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Here it is. The last game the Timberwolves were above .500 after the New Year, January 22, 2007.

What was going on way back in January of 2007? The financial collapse was still several months off into the future, President Bush was still in office, Senator Obama was facing the charge of attending a Muslim madrassa while in grade school, the US had a tough weekend in Al Anbar province, an airplane skidded off a Milwaukee runway, Ramon Ortiz signed with the Twins, Stomp the Yard and Alpha Dog were in theaters, Katherine McPhee was your American Idol, and somewhere in a Lake Oswego High School hallway, Kevin Love was having to resist a strong urge to step on the face of Lupe, an exchange student from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Looking around at the game thread and Twitter, I see that there is a lot of pearl clutching about Kevin Love putting his boot in Luis Scola's chest (and face!). Please, get it out of the way quickly. Here....here's a virtual fainting couch where you can rest your weary head until you get your vapors under control.

Ready? Great.

This is the game the Wolves got out of the ranks of the losers. It isn't the game where the piss-poor referees in a piss-poor shortened season let a game get completely out of hand as two really scrappy and good players hacked the living hell out of each other. Once Love had his outrageous 3 oreb-toss-it-up-lay-up possession, and once he followed it up with a Paul Bunyan ax chop that received no whistle...well, either it was going to end with a punch, a nut-punch, a head-hunting foul, a kick, or, in this particular case, the guy on our favorite squad stepping on the chest (and face!) of Luis Scola. One way or another, it was going to end ugly. Love was the ugly ender. He'll get fined or suspended or whatever. He'll probably even apologize. (The refs didn't even see the play, just like they didn't see the ax chop, the jersey grabs, and the extraordinary amount of hacking that led to the unfortunate situation where the players had the green light to do whatever they wanted to. I'm fairly certain Love could have brought back the Bruce Bowen flying face kick and got away with it with this crew.)

Anywho.

I don't really know what to say about this particular moment. It's been a loonnnnnnnnnnnnng road back to .500 and the people who have stuck with this franchise over that time have seen some terrible basketball. Look at that roster from Casey's last game. Look at the 4th worst 2 year stretch in league history (the last 2 years). Look at the worst coach in team history trying to coach up the worst pick in team history. Look at Sam I Am and Spree devolving into Mike James and Ricky Buckets. Look at Wrong Gator, McFoye, Ryan Hollins' favorite color, Stewie, Witt, Cupcake, Brewsists, Jonny Stops, Roy > Foye, DMC vs. Wes, PGs and PFs, Ty Lawson, Steph Curry, raise your hands, windows of opportunity...it goes on and on and on and on.

I don't have much to say about this particular game. I plan on remembering as much about its specifics as I did about Casey's Last Stand. Your and my favorite team is back at .500. They have two stud players and a developing big. If Love starts to build his cheap shot sample size to the level of this guy then I'll start to pay more attention. Until then, .500...enjoy it without worrying about something you aren't going to remember a few months from now anyway. Love is the guy who is learning a lesson here, not you. Save the scolding for another day and enjoy the new view.

Until later.

And just like 31/31, it isn't available on local TV.

something, something, The Dream Shake

enjoy the tilt

This is getting good.

Before I go on, does anyone know of any more talented potential folk heroes in the professional basketball world right now? The Wolves want to corner the market and you should send your player to 600 First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota. ATTN: Crunch.

Our Beloved Puppies entered the game against the Nets with 2 players performing in the star-to-superstar range and one player making a rapid climb from tankish goofball oddity to an above average performer. The Wolves left the Meadowlands with these three laying waste to a plucky Nets team who were unable to ride an amazing shooting night from a player that would look prettttttty good in Minny blue (at least compared to what currently is trotted out at the 2-spot) to victory.

Let's get right down to it with Pek: How cosmically funny is it that another McHale draft pick is blossoming into a starting player under David Kahn? How much funnier is it that he essentially plays the role of Al Jefferson, or of a much bigger Craig Smith? How perfect is it that he is decidedly not long and not athletic? He's the anti Ryan Hollins. He's a Mac guy through and through. He's much more Celtic than Showtime. Ohhhhhh....this franchise is still the gift that keeps on giving.

Anywho, the Peksecutioner was in full effect last night in Jersey and he put up the following stat line in 34 minutes of action: 27 points on 11-14 shooting, 5-6 at the line, 11 rebounds (4 offensive), 3 turnovers, and....wait for it...ONLY FOUR FOULS!!! Forget the big scoring output. Playing nearly 35 minutes without fouling out is a big accomplishment for Pek and it should not go unnoticed.

My favorite thing about Pek is his currently unparalleled ability to get the ball within shoulder's length of the rim. Can you imagine if someone like Dwight Howard could figure this sort of thing out? I guess that's the kicker: you can't figure this sort of thing out because you're either born with the strength of an ox (and no amount of protein shakes or sculpted biceps will change that) or you're not. Pek has small area quickness. He rebounds like a madman. He sets all sorts of barely-legal picks. He runs straight up and down and it is beyond funny to watch him huff and puff his way up and down the court. He has the crazy tattoo, the accent, and the Bond villain looks. Now throw in the fact that he's becoming very good at professional basketball in the NBA and you have the perfect addition to this squad.

(BTW: Is ox strength athleticism? I know we get all geeked up about Blake dunks and whatnot, but how does silly ox strength enter the athleticism picture?)

As good as Pek was, this game was yet another example of why Ricky Rubio is horrifyingly good at basketball. Deron Williams had his lunch handed to him by the rookie and it wasn't really even close. Ricky was everywhere last night. Getting hands in passing lanes, racking up 6 steals, 10 assists, making a shifty right handed layup from the left side of the court against Kris Kardashian, you name it, he did it.

One of the things that has impressed me most about Rubio is his awareness on the defensive end of the court. As much as we talk about his amazing passing, he seems to have the same vision on the defensive end. At least 2-3 times a game I see the opposing team execute some weak side action where a big will back pick a Wolves wing player and then rotate towards the hoop. In past seasons, this guy would have gone unguarded and we would have all been witness to a bunch of thunderous dunks. This year, Ricky sees the play unfolding on the weak side, and casually drops down to cut off the passing lane to the big. It takes all of a half of a second and it's really something of a sleight move, but it ends up saving 4-6 points a game. It never fails. Watch him on defense next game. There will be at least 2-3 times where he flashes at a cutting big on the weak side to prevent the entry pass. It's a thing of beauty.

OK, I've gone on long enough and I need to get some sleep. We are on night #1 of Kid 3 (Baby Toddler Phalen) being de-binkified and she has been quiet for 30 minutes now. Must sleep. No time for proof-reading. Random thoughts:

• Tonight's game will be crack number 4 6 at .500.
• Did anyone else catch the Battlefield Earth announcer guy or the Jersey Shore rejects near the Wolves bench?
• Anthony Morrow would look very good catching 3 point assists from Ricky Rubio
• I really enjoyed listening to the Nets crew. For a while I thought I was listening to Matty Guokas but I guess not. Very solid crew.

Well folks, that's about it. Sorry for the rush job. It's de-binkification night #1 and I gots to run.

Until later.

Have at it.

You know the drill. This game isn't on TV except on League Pass.

Blogging buddies over here: NetsDaily