1. Theo In the Pivot Let’s begin with some positive news, eh? Theo Ratliff, valued first and foremost for the $11 million he will take off the books when his contract expires at the end of the season, is alive and swatting, providing the best interior presence this franchise has ever seen, at least as … Read more
Among the more contrarian aspects of my sports fandom is an aversion to hyperbole in general, and Big Events in particular as a means of describing and defining the games I witness. It’s probably a snobbish impulse, because Business 101 tells us that supersizing anything is the way to bring in the casual consumer, and … Read more
1. Warriors in Command The big news of the first round of the NBA playoffs is obviously Golden State’s 3-1 lead over 67-win Dallas, a series that would have any neutral observer pulling hard for the Warriors even if he/she didn’t know they were enormous underdogs. Golden State epitomizes the coming out of FUN in … Read more
This will not be a comprehensive or otherwise definitive take on the current state of the Timberwolves. I’d like to think that anyone who read the 60 or so Three-Pointers I put out this year has a pretty good glimpse into what I think are the strengths and weaknesses of the team. And what should … Read more
A Small Appreciation of Bracey Wright First off, thanks to those who gave me feedback on how to handle this disheartening point of the season, when the only intelligent thing for the Wolves to do is lose. Which is a bittersweet bit of good fortune, because about the only thing this squad is capable of … Read more
Game #79, Home Game #40– San Antonio 110, Minnesota 91 1. Wittman is Without Defense We are now 79 games into the season–40 of them coached by Dwane Casey, 39 by Randy Wittman. I suppose we could wait until after Sunday in Golden State to make an exact, 40-40 comparison of the two coaches, but … Read more
Game #78, Home Game #39–Dallas 105, Minnesota 88 1. KG “Hurt”–And Gone for Good? For the first time in a dozen years, there is a distinct possibility that the Minnesota Timberwolves will not take the floor with Kevin Garnett to start the year in the 2007-08 season. Garnett has been put on the shelf with … Read more
Regular Season Game #77, Home Game #38: Toronto 111, Minnesota 100 1. The Kids Are Alright, Part 729 For a variety of reasons I wasn’t able to make it to the Target Center until 4 minutes were left in the third period tonight and the Wolves were up four. Since there was no television coverage, … Read more
Regular Season Game #75, Road Game #39, Minnesota 99, New York 94 Regular Season Game #76, Home Game #37, New Orleans 96, Minnesota 94 1. Hitting The Semi-sweet Spot Timberwolves fans and management couldn’t have choreographed a better game than Saturday night’s entertaining loss to the Hornets. At this point in an already collapsed, disheartening … Read more
Regular Season Game #74, Home Game #36, Cleveland 101, Minnesota 88 1. An Unlikeable Basketball Team Unlikeable is putting it mildly. If you still care about this edition of the Minnesota Timberwolves, they are infuriating and aggravating in the extreme. Looked at objectively, it is plain that they lack the integrity to even properly go … Read more