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Nope. Lots of time to get something going, but from what we know, it's hard to expect them to turn on a light all of a sudden.
The Minnesota Timberwolves Thread: Timberwolves, Anthony Bennett part ways
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by jpzx,
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jpzx
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It's hard to admit it, but the season felt over for me after tonight.
If someone would have told you before the season that Toronto, Chicago Bulls without Rose (let's be honest, they didn't have THE Derrick Rose), Phoenix, and Denver would all be better than the Timberwolves, AND the Pelicans and Pistons are only two games behind.... would you have believed them?
Much needed All-Star Break.
If someone would have told you before the season that Toronto, Chicago Bulls without Rose (let's be honest, they didn't have THE Derrick Rose), Phoenix, and Denver would all be better than the Timberwolves, AND the Pelicans and Pistons are only two games behind.... would you have believed them?
Much needed All-Star Break.
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Bro...I felt this way right after the first few losses after losing Pek. I knew if they couldn't rally with him being out that they would sink.
They were right there, but last night before the L I saw that they were 6 games back from the 8th spot. I have no idea what's next.
They were right there, but last night before the L I saw that they were 6 games back from the 8th spot. I have no idea what's next.
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.500 from here on out I think. I don't see Ricky shot getting better and it just seems the All-Star break is not enough. Something like a jolt needs to e added to this team. I was suppose to go last night and honestly nothing makes me want to see them play at all.
Agree with JPZ Denver is not 100% healthy and their playing better than us. And Phx COULD get better too
The drought continue.....
Agree with JPZ Denver is not 100% healthy and their playing better than us. And Phx COULD get better too
The drought continue.....
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Bring on the lotto 
Wolves have 30 games left. They are currently sitting as the 11th place team in the West at 24-28 (.462)
In the past 6 seasons in the West you have to get to 45 wins to make the playoffs. Using this as our measuring stick the T-Wolves would have to finish this season 21-9 to reach that level. Just to garner an 8th seed or so.
Ay carumba
Wolves have 30 games left. They are currently sitting as the 11th place team in the West at 24-28 (.462)
In the past 6 seasons in the West you have to get to 45 wins to make the playoffs. Using this as our measuring stick the T-Wolves would have to finish this season 21-9 to reach that level. Just to garner an 8th seed or so.
Ay carumba
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I have season tickets but have missed quite a few due to work and other things. Some games I feel bad as if I'm letting the team down by not supporting, but on the other hand -- it's hard to watch as well.
I agree w/ @HOOD17 -- this team needs some sort of jolt and I don't know how we're gonna get that
jpzx
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Wrote this for KFAN... not much time remaining before the deadline and it won't happen, but check it out if you'd like.
http://www.kfan.com/onair/wolves-blog-46015/buy-low-sell-high-arron-the-12081424/
http://www.kfan.com/onair/wolves-blog-46015/buy-low-sell-high-arron-the-12081424/
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Well done JP. Good read.
jpzx
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Appreciate it! Not that applicable because I knew while writing it that it wasn't going to happen, yet I wanted to go over the method I would take during the deadline.
Five game west coast road trip starts this Saturday, doesn't end until March 3rd.
Kevin Martin is having his broken thumb re-evaluated today. Nikola Pekovic practice Thursday and is "day-to-day" according to the T'Wolves PR twitter account.
Five game west coast road trip starts this Saturday, doesn't end until March 3rd.
Kevin Martin is having his broken thumb re-evaluated today. Nikola Pekovic practice Thursday and is "day-to-day" according to the T'Wolves PR twitter account.
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This latest "Love is out of MN" national talk reminds me to appreciate the national media even more. They rarely change.
Perhaps Love will indeed leave Minnesota one day. Or perhaps he realizes there isn't that much tempting out there and stays. None of us know and personally I'm never going to lose sleep over it.
But the obsession with these clowns demanding all star players leave small or mid markets "because that's the way it is" continues to fascinate. One writer makes the first move by making up a story that "Love says he wants out" (he doesn't) and that's then open season for the pack to "Yup see he wants out. He's out." followed by "the lowly TWolves lose again" followed by "why haven't they traded him yet?" followed by "The Wolves yet again screw this up" followed by ESPN talking heads literally getting angry (yes angry) that Love told GQ the Wolves right now are more stable than the Lakers. God forbid.
Meanwhile Love himself likely hasn't even made up his mind with anything. But hey that's a wrench for everyone nationally -- can you just get to L.A. or N.Y. now and stop wasting our air time Kevin? Then we can move on to the next player behind you.
Perhaps Love will indeed leave Minnesota one day. Or perhaps he realizes there isn't that much tempting out there and stays. None of us know and personally I'm never going to lose sleep over it.
But the obsession with these clowns demanding all star players leave small or mid markets "because that's the way it is" continues to fascinate. One writer makes the first move by making up a story that "Love says he wants out" (he doesn't) and that's then open season for the pack to "Yup see he wants out. He's out." followed by "the lowly TWolves lose again" followed by "why haven't they traded him yet?" followed by "The Wolves yet again screw this up" followed by ESPN talking heads literally getting angry (yes angry) that Love told GQ the Wolves right now are more stable than the Lakers. God forbid.
Meanwhile Love himself likely hasn't even made up his mind with anything. But hey that's a wrench for everyone nationally -- can you just get to L.A. or N.Y. now and stop wasting our air time Kevin? Then we can move on to the next player behind you.
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I could not have put it better myself. Eloquent write-up, Ry.
There's no accountability. I remember when Andy Katz a few years ago had a report out on ESPN.com that read "The Memphis Grizzlies are close to a trade with the Timberwolves that would give them Minnesota's No. 18 pick for their 25 and 28."
Hey Andy... Sid has better sources.
The Timberwolves held three picks that year... "LET'S GET FOUR!" So much about that makes sense.
And of course, nothing came of it. David Kahn said he had no clue what the report was based on, no trade occurred, and Katz went back to doing his job as a respected journalist.
There's no accountability. I remember when Andy Katz a few years ago had a report out on ESPN.com that read "The Memphis Grizzlies are close to a trade with the Timberwolves that would give them Minnesota's No. 18 pick for their 25 and 28."
Hey Andy... Sid has better sources.
The Timberwolves held three picks that year... "LET'S GET FOUR!" So much about that makes sense.
And of course, nothing came of it. David Kahn said he had no clue what the report was based on, no trade occurred, and Katz went back to doing his job as a respected journalist.
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Said it for months...The hell would Love want to go to LA for? They're garbage. I know it's his hometown, but if he went to the Lakers then it's essentially him going back to where he was a few years ago with the Wolves. It just never seemed logical to me. The media just assumes that teams like the Lakers are enttitled to the stars of bottom feeders. It's whatever.
Minnesota NT fans got some writers up in here.
Minnesota NT fans got some writers up in here.
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jpzx
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The stories you'll see about team's clearing cap space to make a run at Player X, and even K-Love's comments regarding "Why would I go to LA?" is a sign of the times in sports journalism.
Summer 2015.
Who is to say the LA Lakers will be awful then? Who is to say that the Timberwolves won't be a team worth staying on at that point?
A decision by Raptors G.M. Masai Ujiri could affect a decision that the Nuggets G.M. Tim Connelly makes.
An injury to one of the league's franchise players that requires surgery may just spurn one of his teammates to into thinking "he'll never be the same, I need to go elsewhere while I still can".
A vacant coaching position could be filled by someone who likes a certain player on another team - enough to where he nudges management to make a ridiculous proposal and all of a sudden the league's landscape is altered.
The lottery balls could fall an unlikely way as they did with the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery, and what were envisioning as the future of the NBA is now different.
My point is, things change. I hate that journalists ignite these stories and others pick them up and run off, tripping over dead horses on their way. I hate that players even give them the time of day and respond.
That being said, go Timberwolves tonight against Portland.
Summer 2015.
Who is to say the LA Lakers will be awful then? Who is to say that the Timberwolves won't be a team worth staying on at that point?
A decision by Raptors G.M. Masai Ujiri could affect a decision that the Nuggets G.M. Tim Connelly makes.
An injury to one of the league's franchise players that requires surgery may just spurn one of his teammates to into thinking "he'll never be the same, I need to go elsewhere while I still can".
A vacant coaching position could be filled by someone who likes a certain player on another team - enough to where he nudges management to make a ridiculous proposal and all of a sudden the league's landscape is altered.
The lottery balls could fall an unlikely way as they did with the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery, and what were envisioning as the future of the NBA is now different.
My point is, things change. I hate that journalists ignite these stories and others pick them up and run off, tripping over dead horses on their way. I hate that players even give them the time of day and respond.
That being said, go Timberwolves tonight against Portland.
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Here are some updated Love stats during his NBA career with the Wolves.
113-227 (.332) when he is in the lineup
27-83 (.245) when he is out of the lineup
27-22 (.551) when he gets 30 points
113-227 (.332) when he is in the lineup
27-83 (.245) when he is out of the lineup
27-22 (.551) when he gets 30 points
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RICKKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chances for the 8th spot just went from slim to slimmer. Sucks.
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Yeah I don't think we'll get that last playoff spot
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Here are the current playoff drought years for the Western Conference :x |I
9 - Minnesota
7 - Sacramento
3 - Phoenix
2 - New Orleans
2 - Portland
1- Dallas
1 - Utah
0 - Oklahoma City
0 - San Antonio
0 - Denver
0 - Los Angeles Clippers
0 - Los Angeles Lakers
0 - Memphis
0 - Golden State
0 - Houston
:x |I 9 - Minnesota
7 - Sacramento
3 - Phoenix
2 - New Orleans
2 - Portland
1- Dallas
1 - Utah
0 - Oklahoma City
0 - San Antonio
0 - Denver
0 - Los Angeles Clippers
0 - Los Angeles Lakers
0 - Memphis
0 - Golden State
0 - Houston
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Here are the current playoff drought years for the Western Conference
9 - Minnesota
7 - Sacramento
3 - Phoenix
2 - New Orleans
2 - Portland
1- Dallas
1 - Utah
0 - Oklahoma City
0 - San Antonio
0 - Denver
0 - Los Angeles Clippers
0 - Los Angeles Lakers
0 - Memphis
0 - Golden State
0 - Houston
*sigh*
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Where do we honestly go from here into next season?
Im to a point where I would like if they trade Love so we dont have to deal with it. But I feel if Adeleman knows hes gone then I can see Flip doing coaching as well GM like Doc or find one of his guys to coach the team.
Then we ended up pissing off Rubio's camp and im not 100% in making him a max guy when he cant shoot.
I can see the drought continue maybe for another 5 years. :smh
Im to a point where I would like if they trade Love so we dont have to deal with it. But I feel if Adeleman knows hes gone then I can see Flip doing coaching as well GM like Doc or find one of his guys to coach the team.
Then we ended up pissing off Rubio's camp and im not 100% in making him a max guy when he cant shoot.
I can see the drought continue maybe for another 5 years. :smh
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Is Rubio a free agent?
I think the simpler, the better. Just hope that in year 2, guys like Shabazz and Dieng improve (we're already seeing glimpses, which is a good sign) to further strengthen the depth of this team and also hit on an impact player in the draft. By impact I mean someone that can fill a void or come in and play productive minutes. The core of this team is what we're seeing right now, so others are just gonna have to get better. Rubio obviously could work on his shooting as well.
I think the simpler, the better. Just hope that in year 2, guys like Shabazz and Dieng improve (we're already seeing glimpses, which is a good sign) to further strengthen the depth of this team and also hit on an impact player in the draft. By impact I mean someone that can fill a void or come in and play productive minutes. The core of this team is what we're seeing right now, so others are just gonna have to get better. Rubio obviously could work on his shooting as well.
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Gorgui Dieng has came along real nice.
It might have been on the broadcast the other night, but it was asked about Dieng's emergence if it was the work he was putting in that allowed him to explode onto the scene like this or if it were more the result of him seeing the floor a lot more. No reason to believe it can't be a good mix of both, but either way, I'm loving what I see here. Sample size is small, but I think this is production that sticks.
If that's the case, then ideas of trading Pek are starting to look like a not-so-bad-idea. I would prefer the depth there, but uhh, yeah.... Team needs to be well within reach of a playoff appearance next year by the break if they think they can get Love to stick around. Wolves may need to use a very valuable trade piece in Pekovic to get another big piece for this offense. It might be that "next move" that I think we're all waiting on.
It might have been on the broadcast the other night, but it was asked about Dieng's emergence if it was the work he was putting in that allowed him to explode onto the scene like this or if it were more the result of him seeing the floor a lot more. No reason to believe it can't be a good mix of both, but either way, I'm loving what I see here. Sample size is small, but I think this is production that sticks.
If that's the case, then ideas of trading Pek are starting to look like a not-so-bad-idea. I would prefer the depth there, but uhh, yeah.... Team needs to be well within reach of a playoff appearance next year by the break if they think they can get Love to stick around. Wolves may need to use a very valuable trade piece in Pekovic to get another big piece for this offense. It might be that "next move" that I think we're all waiting on.
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Another below .500 season down the tubes!
Let's review some quick positives:
Love - Was a beast all season and a pleasure to watch. He stayed healthy and ended up with 26.1 PPG/12.5 RPG/4.4 APG while also hitting 2.47 threes per game. The only six other players to do 26/12/4 in history are all in the HOF.
Rubio - Had some struggles but improved as the season went on was one of only two NBAers to get 700 assists. Also led the NBA in steals and had 36 more than any other guard.
Deng - Showed some real promise which shocked me. Adelman decided to start him the last 18 games of the year and in those games he averaged 12.0 PPG,11.3 RPG, 1.5 STL and .528 FG%
Brewer - Scored 51 points in a game. Fascinating.
The team somehow finished in the Top 5 in the NBA in Points Per Game, Field Goal Attempts, Free Throws Made and Attempted, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Opponent Turnovers, and Fouls.
And some negatives:
New coach is likely coming. If that man is Flip Saunders I will completely give up on this country club franchise until Glen Taylor finally sells it.
DWill - Another high lotto pick traded away for nothing. Adelman wanted him gone and the new player they acquired for him (Mbah a Moute) Adelman wanted nothing to do with either.
Pek - Missed 28 games and has missed 67 games the last three seasons (29% of games, Pek has been out).
Muhammad - Only had 22 games where he played 5 minutes or more.
Cunningham - Ugly legal situation.
The Wolves will have the 13th pick in the draft unless they or the Suns vault into the top 3.
And lastly, the Timberwolves have the longest streak in the NBA without making the playoffs. It's been 10 straight seasons. In a league where 8 of the 15 teams in your conference makes the playoffs this is beyond absurd. And it speaks to how dysfunctional this organization has been.
Talent covers up a lot of ineptitude however. You could make this list (below) for many other teams but for the Wolves it really shows how they have screwed up. These are the players the Timberwolves passed on or failed to keep in just the eight drafts they have been a part of since the franchise last made the playoffs. Some we know the reasonings but it's a great list none the less.
Danny Granger, Nate Robinson, Jarrett Jack, David Lee, Monta Ellis, Amir Johnson, Chuck Hayes, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, JJ Redick, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, Paul Milsap, Joakim Noah, Spencer Hawes, Wilson Chandler, Arron Affalo, Tiago Splitter, Big Baby Davis, Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, Danilo Gallinari, Roy Hibbert, JaVale McGee, Ryan Anderson, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, DeAndre Jordan, Omer Asik, Goran Dragic, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Taj Gibson, DeJuan Blair, Marcus Thornton, Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Gordon Heyward, Paul George, Larry Sanders, Eric Bledsoe, Greivis Vasquez, Lance Stephenson, Jeremy Lin, Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Kenneth Faried, Jimmy Butler, Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas, and Michael Carter-Williams.
I used to think the main reason for our struggles was our lack of top 3 picks and chances to draft superstars. I now realize there is a whole wealth of talent up and down the draft and we have never had the scouting talent to figure any of it out....or better yet the dumb luck other teams seem to get.
Let's review some quick positives:
Love - Was a beast all season and a pleasure to watch. He stayed healthy and ended up with 26.1 PPG/12.5 RPG/4.4 APG while also hitting 2.47 threes per game. The only six other players to do 26/12/4 in history are all in the HOF.
Rubio - Had some struggles but improved as the season went on was one of only two NBAers to get 700 assists. Also led the NBA in steals and had 36 more than any other guard.
Deng - Showed some real promise which shocked me. Adelman decided to start him the last 18 games of the year and in those games he averaged 12.0 PPG,11.3 RPG, 1.5 STL and .528 FG%
Brewer - Scored 51 points in a game. Fascinating.
The team somehow finished in the Top 5 in the NBA in Points Per Game, Field Goal Attempts, Free Throws Made and Attempted, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Opponent Turnovers, and Fouls.
And some negatives:
New coach is likely coming. If that man is Flip Saunders I will completely give up on this country club franchise until Glen Taylor finally sells it.
DWill - Another high lotto pick traded away for nothing. Adelman wanted him gone and the new player they acquired for him (Mbah a Moute) Adelman wanted nothing to do with either.
Pek - Missed 28 games and has missed 67 games the last three seasons (29% of games, Pek has been out).
Muhammad - Only had 22 games where he played 5 minutes or more.
Cunningham - Ugly legal situation.
The Wolves will have the 13th pick in the draft unless they or the Suns vault into the top 3.
And lastly, the Timberwolves have the longest streak in the NBA without making the playoffs. It's been 10 straight seasons. In a league where 8 of the 15 teams in your conference makes the playoffs this is beyond absurd. And it speaks to how dysfunctional this organization has been.
Talent covers up a lot of ineptitude however. You could make this list (below) for many other teams but for the Wolves it really shows how they have screwed up. These are the players the Timberwolves passed on or failed to keep in just the eight drafts they have been a part of since the franchise last made the playoffs. Some we know the reasonings but it's a great list none the less.
Danny Granger, Nate Robinson, Jarrett Jack, David Lee, Monta Ellis, Amir Johnson, Chuck Hayes, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, JJ Redick, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, Paul Milsap, Joakim Noah, Spencer Hawes, Wilson Chandler, Arron Affalo, Tiago Splitter, Big Baby Davis, Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, Danilo Gallinari, Roy Hibbert, JaVale McGee, Ryan Anderson, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, DeAndre Jordan, Omer Asik, Goran Dragic, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Taj Gibson, DeJuan Blair, Marcus Thornton, Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Gordon Heyward, Paul George, Larry Sanders, Eric Bledsoe, Greivis Vasquez, Lance Stephenson, Jeremy Lin, Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Kenneth Faried, Jimmy Butler, Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas, and Michael Carter-Williams.
I used to think the main reason for our struggles was our lack of top 3 picks and chances to draft superstars. I now realize there is a whole wealth of talent up and down the draft and we have never had the scouting talent to figure any of it out....or better yet the dumb luck other teams seem to get.