ New Orleans W 87–80 Kevin Love (34) Kevin Love (15) Ricky Rubio (9) New Orleans Arena
14,295
4–7
12 January 14 @ Atlanta L 91–93 Kevin Love (30) Kevin Love (13) Ricky Rubio (12) Philips Arena
13,135
4–8
13 January 16 Sacramento W 99–86 Kevin Love (33) Kevin Love (11) Luke Ridnour (9) Target Center
16,159
5–8
14 January 18 Detroit W 93–85 Kevin Love (20) Kevin Love (17) Ricky Rubio (8) Target Center
15,598
6–8
15 January 20 @ L. A. Clippers W 101–98 Darko Miličić (22) Kevin Love (14) Luke Ridnour
Ricky Rubio (6)
Staples Center
19,492
7–8
16 January 21 @ Utah L 98–108 Ricky Rubio (17) Kevin Love
Derrick Williams (8)
Ricky Rubio (11) EnergySolutions Arena
19,911
7–9
17 January 23 Houston L 92–107 Kevin Love (39) Kevin Love (12) Ricky Rubio (12) Target Center
16,924
7–10
18 January 25 @ Dallas W 105–90 Kevin Love (31) Kevin Love (11) Ricky Rubio (12) American Airlines Center
20,150
8–10
19 January 27 San Antonio W 87–79 Kevin Love
Ricky Rubio (18)
Kevin Love (16) Ricky Rubio (10) Target Center
16,699
9–10
20 January 29 L. A. Lakers L 101–106 Kevin Love (33) Kevin Love (13) Ricky Rubio (8) Target Center
17,551
9–11
21 January 30 @ Houston W 120–108 Michael Beasley (34) Ricky Rubio (8) Ricky Rubio (11) Staples Center
14,264
10–11
February: 8–7 (home: 5–3; road: 3–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
22 February 1 Indiana L 99–109 Kevin Love (21) Kevin Love (17) Ricky Rubio (6) Target Center
15,017
10–12
23 February 3 @ New Jersey W 108–105 Nikola Peković (27) Nikola Peković (11) Ricky Rubio (10) Prudential Center
15,069
11–12
24 February 4 Houston W 100–91 Kevin Love (25) Kevin Love (18) Ricky Rubio (11) Target Center
19,356
12–12
25 February 7 Sacramento W 86–84 Nikola Peković (23) Michael Beasley (14) Ricky Rubio (14) Target Center
14,073
13–12
26 February 8 @ Memphis L 80–85 José Juan Barea (17) Nikola Peković
Derrick Williams (9)
José Juan Barea (6) FedEx Forum
13,287
13–13
27 February 10 Dallas L 97–104 Kevin Love (32) Kevin Love (12) Ricky Rubio (8) Target Center
17,119
13–14
28 February 11 New York L 98–100 Kevin Love (32) Kevin Love (21) Ricky Rubio (8) Target Center
20,232
13–15
29 February 13 @ Orlando L 89–102 Kevin Love (19) Kevin Love (15) Ricky Rubio (8) Amway Center
18,846
13–16
30 February 15 Charlotte W 102–90 Kevin Love (30) Kevin Love (18) José Juan Barea (8) Target Center
15,139
14–16
31 February 17 @ Houston W 111–98 Kevin Love (33) Kevin Love (17) Ricky Rubio (9) Toyota Center
16,836
15–16
32 February 19 Philadelphia W 92–91 Ricky Rubio (22) Kevin Love (15) Ricky Rubio (5) Target Center
18,759
16–16
33 February 20 @ Denver L 101–103 (OT) Kevin Love (22) Kevin Love (13) Luke Ridnour (6) Pepsi Center
17,263
16–17
34 February 22 Utah W 100–98 José Juan Barea (22) Nikola Peković (12) Luke Ridnour
Ricky Rubio (6)
Target Center
18,776
17–17
35 February 28 @ L. A. Clippers W 109–97 Michael Beasley
Derrick Williams (27)
Kevin Love
Ricky Rubio (7)
Ricky Rubio (9) Staples Center
19,243
18–17
36 February 29 @ L. A. Lakers L 85–104 Michael Beasley
Martell Webster (14)
Anthony Randolph (9) Ricky Rubio (9) Staples Center
18,997
18–18
March: 7–10 (home: 3–3; road: 4–7)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
37 March 1 @ Phoenix L 95–104 Kevin Love (23) Kevin Love (10) Luke Ridnour (8) US Airways Center
15,071
18–19
38 March 3 @ Portland W 122–110 Kevin Love (42) Kevin Love (10) Ricky Rubio (12) Rose Garden
20,644
19–19
39 March 5 L. A. Clippers W 95–94 Kevin Love (39) Kevin Love (17) Ricky Rubio (6) Target Center
19,509
20–19
40 March 7 Portland W 106–94 Kevin Love (29) Kevin Love (16) José Juan Barea (7) Target Center
17,118
21–19
41 March 9 L. A. Lakers L 102–105 Nikola Peković (25) Nikola Peković (13) Ricky Rubio (10) Target Center
20,164
21–20
42 March 10 New Orleans L 89–95 Kevin Love (31) Kevin Love (16) Luke Ridnour (10) Target Center
20,123
21–21
43 March 12 @ Phoenix W 127–124 Kevin Love (30) Nikola Peković
Derrick Williams (8)
Luke Ridnour (9) US Airways Center
14,568
22–21
44 March 15 @ Utah L 105–111 Gordon Hayward (26) Kevin Love
Derrick Favors (16)
Luke Ridnour (13) EnergySolutions Arena
18,053
22–22
45 March 16 @ L. A. Lakers L 92–97 Kevin Love (27) Kevin Love (15) Luke Ridnour (11) Staples Center
18,997
22–23
46 March 18 @ Sacramento L 99–115 Kevin Love (21) Kevin Love (11) José Juan Barea (4) Power Balance Pavilion
15,616
22–24
47 March 19 @ Golden State W 97–93 Kevin Love (36) Kevin Love (16) José Juan Barea
Luke Ridnour (10)
Oracle Arena
19,596
23–24
48 March 21 @ San Antonio L 100–116 José Juan Barea (18) Kevin Love (12) José Juan Barea (11) AT&T Center
18,581
23–25
49 March 23 @ Oklahoma City L 140–149 (2OT) Kevin Love (51) Kevin Love (14) José Juan Barea (14) Chesapeake Energy Arena
18,203
23–26
50 March 25 Denver W 117–100 Kevin Love (30) Kevin Love (21) Luke Ridnour (6) Target Center
20,023
24–26
51 March 27 @ Memphis L 86–93 Kevin Love (28) Kevin Love (11) Luke Ridnour (5) FedEx Forum
14,769
24–27
52 March 28 @ Charlotte W 88–83 Kevin Love (40) Kevin Love (19) Luke Ridnour (14) Time Warner Cable Arena
10,540
25–27
53 March 30 Boston L 79–100 Kevin Love (22) Kevin Love (11) Luke Ridnour (8) Target Center
19,356
25–28
April: 1–12 (home: 0–7; road: 1–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
54 April 1 @ Portland L 106–119 Kevin Love (26) Kevin Love (9) Luke Ridnour (6) Rose Garden
20,359
25–29
55 April 2 @ Sacramento L 108–116 Kevin Love (23) Kevin Love (7) Brad Miller
Luke Ridnour (6)
Power Balance Pavilion
12,279
25–30
56 April 4 Golden State L 94–97 Kevin Love (29) Kevin Love (12) José Juan Barea (8) Target Center
17,161
25–31
57 April 7 @ New Orleans L 90–99 Kevin Love (29) Kevin Love (12) José Juan Barea (7) New Orleans Arena
15,520
25–32
58 April 9 Phoenix L 90–114 Kevin Love (25) Kevin Love (13) José Juan Barea
Malcolm Lee (5)
Target Center
17,274
25–33
59 April 11 @ Denver L 107–113 Anthony Randolph (28) Derrick Williams (8) José Juan Barea (15) Pepsi Center
15,823
25–34
60 April 12 L. A. Clippers L 82–95 Nikola Peković (17) Michael Beasley (10) José Juan Barea (11) Target Center
16,016
25–35
61 April 14 Oklahoma City L 110–115 Michael Beasley (26) Nikola Peković (13) José Juan Barea (10) Target Center
19,552
25–36
62 April 16 @ Indiana L 88–111 José Juan Barea (14) Derrick Williams (10) José Juan Barea (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
11,845
25–37
63 April 17 Memphis L 84–91 José Juan Barea (28) Nikola Peković (11) José Juan Barea (8) Target Center
16,709
25–38
64 April 19 @ Detroit W 91–80 Nikola Peković (23) Anthony Randolph (10) José Juan Barea (12) The Palace of Auburn Hills
12,458
26–38
65 April 22 Golden State L 88–93 Nikola Peković (19) Nikola Peković (16) José Juan Barea (12) Target Center
15,872
26–39
66 April 26 Denver L 102–131 José Juan Barea (20) Nikola Peković (10) José Juan Barea (5) Target Center
14,824
26–40
2011–12 season schedule

Player statistics

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Ragular season

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Player POS GP GS MP REB AST STL BLK PTS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Derrick Williams PF 66 15 1,418 311 38 30 31 583 21.5 4.7 .6 .5 .5 8.8
Wesley Johnson SF 65 64 1,469 177 59 35 48 393 22.6 2.7 .9 .5 .7 6.0
Kevin Love PF 55 55 2,145 734 111 47 28 1,432 39.0 13.3 2.0 .9 .5 26.0
Luke Ridnour SG 53 53 1,750 141 252 56 16 639 33.0 2.7 4.8 1.1 .3 12.1
Wayne Ellington SG 51 4 973 99 33 26 10 311 19.1 1.9 .6 .5 .2 6.1
Anthony Tolliver SF 51 0 882 153 22 18 19 208 17.3 3.0 .4 .4 .4 4.1
Nikola Peković C 47 35 1,264 346 31 29 31 651 26.9 7.4 .7 .6 .7 13.9
Martell Webster SF 47 26 1,140 168 40 31 17 324 24.3 3.6 .9 .7 .4 6.9
Michael Beasley SF 47 7 1,087 207 45 18 19 541 23.1 4.4 1.0 .4 .4 11.5
Ricky Rubio PG 41 31 1,404 171 336 91 8 436 34.2 4.2 8.2 2.2 .2 10.6
J. J. Barea PG 41 11 1,032 114 232 21 0 463 25.2 2.8 5.7 .5 .0 11.3
Anthony Randolph PF 34 5 517 123 19 13 35 252 15.2 3.6 .6 .4 1.0 7.4
Darko Miličić C 29 23 472 97 17 9 25 134 16.3 3.3 .6 .3 .9 4.6
Malcolm Lee SG 19 0 243 26 31 8 4 62 12.8 1.4 1.6 .4 .2 3.3
Brad Miller C 15 1 146 19 24 4 2 35 9.7 1.3 1.6 .3 .1 2.3

Awards and records

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All-Star

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Injuries and disciplinary actions

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Transactions

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Overview

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Players Added

Via draft

Via free agency

Via trade

Players Lost

Via trade

Via free agency

Trades

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June 23, 2011 To Minnesota Timberwolves
Brad Miller
Draft rights to Nikola Mirotić
Draft rights to Chandler Parsons
Future first round pick
To Houston Rockets
Jonny Flynn
Draft rights to Donatas Motiejūnas
2012 second round pick
To Minnesota Timberwolves
Draft rights to Norris Cole
Draft rights to Malcolm Lee
Cash considerations
To Chicago Bulls
Draft rights to Nikola Mirotić
To Minnesota Timberwolves
Draft rights to Bojan Bogdanović
2014 second round pick
Cash considerations
To Miami Heat
Draft rights to Norris Cole
To Minnesota Timberwolves
2013 second round pick
Cash considerations
To New Jersey Nets
Draft rights to Bojan Bogdanović
To Minnesota Timberwolves
Cash considerations
To Houston Rockets
Draft rights to Chandler Parsons
June 27, 2011 To Minnesota Timberwolves
Draft rights to Tanguy Ngombo
To Portland Trail Blazers
Future second round pick
December 13, 2011 To Minnesota Timberwolves
Robert Vaden
2012 second round pick
Future second round pick
To Oklahoma City Thunder
Lazar Hayward

Free agents

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Additions
Player Date signed Former team
José Juan Barea December 14 Dallas Mavericks
Subtractions
Player Date signed New team
Sebastian Telfair December 9 Phoenix Suns

Many players signed with teams from other leagues due to the 2011 NBA lockout. FIBA allows players under NBA contracts to sign and play for teams from other leagues if the contracts have opt-out clauses that allow the players to return to the NBA if the lockout ends.[14] The Chinese Basketball Association, however, only allows its clubs to sign foreign free agents who could play for at least the entire season.[15]

Played in other leagues during lockout
Player Date signed New team Opt-out clause
Nikola Peković August 16 KK Partizan (Serbia) Yes

See also

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2011–12 NBA season

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ricky Rubio has torn ACL". ESPN. March 9, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  2. ^ "Timberwolves expect Rubio back in 6-9 months". March 23, 2012.
  3. ^ "NBA.com: Draft 2011". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Irving, Rubio take Rookie of the Month honors for January". NBA.com. February 1, 2012. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "Irving, Rubio headline 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie First Team". NBA.com. May 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  6. ^ "LeBron, Durant highlight 2011-12 All-NBA First Team". NBA.com. May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  7. ^ Kevin Love's 51-point night not enough as Wolves fall to Thunder in two OTs, Star Tribune. March 24, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  8. ^ Brad Miller could miss six months after knee surgery, Sporting News. Jun 5, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  9. ^ Brad Miller 2011-12 Game Log, basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  10. ^ Malcolm Lee Injury: Timberwolves Rookie Sidelined For Six Weeks, SB Nation. December 30, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  11. ^ Martell Webster has another back surgery, Star Tribune. December 10, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  12. ^ Martell Webster returns to practice, ESPN.com. January 17, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  13. ^ Wolves' Kevin Love suspended 2 games, ESPN.com. February 7, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  14. ^ "FIBA: NBA stars can play overseas". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. July 30, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  15. ^ Sun Xiaochen (August 21, 2011). "New rule shuts door on NBA stars". China Daily. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011.