After Game 4.... "The Timberwolves are poseurs and wannabes, not legitimate contenders for the NBA championship. Minnesota survived Game 4 only because the Nuggets were horrible. If Denver plays anywhere near its potential, if forward Carmelo Anthony did not look like a hopelessly lost rookie, this series would be tied and the Timberwolves would be muttering curses to themselves on the airplane ride all the way back to Minneapolis." By: Mark Kiszla ....and I had to include this..... "It's like abortion...young defenseless team (babies) getting torn apart by heartless thugs, while the law (refs) stands by doing nothing about the indecency of it all. BUT, the future for babies and the Nugs is bright!"
Denver should have had that game. They have no one to blame but themselves for this loss. If Carmelo would have made just a couple more shots this could have been a different outcome. He's a rookie and has played great this season though so I won't take anything away from him. He's been great this season, I wouldn't like to blame the loss on him.
If Carmelo did this, if Carmelo did that. I like Carmelo but he has been on lock all series long, all season long by trenton Hassell. They act like it was some type of fluke. The Nuggets have played the the wolves 8 times now(reg & playoffs combine) & he has only scored above 20pts once. I give Denver so much credit for testing the wolves, the way they have these last 2 games. But they need to stop acting like the fact that they play in Denver(in that high altitude) isnt the main reason why this series is close. Its the main reason Denver is able to keep up with the t-wolves. During the regular season Sam Cassell got sick do to shortness of breath in Denver. And during the same game Spree complained during half-time of breathing problems' & his second half minutes were limited. The big 3 had some of their worst games in Denver during the regular season. And it has lapped over to the playoffs. Iam not making excuses. 2 of the wolves best three players are older. And it has always been noted how hard it is for older players to adjust to the lack of air in Denver. So for them to say that the Wolves are thugs & not championship contenders, it just seems like they are upset & also wrong. Would they have said this if Spree didnt pull that stunt at the end of game 4? I doubt it. But truth be told Denver players started talking 1st. Melo said"If we beat them, they need to just shut their franchise down". Thats total disrepect in my opinion. You win one game now you are talking like your shutting franchises down, please. The Wolves came out, scrapped out a game where they didnt play well. And now they have a chance to put these Cats to rest. Last time I checked thats what championship teams do. Like I said I give credit to Denver, they had a great year. I wasnt expecting the Wolves to sweep them. They have a nice mix of veterans who been thru their share of playoff wars(Voshun Lenard, Marcus Camby, Jon Barry etc).And young future stars like Melo, Dre, Nene, Boykins(even tho he been on his share of teams, he still pretty young). But Denver players & the entire city is getting a little beside themselves. Next year, they have to prove that they are a good team when everyone is expecting them to be one. The Wolves will prove whether or not they are championship contenders as the playoffs move into round 2. Everybody talks about the cockiness or attitude of the wolves. But that imo is going to be the reason why they win the chip(if they do). I love their atitude. How else are you going to be able to go into LA, or Sac-town. And get a victory. The Wolves got that " Iam the badest thing on the planet & your going to have to stab me in the heart to kill me attitude". And that is exactly what they need. They can careless whether fans/players/media like them or not. And why should they? Fans & Media have been doubting them all season. The Kings/Mavs have been two of the more popular teams with the fans & media for the last 3 or 4 season, and where do they end up in late May/June? So we shall see where this attitude takes the Wolves, that is why I love the playoffs.
oh god all the what if's and could have's and 'only if's' in the world are the only thing thats going to turn denver into legit contenders as well. gee, i wonder why carmello played like a hopelessly lost rookie...maybe because HE IS a hopelessly lost rookie mini are a better team, and in a half court set, they have more people who can score then denver do. they can bitch and complain all they want, what wont change is the fact that they lost and mini won. mini ARE legit title contenders, and denver arent...talk about poseurs talkin sh*t. how typical that they look to the refs for an excuse to a loss in the playoffs...ITS THE BLOODY PLAYOFFS, you think the refs are going to decide a game with a last second bail out call. stfu and play
Yes, we are playing horrible right now, but that doesn't mean we are not title contenders. We are playing like crap and we are still beating them, even when we play like crap we win. And the Nuggets didn't really play that bad. They actually played well and stayed in the game. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"It's like abortion...young defenseless team (babies) getting torn apart by heartless thugs, while the law (refs) stands by doing nothing about the indecency of it all. BUT, the future for babies and the Nugs is bright!"</div> That is just a stupid statement. Wow, their reporters are really biased.
The T'Wolves are a little too worried about an 8 seeded team that won 26 games more this year than last. Spree's actions were classless, end of game go to your lockerroom. What does it matter what the Nuggets were saying during the game, end of game, scoreboard. The fact that you even acknowledge them at the end of the game shows that the T'Wolves are not ready for prime time. From what I saw, the Nuggets figured out a way to defend the high pick and roll by double-teaming Cassell and then having the other "big" rotate over to guard Garnett. The T'Wolves better figure out some other way to generate offense otherwise they will be stuck against a better team, not the Nuggets.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting philsmith75:</div><div class="quote_post"> From what I saw, the Nuggets figured out a way to defend the high pick and roll by double-teaming Cassell and then having the other "big" rotate over to guard Garnett. The T'Wolves better figure out some other way to generate offense otherwise they will be stuck against a better team, not the Nuggets.</div> I do agree with that statement that the wolves have to find another way to generate offense besides the Pick & Roll. The Nuggets exposed it. But I think the Pick & Roll would work better if KG drop to the post quicker after setting the pick. He usually just sets the pick & stays at the top. So its really not the pick & roll the Wolves use they use the Pick & pop, similar to what the Knicks use with Marbury & Kurt Thomas(and the Nets exposed how you defend it with them as well). KG got to roll to the basket more.
"Elson told Denver reporters on Wednesday that Kevin Garnett hit him in the crotch in Game 4. Elson went on to say: "That's a cheap shot by a low-class type player. You don't do that. That's gay on his part. I told him that he was gay, too, for touching me in my private parts.''" This Elson-guy is obviously a retard. I like the fact that it's heating up in the rivalry-department, though.
This series with the Twolves and the Nuggets have really turned into a rivalry in the last couple of games. The teams have been playing very emotionaly and had alot of thrash-talking with the players. There has been a lot of talking, and this is what the playoffs are all about. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Elson apologized after he was chastised by gay and lesbian groups. ``I realize my comments were insensitive and they were out of character for me,'' he said in a statement the team released. ``However, I take full responsibility and I have learned a valuable lesson.'' </div> That was a very stupid comment by Elson calling KG gay. But hopefully the Wolves can end this series at the Target center.
I don't see anything else other than a win tonight for the Timberwolves. Denver can play the trash talk card if they want, but what's trash talking if you can't produce results to back up your mouth. T-Wolves have showed that they can hold their tongues and let their basketball skills do the talking for them. I will agree though, they are not playing their best basketball right now and will need to get better before they take on the likes of Sacramento.
KG will loosen up in the next series, so that will help. Sprewell & Cassell, they are supposedly big under pressure, and I believe it. So we'll just have to have faith that they will step it up too.
the abortion comment was so wrong, i don't know how u can compare professional basketball with a hot button political issue. i really don't know why the editor o.k. this.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KG is the MVP:</div><div class="quote_post">KG will loosen up in the next series, so that will help. Sprewell & Cassell, they are supposedly big under pressure, and I believe it. So we'll just have to have faith that they will step it up too.</div> Iam never worried about Sammy & Spree they made their careers on stepping during this time. They will be there. Cassell is getting Double hard right now, but that will losen up when the other perimeter shoooter get more comfortable as the playoffs roles on. And they start knocking down their shots more consistenly. And I think Cassell will be more aggressive against the doubles as the playoffs role around. He only taking about 10shots per game since Denver started Doubling after game 1. So Iam not worried about him the shots will come. The only thing that worries me going into round 2, is that last night Sac-town figured out that Brad Miller needs extended minutes to produce. So Brad Miller is going to go back to playing alot of minutes again. So he probably going to produce some good # at that Center spot in the next round. The earlier matchups this season, Brad Miller killed the Wolves. So I just wonder what type of production will the Wolves get from the center spot to match the possible production from Brad Miller. I was hoping that the Kings stayed with Vlade getting alot of minutes. But I dont think they will in round 2.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">The only thing that worries me going into round 2, is that last night Sac-town figured out that Brad Miller needs extended minutes to produce. So Brad Miller is going to go back to playing alot of minutes again. So he probably going to produce some good # at that Center spot in the next round. The earlier matchups this season, Brad Miller killed the Wolves.</div> In the earlier match-ups, he had 35pts. (OT loss at Arco), 8pts., 15pts., and a DNP. The thing that everyone who pays attention to the Kings, knows is that Webber is lacking in lateral movement (should face KG :mrgreen: ), and it's rather easy to throw Miller off of his game. If you play physically with him, he makes (either Ticky-Tack or Dumb) fouls and starts looking at the refs. When you frusterate him, he is not as likely to score and tends to try to drive more (which I think isn't his strong game). Would you say Bibby and Cassell cancel each other, Hassell has played Peja extrememly well this season and shut down Melo, KG will run around Webber and try to get physical with Miller. I would think Miller will score early in the games, but if you put Johnson on an immobile Webber he can be effective, so that would leave KG on Miller if he's high.
The Wolves are one of the most imposing teams in the West...just look at their starting lineup, which includes KG, Cassell and Spree...and then they can come off the bench with Olowokandi, Wally, gary Trent, Fred Hoiberg...all these guys can contribute....they are among the deepest teams in the league, and Flip Saunders is a very good coach who knows how to put his players in the best position to succeed...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post"> The only thing that worries me going into round 2, is that last night Sac-town figured out that Brad Miller needs extended minutes to produce. So Brad Miller is going to go back to playing alot of minutes again. So he probably going to produce some good # at that Center spot in the next round. The earlier matchups this season, Brad Miller killed the Wolves. So I just wonder what type of production will the Wolves get from the center spot to match the possible production from Brad Miller. I was hoping that the Kings stayed with Vlade getting alot of minutes. But I dont think they will in round 2.</div> 1. He'll get matched against Kandi & Mad Dog alot more this series. Kandi's finally healthy & I think will do a good job against Miller. Mad Dog's hustle & familiarity with the Kings' offense will help him battle Miller, too. 2. I know that Kandi didn't score in the series-winner last night but I loved his 2 blocks, especially the one of Nene when he tried dunking. He'll play alot more next series & I expect he'll make alot bigger contribution this time. I know that Kandi didn't contribute much this series because the Nuggets play an unconventional style. He's better suited for the Kings & Spurs. With all that said, I expect the T'Wolves to beat the Kings in 5 or 6 games, most likely 6.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TWolfFanatic:</div><div class="quote_post"> With all that said, I expect the T'Wolves to beat the Kings in 5 or 6 games, most likely 6.</div> And two or three going to Overtime.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Originally Posted by TWolfFanatic With all that said, I expect the T'Wolves to beat the Kings in 5 or 6 games, most likely 6.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sabretooth:</div><div class="quote_post">And two or three going to Overtime. </div> That isn't likely because the Kings' bench will let them down too often.
