Tim's Game Preview: Game 11, New Orleans Hornets
by TimAllen on Jan 13, 2012 3:13 PM CST
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Although the Hornets have the Timberwolves' 2012 1st round draft pick, there is no doubt that the Marko Jaric trade ended up being totally worth it.
Minnesota Timberwolves (10-0) vs. New Orleans Hornets (3-7) at New Orleans Arena
By itself, the 2005 trade that sent Sam Cassell and a future 1st round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers seems like a bad one. After all, Jaric was underwhelming (to say the least) in his three-year stint in Minnesota and it would be nice to have a high draft choice in what appears to be a very deep draft filled with wing players.
Yet, the Marko Jaric trade may have been the best thing to ever happen to the Minnesota Timberwolves since drafting Kevin Garnett.
Without the need to shed Marko Jaric's terrible contract, the Wolves would not have been as motivated to trade him to Memphis, and Kevin Love would be grabbing double-doubles in a Grizzlies uniform.
If the Grizzlies trade does not happen, the Wolves never get Mike Miller. Without Mike Miller, David Kahn could never have traded for Washington's 2009 1st round draft choice and could not have selected point guard Ricky Rubio.
The Marko Jaric trade made Rubio-to-Love possible and I wouldn't trade that duo for a potential lottery pick.
Let's break down tonight's matchups:
Before Chris Kaman played in the NBA, he had a supporting role as Old Man Marley in the movie Home Alone.
Darko Milicic vs. Chris Kaman
Chris Kaman's Expiring Contract arrived in New Orleans this winter as part of the Chris Paul trade. Other than his two injury-plagued seasons in 2008 and 2010, Kaman has been a solid option down low and even made the All-Star game in 2009-2010 with the Los Angeles Clippers. So far this year, Kaman has been averaging 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 51% shooting.
His most valuable contribution to the Hornets will come at the end of the season, however, when his $11+ million contract will come off of the books. I think the plan is that if the Hornets have no players left on the roster, they'll be much cheaper for someone to buy. Losing Kaman will be a big step towards that goal.
Winner: Darko Milicic
Okafor was not even injured in this picture. Someone told him he was not as good as Kevin Love and the truth hurts that much.
Kevin Love vs. Emeka Okafor
In eight career games against Kevin Love, Emeka Okafor's teams have gone 6-2 and the Connecticut forward/center has generally outperformed his UCLA counterpart. Okafor, despite not living up to all of his hype as a Rookie of the Year winner, is still a solid shot blocker, good rebounder and strong finisher at the rim.
Love, meanwhile, has struggled in two games in a row, after starting the season as one of the best players in the entire league. Of course, a bad game for Kevin Love would be a career performance for much of the NBA and Love is a perfect 10-for-10 in double doubles. If Love ever had more isolation sets and threw down more dunks, he'd be more celebrated around the NBA. As it is, Wolves fans can be content to know they have perhaps the most underrated player in all of basketball.
Winner: Kevin Love
Look how happy Al-Farouq Aminu is to be joining the New Orleans Hornets. There's no way to resist that smile.
Wesley Johnson vs. Al-Farouq Aminu
I want to say something about a recent article that some hack wrote regarding Wesley Johnson. First of all, you can't quantify heart, which is something Wesley Johnson has a lot of and is probably the main reason why he will make it big in the NBA. Second of all, anyone who has seen Johnson's shooting form and does not come away tremendously impressed does not watch enough basketball.
The fact is that it is his second year, and if Johnson could just get some opportunities to show his stuff, people would recognize how good he is. Al-Farouq Aminu has no chance tonight and might as well just stay home to play World of Warcraft or Everquest.
Winner: Wesley Johnson
I really don't get why players hug the ball in these photos.
Wayne Ellington vs. Marco Belinelli
With Michael Beasley, J.J. Barea, Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza all injured, fans will be treated to the matchup of Wayne and Marco. Both of them are shooting under 37% on the season. Both have a PER under 8.5. Both have struggled to get to the line this season and average a little over one free throw attempt per game.
In other words, Kevin Love is going to have a lot of rebounds to pull down tonight when these two are in the game.
Winner: Wayne Ellington
At least now that Chris Paul has been traded, and not to the Lakers or Celtics (for basketball reasons), the Hornets should be a lot more attractive to potential buyers.
Ricky Rubio Luke Ridnour vs. Chris Paul Jarrett Jack
How fun would it have been to see a matchup between Chris Paul and Ricky Rubio tonight? The league's best point guard (no disrespect to Rose or Williams) going up against Paul, who has led the Hornets to multiple playoff appearances and is definitely a top-5 point guard in his own regard.
Instead, the game will likely start with Luke Ridnour and Jarrett Jack manning the point for their respective squads. The good news for the Wolves is that we can bring Rubio off of the bench. The Hornets have Greivis Vasquez on their bench.
Winner: Luke Ridnour
If Monty Williams can't guard Michael Jordan, what chance does his team have of defending Ricky Rubio?
My Prediction: Timberwolves 97 - New Orleans Hornets 83
Timberwolves Record: 11-0
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Yeah!
Who was that guy who wrote the Wes article?!?!
Great pictures for this one. I’m wondering, though. Is that Chris Kaman in the second picture, or is that a guard in Solitude telling the interviewer about taking an arrow to the knee?
/Skyrim
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
Kaman
Looks like the POW that is on the Showtime series Homrland.
by Adam Chandler on Jan 13, 2012 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
I think the plan is that if the Hornets have no players left on the roster, they’ll be much cheaper for someone to buy.
Wait, so having one young talent and no long term salary commitment is worth less than 5 solid starters and the ability to earn playoff revenue fromd Day 1? Talk about the owners maximing the value an asset…
Michael Beasley is a Small Forward. Derrick Williams is a Power Forward.
I just think this is an incorrect opinion
Teams gotta have a foundation for the future. I agree that Wolves, with two fantastic players under 23 should work their butt off to get 3 solid starters to surrounding these guys with.
but that N.O. would have been BLAH. You can knock on young talent all you want, but all you do with the Odom/Scola/Martin trade is give N.O. a three year window where you might make the playoffs (they still aren’t better than Denver SA Portland or Dallas) and then all those players will get old and you’re going to be rebuilding anyways and without two lottery picks and Eric Gordon.
Every team but the Lakers has to rebuild at some point, I know we tend to be very scarred around here by the rebuilding process, but Wolves management has made it a lot more difficult than it has to be.
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Incorrect opinion was not the header I was looking for
I just disagree with the take
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
They certainly have people knocking down the door to own all that young talent
Fans got swindled out of a good product so Stern could try to sell a bunch of cheap junk to an owner that hasn’t yet walked through the door. Sorry Hornets fans, you need to suffer for a while until some rich person can buy the team and then hold Louisiana hostage for new arena tax dollars.
Teams don’t have to have a foundation for the future. They have to have good players. “Foundation for the future” is such a meaningless phrase that is tossed out by every two-bit front office in the league as a means to sell tickets for terrible products. They gave up an awesome player. They were able to get 4 good ones in return. That got axed to 1 (maybe 2 if Kaman can stay healthy) and some hugs, kisses, and hopes that they can draft someone who might be able to develop into someone that one day might be as good as Luis Scola or Kevin Martin. New Orleans is now less than BLAH. They’ll now wait how many years to get a 3 year window?
If you had a billion dollars to spend, I’d have an NBA commissioner who’d want to talk to you.
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 13, 2012 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
So if "banana sandwich" is the meaningless phrase applied to players,
what is the equivalent at the team level (to counter “Foundation for the future”)? Mango casserole? Something even more ridiculous? Methinks I need to think on this.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 13, 2012 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
It's all yours
The future is never worth what they sell it to you for.
(How about “Blueprint Casserole”? Nah, that’s too tied to something that actually happened.)
I like that one.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 13, 2012 5:18 PM CST up reply actions
I'd take it if I had the money
SnP, how the hell were the Wolves supposed to get Love and Rubio (oh wait…) without being bad?
We now are literally 2 competent starters away from being a playoff team for the next 10 years…
I get what you are saying, but you gotta have a little balance. You gotta draft well and you gotta sign the right free agents like Barea and Tolliver.
The Wolves have not drafted well. I’m sorry, but there is no excuse for the Wolves to not be in the playoffs this year, you can say the draft is too much of a crap shoot….but that’s only for teams that don’t know what they are doing.
You don’t even watch college ball and you could draft better than Kahn, man.
If me or you solely just drafted for this team and did nothing else they’d have been a playoff team this year.
I totally understand your frustration with “future equity” but you have to have some
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
You need good players. That’s how you win games. The chances of 3 good years of Martin + Scola + Odom + Dragic + Okafor > the chances of 3 good years with what they have now.
It doesn’t matter how you get the good players, but getting them is what matters. They were given 4 good, breathing, in the here-and-now players for Chris Paul. “Being bad” isn’t the thing that makes all of this click. It certainly helps to have better access to the top players in the draft, but they were able to turn a super star into good players—much better than the KG deal (with a pick, too, btw). They were offered a middle class existence and the league made them choose poverty while handing them a lotto ticket.
agree to disagree
but man, they have a chance to get some damn fine players to build around.
Now, had they been the team to get Gasol I would have felt differently. Gasol is a hell of a player.
I just looked at that trade and I was like: “wait, they are trading the best player in the deal (Paul) and they aren’t even getting the 2nd best player in the deal (Gasol), instead they are getting 4 guys that are solid players….but nothing that’s gonna get you anywhere really”
In all honesty that might not be a playoff team still though. You make that trade and you still gotta fight to even get in the playoffs.
1. OKC
2. Dallas
3. Lakers
4. Portland
5. San Antonio
6. Denver
7. Memphis
8. Houston (cause Gasol would have gone to Houston)
does NO even make the playoffs with that club? Are they better than the Clippers with Kaman, Bledsoe, Gordon, Billups, Aminu? there is a legitimate possibility they make that trade and are the 9th and maybe even 10th best team in the West
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Key word:
“Chance”. They also have a “chance” to draft the next Wes Johnson, Eddy Curry, Adam Morrison, etc.
Bird in hand, win now. Don’t worry about playoffs or championships. Get the best things you can when you can and let the chips fall where they may.
Key word
Chance :)
They have an outside chance at making the playoffs with that roster…outside chance
which team in those 8 would they be better than?
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Don't gamble :)
(probably for the same reasons you want to play cards with me)….
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
by VoodooMagic on Jan 13, 2012 5:11 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm your Huckleberry
We should have a CH Poker Night. Whereby we can watch a game, play some poker, drink some good beer, talk some basketball and have a good ole time.
I've got good judgement from experience and experience from bad judgement.
By that, I assume you meant
1. Minnesotta
2. OKC
3. Dallas
4. Lakers
5. Portland
6. San Antonio
7. Denver
8. Memphis
9. Houston (cause Gasol would have gone to Houston)
by bluedevil_unicorno on Jan 13, 2012 6:29 PM CST up reply actions
my b
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
I'm not in favor of tanking
I think at all points you should try to get as good of players as possible
but unless you are the Lakers at some point the cupboard is going to go bare.
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Middle Class
You say “middle class existence” like its a good thing. That’s arguably the worst spot to be in for an NBA team especially in the West. Teams that are too good to get high draft picks but not good enough to be contenders have a real tough time ever becoming contenders.
That Hornet squad would most likely be a 1st round exit year those 3 “good” years. The team they have now is going to have 2 really good picks in a very deep draft, Eric Gordon, Aminu + good amount of cap space. You can argue the cap space isn’t a big deal but it makes them flexible at least. Trading superstars for good players with no potential. really leaves you in the middle of nowhere. Trading superstars for young players, cap space, and draft picks lets you bottom out and properly rebuild your roster.
Ofcourse you need to have confidence in your GM for this but I would argue that a patient and smart GM can build a really good team every time after doing this.
I will defend SnPs take a little bit
He is theoretically right that the best chance an NBA team can hope for is a bottom-tier playoff dwelling existence and then pray they get “lucky”
But I think it all starts with having a young core. I think that the Wolves are set up now to follow the SnP model and get some quality players round LoveRubio…but I think for a team like N.O. without that core talent would be in a weird spot
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
It all starts with having good players
That’s it. It’s great if they’re young but get the best things you can when you can. That’s the bit.
Question
Would you trade our entire roster for Boston’s right now? Ignoring whether we think the front office can capitalize on the situation, I’d rather have our foundation going forward. It shouldn’t be hard to fill in decent players around Love/Rubio. Boston’s got Rondo going forward and that’s about it.
Boston’s better this year but I wouldn’t trade rosters.
Does this mean we watched the wolves win a championship a few years back? I’d torture Jack Bauer to stop the nuke.
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 13, 2012 5:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I mostly agree with being good whenever you can
Maybe Boston was a bad example. Depends on how good you think they’ll be this year (I don’t think they’ll be particularly special). My point is that there has to be some balance to this – I wouldn’t trade Rubio for Nash whether that makes us better this year or not. I get what you’re saying about overvaluing potential, and it’s a good counter to how you hear bad teams constantly spun as having a lot of room to grow or whatever.
I probably wouldn’t trade Derrick Williams for Tim Duncan’s last stand either.
I think I understand what you’re getting at, I’m just trying to temper it a little…
No. It's a good question
would you trade our entire roster for Boston’s?
We would be a playoff team for 2-3 years and then we’d be S*** out of luck
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
it's really not
When you ask things that have no reasonable chance of happening…well, I’m torturing Jack Bauer.
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 13, 2012 6:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
C'mon now
Hypothetical questions can be useful. I 95% agree with you, but I think you’re overselling it a bit.
I am not of the mindset that being mediocre is the worst place to be. It means that you’re just a couple players from contending…
I’m just trying to bring into the discussion the idea that you DO have to balance a player’s age and potential improvement into things. It’s not insignificant. Sometimes a lesser known entity is preferable. It just depends on the situation the franchise is in.
I just think that age is secondary to actual production
If you can get a great young player, awesome. Age can also mean teams stick with sh**ty player a lot longer than they normally should. Let’s say Aminu just sucks in NOLA. Let’s say that one of their picks just sucks. How long will they hold that candle?
As I said below, great young players are indeed awesome. But the “great” part of that equation comes first, regardless of age.
I'm positive if we offered it
Boston would make it happen in a heart beat
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
*ahem*
I believe you mean “enhanced interrogation.”
Gary, you didn't kill your brother. Those gorillas did.
Well we would never offer it
I would bet Boston has offered something close to that already even if it were merely “We’ll trade you our big 4 for your big 2 and Williams”
It’s an excellent question cause this is exactly what I am talking about
Would you rather have KG, Allen, Pierce and even Rondo over Love, Rubio and even Williams?
No one would ever make that trade from the Wolves angle because we are basically trading two sub 23 all-stars and another guy that looks pretty good.
However, the positive is that we would make the playoffs this year and maybe next year….isn’t that all we can ever hope for?
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
It is a good thing
More wins, better players, a shot in the post season.
The chances of them landing a player with that pick who can produce like Scola or Martin are…well, that would be a great outcome. They lost a superstar.
If there is one word I could erase from everybody’s vocab it would be “potential”. It doesn’t really exist, especially in picks that aren’t yet attached to an actual warm body.
The worst spot to be in the NBA is at the bottom. You have terrible players. You have a dwindling fan base. Even if you land a stud, chances are you don’t have very many good players to surround him with. They’ll fumble around for a few years, land a decent player or two in the draft, and in 5 years they’ll have the same “potential” as a team filled with the guys they could have had. This is the most likely scenario.
They have a good GM. He made the smart deal and was overturned by the league for “basketball reasons”.
Good Points
But I think this fear of being in the “middle class” does not apply to all fans. For example, a passionate season ticket holder, or a business with a suite looking to take clients to the game, both want competitive games no matter what the ceiling of the current squad may be. If I’m in sales and I’m brining clients in for a game to shmooze, a competitive game with excitement is far more valuable to me in making a sale than a listless, empty arena with a few diehard fans hoping a draft pick develops.
On the other side of the coin, you have the casual fan that you need to come to the games to have an exciting, fully packed venue. The casual fan probably doesn’t get excited about being a middle class team because they are more picky with where they spend their money. They like buzz, like Rubio currently has, so they can tell all their firends about where they spent their Friday night. A debate about whether the team will win a championship is that Buzz, and middle class existence likely doesn’t attract this fan, especially prolonged middle class existence, e.g., the Hawks.
The problem with the championship or bust mentality is that during the “bottoming out” years, the team is trying to sell crap to it’s most loyal fans. The same fans that pay their bills. I don’t think there is a “right” answer to this except for avoid at all costs being shitty for a prolonged period of time, but both philosophies have supporters and detractors.
Michael Beasley is a Small Forward. Derrick Williams is a Power Forward.
If you do the bottoming out thing the right way
You shouldn’t be really bad for more than a year or two. Most of the teams “bottoming out” are just mismanaged.
Depending on a Lottery
Is a leap of faith. Bottoming out works well for those who win the lottery, for everybody else, it does not work as well.
Michael Beasley is a Small Forward. Derrick Williams is a Power Forward.
You shouldn't have to depend entirely on the lottery
Say you have an old team where most of the players start to decline at roughly the same time. You should theoretically have cap flexibility as the players retire or have expiring contracts. It’s great if you land a stud player in the draft, but if you don’t you use the cap space/expiring contracts to pick up assets in free agency or through trades.
You take your shot at the lottery, maybe you’re bad for a couple years, but once you hit bottom you actually start building something whether primarily through the draft or other means. Tanking multiple years in a row isn’t a way to run a team, but even well run organizations are going to go through years where the talent is thin and they don’t win many games.
A few thoughts
1. Cap flexibility doesn’t attract free agents, the best free agents always want to sign with a contender. You don’t see premium free agents signing up with rebuilding franchises. You see David Lee signing with Golden State because no one else could offer him the same money. It’s like this offseason, Golden State had cap space apeltny to go after Jordan and Chandler, but Chandler was retained by a contender and Jordan was matched by a contender. Miami was able to use this strategy effectively, but I’d argue they are singularly unique in doing so.
2. If you don’t win the lottery, the assets you acquire via the draft are generally not worth much. Especially since you never know which draft year you will get, it was fantastic to bottom out in 2007-08, but a catastrophe to bottom out in 1999-2000. For every OKC, you get the baby bulls.
Michael Beasley is a Small Forward. Derrick Williams is a Power Forward.
I'm not advocating getting rid of all your good players to try be bad,
but franchises will inevitably go through periods where they lack talent. At that point, I would be OK with holding on to young players and being in the lottery rather than trading for good players on a sharp decline.
I mean, the post-Jordan Bulls were not deconstructed gracefully, but once Jordan/Pippen/Rodman retired or faded away they were going to have a bad team. There are always going to be teams at the bottom of the league one way or another.
Having cap space when you’re a bad team is less about attracting free agents than being able to make trades with teams trying to get rid of salary. You can pick up extra picks or players.
Look, being bad is never what you want, but if you’re going to be bad anyway, you might as well have a high draft pick and try go from there.
Just look at the Wolves though
even if they never won the lottery, they where in perfect position to completely rebuild this thing with three drafts starting from the moment KG was traded.
2007: Joakim Noah
2008: Kevin Love
2009: Rubio/Derozan/Holiday
2010: Paul George
I’m even being generous with the Derozan thing (I think had Kahn drafted either Holiday or Lawson at 18 passing on Curry for a derozan typpe may have made some sense) but you could put Curry there, or Cousins instead of George.
Regarldess. You give me or any competent fan even of the NBA, how the draft works, and college basketball and you have a basketball team in 3 years that is awesome without ever winning the lottery, simply by just drafting correctly.
I really believe guys like Kahn and Colangelo and Smith make this crap a lot harder than it needs to be. The draft is only a crap shoot for guys that don’t know what they are doing
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Nope, good point
but that still doesn’t mean that NO team would really be any good. I would actually doubt they’d be a playoff team as the trade actually makes HOUSTON the most better
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Most better is an awesome word ps
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
True
few teams win or have a shot to win a title but does that mean you give up completely? That NO team has no shot of winning a title. Good players, no great ones. Old players. No draft picks. Cap space locked up. You’d rather be okay for 2-3 years versus potentially being contenders in year 4-5?
Give up completely on wining a title?
Absolutely. On accumulating as many good players as possible, no.
Getting stuck with old players with diminishing skills…is that better or worse than getting saddled with a Syracuse Duo? Age is great, but actual skill is better.
If I had a billion dollars
I probably wouldn’t care nearly as much about the ’wolves.
"Practice? We talkin' bout' practice?"
by The Scandalnavian on Jan 13, 2012 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
Side note:
Is Okafor not the salary dump player we should be targeting like crazy or what?
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
TimAllen makes an excellent point
it sucks that we lose that pick, but I will take RubioLove anyday over that
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
TimAllen
I never thought about this perspective. Marko Jaric really did make this possible! Hurray for Marko Jaric!
www.unleashkevinlove.com
the bonus is Jaric's GF
never hurts…except thinking about how it was possible…
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
If that doesn't work, cheat.
by TheEvilProfessor on Jan 13, 2012 3:40 PM CST up reply actions
Ha, what a bunch of stiffs.
Seriously tho, who’s playing for New Orleans these days?
Kidding kidding
Wolves almost always stink more than anybody.
by fanslaststand on Jan 13, 2012 3:42 PM CST up reply actions
Was that Chris Kaman or Chris Elliot?
Joe Mauer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, ________ out at second
by GWST11 on Jan 13, 2012 4:00 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
I saw that in the theater
and I wasn’t even sure why I was laughing. I should watch it again.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 13, 2012 4:07 PM CST up reply actions
False, The best Chris Elliot movie ever made is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWmbuKSWLDE
Michael Beasley is a Small Forward. Derrick Williams is a Power Forward.
He also (inexplicably) was able
to produce this:
Still trying to figure that one out.
Gary, you didn't kill your brother. Those gorillas did.
by nja700 on Jan 13, 2012 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
awesome
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
That was my first thought!! Lol
I watch this team, and i care so much, simply because i can’t not. It’s just a part of who i am..
"If Monty Williams can't guard Michael Jordan, what chance does his team have of defending Ricky Rubio?"
Quite.
Harsher Than Scissors
David Kahn is thinking that...
…tonight, the officials will have a habit, and I’ll just say a habit, of favoring NOLA down the stretch.
by bbeeck on Jan 13, 2012 4:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Awesome
How fun would it have been to see a matchup between Chris Paul and Ricky Rubio tonight? The league’s best point guard (no disrespect to Rose or Williams) going up against Paul, who has led the Hornets to multiple playoff appearances and is definitely a top-5 point guard in his own regard.
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Jan 13, 2012 4:30 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Wait a week.
Rubio plays the Clippers next Friday.
by MarlonMaxeyEra on Jan 13, 2012 4:53 PM CST up reply actions
Excellent write-up.
also, as I recline in my barcalounger with my freshly lit pipe, I read this:
Without the need to shed Marko Jaric’s terrible contract, the Wolves would not have been as motivated to trade him to Memphis, and Kevin Love would be grabbing double-doubles in a Grizzlies uniform.
If the Grizzlies trade does not happen, the Wolves never get Mike Miller. Without Mike Miller, David Kahn could never have traded for Washington’s 2009 1st round draft choice and could not have selected point guard Ricky Rubio.
and ponder what the landscape of the NBA would look like today if the Chicago Bulls had drafted Michael Beasley first overall instead of Derrick Rose.
Lob City? I prefer Skip-pass County.
apologies
for some reason the block quote did not encapsulate the entire quote, the first and second chunks of text were supposed to be included. Like this:
Without the need to shed Marko Jaric’s terrible contract, the Wolves would not have been as motivated to trade him to Memphis, and Kevin Love would be grabbing double-doubles in a Grizzlies uniform.
If the Grizzlies trade does not happen, the Wolves never get Mike Miller. Without Mike Miller, David Kahn could never have traded for Washington’s 2009 1st round draft choice and could not have selected point guard Ricky Rubio.
Lob City? I prefer Skip-pass County.
I think Beas would’ve been much better off in Chicago versus Miami for a ton of reasons. Rose and Wade would’ve been the best backcourt in the league from day one. That would’ve been scary. Although, unlike Durant v. Oden, it was never really a question. Rose was the clear #1.
I'm not arguing who is better or what situation would/could have been better
I’m just musing over the idea that one decision can, and does, affect the ENTIRE LANDSCAPE of the NBA. If Miami ends up with DRose on draft day, does DRose become the DRose we know today or does bowing down to Wade stunt his development? Does LeBaby then go to NY instead of Miami, or the Clippers…or maybe he stays in Cleveland? Does Bosh follow LeBaby, does he go to Chicago? Where does Carmelo end up? See what I mean. When I say the Landscape of the NBA, I’m thinking more big picture.
Lob City? I prefer Skip-pass County.
Test drive the Panasonic EP30007 lounger and you'll never go back.
Guaranteed to make you miss the second half of games. Make sure you DVR games in progress.
Drank sumn.
(It’s the best I can do.) Tonight I have Ovila Quad (again) and Lagunitas Doppelweizen. Well, and Summit EPA, but that goes without saying.
"Of what use is a philosopher who does not hurt anybody's feelings?" -Diogenes of Sinope
by Cynical Jason on Jan 13, 2012 5:39 PM CST up reply actions
im on dat Jack tanigh
I got some nice Wine too ta match de color uv de kill i be puffin doe. And i got some coronas chillin. Iss gon be crazy mayn
MAYN HOL UP!
I gotta give a shout out ta SnP
Mayn you trilla den trill with yo bball knowledge. Mayn when we runnin de Wolves in a couple years iss gon be so crazy. I handle de kill, you got dem advanced stats and whut not. Mayn we would be unstoppable.. B Easy strugglin in a game i take him aside I say aight Mike, dis dat Cali Kill righ here and he would drop 50 on doze bitches righ after!!! Mayn win shares + dat purp = mad wins doe am i right?!?!
MAYN HOL UP!
by MAYNHOLUP on Jan 13, 2012 5:40 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd
I don’t even know why but this made me crack up
Jonny "Bag o' Chips" Flynn is gone, who's next?
Crystal Ball says Wes "The Ghost" Johnson
by CoffeeJanitor on Jan 13, 2012 6:06 PM CST up reply actions
Am I listening to this one, or is it on some basic channels on cable, or online (legally)?
Maybe a trip to Champs to order a drink and sip it…. slowly… for …. 2 …. hours…. ?
Actually wondering about the next 2. Maybe I need to see if NBA TV gives a 1-month option!
Still have my Foye jersey. Hey- at least she TRIED! :--)
Is this game being televised tonight?
If so, what channel?
by Luis Rivas on Jan 13, 2012 5:55 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Cox sports TV New Orleans
No Wolves broadcast
Joe Mauer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, ________ out at second
They have an online site that we can watch on?
Still have my Foye jersey. Hey- at least she TRIED! :--)
by LoveLovesLove on Jan 13, 2012 6:18 PM CST up reply actions
Probably not
google first row and you can watch illegal streams if you prefer
Joe Mauer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, ________ out at second
Darn. I didn't even know there were still any "off-key" feeds out there.
Looks like a date between me, Champs, and one of those hot-chocolate grasshopper drinks tonight. We’ll see if it’s like last year when there were nearly 0 TVs tuned to the TWolves before I arrived.
Hard to tell what the vibe is in the “real world” since I’m a serious die-hard Wolves fan.
Still have my Foye jersey. Hey- at least she TRIED! :--)
by LoveLovesLove on Jan 13, 2012 6:26 PM CST up reply actions
Anyone know of a (good) bar that would have the game on
in NE Mpls? or thereabouts …?
thanks
i’ll give them a call juuust to make sure.
Good idea.
Many of the NE bars I like (eg- Yacht Club) aren’t the kind of joints that likely have League Pass….although I’ve def watched the playoffs there
I'm sick and in bed
or else I would be in the same boat. I’ll have to figure out a good bar that has NBALP and is Wolves-friendly for the next untelevised out-of-towns… (tomorrow?)
yep, tomorrow as well..
Bulldog NE doesn’t have league pass…damn. An Old Chicago would have to, right?
Wow, that's weak.
Is there an Old Chicago in NE? I’d imagine they would.
Dinkytown probably has some places, too.
I am attempting some Google magic here….
The Google has said that
The Loop (601 Washington Ave N) has NBA LP…not sure if that is current. I’d imagine bars around Target Center (not far from NE) probably have it, too.
hey, thank you!
i think we are going to trek to Buffalo Wild Wings in Roseville…now they would have to have it, I’d assume.
I’ve only been to a BWW once before and there were at least 19 tv’s/games on. It was ridiculous. not in a good way, but this lends to me assuming they’d have NBA LP.
was cosidering Dinkytown but had this terrible thought of loud frat guys ruining my early evening.
I will post if I find somewhere good with NBALP
I have a feeling suburbs is the best bet. As a South Minneapolitan, I’d love to find an urban spot though. Have fun! (and thanks :).
Damn you
How dare you?
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:09 PM CST up reply actions
I guess if you are ill, I'll let it go
Hope you feel better. So many criminals need to be let off. :)
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:12 PM CST up reply actions
Never let it be said that I didn't do the least I could do
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
Zgoda tweets
that Rubio is starting with Luke, Johnson, Love, and Darko.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:08 PM CST reply actions
interesting lineup
I’m very excited to see if Rubio can do anything with Wes
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
I
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:09 PM CST up reply actions
Crap
I’d be more excited not to see Johnson at all.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:09 PM CST up reply actions
You
Michael Beasley is a Small Forward. Derrick Williams is a Power Forward.
by Ebomb on Jan 13, 2012 6:10 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
ha
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
Rec'd
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:10 PM CST up reply actions
I would have prefered to see Wes benched
let’s be real
I don't know what an art house is, I don't know what goes on in an art house, I have never been in an art house, and I can't imagine it's any place I ever want to be.
I guess Adelman plans to sub one of them out fairly early
Since Barea is unavailable, and he needs one of them in the game at all times. I was wondering about that.
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:25 PM CST reply actions
We don't ALL need to get sick
The Wolves are like the worst meal you've ever had--terrible while you're eating it and even worse later.
by Eric in Madison on Jan 13, 2012 6:41 PM CST up reply actions
Darko and Wes will be better tonight...Rubios!
Rubios - "Clinically PROVEN to Help Reduce Suckiness"
Was floored when
I read the “ESPN Accuscore” prediction for Love’s stat line tonight – 26 points, 14 rebounds…putting this into perspective only Kobe and Ledouche are predicted to score more, and no one in the league is predicted to have more boards by a margin of nearly 3 (Andrew Bynum)
I know that these video-game simulation-esque previews can only be relied on so much, but what sort of indicator is it when the computer predicts those kind of obscene figures for a player….MVP numbers on a .500 team, even. (Fingers crossed for that kind of optimism)
"Practice? We talkin' bout' practice?"
by The Scandalnavian on Jan 13, 2012 6:34 PM CST reply actions
WE DID IT
Hand over the title, open the champagne, release the kraken, we did it!
Jonny "Bag o' Chips" Flynn is gone, who's next?
Crystal Ball says Wes "The Ghost" Johnson
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