TWolves Blog - Minnesota Timberwolves News and Articles
|
Written by SG
|
|
Sunday, 13 April 2008 |
|
Timberwolves Coach Randy Wittman, a former Magic assistant coach, said he has been assured by owner Glen Taylor that he would be back next season. Wittman has two years left on his contract. He expected the T-Wolves to go through some growing pains this season after trading star Kevin Garnett. "We knew it would be bumpy," Wittman said.
The Wolves have only two games left -- Tuesday at Detroit, Wednesday at
home against Milwaukee -- and now after winning their 21st game are
within one victory of catching the 22-victory Grizzlies in the
standings. Memphis finishes the season at Portland and Denver.
At stake is either a 15.6 percent or 11.7 percent chance at getting the No. 1 pick in the June draft.
Brewer said his focus this offseason will be working
on three areas: ball handling, jump shooting and gaining weight and
strength.
He plans to hire a nutritionist to help him add muscle and size to his 6-foot-9, 185-pound frame.
"I feel like I can put on some weight," Brewer said.
"That's going to be a focus. I always do a lot of weight lifting. But
you focus on that during the offseason. You really don't want to try
put much weight on during the season because that can throw your game
off."
Brewer's playing time for the T-Wolves has been sporadic, and his jump
shots has left him for long stretches. He entered Friday's game
averaging 5.6 points in 22.6 minutes per game. He's started 35 games,
but he's back in a reserve role now.
"The losing has probably been the toughest thing," said Brewer of
Minnesota having the third-fewest wins in the NBA. "I still haven't
gotten used to it. After games, I'm still that way when we lose. I've
never really lost this many games at any level, so it's been hard for
me."
Richards' biggest adjustment has been losing instead of winning. At 20-59, the T-Wolves have the NBA's third-worst record.
``It's different,'' he said. ``It's new, but you have to try to learn
from every loss and go from there. I never want to get used to losing,
I don't really like losing, but at the same time, it's reality and it's
happening. So I have to try and take something from all the losses.''
Such are the tricks of the mind you consider employing in such an
inconsistent, baffling rookie season such as the one Corey Brewer has
had. Some nights, you see a jump shot that spins sideways and conclude
the Wolves brass have done it again with their personnel decisions.
Then there are games such as Friday’s at Orlando, where Brewer was
aggressive and athletic and made as many shots as he missed (believe it
or not).
A rare five-game week yielded opening losses at home to Memphis on
Sunday and New Orleans on Wednesday and on the road at Charlotte on
Tuesday. They extended the latest losing streak to six (and eight of
nine) before rallying to beat Orlando on Friday and capping the week
with a victory at Memphis on Saturday, disappointing fans hoping for
lottery chances.
Wolves swingman Kirk Snyder tweaked an ankle during Friday night's 102-101 win at Orlando.
Timberwolves Vice President Kevin McHale was in Portsmouth, Va., scouting an NBA camp.
Postgame quotes from the Wolves loss in Orlando
 Be first to comment this article
|
|
Written by SG
|
|
Sunday, 13 April 2008 |
|
The Grizzlies were flat from the start, and overwhelmed by the
Timberwolves' dominance in the paint all night. Minnesota left with a
62-45 rebounding edge and a 60-44 scoring advantage in the paint.
After falling behind 43-25 after the first quarter, Memphis never really threatened.
Wolves record: 21-59
The Wolves could have clinched the third-worst
record in the NBA with a loss. By winning, they gave Memphis (22-58) a
chance to finish with the third-worst record, bumping the Wolves
(21-59) to fourth worst. The team with the third-worst record has a
15.6 percent chance at winning the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, and
the team with the fourth-worst record has an 11.9 percent chance.
Kirk Snyder had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Al Jefferson added 21
points and 10 boards, and the Timberwolves beat the Grizzlies 114-105
on Saturday night.
Also from the recap:
Ryan Gomes was the third Minnesota player with a double-double,
finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Rashad McCants led Minnesota
with 23 points and Randy Foye scored 16. Snyder’s points, on 9-of-11
shooting, were a season high and the rebounding total was the best of
his career.
Six days after he shot the Grizzlies to victory at Target Center, South
Dakota's own Mike Miller watched from the sideline dressed in a suit
because of back spasms. The Grizzlies also didn't use three other
regulars, and the Wolves gave Al Jefferson and Randy Foye extra rest
and still came one rebound from a franchise record.
Their 62 rebounds -- which included a season-high 24 offensive rebounds
-- were one short of the 63 a Timberwolves team hauled down in an April
Fool's Day game against Phoenix three seasons ago.
The Wolves have broken their franchise record for points in the first quarter twice in the last three weeks. Tonight's 43 points at Memphis set the record, last accomplished March 22 with 42 points at home against New York. Wolves coach Randy Wittman said he was worried that his team might not have much energy tonight after rallying to win 102-101 at Orlando Friday night. Instead the Wolves got off to a fast start and cruised to a 114-105 win at Memphis tonight.
Three people were injured Saturday night before a game between the
Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies when a small section of
the stands at FedExForum collapsed.
One person was taken away on a stretcher and two others were treated at
the scene. Grizzlies spokesman Dustin Krugel said during the game all
three were taken to various Memphis hospitals as a precaution.
Officials did not have the identities of any of the injured or specific
hospitals, but all three were alert and conscious after the accident.
The incident happened about an hour before the 8 p.m. EDT tip-off ...
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Saturday, 12 April 2008 |
Wolves forward Al Jefferson’s candidacy to win the NBA’s most improved player award, voted upon by journalists who cover the NBA, could be hurt by his team’s poor record, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
“I’m not saying Al Jefferson’s not deserving -- he’s a hell of a player and I have great respect for him -- but I’m just telling you that a team that’s going to be around the 20-win mark, it’s going to be tough,” Van Gundy said before tonight's 102-101 loss at home to the Wolves.
Lang Greene/Hoops Vine talks to Randy Foye about his recovery, offseason plans, and whether he'd take Deron Williams or Chris Paul:
Randy Foye: I got myself. If I wasn't injured, you know it might be
a different story. But I have to give it to CP3 right now, because his
team didn't make the playoffs last year and they're number one right
now. So I have to give it to him right now.
Wolves forward Craig Smith did not play Friday at Orlando because of a
collarbone/breastbone injury sustained in Wednesday's loss to New
Orleans. Point guard Sebastian Telfair did not make the two-game trip
and on Friday missed his 18th consecutive game because of a sprained
ankle sustained March 7 at Sacramento.
Previews of tonight's game at Memphis:
Click here for the forum's game thread
They Wolves remain positioned for the third-most chances in the NBA
draft lottery after Memphis won on Friday to maintain a two-victory
lead over the Wolves.
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Saturday, 12 April 2008 |
So tight all too often earlier in the season, the Wolves recovered from
14 points down in the third quarter, from seven behind with three
minutes left and from four points back in the final 87 seconds to
defeat the Magic 102-101 at Amway Arena. Ryan Gomes sank two
game-winning free throws with 2.9 seconds left.
"You got to shoot 'em like there's nobody in the gym," Gomes said of two shots that swished.
Wolves record: 20-59
His 44-minute, 25-point night included 12 points and two three-pointers in the fourth quarter, when he played every second.
With Orlando leading 101-100 with 1:17 to go, the Magic failed to
score on their next two possessions and Minnesota misfired on four
attempts. Al Jefferson missed a tipped rebound at 3.9 but Howard fouled
Gomes chasing the rebound with 2.9 remaining.
The search for consistency will continue into next
season. Friday's victory ended the Wolves' six-game losing streak and
was their first road victory this season against an Eastern Conference
team. Overall, they improved to 6-33 on the road.
Ryan Gomes made two free throws with 2.9 seconds
remaining to give the Wolves their first lead of the game. Gomes' trip
to the line came only after the Wolves got two offensive rebounds on
their last offensive possession.
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Friday, 11 April 2008 |
|
The Wolves are also without Craig Smith, who was ruled out for tonight's game. Smith suffered an injury to his left collarbone and sternum area when he was reaching for a loose ball and collided with another player late during Wednesday's game against New Orleans. "I'm just a little banged up, a little sore," Smith said. "It's a tough little injury. I'm just day to day." Officially the injury is a "sprained left sternoclavicular joint."
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Friday, 11 April 2008 |
|
The only player who has more double-double games this season than
Wolves star Al Jefferson is Magic center Dwight Howard, whose 67 in 78
games is 15 more than Jefferson's 52.
Also from Zgoda:
A few days ago, it looked as if Sebastian Telfair might play tonight
for the first time since spraining his ankle in Sacramento on March 7,
but he did not accompany the team Thursday on this two-game trip to
Orlando and Memphis.
With only four games left, it might not be worth potentially aggravating his injury. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, so it's an important offseason for him.
WD/Canis Hoopus on Kevin McHale scouting at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
The Twins and Timberwolves also added to the prime-time competition
Wednesday night. The Twins' 12-5 victory over the White Sox had a
strong 8.9 rating and 16 share on WFTC (Ch. 29); the woeful Wolves'
122-90 loss to New Orleans managed a minuscule 0.1 rating (1,707
households) with a 0 share.
Similarly, a good case can be made for Chris Kaman to be the league's Most Improved Player. Before he got injured he was averaging nearly 16 and 12 – by far the best season of his career. The Timberwolves are trying to make a case for Al Jefferson, who has also had a monster year. But is a player who's having a great year for a terrible team really the Most Improved?
Previews of tonight's game at Orlando:
T-Wolves, who are coached by former Magic assistant Randy Wittman, have
lost six in a row and have a league-worst road record of 5-33.
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
|
Craig Smith suffered a sprained left sterno clavicular joint in the
closing minutes of Wednesday evening's loss to the New Orleans Hornets.
Smith is listed as day-to-day, and is scheduled to go on the team road
trip to Orlando and Memphis. Smith scored two points and grabbed five
rebounds in 16 minutes of action against the Hornets and is averaging
9.4 points and 4.6 boards in 20 minutes of playing time per game.
According to orthogate.org, "The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is important because it helps support the shoulder. The SC joint links the bones of the arms and shoulder to the vertical skeleton . . . The SC joint connects your clavicle (collarbone) to your sternum, which is the large bone down the middle of your chest. This attachment is the only bony joint linking the bones of the arm and shoulder to the main part of the skeleton."
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
|
In all seriousness, I'm not certain giving Brewer any more burn in
these final four games is a good idea. Better just to let him keep
practing and then proscribe an off-season diet of milkshakes, bench
presses, squats and cheeseburgers along with a daily diet of about
10,000 jump shots. The boll weavils have infested his confidence and it
will take a few months to clean them away.
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament kicked off today at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. The high school gym was teeming with NBA General Managers, scouts, media members, and local hoop fans. There were scouts from all over the world representing many leagues from many nations.
Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale were among the General Managers seated right behind one of the baskets.
About 20 NBA scouts packed the gym on Wednesday for the international practices in Portland for the Nike Hoop Summit. Recognizable names in attendance included Fred Hoiberg and Jim Stack of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Gersson Rosas of the Houston Rockets, Tommy Sheppard from the Washington Wizards, and Michael Born of the Portland TrailBlazers.
Sebastian Telfair on his progress this year:
“For myself personally, I feel like I established
myself as a point guard this year. I take a lot of pride in that
because I was consistently getting guys open shots and being a point
guard every game. I take pride in that and have to give myself a little
pat on the back for that, but as a team, the way we’ve matured as a
team from the beginning of the season to right now, we’re a completely
different team.”
Translation: This is about the corniest thing I
could possibly say to a reporter about my season, and the T-Wolves as a
whole. And that’s not me. I’m so real they named a sex position after
my crossover. But I mean every word of this, and at this point in my
chaotic career, that feels f*cking fantastic. This is my very own “Star
Spangled Banner.”
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
|
Wittman said he did not feel the need to talk to guard Rashad McCants
after benching him Tuesday against Charlotte. McCants committed two
fouls in three minutes in the first quarter and was pulled for the rest
of the game.
"They know," Wittman said when asked before the game if he needed to
explain his decision to McCants. "I've been pretty consistent in that.
When we play with a purpose and with our mind in it, we're competitive.
I've said that all year long. The first eight minutes of that game we
weren't."
Wolves veteran Greg Buckner's 31 minutes at
Charlotte were his most since early November. He said he was surprised
to play and that his lungs were burning.
Buckner said he has never doubted his abilities despite playing in just 30 games this season.
"Every day in practice, I play hard," he said. "I know I can play this game."
The third-worst record would mean a 15.6 percent
chance of winning the No. 1 pick when the lottery is held May 20. The
Wolves still have a chance to catch Seattle for the second-worst record
in the NBA, which would give them a 19.9 percent chance at the top
pick. Miami is on track for the worst record, giving them a 25 percent
chance.
Kline also received $1,000 from former Republican Sen. Rudy Boschwitz
this quarter, $500 from the president of "Armor Shield," a
Kentucky-based company that manufactures body armor, and $1,000 from
Glen Taylor, the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Throw in a too-close-to-call MVP race, the Boston Celtics’
record-shattering re-emergence and a flurry of blockbuster trades, and
there’s been no shortage of things for fans to talk about.
“The races, the Western Conference, you’ve got Boston back being one of
the best teams. The Lakers are back up there again with the moves
they’ve made. I think it’s been a good year all the way around,”
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. “The more competition
you have, like this year has been, the more interesting it is.”
Be first to comment this article |
|
Written by SG
|
|
Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
Rashad
McCants had 23 for the Timberwolves, who have lost six straight. Randy
Foye scored 20 points for Minnesota, but just four of those came in the
final three quarters.
The win gave the Hornets a franchise-best 55 wins, beating the record set in 1996-97.
The Hornets led just 48-46 lead at intermission but Stojakovic - who
finished with five 3-pointers - sparked a third-quarter surge that put
New Orleans in front to stay.
Wolves record: 19-59
The entire Timberwolves team looked tired and bored throughout the game. When New Orleans punched them in the mouth, Minnesota didn't care. They just stood in the corner of the ring, taking the beating from the heavyweight. There was no pride or purpose in what they were doing and looked as if they can't wait for the season to end.
Wittman was not happy with his team's focus in the first quarter
Tuesday, but the Wolves showed some life -- at least on offense -- in
the first half.
Randy Foye seemed motivated by a head-to-head matchup with Paul,
scoring 16 points in the first quarter, including 4-for-4 from
three-point range.
As a team, the Wolves shot 72.2 percent from the field in the first
quarter, but Wittman felt his players began settling for jump shots
rather than attacking when the Hornets ran out and contested shots.
Minnesota made 72 percent of their shots in the first quarter and most
of it came from guard Randy Foye, who had 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
The Timberwolves entered on a five-game losing streak.
Behind 19 points and 16 assists from guard Chris Paul and 24 points
from Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans currently stands 1.5 games in front
of San Antonio (who with a win vs. Phoenix would remain one game back)
in the race for first. To top it off, tonight's win represents a new
franchise record for wins in a season.
They were surging, winners of six of nine games at one point in March.
Since then, they have lost eight of nine games and
six in a row, including Wednesday night's 32-point loss, which marks
their second-most lopsided defeat this season. New Orleans' 34-point
win (110-76) Dec. 22 is Minnesota's worst.
Be first to comment this article |
| << Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
| | Results 61 - 70 of 870 |
|
Columnists
Sonia Grover started her Wolves site, "I Heart KG", in 2006. In the wake of the big trade, she moved over to TWolvesBlog and brought her column,
"Wolves Daily News"Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Derek Hanson, the founder of TWolvesBlog, delivers his optimistic and often inspiring take on the Wolves in his column,
"DeROK's One Shot"Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dave Kelsey, life-long Wolves fan, season ticket holder, and forum post champion gives his humorous take on the Wolves and life in general in
"Club Seating with College Wolf"
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
As one of the 78 owners of Troy Hudson's "Undrafted", its clear that Anthony Hall isn't afraid to go against the grain. He offers up his one-of-a-kind take on the Timberwolves in his column,
"In the Paint"
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jeremy Knutson packed up his stuff from the Old Wolves Logo, drove over to the TWolvesBlog, unloaded the car, and now invites you to come along for a ride through the NBA in his
"Hoop De Ville"
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
TWolves Blog Howl-Outs
We have excellent Timberwolves tickets, plus awesome cheap tickets to Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers tickets, San Antonio Spurs tickets, Denver Nuggets tickets, and many other basketball tickets.
_______________
Sponsored by BetUS Sportsbook - Basketball betting at BetUS. Bet on the Timberwolves at America's favorite Sportsbook for NBA betting, football betting and sports betting.
________________
Get free NBA picks to win more of your bets this winter. Also view the latest NBA lines and college basketball odds and get a great sportsbook review at Locksmith Sports.
________________
Get Jimmy Buffet Tickets, Dave Matthews Tickets, and Spamalot Tickets from Vivid Seats. We also have tickets to the hottest sporting events including
Boston Red Sox Tickets, Super Bowl Tickets,and New England Patriots Tickets.
________________
Minnesota Timberwolves Tickets from a Minnesota ticket broker, Ticket King. Need Cheap Timberwolves tickets? Log-on to Timberwolves Tickets and reserve your Timberwolves Basketball Tickets to any game, even the Timberwolves Boston Celtics game!
________________
Barry's Tickets has great deals on Minnesota Timberwolves Tickets, Minnesota Vikings Tickets, Minnesota Twins Tickets, Minnesota Wild Tickets, Super Bowl Tickets, NBA All Star Game Tickets as well as all NBA Basketball Tickets
________________
NBA Picks
Basketball Picks
Free Basketball Picks
________________
For information on featuring your site in this area, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|
