This cesspit of a season is finally over, with not much for Wolves fans to look forward to other than the draft lottery on Tuesday and the subsequent draft.  Perhaps some fans are enviously watching the playoff games (and seeing how truly far from “it” the Wolves squad is.)  Personally, as a fan of basketball and the NBA in general, I have been watching the playoff games with eager anticipation.  While not as exciting as the playoffs were last year, overall they’ve still been pretty exciting.  You had the upstart Warriors trying to shock the world, and Lebron is doing his best D-Wade impersonation by leading the Cavs to the conference finals. If I had to bet on it, I’d say we are looking at a rematch of the 2004-05 Pistons-Spurs finals.

Well, I’ve been following all the trade and draft rumors this year more dilligently than I ever have in the past.  With less than one week to go, I figured why not come out with some predictions and analysis of what I think each of the 14 lottery teams will (and should) do.  I could write-up the entire first round, but predicting the late stages of the first round in the NBA draft is next to impossible. It’s harder to do than Sebastion Telfair trying to get through a metal detector.  And seeing as how the Wolves are drafting #7, I don’t think too many people are all too interested in what Utah does with pick number twenty-five.  I am however, very interested in how the lottery pans out.  This draft is incredibly deep, and I could make a case for the Wolves wanting each and every player that is among the first 14 drafted.   With that said, let’s begin:

Do you ever wish you were in control of a NBA team?  I mean, total and complete control within the grasp of your fingertips to do as you see fit?  I wish that upon myself once or twice every day.  I often ponder to myself just how exactly the current Front Office of the Minnesota Timberwolves continues to remain in charge of the day to day operations.

The unthinkable happened. The Minnesota Timberwolves traded their heart and soul, Kevin Garnett. I knew it could happen, I just didn’t think this time would finally come. After 12 wonderful years, Garnett is gone. Our KG is now the Boston Celtic’s KG. What do we do now?

Wolves coach Randy Wittman has three options at point guard — Randy Foye, Marko Jaric and Telfair. Wittman wants to use Foye more as an off-guard and scorer, and Jaric lost the point guard job two years ago, although he does offer defense at the position.

The Futures lines are out for the 2007-08 NBA Champion. If gambling were legal, I’d offer some insight into who is going to win it all. But since gambling isn’t legal… ah, who am I kidding. I love gambling. The legality of it is a minor obstacle, much like an annoying gnat that won’t leave me alone.

9 road wins.

The second worst road record in the Western Conference.

That was last year. That was the past. Wednesday marked the start of a whole new season for Minnesota Timberwolves basketball.

Snake bitten.

That’s how I feel.  Luckily it wasn’t a venomous snake.  It’s not going to kill me.  I will survive and come back stronger than before. It’s like looking for water in an unknown land and turning over a rock to find a snake, rather than an oasis.  Disappointing and a little annoyance followed by a brief flash of pain. Don’t worry, it won’t slow me down too much.

The Contenders :

1.  Spurs:  (Over/Under 55.5)

               My pre-season favorite to win it all this year.  You can look for at least a 60 win season from the rejuvenated potential number one squad out west.  Tim Duncan is hungry and healthy, a very deadly combination indeed.  This is a team that came within one stupid foul from making the Finals last season, even without a fully healthy Duncan.  The Over seems like a pretty safe bet for this squad to me.

I wish I could blame the new ball.  I really do.

Perhaps we could blame the officiating?  But it wasn’t overly bad.  Or, at least not noticeably so.