<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When Larry Bird came back to Boston and won for the first time as a head coach with the Indiana Pacers, he leaped in the air and punched his fist. "Like a Toyota ad," recalled Timberwolves guard Fred Hoiberg, a member of the Pacers for that January 1998 game. Kevin McHale doesn't have the vertical anymore, so he had to settle for a little extra spring in his limp after the Wolves beat the Boston Celtics 99-97 Sunday evening at FleetCenter. McHale, his assistant coaches and the reserves bounded off the bench after Latrell Sprewell's little running shot on the left baseline dropped through, right in front of them, to snap a 97-97 tie. Wolves assistant Jerry Sichting even did a manic, knee-pumping dance that ended abruptly when the referees made sure to set the clock to 0.9 seconds. Enough time for the Celtics to huddle, inbound the ball to Ricky Davis and freeze time for an instant as Davis' 17-footer rattled off the rim and out at the horn. It was the sort of victory -- sentimental for McHale, thrilling for the Wolves, exhilarating even in defeat for the 17,242 fans -- that would have been a nice subplot or marker to the season if McHale's team had been living up to that "Our team. Our time" motto it immodestly chose for 2004-05. </div> Source I still think the TWolves have the best chance to make the playoffs ahead of both the Lakers and Nuggets. This team has the most talent and all they needed was a spark to bring them together. McHale has provided that spark for them and instead of losing the close games they are starting to win them. Roster wise, this team is even better than last season. With the addition of Eddie Griffin and a healthy Hudson. They've hit the .500 mark, so they get to start their season all over again with 22 games to get back in the mix. If the Wolves continue to play like they 'want it' they have the best roster to get it done.
As a T'Wolf fan, it still saddens me to say that I don't think they will get in. I think we are too inconsistent. At times, when we give our bench players a chance, they shine. When we get the bench going, we seem to have the most success. But too many times do we find ourselves setting this "spark" then quickly putting it back out. We find ourselves winning one, then losing one, and the same process continues. We're too inconsistent to make it in and injuries and the attitude of some players not wanting it anymore doesn't help the situation. As I mentioned in another thread in the NBA section, I feel as though the Nuggets have the best chance. We are too inconsistent and troubles seem to be arousing in Los Angeles for the Lakers.
I dont think the Wovles will make the play offs either...not because the effort of our team but i think george karl has the nuggets playing really well and they have a very easy schedule left with more games against the east then either the lakers or the wovles....The wovles actually have a majority of there games against the western conference. Also the wovles are still pretty beat up with injuries to sam and kandi (two Starters??? more or less) while it would be nice to see them make a push to make the play offs i dont think it will happen
I wish I can share your optimism, shapecity. Unfortunately, I can't. This Timberwolves team has showed me nothing all year. I can't get too crazy about a two-game winning streak even though I am very happy that they are winning. I don't think they are a good team and they are shorthanded right now. Last year, they peaked. As of right now, I think the Nuggets have the best odds of getting the last playoff spot. They are playing at a high level right now under George Karl and I don't see them letting up under Karl for this year at least. Lakers have not impressed me all year and this team is playing like they want this season to end fast. Timberwolves are just not that good right now. As far as McHale goes, he has done okay as a coach. The team is playing hard and he has found a way to get something out of Latrell who had problems grasping Flip's complicated offense.
