Jazz vs. Wolves 3/11/11
Tonight Big Al makes his return in a very winnable game against a Utah team very much in transition. An odd time to go through such drastic deconstruction, it is difficult to say what the future holds for Utah. They are still very much a veteran team. It should be an interesting offseason for them, as it will be the Wolves.The usual slew of random questions to think about if you have the privilege of watching tonight's doozy:
1. How is Ty Corbin as a coach for Utah? I think the saddest thing about the Sloan situation was its abruptness. He didn't get a farewell tour or nearly the respectful, heralded exit he deserved. Furthermore, one would think that order of operations may have been a worthwhile consideration for the Jazz. Maybe if Sloan stuck it out past the trade deadline he would still be on the sidelines?
2. Wes Johnson. Has he recovered from his illness? I called him out the other day for having an inconsistent season. He has had two poor games in a row now, but clearly illness is an acceptable alibi. The accusation is unjust until he gets a game or two off the mend.
3. Michael Beasley allegedly was kicked out of the West End movie theatre. Oddly, the article title calls out Mike, but him and multiple teammates were thrown out for absurd behavior. I find it unfair the article specifically calls out Mike. Very poor journalism.
4. The Wolves played a game against a dreadful team the other night, and have a decent schedule the rest of the way. What do you think the final record will be? How much of an improvement will the team net versus last year? Is this enough to justify holding onto Rambis?
Great win! Our second blowout in a row. Wow... didn't see that coming at all. Can we somehow finish with like 25 wins? Probably not, but it would be nice.
Looks like Rambis probably won't be back next year huh?
"As the Timberwolves limp to the 50-loss mark and beyond, it becomes a question of which number will be greater at the end of the season: Minnesota's loss total or Kevin Love's double-double streak, which reached a record 52 Wednesday night. Of far greater certainty is the status of coach Kurt Rambis, who appears to be on his way out after only two seasons. Though management won't make a final decision until the season is over, sources say there is significant push from within to make a coaching change. Atop the Timberwolves' list of potential successors is Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, one of the people with knowledge of the organization's thinking said. With a young roster clearly lacking in veteran leadership, some members of the Minnesota brain trust believe the team needs a more vocal, energetic coach on the sideline. Rambis is cut from the Phil Jackson cloth of letting his players police themselves, and also has been at odds with Love for long stretches. A coaching change is something Love would not oppose, sources say. Of course, perhaps Rambis would've been more vocal or energetic if he wasn't saddled with among the youngest teams and lowest payrolls in the NBA. Rambis was hamstrung from the beginning in Minnesota, which has the league's fourth-lowest payroll and traded Al Jefferson to Utah last summer for two first-round picks and Kosta Koufos -- who subsequently was shipped to Denver as a throw-in in the three-team trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to New York. The Wolves are 16-50 after going 15-67 last season under Rambis, who has had an inexperienced, wing-heavy roster with no serviceable point guard while the team waits for Ricky Rubio to someday leave Barcelona and join them. Though GM David Kahn continues to believe Rubio will be in Minnesota next season, the specter of a lockout would seem to lower those odds significantly. Rubio has a $1 million buyout, half of which could be paid by the Wolves -- but not if all or a significant part of the 2011-12 season is lost to a work stoppage."
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/14797731/postups-enjoy-or-hate-this-version-of-heat-while-you-can
