Now, the preseason is right around the corner and I was just wondering if T'Wolves fans are at the very least satisfied with the off season. Sure some things could have gone better but at the least are you satisfied with the pick up of Mike James, Foye, the Mayor as assistant, etc.?
I am pretty satisfied. We gave KG the scoring and veteran leadership he was asking for (and desperately needed). As for our other need (a big man)we did nothing which is depressing. KG has never even had an adequate center to play with, so to see him go into another season without one is sad. Hopefully we can add one soon. All in all, I'm satisfied and pumped to see how James, Foye, and KG can work together.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheFreshPrince:</div><div class="quote_post">I am pretty satisfied. We gave KG the scoring and veteran leadership he was asking for (and desperately needed). As for our other need (a big man)we did nothing which is depressing. KG has never even had an adequate center to play with, so to see him go into another season without one is sad. Hopefully we can add one soon. All in all, I'm satisfied and pumped to see how James, Foye, and KG can work together.</div> That's my same beef too man. I was hoping they could have picked up a solid big this season. I was thinking that maybe Nazr Mo' or Rasho would have been a good pickup. It really is depressing that there is still not a solid big for them. Even Reggie Evans would have been a atom bomb imo. But same thoughts as you; I can't wait to see James, Foye, Ricky, and KG play. Hopefully they can mesh and when Mccants comes back you will have yet another solid player to build chemistry.
I was hoping for Nazr and Reggie, but Rasho and KG never really worked together. Rasho is SO inconsistent and soft he couldn't even work well with KG. As for Hoiberg.. I think it is good for our fan morale. I am not so sure how he'll do, but whatever limits McHale's power is a good thing. Hopefully McHale retires soon with some (presumably) very capable candidates below him.
I realize Mark Blount is inconsistent and not a great rebounder, but I don't understand the complaints about him. He's an adequate center, and if given the time and touches, is capable of about 12/6, which is not overly bad, especially when KG is there to crash the boards and when he's only going to be 3rd or 4th option on offense. Overall, if I was a TWolves fan, I'd be pretty satisified with the offseason. You guys didn't do anything great, but it's not like you did anything horrible either. Foye was a great pickup in the draft for you guys and could be a legit ROY candidate. I personally think some of you TWolve fans overhype Mike James. Prior to last season, he'd done next to nothing in his career, owning career averages of something like 8/4, which is nothing special at all. All of the sudden, he explodes and has a career year on a bad team where he was given the ball as much as he wants. Did I mention it was a contract year? On that note, if you haven't noticed, people tend to actually care when their contract year comes around and then lose interest afterwards. Take note of Adonal Foyle, Erick Dampier, and your very own Mark Blount. Not saying it'll happen with James, but hey, you never know. He'd never done much of anything til last year, so money could have been his one and only motivation, and now that he's got it, he could throw caring on the backburner. Personally, I think it's too early to say Mike James is what this team needs. I want to see the product on the court before I say anything lilke that. I myself, don't think he's a good fit on this team. He's a shoot first, second, third, fourth, and then maybe pass fifth, type of point guard, and now, before you go saying that KG will defer, realize that he needs the ball for the offense to be effective. If he doesn't touch it, that's never a good thing. And also realize Ricky and Randy also will need their touches. Mike James is going to have to defer a lot more than what he did in Toronto, and I think that limits his effectiveness and you'll likely see him back around 12-14 ppg, not even close to his 20 ppg. And if you think he's getting you any more than 4-5apg, keep dreaming as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I realize Mark Blount is inconsistent and not a great rebounder, but I don't understand the complaints about him. He's an adequate center, and if given the time and touches, is capable of about 12/6, which is not overly bad, especially when KG is there to crash the boards and when he's only going to be 3rd or 4th option on offense. Overall, if I was a TWolves fan, I'd be pretty satisified with the offseason. You guys didn't do anything great, but it's not like you did anything horrible either. Foye was a great pickup in the draft for you guys and could be a legit ROY candidate. I personally think some of you TWolve fans overhype Mike James. Prior to last season, he'd done next to nothing in his career, owning career averages of something like 8/4, which is nothing special at all. All of the sudden, he explodes and has a career year on a bad team where he was given the ball as much as he wants. Did I mention it was a contract year? On that note, if you haven't noticed, people tend to actually care when their contract year comes around and then lose interest afterwards. Take note of Adonal Foyle, Erick Dampier, and your very own Mark Blount. Not saying it'll happen with James, but hey, you never know. He'd never done much of anything til last year, so money could have been his one and only motivation, and now that he's got it, he could throw caring on the backburner. Personally, I think it's too early to say Mike James is what this team needs. I want to see the product on the court before I say anything lilke that. I myself, don't think he's a good fit on this team. He's a shoot first, second, third, fourth, and then maybe pass fifth, type of point guard, and now, before you go saying that KG will defer, realize that he needs the ball for the offense to be effective. If he doesn't touch it, that's never a good thing. And also realize Ricky and Randy also will need their touches. Mike James is going to have to defer a lot more than what he did in Toronto, and I think that limits his effectiveness and you'll likely see him back around 12-14 ppg, not even close to his 20 ppg. And if you think he's getting you any more than 4-5apg, keep dreaming as well.</div> I don't expect James to be godlike. I'm at the least expecting a 14/5 or 6 from him per game. If he gave that I'd be pretty satisfied. Not to mention who knows what can happen if he can mesh with KG, and Ricky. But I'm just dreaming at this point.
Agreed. James is a shoot first point but he was also playing on a crappy team last year and maybe felt that he had to try to put up more points to help his team compete. Yes he only averaged about about 8-10/4 before his big year but he also averaged under 25 minutes doing so. All that I am really hoping for from James is someone who comes in willing to work hard, take big shots and help this team get back into the playoffs. I dont know if it will work but we finally have something to look forward to.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">I realize Mark Blount is inconsistent and not a great rebounder, but I don't understand the complaints about him. He's an adequate center, and if given the time and touches, is capable of about 12/6, which is not overly bad, especially when KG is there to crash the boards and when he's only going to be 3rd or 4th option on offense.</div> Mark Blount is capable of about 17/9, but he has only had one good season. That was a contract year, so take that for what it's worth. He is capable of great things, and he has the talent. It's just a matter of putting that talent into something worthwhile. I'm just not sure he can get the job done. KG needs help up front on both defense and offense. I'd grade the TWolves offseason a B-. They got Mike James and added Randy Foye (best rookie in the NBA) in the draft, and the backcourt is set. They still didn't get a good big though. The offseason could have been worse, but it wasn't great either. KG wants to contend, and this team can't contend for anything other than a playoff spot right now. That probably isn't good enough for KG, and rightfully so.
I guess T-Wolves finally have a good clutch shooter (Mike James) and not KG there to force up clutch shots.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pakman:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess T-Wolves finally have a good clutch shooter (Mike James) and not KG there to force up clutch shots.</div> KG wasn't taking clutch shots and if he did, he made them. I remember when he was on a roll and made 12 straight FG's. He had 12/13 from the night all in the fourth quarter. When they finally got close they stopped passing to KG and started lobbing shots up thanks to Marcus Banks. The T'Wolves lost the game against the Blazers last season because of idiot moves, the story of basically half their lost games.
KG has always had trouble scoring when the game is on the line. Mike James should help with his consistent shooting.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pakman:</div><div class="quote_post">KG has always had trouble scoring when the game is on the line. Mike James should help with his consistent shooting.</div> Thats total bs, give me some numbers. KG, from what i've seen has been great at the end of games. That blazer game was the end of the season for me.
I dont know statistical wise. But the games I've watched of T-Wolves in the past, game on line.. KG has settled for jump shots and missed them. Maybe KG isn't BAD (my mistake for saying he is BAD, but he isn't good either) ..
KG was never bad in the clutch. The past few years, especially last, we did not have anyone on the outside that was a real threat and thus teams simply focused on KG in tight games. Ricky Davis can get to the hoop but he cant stretch the defense out and make things easier inside. James will be good at the end of games because if teams want to collapse on KG then he now has someone he can kick the ball to who can consistantly make outside shots, at least hopefully.
Yes, you worded it correctly. Past few years in clutch, everyone knew the ball was going to KG. This year, James should be a help in crunch times.
Well the only problem with Ricky this last season is he wasn't playing at 100% so that's why he wasn't as much as a slasher as he was in previous times. Come this season I hope to see him be a little more aggressive and rely less on jumpers which should also help the Wolves' case.
