Britt Robson Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images National League East 1. New York Mets Johan Santana pitching in huge Shea Stadium without a DH in the opposing lineup sounds like a recipe for 20-25 wins. Depth and quality in middle relief will allow Pedro Martinez to become a dominant 6 inning #2 starter (if manager Willie Randolph … Read more
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #70, Road Game #34: Minnesota 86, Houston 97 Season Record: 18-52 1. Stubborn Smallball Let the record show that Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes tied for the "best" plus/margin (-4) among the 9 Wolves who played in tonight’s 11-point loss to Houston, that Luis … Read more
AP Photo by A.J. Olmscheid Game #68, Road Game #33: Minnesota 113, Indiana 124 Game #69, Home Game #36: New York 93, Minnesota 114 Season Record: 18-51 1. Illusions of Mediocrity Let’s start with the good news. Over the last five or six weeks, Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman has challenged the team’s three most prominent … Read more
Like most all country-blues artists, Ray Bonneville doesn’t try to knock your socks off so much as fit you into a comfortable old pair of shoes. But the Canadian native separates himself from singer-songwriter cliches with a slow but steady revelation of his myriad talents. His (mostly electrical) guitar and harmonica work is economical and … Read more
AP Photo, by Tom Olmscheid Game #67, Home Game #35: Memphis 94, Minnesota 98 Season Record: 17-50 1. Jefferson Dominant The transformation point of the Wolves’ 98-94 win over Memphis last night was when Al Jefferson willed his team back into contention during the first 7 minutes of the third period after an abysmal first … Read more
Copyright AFP/GETTY IMAGES, photo by Ronald Martinez For a man who has made a billion dollars on wedding invitations, Glen Taylor sometimes isn’t a very bright guy. Yesterday’s comments to the daily beat writers–"KG tanked it" is the money quote–is a perfect example of how Taylor keeps cutting off the nose of this franchise to … Read more
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #66, Home Game #34: Los Angeles Clippers 90, Minnesota 99 Season Record: 16-50 1. Pick and Roll Call The Clippers without Chris Kamen are a feel-good victim for a ballclub ready to generate some springtime momentum despite its inevitable trip to the lottery. Wolves … Read more
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #64, Road Game #31: Minnesota 121, Seattle 116 Season Record: 15-49 1. Engines In the Backcourt, Stoppers Up Front My decision to keep a life and hold off on getting League Pass this NBA season is biting me this weekend, as the Wolves were … Read more
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #63, Home Game #33: Portland 103, Minnesota 96 Season Record: 14-49 1. When It Matters Most Al Jefferson did not score a single point in the first 19 minutes and 4 seconds of this game, which I’d wager is his longest drought of the … Read more
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) Game #61, Road Game #30: Minnesota 111, Sacramento 103 Game #62, Road Game #31: Minnesota 99, Los Angeles Clippers 96 Season Record: 14-48 1. The Exploits of Foye The beat writers from the Strib and PiPress had the dominant story arc of last night’s Clippers … Read more