Game #17, Road Game #8: Minnesota 89, Atlanta 90 Season record: 2-15 1. Brewer and Smith Lead the Paint Mob After 10 pathetic quarters of play–from 1:25 to go in the 3rd against San Antonio until 1:34 to go in the 1st tonight–the Timberwolves found a pulse and fought to retain their diminishing fan base, … Read more
Home Game #9: Los Angeles Lakers 116, Minnesota 951. Losing Reason To CareGames like tonight’s undressing by the Lakers and last Saturday’s (blissfully blacked-out from television) pratfall on the road in Memphis are the sort of energy-suckers Wolves’ fans and the team’s PR department feared in the wake of the Garnett trade: That the ballclub … Read more
Here’s what I’d like to know: Since when are the New York Yankees in any position to play hardball with the Twins? Given the pitching situation in New York, and given the fact that this is a team that is now in the (for them) desperate position of playing second-fiddle to the Red Sox, would … Read more
Road Game #6: Minnesota 103, Dallas 109 Season record: 2-11 1. The McCants/Jefferson Axis The extent to which Rashad McCants and Al Jefferson create synergy on offense is perhaps the dominant storyline for the Wolves in this young season to date, and figures to remain that way at least until Randy Foye returns from his … Read more
Road Game #5: Minnesota 103, New Orleans 94 Season record: 2-10 1. Revolt of the Back-Up Point Guards While would-be Wolves cornerstones Al Jefferson, Rashad McCants and Ryan Gomes had performances ranging from disappointing to dreadful, the squad bagged its first road win primarily on the strength of the inexplicably calm, capable, and confident duo … Read more
There won’t be a three pointer on the Wolves’ dreadful collapse against the Hawks Saturday night. Frankly, it didn’t bother me as much as the pig-headed play and lack of effort that fostered Minnesota’s loss to a thoroughly disinterested Denver Nuggets squad the night before. At least the Atlanta game found the Wolves playing inspired … Read more
Road Game #4: Minnesota 93, Denver 99 Season Record 1-9 1. Time To Get Angry Okay, that’s about enough patience, enough leeway for a basketball team that is playing with stupidity as well as incompetence, and showing very little character in the process. During the off-season, Kevin McHale remarked that any team that really plays … Read more
Home Game #4: Washington 105, Minnesota 89 Home Game #5: Washington 100, Minnesota 82 Season Record: 1-7 1. Swingman Glut Exposes Brewer There are a dozen ways to explain how the Minnesota Timberwolves posted their worst six-quarter stretch of the young season this weekend, a trudge of ineptitude that lasted from the second half … Read more
Home Game #3: Minnesota 108, Sacramento 103 Season Record: 1-5 1. Mea Culpa–For Now I thought Rashad McCants had a horrible game during last Saturday night’s Wolves loss to the Kings in Sacramento, and quite righteously said so. Thought he was a narcissistic gunner who sabotaged the team’s offensive priority of pounding the ball into … Read more
Road Game # 2: Minnesota 93, LA Lakers 107 Road Game # 3: Minnesota 93, Sacramento 100 1. Half Empty The die-hards among us who pledged to ride with the Minnesota Timberwolves throughout the 2007-08 season know that higher levels of tolerance and different parameters of success will be required. Put bluntly, wins and … Read more