On the list of things that weren't/aren't ever supposed to happen, (never EVER happen, that is) Darko Milicic putting up back-to-back 20-point nights falls just below MLKJ's assassination and Brendan Frasier getting ANOTHER acting gig. I'm not even joking:

Official United States List of Things That Weren't/Aren't Ever Supposed to Happen

1. Martin Luther King Jr's Assassination

2. Brendan Frasier Getting Another Acting Gig

3. Darko Milicic  Putting up Back-to-Back 20-point Nights in the NBA

So, as you can see, it's only patriotic to surprised by this happy coincidence. And it's not just the points. It's the way he's getting them in the context of the offense the past four games. He's shooting 59.2% from the field on 49 shots. Think about that for a second.  Those are massive numbers. MASSIVE. It's clear the team is running plays for him and getting him the ball in spots where he's more comfortable working. More importantly, the team is sticking with Darko (mostly because Pekovic is out) through thick and thin, as he's played 30+ minutes in each of the past four contests. What I love most though, is that he's using agility while showing a basketball IQ that surpasses what I thought he had. And it's really fun to watch. no comments

Lakers coming to the Target Center Edition
Friday:  Lakers @ Timberwolves on MyFox 29  
AccuScore:  112-101

I implore everyone to tune into one of the rare games on broadcast television.  Beasley, Love and the Wolves are at their personal best and the team is at it's franchise best in the last few years.  PLEASE DON'T LAY AN EGG TONIGHT GUYS!!!!  Plus they get Saturday and Sunday off so they have all the excuse in the World to lay it on the line.   

After I great game you'll certainly be busting to talk about it... forum

Monday:  Timberwolves @ Thunder on FSN North

Durant and Westbrook versus Beasley and Love it should be another very very  fun game to watch.  

Clippers Game Notes and Locker Room Tour 


[This was taken with a friend's camera phone.  Pretty amazing.  Courtesy of Courtney Remes.]

A major plus of following a team like the Wolves from the bottom (now) to the top (someday soon I pray) is that the team is putting on the full court press to keep the fans they have still engaged.  A result of this was the team offering me tickets and a tour for the Clippers game.  

I highly recommend using the current downturn to get close seats to the game which previously couldn't be had reasonably.   The feel you have for defense and the dynamic between the players is very much worth it.  I'd be shocked if you can't get a steal on tickets out front of the stadium these days. Anyways....

* Telfair seemed like vocal on-court leader of the team.  As I walked by the bench during a break in play he was clapping  and saying  ~"Come on guys we are down by three we got this".   After fouls he'd be directing people all over and telling them where they should have been.  It was very impressive.  

* You can't watch Beasley for a minute during pregame, during breaks in play, or really anytime the game isn't going without realizing what a goofball he is.  

* Regardless of all the media attention on Love, as the game got tight in the last 5 minutes the crowd nervously clamored for the ball to be in Beasley's hands as soon as the offense slowed down.   He is the guy who was trusted to make plays.  

* Clippers note:  Eric Bledsoe look like a player.  Willie Warren does not.  

* The lockerroom is clearly a child of the 80's.  The lockers themselves are nice wood and have likely been redone, but the space is still small and cramped for guys that big.  

* Martell was still in the lockerroom as we arrived (start of the 3rd quarter).   He is tall.  

* Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Micheal Beasley and DeAndre Jordan are listed at 6'10''  This is amusing because Jordan has at minimum 2 inches on all those guys.  Darko had an inch on Jordan so seemingly he is listed correctly.  

* The Wolves shower area has hair driers that I would have needed to jump to turn on.  

* Darko passes much better than I expected.  On the flip side the one shot he missed was so horrific he almost needed credit for two.  I also think he might have taken a ball off the rim that still might have gone in (Beasley's shot).  

* Blake had around 20 points midway through the 2nd quarter.  Not really sure what changed to keep him in the mid-twenties for the game but I'm thankful for it.  

* Wes looked more tentative in person than he does on TV.  His confidence seems shaken right now.   His catch and shoot was good but on defense and with the ball in his hands he looks off.   no comments

Wolves Defeat Clippers 113 - 111 to improve to 4-9 on the season

Well, I wanted to watch the game, but it wasn't on TV... again.  Good luck getting any new fans to check out this team when they don't have games on TV. The Love 31-31 game, followed by a close game against an EC playoff contender in the Atlanta Hawks, and then this one. Such fail.

In the TWolves Blog Forum game thread, I made a short prediction of thus, for tonight:

Ok, we can definitely beat the craptastic 1-10 Clippers. Talk about a disappointing, terrible team. Blake Griffin goes OFF. Love cannot even begin to contain his athleticism. Bledsoe outplays any/all our PG's. Aminu has more Points + Rebounds than Wes Johnson. Somehow we still win by at least 10 points.

Wasn't far off, other than the Wolves eventual winning margin.  From the boxscore, looks like Be Easy and Love carried us again.  That's to be expected for us to win games this season.  They ARE the best Forward Combination in the NBA, after all. #BizarroWorld

Darko had another good game, which is very encouraging. Plus he was 5 of 6 for his FG's!  Woohoo.

I feel sooooo bad for McHale's Navy, a.k.a. Gomes, Smith, and Foye.  Well, mostly for Gomes.  And not for Foye at all.  But anyways, god that sucks for those veterans being stuck on the Clippers.  They have the entire youth movement going, and there's really no place for any of these three.  Gomes is a super sub glue man on a contender.  Rhino is a change of pace backup big man, and Foye... well, he just sucks.  But still, I can't believe they signed Foye and Gomes this off-season.  Then again, it's Donald Sterling, so yeah.

Anyways.

Check out the latest entry, #5, in KLove's new GQ Blog.  I actually got a sneak peak at it earlier today, but had to wait until it posted on the GQ site before I could link to it.  HERE IT IS.  And here's an exerpt about his 31-31 game last Friday night:


And check out all kinds of TWolves game thoughts, analysis, and general Tom-Foolery in the TWolves Blog Forums

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KLove getting much more publicity these days with his play of late.  Check him out recently on The T.Ocho Show:

Also here's the link to the T.Ocho show where you can see the Kevin Love clip, plus other clips and info about the show.


In keeping with recent FTC rule changes (don't wanna rile any feathers ya hrm?), it was we at TWB whom were contacted directly by VERSUS.  They sent me the handy link above and asked that I post it, which I kindly obliged.  Unfortunately, that is all they shared with me, and not millions and billions of dollars as well (wistful dreaming.)

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It's fun to be a Wolves fan right now, what with Beasley scoring like crazy and Kevin Love putting up huge stats. But some people just want to rain on a parade. People like Bhemis Parks over at Bleacher Report. College Wolf tossed me a link to his most recent article, entitled "Should Timberwolves' Kevin Love Have An Asterisk On His 31-Rebound Night?". CW asked that someone on staff rip this guy to shreds. After reading the putrid puddle of bile, I volunteered.

Parks made some valid points. Talked about the Knicks' small lineup. And mentioned Amar'e Stoudemire's foul trouble. I'll agree those things contributed to Love's bloated totals, but until Parks measures every player according to the same strict standards, I'll continue to call B.S. on the premise. Where was Parks when Randy Johnson threw a perfect game against the Arizona Diamonbacks' Triple-A roster a few years back? Great players break major records when opportunity knocks. And on Friday, it banged on the door. Love simply answered.

Here's where I'll stop. Mostly because I'd rather not give him any more publicity. Also, because he's just a dude trying to get reactions. He riled people up for the sake of riling people up. I wanted to punch him in the face like 15 or 20 times while reading. Just awful writing, awful thought process and awful conclusions. So instead of flaming the guy's work line-by-line, I'll ask you to consider the source. I'll have you know Deadspin ripped Bleacher Report for excessive stupidity!

Plus, I severely doubt the guy would change what he's doing based on anything I pen. He's a troll with forum, and that's a dangerous thing.

First Post at TwolvesBlog=vanquished. See ya'll around.


For more TWolves News and Analysis, make sure to check out the TWolves Blog Forums!
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You go Tolliver.  Here's some news about everyone's favorite T-Wolf.  Or, at least some people's favorite T-Wolf.  Or, at least I like the guy.  From Jonah Ballow at Timberwolves.com:

"The Decision Part Deux” pales in comparison to the most recent decision in Anthony Tolliver’s life.

This past summer, Tolliver inked a free agent deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and created a video parody of LeBron James’ Decision special on ESPN. His intentions were not malicious, just a comedic attempt at self deprecation. Most of his new teammates would agree that the video represented Tolliver’s personality as a fun-loving and likeable 25-year old on the squad.

The mystery aspect to the video was the voice in the background, who prompted Tolliver to announce his NBA destination for the 2010-11 season. The answer was discovered when timberwolves.com was granted exclusive access to his next big decision.

Tolliver grabbed the team photographer and videographer to stage a photo shoot with his girlfriend, Jessica Svoboda, who was in town from Houston. Jessica was under the assumption that she was going to take professional photos at Loring Park and then at the practice facility with the two posing in Wolves uniforms. All along, Tolliver planned on surprising his future fiancée while documenting the entire event

And in other less romantic, or even exciting news, the Wolves signed former Utah Jazz PG Sundiata Gaines; and cut Mo Ager.  Gaines is solid but nothing spectacular, while Ager just clearly sucked.  I wouldn't be surprised if Gaines isn't here long, considering both Ridnour and Flynn (!!!) could be back playing next week.  Again from Timberwolves.com:

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed free-agent guard Sundiata Gaines. To make room on the roster, the Wolves last night requested waivers on guard Maurice Ager.

Gaines, a 6-1 point guard, appeared in 32 games for the Utah Jazz in 2009-10, averaging 3.3 points and 1.2 assists in 6.8 minutes per game. He is probably best known for hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Jazz a 97-96 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 14, 2010. It was the first NBA three-pointer of his career. Gaines also appeared in five playoff games with Utah in 2010, averaging 2.2 ppg.

Prior to joining the Jazz, Gaines played in 14 games with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League in 2009-10, averaging 23.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists.

Gaines played for the University of Georgia from 2004-07, averaging 11.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.9 apg in 123 career games. He finished his career as Georgia's all-time leader in steals (259) and second in assists (476).

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Friday:  Knicks @ Wolves
AccuScore Prediction:   110-106.6
Forum Tread:  click here
Thoughts:  This seems like a match up made in heaven for fun basketball.  If shots are falling both teams will score over 115.   I'm hoping Beasley and Amar'e can put on a put back slam show for us.  

Sunday:  Wolves @ Hawks 
Thoughts:   The no nothing speculators at ESPN and elsewhere would love to talk about a Josh Smith for Kevin Love deal even though the Hawks aren't about to spend a mountain of money on J. Johnson only to undercut the core of the team immediately.  

So someone needs to bring me up to speed.  I thought it was the West Coast road trip we were supposed to fear.  Is the West now friendly confines and the beasts are in the East?   Hopefully our competitive run extends 3 and 4 games this weekend.  

Season Timeline 
Early Preseaon: Beasley, Wes and Webster Rule but what is up with Love?  This team might be good.  
Late Preseason:  Wes and Webster are hurt, Beasley is lost, but thank god Love is killing it.   We are screwed.
Week 1:  (1-2)  Thankfully we got a good win against the Bucks, but hold your nose in Memphis.  
Week 2:  (0-4)  Shut it down we are completely screwed.  If Beasley isn't playing we don't have NBA level talent.  
Week 3:  (1-1 In-progress) Love Rules, no he sucks (and he is being traded maybe), Beasley rules...  
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Per Jerry Z. Could it be time to bring back DeJuan Wheat? Perhaps he can provide some veteran leadership.

Wolves guard Luke Ridnour will sit out from practices and games for the next week and then will have his strained left hamstring re-evaluated.

And...Michael Beasley had ice packed on that left hip and he was grimacing in pain as he walked off the court after shootaround but expect him to play.

Ridnour was examined by a doctor in L.A. on Monday and his injury was determined to be a strain, not a torn hamstring.

That one-week timetable doesn't mean he'll be ready to play in a week. It just means he'll be examined again.

UPDATE: Curtis Jerrrels to work out for the Wolves.

 If 4 months ago some drunk bum on the corner of 1st and 7th slurred at you "Maurice Ager is going to be our backup point guard in mid-November," what would you have done?

Curious how Bassy will do in the starting unit, and if Flynn will be back before Luke. Burning questions.

I guess that means more imminent Rhombus soundbites/excuses to explain the start! I guess we just need time to gel! More like be absorbed, like gel, into the defender from the 67th contested jumpshot of the quarter. But when career 8.5ppg scorer Martell Webster comes back.... 15 game winning streak. I mean, he had a behind the back dribble And-1 layup in the pre-season. Against the Lakers. We're in. Never mind the system. Good work Rhombus. no comments

Over the past week or so, we've had a nuclear explosion, an abused child, and the Hindenberg as very fitting symbols for the Wolves losses.  Since last night's debacle was against the Houston Rockets, this morning, we're going with...


...the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion. 

If this season does nothing else for Wolves fans, it will give them an in-depth education on the great tragedies in history, as your TWolves Blog staff grasps for 70+ analogies to use during game recaps.  Unfortunately, there's all too many to choose from.  Just to give a preview, some upcoming games will likely feature events such as The Titanic, The Boston Massacre, The Oklahoma City Bombing, and Troy Hudson's rap album.

Here's some fun quotes from last night's 26 point blowout.  (Will the Wolves ever lose by single digits again?  That's all I'm asking for, really.)

"We were mentally prepared for the game but we couldn't throw a pea into the ocean. Our confidence got sucked out of us and we just couldn't make a shot. Our defense was compromised and it was a tough loss." - Kurt Rambis

Really, Kurt?  You're telling me that a mentally prepared team lost by 26 points?  Maybe if we were trotting out the local JV team to play the Houston Rockets, they could be mentally prepared and lose 26 points.  A mentally prepared NBA team shouldn't lose by that much.  So either the Wolves have the talent level of a JV squad, or they weren't mentally prepared. 

"This was a team we probably could have beaten. Houston was ready and set the tone early with Yao inside. Scola and the rest of their team got to the free throw line a lot. When they shoot the ball so well, it makes it tough for us." - Kevin Love

Yes, Kevin, Houston was a team you probably could have beaten, IF YOU SCORED 27 MORE POINTS!!!!!

I don't want to be so negative, but it's time to cut the crap and the canned responses, and have somebody finally own up to this.  There's no reason that this team should be losing games this badly.  Something's broken and using excuses like "we were mentally prepared, but..." and "we should have won if..." just doesn't cut it. 

Here's the game thread for the forum if you feel like reliving the nightmare.... no comments

Friday:  Hawks @ Timberwolves 

Super fast recap:  Wolves lose to the Hawks tonight 113-103.  Love had a bruuuuttttallll start to this game and shockingly only got 25 minutes as a result.  More on that later.  Brewer, Wes and Telfair all nailed 3's to keep this one from being a 3rd embarrassment in a row.  

So the Wolves start out the weekend against an undefeated team which leads us into Sunday...

Sunday:  Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets

Thoughts:  Houston has managed to start the season with exclusively agonizing losses.  They'll be playing the Spurs on Saturday so the Wolves might have a slight chance if Houston wins a draining game.  For symmetries sake I'll be rooting for the Rockets to be defeated. 

Fans and Media Report a Infestation of Wittmanitis
The team has yet to confirm but we at TwolvesBlog fear the worst.  Either follow the debate in our forum or see for yourself on Sunday.   If you are unfamiliar with this serious malady please familiarize yourself below.  

Wittmanitis
Coaching via constantly changing lineups based on individual mistakes. 
Oh nooo Kosta Koufos is coming into a 1 point game with 4 minutes left so scoring leader Kevin Love can goes to the bench.  This coach must have Wittmanitis because this makes ZERO sense.  

Symptoms of Wittmanitis are:

1. Players with zero confidence
2. Players who check out for the season on Feb. 1
3. Loses coming in groups of 10 and 15
4. Zero discernible player development. 
5. Sports Fans watching the Minnesota Wild and/or going to bed.

Addendum:  If you see a middle school coach screeching for his players to move the ball after every failed possession that is annoying but likely age appropriate.  If you see an NBA coach do it he should be brought in for testing immediately.  
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