Britt Robson Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #77, Road Game #38: Minnesota 119, Charlotte 121 Season Record: 19-58 1. Plenty of Blame To Go Around Coach Randy Wittman thought the Minnesota Timberwolves came to play without passion or commitment tonight on the road against Charlotte, and he was spot-on. I wasn’t … Read more
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #75, Road Game #37: Minnesota 88, Phoenix 117 Game #76, Home Game #39: Memphis 113, Minnesota 101 Season Record: 19-57 1. Jefferson Finally Cracks The Timberwolves offered themselves and their fans a choice of embarrassing performances over the weekend: Which do you prefer, an … Read more
Game #74, Road Game #36: Minnesota 100, Utah 117 Season Record: 19-55 1. One-Way Jefferson Those who check the box score will surmise that Al Jefferson had one of his worst games of the season tonight as the Wolves were routed by Utah, who turned a close and enjoyably contested first half into a blowout … Read more
AP Photo by Paul Battaglia Game #73, Home Game #38: Detroit 94, Minnesota 90 Season Record: 19-54 1. A Rough Night For Foye There is more than one goat in a game where the Wolves blew a 21-point lead and wilted down the stretch against a Detroit Pistons team resting arguably their top three starters–Chauncey … Read more
Minnesota played its best basketball game of the season to beat Utah earlier this season. They played one of their worst, least inspired games in the rematch with the Jazz, a contest in which my criticism of the Wolves’ effort was greeted by many commenters with: "We knew they had no chance because Utah remembers … Read more
Brian Blade FellowshipSeasons of ChangeVerveRelease date: April 1, 2008 Blade’s ensemble seems heavily influenced by his membership in Wayne Shorter’s magnificent but overtly cerebral quartet, which isn’t always a good thing. The frequently lethargic pace and finely crafted harmonic and melodic nuances occasionally feel like music that must be listened to for your own good, … Read more
Charles Lloyd QuartetRabo de Nube ECM I’m not a diehard Lloyd acolyte. There’s some stuff in his huge catalog that is deliriously good, like Flowering and Journey Within from the ’60s, and Voice In The Night with Dave Holland, John Abercrombie, and Billy Higgins from the late ’90s. But his last one, Sangam, left me … Read more
Lloyd’s last album, Sangam, was nothing more than a saxophone wankfest through a thicket of beats, laden with faux spirituality that was too pretentious (or perhaps too profound). But the 70-year-old sensei may be the most staid and least creative member of his band in Rabo de Nube, his latest live quartet album (something Lloyd … Read more
Blade’s ensemble seems heavily influenced by his membership in Wayne Shorter’s magnificent but overtly cerebral quartet, which isn’t always a good thing. The frequently lethargic pace and finely crafted harmonic and melodic nuances occasionally feel like music that must be listened to for your own good, like a meal fortified with fiber but not very … Read more
AP Photo by David J. Phillip American League East 1. Boston Red Sox It’s more interesting (or at least less conventional) playing Devil’s Advocate about why the Sox *won’t* repeat as pennant winners. Practically everything went right last season: Papelbon’s shoulder held firm and Beckett’s blisters didn’t grow, and every rookie was off-the-charts good, from … Read more