Yahoo.com sports writer for Ball Don't Lie, Kelly Dwyer, when referencing Kevin Love for the All-Star Reserve Team just described him as a good player on a TERRIBLE team!!!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/judging-choices-western-conference-star-team-reserves-014925177.html;_ylt=Al_hKzojRibjKoejQnpGeX28vLYF

Now, I personally don't think the TWolves have a championship team this year but I also don't think our team is a terrible team as he described. A 13 - 13 record just proves how much the team has improved plus our record is better than 12 other teams in the league and far ahead of teams such as the Bobcats and the Hornets.

It just amazes me that people like him are able to actually keep a job when speaking so much nonsense!!!

This is me.

Nickname: Puff

I can't say my athletic ability has improved too much since that incident, which is why I have taken my talents to the sidelines, and now the CH forums. (Unlike my favorite pup Tony T, who made a better decision).

To be fair, I have always been more of a Vikings fan. My first Minnesota sports memories are a blur between Gary Anderson's missed 38-yarder and the 41-0 rout at Giants Stadium. I made a few trips to Target Center in my young age, but never really latched onto the team. Sure I loved me some Anthony Peeler, but I certainly wasn't a die hard fan.

This year it has been something completely different. I am currently studying abroad in London for the semester, and have streamed (legally of course) a large majority of the games on my laptop. Somehow, more than anything else, those 1AM starts have provided my favorite link to life back home. There is nothing better than coming back from a night out to watch the Unicorn go to work.

I have been casually perusing the CH forums for a couple of years but finally decided to make an account this season. Just thought I would introduce myself and here's to hoping you will allow a late addition to the bandwagon.

Cheers!

First of all, let me say that I'm an avid reader of CH and love all of the varying personalities on display here. I'm not normally one to field oddball trade scenarios, and I know Dwight hasn't expressed interest in coming here, but bear with me for a minute...

Continue reading this post »

Who is the TOP Wolves prognosticator against the spread ? There's so much knowledge here so PICK how the Wolves do against the spread and give your reasoning. "The urge to gamble is so universal,and its practice so pleasurable that I assume it must be evil" "If I lose today, I can look forward to winning tomorrow, and if I win today, I can expect to lose tomorrow. A sure thing is no fun." – Chico Marx ....

Canis Hoopus POLL CONSENSUS RECORD 17 - 8 (WOW)....A very impressive record after getting a gift win in the Memphis game. I couldn't understand why Memphis left their starters in after the Wolves gave up and emptied the bench. Fortunately, the reserves came through and got it down to five. Lets keep the streak going with the game against Dallas......

I really didn't understand this game... I was screaming at my TV for the most part of the game...

1. Michael Beasley actually had a good night shooting and I thought he should've taken a lot more shots. I know it sounds crazy but somebody had to and he was having an average night!

2. Ricky just looked tired or unmotivated... They just hassled him the entire game... 1 assist??? Wow...

3. Pek looked lost without help down low... I think he really missed KLove down there with him... DWill does not know how to play the same way KLove does... Pek was alone for most of the night in the paint.

4. DWill should just play SF. He does not position himself as well as KLove does for the PF position.

5. WE GAVE UP TOO EARLY!!!! The starters barely played in the 4th quarter (if they played at all). I understand that we were playing on the road without our best player but this game was within reach for most of the game including the 4th quarter and it seems that RA just decided to throw the game and come back home.

In the end we only lost by 5 points... I give props to B-easy and J. J. who apparently were the only player that refused to give up and kept shooting until the end... that 3 pointer in the end of the game by Beasley just showed us all that we could've taken a W if we just kept fighting till the end...

Am I correct on my game notes or am I waaaay off??? What do you say?

I know you people aren't stupid. I know you've seen or heard of Austin Rivers' performance last night. And I think the question on many of our minds is, "is there any chance we see him in a Timberwolves uniform next season?"

DraftExpress.com has Rivers going 18th to Portland, and currently have our Pups at the 21st spot (Utah's pick). His stock will more than likely rise after last night's incredible performance, but there are some issues with the Duke freshman. He is frequently labeled as selfish. Obviously every outstanding player has to have a little bit of selfishness in him, or else he wouldn't be a diaper dandy on one of the nation's elite teams. But the great players know where to draw the line. Rivers sometimes takes too much upon himself and forces up a lot of shots. That being said, last night was the perfect dose of selfishness. The kid can straight up ball.

Another issue is his defense. This Duke team is being heralded as Coach K's worst defensive team in his long tenure in Durham. Rivers could be considered the worst offender of the group. I realize that there isn't a whole lot of defense played in the NBA (see Kurt Rambis' Wolves), but it seems as if Rick Adelman has his boys taking pride on the defensive end, which can translate into exciting games to watch and wins.

His three-point shooting was also a question mark, but he pretty much silenced those critics last night (isn't that right, Tyler Zeller).

In my opinion, Rivers is and extremely talented player with an incredibly high ceiling. He would fill a need and do a nice job offensively. On the contrary, he more than likely will not fall to us unless he chokes in March, which would make us question if we would even want him anyway. I also don't think he would fit in with this group of players. This is an unselfish team (with the exception of "B-Easy" most of the time) that likes to hustle and play defense. Rivers just wouldn't mesh with these guys (although I'm sure he'd love having Rubio dishing him the rock). Throwing all of this out the window, I trust that Rick Adelman...and I guess David Kahn, will make the right decision come draft day. Feel free to express your opinions on Doc's kid in the comments.

.500 baby! It’s been a long, hard road, but here we are at last.

Seriously though, 1-1 without Kevin Love. I’ll take it, but this was a bad game. I worked as an usher at the Target Center for five years, joining soon after the Wolves lost in the Western Conference Finals. My thought at the time: I’m going to get to paid to watch this team play in the playoffs and possible the NBA finals next year and beyond. Sign me up! Five years later – zero playoff games and A LOT of bad basketball. Tonight, unfortunately was reminiscent of many of those nights in the two-thirds empty Target Center watching a slower, less-athletic, overmatched team trying to find a line-up, any line-up that could produce.

Speaking of empty crowds, where was the Memphis crowd tonight? Lot of empty seats. Very little energy despite what seemed like about dozen poster-dunks on helpless Wolves. Weren’t they like a hair away from the Western Conference finals last year?

My other lasting memory of Memphis from last year: Zach Randolph sarcastically clapping like a dopey circus clown after Kevin Love recorded his double-double. If memory serves, Love had just been chosen over Z-Bo for the All-Start game and Memphis was wiping the floor with puppy hides. Tonight we get no Z-Bo and no Love, but the Memphis domination continues – 9 of 10 for the Grizz.

On to the grades:

Continue reading this post »

On a whim I just bought a $15 ticket to a lower level seat. I'll get downtown early again, so I'd love to meet you people. I'll aim for Kieran's at about 5:00 (unless someone prefers a different meeting spot). Who's doing this? I'll be the bearded guy in the black Pekovic shirt! Apparently I need more words. There are a number of words that come to mind. There. I've met my requirement.

There is a lot of hubbub going on daily in the NBA and I think this could become a fun thread to discuss other things everyone is hearing daily in the NBA. Please keep it civil. Extra words are fun to fill in the minimum. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah.

I know it's fun to think of "What Ifs" as well but this will be more of a post for actual bits instead of hypotheticals.

Go.

The statics don't lie - best record in the league (undefeated!) when he doesn't play, barely .500 when he does. The man is clearly a hinderance to the team.

It appears TA's preseason prediction would have been right - if RA had been smart enough to hang a DNP-CD on Love's neck every game (evidence that RA should be fired: Love leads the league in minutes played), we would be undefeated! Kahn was smart enough to clean house of the McHale mess - now complete the job (and get rid of Pek while you're at it!).

It's painful to think about how good this team would be without Love's 25/13 every night. It's painful to think about what might have been without Love's step-back threes and newfound low post moves. It hurts to think about what a league surprise we'd have been without Love's work ethic and team leadership. I get frustrated thinking about how improved we'd be without the best outside shooter on the team (who happens to play the 4 and rebound better than anyone in the league). Remove Barkley's favorite PF in the world, and you have yourself a World Championship team. Tireless, unrelenting competitors (as the statistics clearly indicate) don't get us the wins we need. Our team would be so much better if Rubio hadn't found a soulmate in Love, a fellow high IQ guy who simply loves the game. All these things are so overrated.

If we'd have dropped Love this offseason like he'd dropped pounds, we'd be Hollinger's #1 team right now. Instead of talking about "if" we'd make the playoffs, we'd be talking about whether or not we'll beat the Heat Bulls in the
Finals.

Stats don't lie. It's an inarguable FACT - we're a better team without Love than with him.

It's not too late to salvage the season. Trade Kevin Love - it just makes sense.