Yep, that about sums up the state of this team right now. He's starting the game tonight vs the Pacers, in place of our ineffective second overall pick in the draft. And no, I'm not talking about Michael Beasley.

 
Like AR is wont to do this time of the year, like clock-work, watch him go off for 35 points, 15 boards, 10 assists, and 8 blocks... followed by Kahn immediately resigning him to a $40 million, four-year deal.

Thank goodness for all our sanity that the game isn't on TV tonight. 

No sense telling you all what you already know, namely, that we suck without Kevin Love. (Good job on that roster construction, Kahn!)  

We're currently down 20 at half-time vs. the Nuggets, and like the last dozen games and the reminder of the season... this one is over.

Per Rotoworld:

 

Kevin Love has been diagnosed with both a minor concussion as well as a neck strain, and he will stay at a Denver-area hospital overnight for precautionary reasons.
The Timberwolves have two games left this week, and Love's status is in serious doubt for both of those games. The team has yet to release a timetable for his potential return, but once they do we will let you know. Stay tuned.
 

Kevin Love will not return to Wednesday night's game after taking an elbow to the head while attempting to take a charge.
Love received the elbow from JaVale McGee, and was down for quite a while before being helped to the locker room. It sounds as though he may have suffered a concussion, but there has been no official word yet.

Kevin Love had to be helped off the court after taking an elbow to the head from JaVale McGee while attempting to take a charge on Wednesday night.
Love's teammates immediately called for assistance and he stayed on the ground for a few moments before being helped off. We will update you as soon as we know more.

Who knows yet if he sustained a concussion, or how long he'll be out. There has not been any other official word released as of now. All we know is that he won't be returning to this crapfest the game.  Let's just all hope it isn't a Sidney Crosby or Justin Morneau situation. 

So yeah... as usual:

Sorry folks for the lack of game threads. Feel free to discuss the game tonight here if you wish; otherwise check out our forums on the right side of your screen.

Call me crazy, but I have a good feeling about tonight. Rubio is rejoining the team (allegorically, the day after Easter), secondary injuries are subsiding, Barea might be used to his role by now. A few practices under the feet. This team needs an April win badly. Need to get ahead of Portland to minimize the Hornets pick armageddon as much as possible. 

And furthermore, any damage the Wolves can do to the teams competing with Utah for the final playoff spot is good damage. Should Utah sneak in, the Wolves end up with their 1st round draft pick. So, the Wolves have something to play for in a sense tonight. 

Tonight's contest will be on ESPN2 at a late 8pm start time.

Garnett the Justin Bieber of Minneapolis back Rubio smiling Wes Johnson reminds me of Ducky from Land Before Time Ray Allen playing doom Adelman facepalming no Pek Beasley Barea Malcolm Lee triple dub a must Kevin Love needs a 90 40 for a win Jermaine O'Neal is in a walker not playing Ridnour broken nose and strained groin insert punchline Vanilla Ice what the $&#% how? 

Enjoy. This is one of the best nights of the year. Root for the home team. There is a new Kevin in town.

Kevin Garnett was recently asked his thoughts on his upcoming return to "Sota" and here's what he had to say...

"It’s always special to come back to true fans and your foundation, but as far as that franchise, I have nothing positive to say. So I’ll just let it be that. I think Kevin Love's playing at a high level, I think he’s rejuvenated the city as far as basketball goes. Other than that, nothing else."

So much for my fantasy of Garnett coming back home as a free agent someday to end his career.  I found the comments particularly interesting, considering the fact that almost none of the regime remains from Garnett's days as a Timberwolf.  To me, it seems like a pointed shot at Glen Taylor. 

Regardless, it looks like Wolves fans will need to be content rooting for the "new" Kevin, something I think we're all very happy to do.

Blah blah must win Love beast no more Rambis ball Rubio from Spain next year Biyumbo stud 50 blocks and 2 points Paul Silas looks grumpy Maggete a greek statue. no comments

Sorry for the lack of game threads. Apparently the rest of the TWB staff went on vacation with me last week. I kid, guys. Maybe (slackers).

Tough, tough, tough, tough, contest tonight. But if the Wolves still want to have any hope of making the playoffs, they have to do work. No Pek. No Barea. Love's NBA nemesis in Zach Randolph is back and playing himself back into form. If the Wolves want to have a chance tonight, Wes and Martell are going to have to give us SOMETHING/ANYTHING. Or Wayne can continue his underrated season. Or we can just rest up and destroy Charlotte tomorrow. Who knows? Not much to say about tonight, other than: tough. The Grizzlies are good. Maybe a much tougher team for us matchup-wise than any other team in the West including OKC.

At least Rubio is finally coming over from Spain next year. Super pumped.

 

So who else is still not over the Rubio thing? Such a tragedy. Worse than the Garnett trade. Worse than Adrian Peterson. The fine people of Minneapolis and St. Paul were starting to galvanize around this kid. While Kevin Love is a sure-fire stud, Rubio made him look all the more better. Furthermore, I think we silently saw by what He hath taken away, that this was secretly Rubio's team all along. His loss is a truly gut crushing thing not only for the franchise, but for the country of Spain and their Olympic team, which would have competed mightily (and probably still will). And now we are left with sad pictures taken from hospital beds, and the lingering feeling as to how the young man is doing in the ever-warming city of Minneapolis while his beaten and battered team embark on a 2-week long road trip filled with exponentially increasing challenges. And rather than step up for their wounded soldier in Hollywood fashion Saturday, our favorite team came out flat and was defeated, tails between the legs, by Chris Kaman Your Mouth and a slew of players I had never heard of in my life. 

Pity Party at my place tonight. 9 o'clock Wear your Wolves jerseys.

But it's time to bounce back. Rubio was only 1 man out of 9 in the regular rotation. The Wolves still have a shot as their conference rivals continue to mount losses. Houston was dealt arguably an equally mighty blow when Kyle Lowry fell to a bacterial infection of unknown origins (insert racy punchline). Portland has completely imploded. Denver hasn't turned things around yet since getting Nene and Gallo back into the lineup. And the Jazz, well, we are better than them with or without Rubio and I stand by it.

Bring on the surging Suns. The Wolves had their chance Saturday to show defeat. With a few more days of rest, let's see what they can do down in Phoenix against yet another team we should beat. 

Injuries to Rubio or not, just remember we have one of the best NBA coaches in the last 20 years, or ever, behind the helm. Remember that there have been myriad wins this year where someone else other than Rubio willed us to an unexpected victory. Remember, too that aside from the dramatic photo above, that we will see Rubio back in a Wolves uniform a) yet this calendar year, and  b) before the Mayan Apocalypse in late December. Remember this team needs to reestablish its identity on the fly and will need a few games to do so. Remember that D-Will has been playing great ball lately and this team still has the depth to win games. 

The season isn't over just yet. 

For those that may have missed it, Ricky Rubio went knee to knee with Kobe Bryant coming over trap him in the corner in the final minute. Sadly his ACL did not survive this encounter. It is a day for Wolves fans to mourn. 

per Zgoda

 

Here we are again. The ultimate statement game. The most satisfying moment of the season will either come tonight or it won't.

The Lakers are coming off of two ridiculous losses to Detroit and Washington. They will be hungry for a win. The Lakers are in disarray, threatening to mutiny against head coach Mike Clown and his non-triangle offense. A few keys to the game:

Pek: Do your best to body Bynum. He is the x-factor. Do your thing in the post. Intimidate these chumps.

Love: Get a hand in Pau's face on that mid-range. He isn't going to do anything else except maybe pretend he can still hit that fadeaway shot in the post consistently and/or be generally annoying. Shoot well, and get the Laker's bigs in foul trouble early.

Kobe: Please shoot 37+ times and alienate your teammates, especially Andrew Bynum in the 4th quarter.

Wes: Shoot well and dare the Lakers to extend their defense.

Malcolm Lee: Play a few minutes and become the next Jeremy Lin story.

Rubio: Get your first career dunk. Make it over Bynum, Derek Fisher, Matt Barnes, or Josh McRoberts

Corey Brewer: Demand to be traded back to Minnesota at some point. I know you don't play for LA, but you are missed.

Matt Barnes: Go away.

Luke: Leave World Peace wide open and help on Kobe. Just don't get within 3 feet of him or you will be whistled for a foul.

Darko: Defense. Nothing but open dunks. You could play a crucial role tonight. Accept this role and you could make another $20 million in your career. 

D-Will: Be aggressive.

Beasley: Be cautiously aggressive. 

Martell: Hit 3's. Play smart.

Lord Adelman: Would love to see you get a technical tonight, if for any reason other than to get the fans even more on your side.

Mike Brown: Frustrate your self-entitled, epic fail of a team as much as possible.

Lastly, fans: HATE the Lakers. For once, please.

Discuss.