Preparing for the worst
by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 11, 2009 9:24 PM CST
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PrintMinnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers, Dec 11, 2009 9:30 PM CST
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just wrapped up the semester last night
that I most likely wrapped it up with an A helps relieve the stress of- -45 bucks in the bank
I'm watchin the Wild-Flames
Wolves-Lakers is going to get ugly..and quick
Grade remaining finals or watch Wolves get decimated?
Actually, I come here really for the great company.
It was a feel-good moment for sure...
It was nice to see how humble and gracious he was accepting it. Big ups for the Lakers team to show some love for their former coach. It shows you how much respect people have for him.
Good Lord..Brewer is a horrible Matchup against kobe...
Kobe just beat him running down the floor
kobe's grown on me..
…he’s really playing at an amazing level.
Forever splitting the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs
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He's incredible
Not always a fan of his attitude, but he just does unbelievable things on the court.
Old Kobe is cool. I still don’t like the guy, but old Kobe relies so much less on athleticism and is just such a force due to his skills that it’s hard not to like him. It reminds you how ridiculous he once was and how well he’s adapted. To me, it seems like now, at 31 and having lost a step or two and some explosiveness, he’s basically prime Paul Pierce.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
like something in their heads went
“hey, we shouldn’t be tied” First few minutes the ball movement was good.
can and will
but it works the other way, too. Yes, we can (if only for short stretches). Still they lack the talent, to be sure.
God Hollins cannot protect the ball at all.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 10:00 PM CST reply actions
greatest....
…season ending shot of all time
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Corey is tall....
But his flat footed hops are pretty awful.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 10:06 PM CST reply actions
Microcosm of our biggest weakness
Al and Kevin: 3-10, 8 points
Gasol and Bynum: 9-10, 18 points
Too short, too earthbound
Yep
just getting killed by their size.
by Eric in Madison on Dec 11, 2009 10:09 PM CST up reply actions
not too bad
Gasol, Bynum, Odom: 20 pts 10 boards
Al, Hollins, Love: 16 pts 15 boards
Gasol and Bynum are earthbound, They are just so much longer then Al and Love.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 10:09 PM CST up reply actions
Hollins
There’s a reason why the Mavs didn’t resign Hollins…this game shows why. Championship teams don’t have that kind of talent on their squads
Sasha should consider a career change.
I heard my local brick layer union is hiring.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 10:10 PM CST reply actions
that was simply...
..breweresque by love.
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that's what's really...
..impressive about him this year.
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Honestly, I didn't mind him much until this year.
He’s an attention whore and a little baby when it comes down to. He pouts and whines when he loses or calls dont go his way, and apparently he now dances on the court when things do. Fuck him.
I love mchale's comments about lebron
"If a guy was doing the Riverdance like that, coach would come over and say, ‘Who’s got the fewest amount of fouls of my big fellas?’ " the ex-Celtic and TNT analyst said recently. "If you raised your hand, he would say, ‘We will let him drive and then we will throw him on the ground.’
"When he is laying there we would say, ‘Do you feel like dancing now?’
"And that pretty much solved the dancing problem."
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the lakers' bench....
….is their Achilles Heel. Pau and Kobe are probably the best 1-2 punch in the league and Bynum is a nice young player when healthy, but holy crap do they have some dogs on the bench.
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DJ Mbenga, Josh Powell, Adam Morrison
Makes Pecherov, Cardinal and Pavs look like Worthy, Kareem and Jordan.
I think they know they can just goof and Kobe will finish us in the end.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 10:19 PM CST reply actions
will kobe try a larry bird..
…and play the left of the game left handed?
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well..
If there was anybody to try it on it would have to be the 3-17 Wolves. At least in his mind.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 10:22 PM CST up reply actions
sessions is good..
…and only 23. dude needs 30 mpg.
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Sessions should be our Starting SG..
Brewer should be benched.
He knows the Lakers don't have any quality point guards
And their system makes them vulnerable to scoring points
league pass..
…has the lakers tonight so i’m spared.
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The lakers announcers..
are really good, actually. Not the intolerable smugness of the Portland or Boston announcers. They just do their jobs.
by LoveTo on Dec 11, 2009 10:31 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
tonight they have...
…..hot rod hundley from the old mpls lakers filling in for stu lantz. he used to announce for the jazz. not the best but still pretty decent in the grand scheme of things. Phoenix has my favorite all-around TV crew followed by Toronto and Boston and then the Wolves. The Wolves are actually pretty damn lucky to have Hanny and Pete. They are pretty damn good in the grand scheme of things.
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by Stop-n-Pop on Dec 11, 2009 10:38 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
portland's smugness...
…sucks but how can you hate the tommy points?! ;)
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Sorry. Not a fan of the Tommy points.
My absolute favorite announcing sentence of all time, from the Portland crew:
In the late third quarter of a rout of the Wolves…
“The Minnesota crowd not leaving; I think they enjoy watching that Portland is really an up-and-coming contender.” The sheer audacity of that.
by LoveTo on Dec 11, 2009 10:42 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The audacity....
….of nonsense. I think it’s the title of Obama’s next book.
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you should read.
…tommy’s autobiography. you will be a fan forever.
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As long as they don't have Bill Walton...
… the worst homer ever. Last year he was doing a Heat-Celtics game and wouldn’t stop talking about the Lakers.
a temporary one..
….he’s doing radio this week.
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Want to be a terrible parent?
Name your kid either Luke or Adrian.
You were a daydreamer, a sass-mouth, and, not infrequently, a bit of a gigglepuss. Somehow I doubt twenty years of amphetamines and failure have done anything to improve that.
by Kevin Loves McHale's Navy on Dec 11, 2009 11:00 PM CST up reply actions
I'd give it an over 70% chance that Sessions is getting traded by next year
Maybe by next week.
As for Wall, we’ll only even get a chance at him if we have the first pick. We might be better off if we don’t get the #1 pick so we have to “settle” for Derrick Favors
i will actively bet against that...
…they’re keeping him. we don’t post inside takes (read: anonymous) above the fold but everything i’ve heard off-record points to them keeping him barring a crazy trade proposal. don’t forget how much the wolves have done for camp rubio. they got him a raise and a more favorable buy out plus he gets to develop for 2 more years while the wolves get better. it’s a perfect situation and kahn handled it beautifully. he’s not getting traded unless it’s a crazy deal.
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Yup.
I’ve never understood the “we’re trading Rubio” logic. McHale isn’t running this team.
Two scenarios in which Rubio goes:
1) We have a chance to acquire a bonafide superstar by moving him.
2) At the end of next season, either Jonny Flynn or John Wall (if we draft him) have played in an All-Star game.
Good idea?
I, too, got caught up in the hype and was very excited when Rubio fell to us in the draft, but have you seen him? I’ve seen him play twice now (love those Saturday Euro League games!), and I’ve been thoroughly unimpressed. If he is supposed to be the PG of the future, we might be in trouble.
he's really growing on me...
…and a lot of his play has to do with the competition and style, but he’s averaging a sick amount of assists/36 in Hollinger’s Euro transfer formula. the guy can straight up dominate the ball and get people in position to score.
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There are a few things that worry me about Rubio...
…he has very quick hands and anticipates passes well, but his lateral quickness (1-on-1 defense) is very poor. Also, he tends to cheat on defense which leads to more steals, but he gets burned a lot too.
At absolute best, I’d put his shot at average. There is a ton of room for improvement.
Even his best attribute is suspect: Passing. Granted, his court vision is above average, if not excellent, but I’ve noticed many of his passes are…. unorthodox. I believe someone mentioned that Jose Calderon changed his passing style when he came to the States. I’m not sure how to describe Rubio’s, but the best I can come up with is a “whip” pass. He takes the ball from a live dribble down by his knees, and whips it over his head – one-handed and sometimes cross-court. The good part is it’s usually on-target, but far different from the fundamentals we are taught.
That is a great movie.
I’m a professional, I know these things.
by Princely Frank on Dec 12, 2009 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
playing well
Al, Sessions, Love, even Brewer all playing well
Brewer's man on defense
is not impressing me tonight
If you're talking about Vujacic
He’s like…the worst player in the NBA. Laker fans hate him. I’m stunned he’s 3-3 right now because he’s been a brick machine rivaling Pavlovic all year.
Must be something to do with the name Sasha
Let me clarify
Brewer’s on-man defense is not impressing me. I think Brewer was playing in control on offense, but got beat off the dribble and was really slacking off his man on jumpers at the same time. I expect more.
Sasha Vujacic
if I saw him on the street, I would either punch him in the face or kick him in his vagina
i can't wait until tiger...
…tries to walk a course for the first time with a big gallery. it’s going to be crazy. i would go with a big “no sexting during the backswing” sign and stand right behind his caddie.
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It should be heartening to us
We know there is at least one player who is indisputably worse than Brewer
Pretty good across the board
I think everyone played pretty well. The major glitch was when it looked we had no answer for the Lakers turning up the defensive pressure. No one was looking confident with the ball. Good thing that high energy from LA didn’t last. I’m sure if it comes down to it,they’ll use it to make us unravel at winning time
This may already qualify, if you ask me.
To hang with L.A. for an entire half is about all you can ask for, really. Anything from here on out is gravy.
Hanging with LA with Kobe only getting 15 min in 1st half
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 11, 2009 10:38 PM CST up reply actions
3rd most minutes of any player in the game so far.
artest 17:45
gasol 17:30
bryant 16:35
by davechisholm on Dec 11, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions
Yes, but still.
Artest, Gasol, Odom, and Bynum is a talent pool that should blow the Wolves out of the water. If Kobe had been inactive for this game, I’d still be shocked if we came close.
Still plenty of time to get blown out
Anyone see the Lakers/Jazz game? Utah was tied until the fourth when the Lakers held them to 6 points all quarter
I'm sure we will.
But like I said, all things considered, anything good that happens from here on out is gravy.
Phil Jackson won't lose to his protege...
especially when the talent we have would be bench talent on the Lakers
it would be funny to see phil try to coach the wolves...
by davechisholm on Dec 11, 2009 10:40 PM CST up reply actions
So
Is Ramon getting more time tonight because Rambis really wants this one and is throwing the “Develop Flynn” company line out for the night?
that is definitely going to be...
…an interesting sub plot. pavlovic is getting burn too.
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I think it's just riding the hot hand
Hard to justify sitting a guy shooting 6-6. Or even wanting to
Makes sense
Why are they letting him get the hot hand in the first place? Not that I’m complaining, but did Rambis notice him start “heating up” in warmups?
by aarendsvark on Dec 11, 2009 10:51 PM CST up reply actions
Laker fans see him as a trade acquisition
One of them even asked David Thorpe about it on last week’s ESPN chat
I seriously LOVE that they play Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk"
before the second half starts before Laker games in LA. So damn cool. One of my favorite traditions in the NBA.
It's what Pete's talking about
If you don’t box out, it doesn’t matter if the guy goes over your back. Then it just becomes a jumping contest, and we’ll never win that.
I saw the same thing.
Gasol just goes over Loves’ back and they don’t call it.
by Princely Frank on Dec 12, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
I really don't like
that he never looks back for Love after he comes off the pick. If Love’s outside shot is really as good as it has seemed lately that should be a great assist opportunity
Gasol is the most skilled big man in the NBA
Say what you want about his toughness. His skill level is absurd.
the lakers..
….are like krytonite to gomes. he’s completely overmatched at the 3 and 4 with the lakers.
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Fantastic dunk
Loved Fisher taking it in the face
joel meyers...
…had a good line: “brewer was out most of last year with a hurt knee. derick fisher got a good look at that knee on that play.”
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Worse coached team
Nellie’s Warriors or Vinnie Del Negro’s Bulls?
Someone told you
that Nellie coached that team?
Part of me likes Nellie
Holding on to that team in a death grip. Even more impressive since he has to have one hand clutching a high-life.
by aarendsvark on Dec 11, 2009 11:09 PM CST up reply actions
here he is with teh celtics
in the background, i might add
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Can't watch game
What happened?
"Come on Eddie, let's get serious."
by biggity2bit on Dec 11, 2009 11:04 PM CST via mobile reply actions
I think they call that a Sick Nasty
and then guitars play. Um, anyway, Brewer dunked all over Derek Fisher, with his head nearly level with the rim. I’d forgotten he could jump like that. I wouldn’t worry about missing it, they’ll probably show it on ESPN for the next couple days.
by aarendsvark on Dec 11, 2009 11:07 PM CST up reply actions
What's with Flynn
Is he just being a ball hog or did Rambis give him the green light to try and take over.
by Stay Classy Joe on Dec 11, 2009 11:04 PM CST reply actions
Just tossed my girlfriend
off me so I could comment on Brewer’s dunk. It was awesome, and so was Fisher’s expression.
Ahaha...
The announcers were just bustin on Pau (“auditioning for his next role on CSI”)… They’re not supposed to do that for the home team.
Probably, but it is the Lakers
It’s like the beginning of last season when Love kept getting his shots blocked…eventually the refs just started assuming every miss was a blocked attempt
I remember Britt Robson saying that Love last year was having to learn how to get a shot off in the NBA below the rim. Maybe he’s trying a little too hard to draw the foul.
by aarendsvark on Dec 11, 2009 11:12 PM CST up reply actions
that was a foul but...
he’s thinking way to much cause he’s getting he’s been getting his shit rejected all game
I can't stand how good Gasol is
Stupid Lakers.
by aarendsvark on Dec 11, 2009 11:15 PM CST up reply actions
Third quarter struggles continue
Jonny lost control of the game, and Love got worked by the Laker frontcourt
all of this is without kobe...
…it should be mentioned.
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or...
….at least very few minutes from the best player in the league right now.
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Being manhandled
There’s not a Wolves players who his not getting muscled around by the Lakers.
What was OC last year before firing PJ?
3-22? They sure turned it around. Granted some talent there too. In any case, Wolves looking similar.
At least Jefferson is playing well
He’s gotten killed by LA the last two years. This is probably the best game I’ve seen him play against the Lakers
I went to pour myself some scotch
tonight and the bottle was empty. Quite comical, if you’re into sadism.
Yeah I think that was the right play
I did think he should have shot that first open 3 though
Ryan Hollins
I may kill my liver because of how poorly he’s playing…no amount of alcohol is making him look any better
Requiescat in Pace,
Phil Hartman.
"It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission."
Well, evening gentlemen.
First half was fun to watch. But as always, company here is good. Will be overseas during the holiday. See you next year. Happy holidays.
A couple things
1. Artest really killed us tonight on a lot of plays
2. We should really be playing Sessions more
3. I really wanted us to get it into single digits and we kept failing despite several chances in the 4th, and that was frustrating.
I would like to see Sessions play more as well
but him and Flynn are going to have to play more together for that to happen
Well, this was a lot less brutal than I thought it would be
I’m impressed overall. We’re most definitely better this year than last.
I don't know
We had tons of games like this last year, respectable losses. Though we had some better play at the point guard tonight than last year. And most of this year for that matter, from what I’ve seen.
I think this team has something to build around
but the sooner names like Pavlovic, Pecherov, Jawai, Hollins and Wilkins disappear the better.
Agreed...
with the exception of Hollins, who can give us a nice 10 – 15 minutes off the bench against long teams (Lakers) and Jawai feels like a decent project…perhaps send him to d-league for a bit.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 12, 2009 12:38 AM CST up reply actions
Gomes
Was non-existent tonight after a nice two weeks of basketball. Tough match-up with Artest, but we need his scoring.
I’m a big Jonnny Flynn fan, but I’m not sure we should be flipping Sessions before trade deadline unless we get an offer we can’t refuse. Team played infinitely better tonight with him out there. He may not have the upside of Flynn, but is certainly more than capable of being starting PG on a playoff team for the next decade.
by TWolvesFanInLA on Dec 12, 2009 12:09 AM CST reply actions
+1
as a t-wolves fan living in utah, it still disappoints me what he did to the jazz…using his daughter’s illness as an excuse to get out of a contract, stating he was going to take time off of basketball, and then returning to the lakers the very next year. classy, my ass.
by davechisholm on Dec 12, 2009 9:32 AM CST up reply actions
Gonna have to disagree
He asked out of his Jazz contract so he could go to either LA or New York. One of his daughter’s two NY oncologists had moved out to Cedars-Sinai Hospital at UCLA, so they visit him for her follow-up visits for her eye cancer. And his wife’s family lives in LA so that’s an extra support group. It was very classy of Larry Miller to let him out of his Jazz contract. Can’t say the same about the Jazz fans, who used to hold one hand over one eye when he shot free throws during games in Utah.
by The Dude Abides on Dec 12, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions
i dunno...
i’m very familiar with the hospital facilities in the greater salt lake area, and there are some absolutely world-class ophthalmologists and oncologists here…not to mention that…well…he’s an NBA player….which makes him a millionaire….and also makes him away from home for a large percentage of the year.
i understand what you are saying, but he played in LA/Utah while her doctors were in NY, so why not play in Utah while her doctors were in LA? am i making sense?
it just seems extremely fishy (pardon the pun). it doesn’t add up to me.
by davechisholm on Dec 12, 2009 10:03 AM CST up reply actions
Whether Derek Fisher
Is a class act really isn’t important. I wouldn’t exactly moan about this as a Jazz Fan considering there was no way he was worth the Contract he voided. To pay over 6 Million a year for his skill set factoring Luxury Tax Considerations would have been a real stretch. In fact letting Fisher out of the contract is probably the difference between Paul Millsap and Derek Fisher currently wearing Jazz Uniforms.
by Jose Cordoba on Dec 12, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
oh totally
i’m not saying he was worth the money—it just seemed really suspect the way it all went down, with him ending up playing on his old team again.
AND i’m saying it was sweet to see wile-e-coyote dunk on him!
by davechisholm on Dec 12, 2009 12:32 PM CST up reply actions
Not quite karmic return for Carlos Boozer's departure from Cleveland,
was it? To sign with the Jazz?
"It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission."
That absolutely should have been a pass
But I can’t express how glad I am that it wasn’t. Looking at the picture, there is no way he made it to the hoop. Well done Brewer, well done.
Fisher looks like a coward down there after trying to be tough and taking the charge.
Look at Corey’s face for a second though…. what do you think is going through his mind?
“Oh God, what have I done?!”
It was F-ing sick to watch live. Sick from an objective standpoint, and even more awesome because of how much Corey tends to make us cringe in those situations. I had NO idea he could get up like that, but I guess he is a full 6’9 and probably under 200 lbs so it only makes sense. Kudos to Corey for one of the best dunks I’ve ever seen from a Woof.
BTW does anyone else think that Brewer must have really small hands, and that hand size is one of those sneaky little traits that is much more useful than you’d think at first? Watch how many dribbles he flubs because it rolls of his tiny hands, or watch how he has to use 2 hands to get it up and cocked for a dunk sometimes. I think Flynn can pick it up easier with 1 hand than Brewer can.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
That's definitely one of those things
That’s why Rondo does so well with those annoying behind-the-back-wait-nevermind-psyche-it’s-a-layup things. He has some mitts.
I’d say there is a fine line though, imagine Shaq shooting freethrows. Have you ever used one of those little Koosh balls to throw at a hoop 3 feet above your head and 12(?)ft away? It’s not easy.
Terrell Brandon had that too. He could post up and hold it away from his body with 1 hand like it was no problem. That kind of ball control makes it so much easier for a player to do what he wants. Speaking from the stand point of someone with hobbit hands (sigh), it makes it much easier to lose your dribble and get stripped. I think that’s one reason (among many) Love is such a monstrous rebounder – he’s got big hands and monstrous hand strength.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
Love's hand strength is a big asset
The outlet passes and the boarding are both directly related to that.
"It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission."
I think it plays a big role
As someone with short fingers but average-sized hands, I have had and probably always will have problems in that area. It’s one of the underrated but useful physical aspects for basketball players.
by pagingstanleyroberts on Dec 12, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply