<div align="center"> Minnesota Timberwolves: 16-13 Charlotte Bobcats: 7-21 Date: Wednesday, January 5th Time: 7:00 PM TV: C-SET, NBALP Previous Games: Suns @ Timberwolves 122-115 (LOSS) Cavs @ Bobcats 94-83 (LOSS) <font color="navy"><font size="1">(Coach Flip Saunders)</font></font> C - <font color="navy">Michael Olowokandi</font> (4.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.3 APG) PF - <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> (23.9 PPG, 14.6 RPG, 6.3 APG) SF - <font color="navy">Wally Szczerbiak</font> (15.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.2 APG) SG - <font color="navy">Latrell Sprewell</font> (12.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.9 APG) PG - <font color="navy">Sam Cassell</font> (15.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.0 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="orange"><font size="1">(Coach Bernie Bickerstaff)</font></font> C - <font color="orange">Primoz Brezec</font> (11.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.2 APG) PF - <font color="orange">Emeka Okafor</font> (15.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.0 APG) SF - <font color="orange">Gerald Wallace</font> (10.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.7 APG) SG - <font color="orange">Kareem Rush</font> (5.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.7 APG) PG - <font color="orange">Brevin Knight</font> (7.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 9.4 APG) WOLVES - <font color="navy">Eddie Griffin</font> Predicted Stats: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist BOBCATS - <font color="orange">Kareem Rush</font> Predicted Stats: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists WOLVES - <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> Predicted Stats: 23 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists BOBCATS - <font color="orange">Emeka Okafor</font> Predicted Stats: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists </div> The Wolves are coming off a tough loss to Phoenix, where Kevin Garnett posted a huge 47 points. However, all that counts is a win, and the Wolves were on the losing side last night. Frustrated and disappointed, Minnesota looks to take out their anger against the Charlotte Bobcats, who may not be excited about the idea in the first place. Did I say "first place?" What I meant was last place...something that the Bobcats are trying to avoid in the East. So far, they are 2.5 games ahead of the Hawks in the Southeast. As for Minnesota, second in the Northwest...but snagging the 6th seed in the playoffs, their record matching the Los Angeles Lakers at 16-13. A win here in Charlotte would not only put their away record above .500, but it will also break their 3-game skid. For the Cats, a 6-game losing streak would be nice to erase. The key matchup to this game will be Garnett and Okafor. Although Emeka's streak was put to an end against the Cavaliers, Emeka looks to start yet another double-double streak, beginning with the Wolves and Garnett, who can produce more double-doubles than the Olsen twins' photographers. These two will fight for boards...but you could see Emeka working his hardest in this game. However, if the Bobcats are blown out by the end of the 3rd, Garnett may be pulled off the court to rest. Kareem Rush is starting, and it's no surprise that this opportunity in Charlotte is exactly what the kid needed. Rush's shooting has shown a huge improvement since he's wearing a Bobcat jersey, so both Laker/Rush fans and Charlotte fans can be thankful that he's producing, and not rotting away on the bench. Kareem has a future in Charlotte...and he'll be a much greater addition to the team once this squad pulls away with a few more wins in seasons to come. Surprise, surprise, Minnesota fans...this also gives me the opportunity to bring up Eddie Griffin, who could be at home wasting away his life if it wasn't for the Timberwolves. Instead, the organization gives him a second chance...okay, maybe a fourth or fifth chance...at being in the league, and the man is amazingly talented (as if some of us basketball nuts didn't know that already). Eddie can drive, rebound, shoot the three, defend...he's living up to the hype during his rookie year...so much hype, in fact, that Rudy Tomjanovich considered him worth, guess who? Richard Jefferson. The Bobcats will be anxious to play this last home game, before taking a trip to Orlando and Cleveland for their next two games...but I doubt the Bobcats can stop the Timberwolves, especially after Garnett's performance last night. The man is on fire, and right now, he's breathing fire...not sleeping...so look for Garnett and Co. to come out strong and put away the Cats, 94-82.
I really hope the Wolves can pull away with this one. Fatigue is always an issue on back-to-back games, so hopefully that won't be too bad. The Bobcats are going to come out and run us to death, because they are coming off rest. Wolves 95 Bobcats 83
Awomse preview, RD. The Timberwolves are coming off a very hard loss. The Suns won despite the fact that KG had 47 points and 17 rebounds. I don't see too much of a problem here at all. It's very frusterating to see the Timberwolves start the season like this. They need to get it together. We should be much higher than a 6th seed. It's still only 1/3 of the way through the season, but still, we need to start winning some games. We are playing some bad basketball on the road, even though, last season, we played some of the best. I don't see a problem here, maybe this win can jumpstart us and get us on a little winning streak and maybe we can get on track.
Hey guys what do you think about the TW having spree come of the bench and starting trenton...since wally is playing well and spree really hasnt been playing well at all????what do you think? cause i think the wolves need to do something cause there is no reason for us to be 16-13....let me know
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Paulijacks:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey guys what do you think about the TW having spree come of the bench and starting trenton...since wally is playing well and spree really hasnt been playing well at all????what do you think? cause i think the wolves need to do something cause there is no reason for us to be 16-13....let me know</div> Hassell's perimeter defense would be nice to have for longer than what he's playing...but I think that would just allow Sprewell more room to run his mouth about his role on the team. Cassell and Spree were both angry earlier in the year (I believe) about their contracts, or their roles...I think this would just push Spree out the door even more. But I'm not a big Minnesota fan, really...not a Sprewell fan at least...so I don't know how much of an effect that would have.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Hassell's perimeter defense would be nice to have for longer than what he's playing...but I think that would just allow Sprewell more room to run his mouth about his role on the team. Cassell and Spree were both angry earlier in the year (I believe) about their contracts, or their roles...I think this would just push Spree out the door even more. But I'm not a big Minnesota fan, really...not a Sprewell fan at least...so I don't know how much of an effect that would have.</div> Yeah, your correct on Cassell and Spree being upset about their contracts. Spree even went one step further, and went public with it which was way out of hand. He complained he wanted more money and he said, "I've got a family to feed." Please, he can feed the whole damn neighborhood. Benching Spree would make him complain even more, but I think benching him and starting Hassell might be a good idea. Let Spree complain. Honestly, I don't want Spree here if he is going to be a bad karma for the team and if he is going to keep complaining about his contract and such. We need to work out a trade, getting him out of here, and getting an efficient center for this team. At center, I would give us a grade of a D. We have Olowakandi who is a bust and has gotten into trouble already this season. We have Madsen who is very undersized for his position. And we have EJ, who is aging and can't give enough quality minutes. Last season, when Wally was hurt and we were scarce at the small forward position, Hassell shined. He was known mainly for his defense, but he could hit the open shot when he needed to. He was noted of stopping or slowing down a lot of the better offensive players in this league. I agree with Paulijacks. Start Cassell at PG, move Wally to SG, start Hassell at SF, Garnet at PF, and whoever will be at least efficient at center. Then, when Spree complains, we dish his butt out of here for a quality center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow...what happened?</div> I wonder too, how could they lose to expansion team... I think they aren't championship contenders. They are not getting it done this year
If you noticed at the end of the game, Cassell, Hassell, and KG were having a heated discussion about the play and positioning. Well, the Wolves have managed to screw themselves out of another win and currently looks like the favorites for "Most Shocking Team" and look like a team that could possibly miss the playoffs. I know it's early, but do you see anything that would make you believe that they can turn it around? This is the month for them to do so and have not gotten off to a good start. Actually, they stink. After the All-Star game they will meet some hungry teams. The need to give their role-players (from last season) more time.
Blowout baby! A well balanced scoring effort tonight. Garnett was great, but his teammates are letting him down right now.
Ok, now I think I can come into an agreement with Timberwolf and everyone else saying that this is an embarrasment. Losing this big to the Bobcats? I mean come on, the expansion Bobcats are 7-21 right now and we lose to them by 18? Wow. Looking at the box score, besides Garnett, Wally and Cassell, it seems like they recieved no support whats so ever. After those three who scored in double figures, it's a big drop off, with Griffin being the next high scorer with only 8. Another bad night for Spree, getting only 4 points. Plus, the Timberwolves are outscored by 16 in the fourth quarter. Honestly, though, this is getting a little too ridiculous.
This is a disgrace to Minnesota basketball. Nothing against Charlotte, but the suck, and we got blown out. Some comments I have: We have to put some pressure on the ball! Why do we always just let them leisurely walk down the court? We should get some pressure on, when they did it to us we had 3-4 turnovers. Push the ball up the court! I know we aren't a run-and-gun type team, but we can't go at the pace Cassell is brining it up right now. I mean, he almost got called for eight seconds backcourt. Player positioning, Flip has to get the positions set, and everyone has to know where they are to go. We are always confused on who goes where and what not, it's unacceptable.
I am laughing from crying these days when it comes to the Timberwolves. They just seem to one-up their stupidity each game. Where is the pride? Last year, this team was angry even when they lost by one point. They took care of business by the next game. I am not seeing that this year and that's not a great attribute of being a championship team. Also this team happens to quit every time their counterpart starts making a run in the fourth quarter as you saw Saturday against Memphis and tonight against the Bobcats. Where is the fourth quarter domainance? I haven't seen it in a month. I thought the Wolves played well, but then they quit as soon as Charlotte had the run vety late in the game. They did not fight back which has been the norm since the losing streak. It seemed they just accepted it and let Charlotte do whatever they wanted. Wolves got tight and choked. This is becoming a very familiar pattern from this team. That's scary. It seems this team has lost so much confidence in themselves and they seem very fragile when a team starts making a run like that. The Timberwolves are 16-14. Losers of eight of 13 and winless in the new year. That is not very good especially at 16-14. Right now, the Wolves are fighting for a playoff spot at this point and in this tough conference, that may be hard. I never anticipated this would happen. If you told me in the summer and in November that they would be 16-14, I would have laughed at you. Unfortunately, that's the predicament that this team is. I predicted to win 72 games. They are on pace to win only 46 at this poitn. It's bad enough that they are nowhere close to a championship team. It's even worse that this team is very suspectible of losing in the first round or even worse not making the playoffs.
I am laughing from crying these days when it comes to the Timberwolves. They just seem to one-up their stupidity each game. Where is the pride? Last year, this team was angry even when they lost by one point. They took care of business by the next game. I am not seeing that this year and that's not a great attribute of being a championship team. Also this team happens to quit every time their counterpart starts making a run in the fourth quarter as you saw Saturday against Memphis and tonight against the Bobcats. Where is the fourth quarter domainance? I haven't seen it in a month. I thought the Wolves played well, but then they quit as soon as Charlotte had the run vety late in the game. They did not fight back which has been the norm since the losing streak. It seemed they just accepted it and let Charlotte do whatever they wanted. Wolves got tight and choked. This is becoming a very familiar pattern from this team. That's scary. It seems this team has lost so much confidence in themselves and they seem very fragile when a team starts making a run like that. The Timberwolves are 16-14. Losers of eight of 13 and winless in the new year. That is not very good especially at 16-14. Right now, the Wolves are fighting for a playoff spot at this point and in this tough conference, that may be hard. I never anticipated this would happen. If you told me in the summer and in November that they would be 16-14, I would have laughed at you. Unfortunately, that's the predicament that this team is. I predicted to win 72 games. They are on pace to win only 46 at this point. It's bad enough that they are nowhere close to a championship team. It's even worse that this team is very suspectible of losing in the first round or even worse not making the playoffs. BTW, great game thread by Brandon. Well done and informative.
