On a certain level, I am very happy with the success the Timberwolves have attained this year. They've won 50 percent of their games so far this year at a time in franchise history where the past six seasons netted a 143-348 record (.291). So there's certainly reason for happiness and hope within the fanbase.

The problem (yes, there's a problem) is that the improvement has been so vast from last year to this year that there are a few of us who are jaded. We suffered through some of the worst NBA performances imaginable, and now other far less-dedicated fans are hopping on the bandwagon, buying up season tickets, and overall making a mockery of my - and others' - six years of misery. What's worse is that the rotation includes guys like Pekovic and Rubio and Derrick Williams - key players who weren't a part of the team (or a fringe contributor in Pek's case) in 2010-11, so I can't even feel invested in their successes and failures because I don't "know" their game yet.

So I've floundered a bit this season.

I enjoy the Wolves from a safe distance, reading game stories and box scores to stay "up to date" on their rise from obscurity to true relevance. I've caught contests now and then, marveling at the way Rubio sees the court (like we prayed he would), and observing the ease at which Kevin Love obliterates opposing power forwards and centers' attempts to keep him from gathering caroms. Not to mention the hiring of an all-world head coach who has both the attention of the players and a discernible direction for the team.

I'm only writing here today because I've noticed the jaded feeling has begun to subside. I miss having a fun, successful NBA team to follow and enjoy. I suppose more than anything I needed the excitement to happen organically, because that's the only way I could invest in a team and be truly disappointed after turnovers and missed passes, or smile like a proud father when crisp ball rotation leads to an open look or layup.

I'm taking small steps after the All-Star Break - I'll attend my first game of the year in a couple weeks. I'm going to start DVRing games I can't watch live, too. All in an attempt to get back the feeling I had when this team was the butt of every basketball-related joke. With any luck, I'll be the guy crying in the stands after the Wolves' first playoff victory in late-April or so.

The Big Alcoholic comes back to town tonight to extract revenge once again.  It seems like he typically does well against us, and unfortunatley it also sounds like The Peksecutioner will miss the game for precautionary reasons. So look for a big game from Big Alco.  Who's going to stop him, Brad Miller? (Who :gasp: is our likely starting center.)  Things could get rough real quickly.

So click the comment button below to come join us all in the Live Chat Game Thread for tonight's game!

Come join us in the chat or the TWolves Blog Forums, where we are always discussing something.

Let's forget how awful our wing play can be and how frustrating it is to watch our second overall draft pick sit on the bench.

Let's forget about buzz words like "production" and "fit."

Instead, let's talk about what is clearly a team that is just one or two years away from being a championship contender.

Click "Read More" to find out why Jon Schweppe is making ridiculous outlandish statements!

EPIC. Enjoy:

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Can the Wolves bounce back from two consecutive horrendous weekend losses, and defeat a pretty good Orlando Magic team?  Any squad with Dwight Howard is going to present a formidable challenge, regardless of who his teammates are.  I don't think the Wolves have ever had an answer for Dwight Howard in all the years he's been in the NBA.  Can Tyrannosaurus Pek hold him down tonight?  At least hopefully hold him to less than 20 and 20?

Also, TWolves Blog did a Q&A with our fabulous Bloguin sister site Orlando Magic Daily. They are one of the best Magic sites on the net fo sho.  Make sure to check out the pre-game Q&A session over at OMD, which you can find here: Family Time: Checking in on the Timberwolves.

Come join us in the chat or the TWolves Blog Forums, where we are always discussing something.

Hang out and chat tonight as you wish. Game on League Pass and through other means. Hopefully the Wolves can bounce back tonight and turn the ball over fewer than 400 times. Wes4MVP.

Wouldn't it be so much easier to like the Jeremy Lin saga if it didn't involve the Knicks? I think so.

(Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Love in 2004)

Can we sweep the Mavs tonight? Tough contest. Dirk is back with a vengeance, but so is our very own 2-time All-Star and 3-point participant: Kevin Love. Good shooting = good playing. Get off to a good start. Unleash the Pek. Go Wolves. 

Due to popular demand from our TWolves Blog Forum members, once again here is the Live Chat Game Thread for Wednesday night's back-to-back game in Memphis, vs the Grizzlies.

Don't look now, but we CURRENTLY HAVE A BETTER RECORD THAN THE GRIZZLIES!  And we are actually ABOVE .500.  Holy friggen crap, who would have ever imagined that?!?

Can we pull off yet another victory without Kevin Love?  Or will perennial T-Wolves killer Rudy Gay be too much for us to handle?  Tune in tomorrow night, and come join us in the comments or TWB Forums to find out!

Due to popular demand from our TWolves Blog Forum members, once again here is the Game Thread for Tuesday night's game at Target Center. 

Can we defeat the 8-15 Sacramento Kings, without Kevin Love suiting up for the Wolves?  I have a scary feeling that DeMarcus Cousins and/or Jason Thompson run wild on us.  Hopefully Big Pecker can slow them down... somehow.

Come join us in the comments for game chatting and more!

Oh, and we are without this man, tonight:

Due to popular demand from our TWolves Blog Forum members, we'll try to get Live Chat Game Threads up here on the front page of TWB from now on.  Here's the first one, for tomorrow night's game vs the 13-10 Rockets at Target Center.

Can we pull it off?  Coming off the epicly clutch thriller win vs the Nyets, I really hope we don't have a "let down" against the Rockets.  We can beat them again, I know it. 

Onward and upward... playoffs in 2012 baby!