Hello, everyone. Shouts to all those who supported Metal Monday last week. Eric essentially summed up the Eric Bledsoe conversation, yesterday. Bledsoe isn't coming to the Wolves. Here are the musings.
Lynx Stuff
Three members of the Minnesota Lynx will likely make the 2014 USA World Championship Team. Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen and Maya Moore are 3 of 13 remaining players inline to represent America in at The FIBA World Championship in Turkey, which begins September 27th. Because Cheryl Reeve in an assistant coach to Geno Auriemma, I don't foresee any of these players being cut.
Brittney Griner is not on the roster. Griner recently underwent a procedure to correct a retinal she suffered after being poked in the eye during the WNBA Finals. An unfortunate break for Team USA, who is 97-21 all-time at the World Cup and undoubtedly the favorite to win the tournament. The Americans went 9-0 and won the gold medal in the last World Cup (2010).
Though they are not unbeatable. This was proven yesterday when, France, rallying back after being down 18, defeated Team USA at an exhibition played in Paris, 76-72. I read the box score. Here are a few notes.
- It looks as though league MVP Moore had an off night-- she shot 1 of 10 from the field.
- Whalen scored two points and had five assists,along with two turnovers.
- Augustus scored six points, tallied three assists and grabbed three rebounds.
- Collectively, the Lynx trio shot 5 of 17 from the field.
- Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi was 3 of 13 from the field (1 for 5 from three-point range).
NBA Stuff
There's a little more than 30 days remaining in the NBA offseason. There aren't many things happening.
NBA Australia's Angus Crawford interviewed recently retired Chauncey Billups, who reflected on his 17-year career.
One thing omitted from my Chauncey piece: He listed 3 teammates as the 'best' he ever played with. Any guesses?
— Angus Crawford (@arkcrawford) September 19, 2014
Billups: "Kevin Garnett would be one of the best. Chris Paul. Ben Wallace. I’d say those are the best 3 players I’ve ever played with."
— Angus Crawford (@arkcrawford) September 19, 2014
So, KG is #1-- that's kinda neat. Unmentioned: Carmelo Anthony.
Stan Kasten on the Atlanta Hawks: ‘They'll come through this.'
Kasten, president and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has ties to the city of Atlanta and doesn't reject the idea of purchasing the team. Others who have expressed interest in potentially buying the Hawks include..
MY GOOD FRIEND @DJD IS TRYING TO BUY THE ATLANTA HAWKS. I THINK IM GONA TRY AND BE APART OF THAT DEAL! #ATL
— INSTAGRAM LILJON (@LilJon) September 17, 2014
I plan on buying the Hawks and bringing Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Jamal Crawford back! #EastAtlantaHawks
— Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) September 8, 2014
For those who are unaware, this storystream at Peachtree Hoops can fill you in on the situation in Atlanta.
Digging for more news, former NBA guard Rex Chapman was arrested for allegedly shoplifting $14,000 worth of merchandise from an Apple store. Police say Chapman pretended to use the store's self-checkout but left without paying. Yep. This happened.
Timberwolves Stuff
Not much here. As mentioned, Bledsoe isn't coming to Minnesota.
This column published at the Star Tribune has a few quotables.
- General Manager Milt Newton said Thursday that team officials felt it was important to let Glenn Robinson "know he's in our plans," before adding that "it's a situation where he's going to have to earn it."
- Robinson said he understands there are a lot of wings on the roster. "I wouldn't say it's daunting," he said. "I'd definitely say, it is a lot of wings."
- Rookies Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine have moved to the Twin Cities, along with their families. "I can't cook," Wiggins said. "So whenever I need food, I can go to their house.''
For The Podcasters,
If you like listening to people talk about basketball here's some recent content.
- Layne was featured on the Salt City Hoops, podcast, where he talked about Stat Projections.
- I joined Corbin Smith for what was the pilot episode of Biscastball. We talked matters pertinent to the D-League, the Timberwolves and, most importantly, corn.
- With the guys over at the Lottery Mafia dot com, I strictly discussed Wolves topics. There's a substantial amount of dialogue regarding headlines dating as far back as the Kevin Love trade talks. The Lottery Mafia is a website dedicated to covering the NBA lottery teams.