Gamethread #13: @ Clippers
by wyn on Nov 23, 2009 9:00 PM CST
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PrintMinnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers, Nov 23, 2009 9:30 PM CST
Last time they faced the Clips, the Wolves were oh so close to a win. But Chris Kaman manhandled Minnesota down low and Rasual Butler, Eric Gordon and Baron Davis all scored in double figures. Corey Brewer and Ryan Gomes each shot 29%, taking 21 and 14 shots respectively. It's just not a good recipe.
Tonight the Wolves won't have to contend with Gordon (out with a strained groin), but they'll be facing a Clippers team coming off of a big win in Denver. The key to getting off the 12-game losing streak will be what it has been for all 12 losses: teamwork. Limit turnovers (they beat LA 12-18 last time), move the ball to find open shots and force the feast or famine Clippers to take jump shots (Davis and Butler shoot less than 40%) all night by denying entry passes and collapsing on penetration (Kaman and DeAndre Jordan play well against the Wolves, unlike.... wait, like everyone else). I know, easier said (like, oh say, 13 times before) than done.
Can you tell it's getting tougher and tougher to imagine scenarios where the Wolves pull out a win?
See our brethren at Clips Nation for the other side.
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Game Stream
Being that its not Televised on FSN or KSTC
Nope..I'm not happy
My League pass won’t work either..UGH F U NBA
Pins and Needles
so nervous for this game: at what point will the Wolves offense shut down? Before the first half? Midway into the 3rd quarter? When will Sessions run the offense perfectly but then gets benched inexplicably? How many times will Brewer treat the basketball like a Caveman would treat a hair dryer? Will this be the game that convinces Rambis to abandon the triangle and try a differently-shaped offense? Perhaps switch to a Rhombus? A Trapezoid?
Wolves Nation awaits with baited breath!
by Son of Gerald Green on Nov 23, 2009 9:32 PM CST reply actions
We can guard these guys right?
I am not seeing the monster mismatches. Kaman and Baron will give us trouble, but not necessarily lethally so, right?
We match up reasonably well I think
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Perhaps
I’m thinking tonight, “why not?” We beat the Nets, and came close to beating these guys (as well as the Celtics and some other teams) prior to our last 8 game skid of huge margin losses. I kinda wonder how much losing to Boston crushed some of our guys’ spirit, and whether the law of averages will catch up with this team tonight and we’ll somehow end up with a win? It’s bound to happen sometime, statistically speaking sooner rather than later (it’s highly unlikely to flip a coin and get tails 13+ times in row is what I’m referencing, even given the lack of talent on this team).
As for the Sessions inexplicable benched comment, I think the explanation is Rambis giving other guys the chance to learn how to play and execute when they need to. I spent some time looking at the Wolves’ +/- on 82games today, and two things stuck out to me (well, three technically, but two are sort of the opposite sides of the same coin):
1. Corey Brewer really is impacting the game positively. Just look at the difference between when he’s on the court versus when he’s off it. He has taken the Shane Battier Chair of Boxscore Undervaluation from Brian Cardinal so far this year.
2. Brewer’s impact is all the more impressive considering how poorly our starters are meshing right now. Jefferson, Flynn, and Hollins are really struggling to produce together. Gomes is doing his usual thing of steady mediocrity.
3. Our second unit is definitely ahead of our starters in grasping the offense and defense, and it shows. Enough said.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Better at scoring?
Yes, easily. Worse at everything else, not to mention a terrible locker room presence; being too old and against most of what we’re starting to implement here doesn’t help either.
Yeah, Flynn looks good so far
I thought he really looked like he turned a corner in the second half against Portland
I like..
…how the clips announcers apologized for saying something offensive yet their owner is donald sterling.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
I like how they were suspended for saying something about Iranians
when 3/4 of the Iranian Population hates the USA
Worse yet
LA has the largest population of Iranians in the US. Colbert should do a “Better Know a Demographic”
Yeah, Sterling the Standard of decorum
I read the transcript and it wasn’t THAT bad. I mean, ignorant and inexcusable, but sadly for that generation not unusual. Not excusing it, but compared to transcripts from Sterling’s legal troubles? Nada.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Not to defend Donald Sterling
But he probably didn’t plan on his actions becoming public.
by aarendsvark on Nov 23, 2009 11:16 PM CST up reply actions
You can always count on Pech to take shots. Sometimes he even makes them!
We really miss Klove. It’s hard to take them seriously as far as building for the future (WEIRD the announcer said that phrase AS I was typing it!) when they can’t even secure rebounds.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
He's a chucker
but our second unit is so terrible at offense, a forced Oily J is sometimes a decent option for them. Sort of like the 07-08 Shaddy, but not quite as good.
You really think our second unit is bad at offense?
I think Stewie’s playing like (yup, I’m going there) a poor man’s Toni Kukoc on a bad team, in that he’s taking so many shots because he gets how he’s supposed to rotate to the open spot, catch the pass, and drain the shot. He’s looking better at doing that than just about any of the Wolf I’ve seen, so I’m not sure what all the hatin’ is about. According to 82games various +/- stats, he’s easily one of the most valuable Wolves right now.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
by biggity2bit on Nov 23, 2009 10:12 PM CST up reply actions
Not trying to hate Oily...
actually (sort of) complimenting him.
I cannot stand watching our team when Flynn and Jefferson are sitting. It’s atrocious. But Oily seems to knock down a few shots here and there and has kept us in a few games, like the Boston game.
Can't afford those..
Brewer launching the ball in a slow arch into center court and Al getting stripped after a DReb. 1-12. Can’t do that crap tonight.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
they must work in sterling's slumhouses
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
www.canishoopus.com
Double Ha!
I think you could make the case that that is worse than ‘eye-rainian’. Obviously because he has pigmented skin and a funny name they think he is from some backwater African country. Right? Insane. These guys have been doing this – as he just said – for well over a decade. At least we know the Wolves franchise will NEVER be this effed up.
Not that I am offended, just think it is hilarious that the owner JUST got busted for judging people on skin color and the announcers just did the same -AGAIN, without realizing it.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Yeah, pretty stupid
Right after getting in trouble for making ignorant comments about foreign people, they make crack a joke based completely on the fact that they’re too ignorant to know where some foreigner is from. Seriously, how do these people get these jobs?
Again,
making that comment in LA is so ignorant given the demographic here. But racism and bigotry knows no bounds.
Ugh.
Pavlovic should just stop shooting. I could shoot FTs better.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Cardinal
Setting the tone on defense? We’ll see if changes Kaman’s drives.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
I get the impression
that Bassy is trying to make an impression.
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
Bassy was killin it against the Nuggets
It’s amazing how much better he looks when he has teammates worth passing to
I'm surprised
That nobody has even made any mention of how awkward that picture of the Dunleavys is. Especially considering it conveys very little sense of its context.
Clear path?
I don’t think those words mean what you think they mean.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
I'm not seeing all these travels on Al
He’s gotten called for traveling twice? Three times? They’re his standard post moves…
Twelve TOs
Can’t have it. We stay under 8 for the 2nd half and we can win this.
This is winnable, I really hope the guys come out and play hard. I also hope Corey doesn’t shoot 1-9 in the second half.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
What?
Hollins is deadly on the mid-range jumper. Who’s scouting for them?
Because there are no fours.
Toine
I remember when Thornton briefly went Nova his rookie year
And then reverted to shooting a terrible percentage and not passing.
by aarendsvark on Nov 23, 2009 11:19 PM CST up reply actions
How can you doubt him at all
This is the Roster that Kahn Put together
I think you need to leave at least one from the group of
Gomes, Brewer, Flynn and Jefferson in the game at all times
We'd win this one guaranteed with Love out there
Only thing keeping LAC is this game is Camby crashing the glass
Just 3 TOs
and Corey 1-3 in the third. We can win if we do that in the fourth. No foul trouble, starters fairly well rested.
We can win this.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
maynnn u alreddy kno mayn
wuss good yall iss ya boi yung MAYNHOLUP wuss poppin i luv de wolves mayn!!! we gon git it belee dat ayn less be patient mayn yall muss not kno bout dat kill i got mayn i been staying chillin at de games mayn like mayn hol up less goo!
MAYN HOL UP!
Man, can you imagine if this was Telfair's first game in the NBA, he would be looked at differently..
man, just as I was typing that the Clippers announcers said it themselves. I wanted to be the one to make that brilliant point, but I’ll have to wait to be the genius.
Also
I miss rooting for Bassy on the Wolves
by aarendsvark on Nov 23, 2009 11:34 PM CST up reply actions
Flynn Playing Well
And Tonight Jennings shot 6-21 with 5 TO’s.
by Son of Gerald Green on Nov 23, 2009 11:35 PM CST reply actions
I hope that Flynn isn't frequently judged by how great/poorly Jennings does
I’d rather focus on the Knicks passing up Jennings and rolling with Chris Duhon at the point.
by aarendsvark on Nov 23, 2009 11:38 PM CST up reply actions
AMEN
Timberwolves - NBA champs 2013!
(used with permission - Wolf in MO)
by frankenhoops on Nov 24, 2009 12:14 PM CST up reply actions
No
So there are some definite advantages
by aarendsvark on Nov 23, 2009 11:42 PM CST up reply actions
This team
is just like a trainwreck. It’s stunning to watch how completely everything falls apart… every single game.
AlJeff's 7 TOs...
…is killing my fantasy squad tonight.
And Ellington is getting as much burn as KLove
If I didn't check Twolvesblog regularily
I’d think that Ellington ran over Rambis’ dog or something.
by aarendsvark on Nov 23, 2009 11:43 PM CST up reply actions
It would be nice
if the wolves had some finishers and some jump shooters.
by oblivionspocket on Nov 23, 2009 11:44 PM CST reply actions
my goodness
that’s the play they draw up in the time out?
Acting, producing, rapping...
…growing a sweet molester beard.
Iso for Pecherov
…of course results in a shot. Which results in an airball.
how can you score 4 points in 7 minutes of the fourth quarter
TWO GAMES IN A ROW? Sorry for shouting. Amazing!
4-8 10 points
not as bad a stat line as you’d think from some of the comments up on here.
by davechisholm on Nov 23, 2009 11:50 PM CST up reply actions
That wide open 3 by Brewer
does not even pass the first game test.
Still winnable
Just pull your heads out. Play hard. Dont let Corey shoot.
Prediction update: Corey better than 1-9, less than 8 turnovers.
Currently, Corey 1-5, 7 TOs.
We can do this. Bassy is in.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Museum's Comments are keeping me sane
by Son of Gerald Green on Nov 23, 2009 11:48 PM CST reply actions
Come on guys
Rhino, Bassy, and Mardy freaking Collins are on the court.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
makes me wonder
maybe they snuck in a few high school refs to make things interesting.
by oblivionspocket on Nov 23, 2009 11:52 PM CST up reply actions
If we must play Brewer
Perhaps we can play him only in the 4th quarter. Maybe he’ll close the game 4 of 5 or something.
Baron Davis is scoreless
they are 2-14 in threes, and shooting under 42%. and winning.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
it's like watching a bennie hill skit...
…but without the scantily-clad women and not in fast-forward.
Once again..
…huge OReb rate for our opponents. Good lord do we need Love.
Also, just realized the draft went Foye, Roy, Gay.
Shoot me.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Love would help
As would retroactive draft knowledge. Well, or better scouting. Anyway, it’s going to be a long climb back to mediocrity.
by aarendsvark on Nov 24, 2009 12:00 AM CST up reply actions
Ok, I cant tell on the stream
and the lovely replay shows Al from the waist up as the announcers confirm it. Still, wtf?
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Nice of Kaman to literally hold Al so he couldn’t move from under the hoop on that layup.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
llegal picks aren't called, you know...
..just like traveling.
Oh.
Because there are no fours.
Toine
Oh, the irony:
Commentator: “They need a miracle. Flynn to Brewer, for 3”
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
They're really screwed
if Brewer is asked to play the part of Reggie Miller
by aarendsvark on Nov 24, 2009 12:03 AM CST up reply actions
Very true, though I was thinking more along the lines of Brewer ever hitting a 3 being a miracle.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
The worst part
is that he makes them just often enough for there to be hope that maybe, just maybe he’ll stick one.
by aarendsvark on Nov 24, 2009 12:06 AM CST up reply actions
Lord, I know
That was funny/tragic. But I think we’d all agree that if tonight was the first NBA game for all of our players, you’d be damn excited about the future of this team.
Gah we had this one
Just too many turnovers and we couldn’t keep them off the offensive glass. This is the fourth game we would have won if we had just rebounded.
This Wolves team is in serious need of an ego check...
…goin and gettin all big-headed on us. Some modesty and an 18-game losing steak ought to teach them a lesson on remaining humble.
Do you guys think Minnesota will beat Utah on Dec. 5?
I might be going to that game. I’m usually pretty lucky when I go to Timberwolves games. They’re about 60% when I watch them.
sounds like a pitch
for free season tickets. If you’re their amulet, the front office would be well advised to hand over that season pass right now.
One small positive from tonight
it’s highly unlikely that any Clippers fans are going to wade in here and be all, “Hey tough break, guys, we know how you feel. Don’t worry, maybe you’ll be as awesome as us in a few years. In the meantime, thanks for trading us all of your wily veterans.”
Fantasy
Seriously Al just killed my team with his eight turnovers. How does it always seem that Brewer is the one taking the last shot? We have at least cut his number of FG down from the low 20’s to the low teens but then he goes and takes five 3’s! He needs to keep like a clicker and when it hits five or six shots he must pass no matter what. He would be so much better then.
He's the only one that moves without the ball...
…as such, he’s the only one that gets reasonably open looks. Not that it matters to the likes of Pecherov (White Hole never got a touch he couldn’t get a shot up) or AlJeff (Damn the triple team, I’mna shoot this!), and granted, Brewer has an amazingly high airball rate….
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