Ticket Exchange: T'Wolves Struggling In Post-Garnett Era

T'Wolves Have Only Won Two Playoff Series,  Both With Kevin Garnett, In 20-Year History

Friday night's Celtics-T'Wolves game marks the first time Celtics F Kevin Garnett will play against his old team since being traded in '07, and for the T'Wolves, a "franchise that forced change because it concluded it was headed nowhere with him has traveled from indifference during Garnett's final season or two in Minnesota to irrelevance without him," according to Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The T'Wolves this season have only sold the equivalent of 5,000 full season-ticket packages, and T'Wolves F Kevin Love said, "From the new players to the new court, the new uniforms, the new logo, we've pretty much changed everything around just trying to give us a new face." But Zgoda notes it "says something about a franchise celebrating its 20th season that Garnett won two playoff series ... in his 12 seasons and is considered the Michael Jordan of Minnesota basketball" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/21). In Boston, Marc Spears writes while Garnett is "long gone" from the T'Wolves, he is "still revered here." NBA City Restaurant Manager Mike Bruce, whose store is connected to the Target Center, said, "Garnett jerseys sell more than what the Timberwolves have." Bruce said jersey sales for Love and T'Wolves F Al Jefferson are "doing well," but added Garnett is "still the big sell." Bruce: "We actually had to reorder (Garnett Celtics jerseys) for this season." The T'Wolves at Friday's game will hand out "commemorative Garnett posters" to fans in attendance (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/21).