http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=neel/050119 After reading this article, I've somewhat changed my perspective on some opinions. We talk about respect and honor, but the fact is this to me.....KG gets a ring in MINNESOTA. Anything less is ludacris. We surround him with PROVEN veterans with heart and desire who want to get the championship. I'm already a fan of Kevin Willis at the center. Kandi has done better, but can you really see him having the desire and intensity to last through a grueling 7 game series in the West and be effective? We need to get him (KG) the help he deserves.
Nice article, thanks for finding Sabretooth. I think Garnett has more pressure put on him than almost any player in the League. If he doesn't perform well in the game, all the spotlight is on him not producing. But, if he is dominating and we lose, everyone says he can't do enough. Some may argue that Bryant has all the pressure, but no one expects him to succeed. He was put with a group of mediocre players, so if he succeeded he would be the hero of the League, but if he failed everyone would say, "Well, he had nothing to work with." Well, Garnett had nothing to work with before last year. I just think so much pressure is put on him it's amazing how well he can handle it all. Our recent "collapse" he has gotten all the spotlight, how he is playing so amazing, yet we aren't winning. Sorry if you don't get what I'm trying to say, after reading my own post it doesn't make much sense too me. But hey, it came from the "heart."
At this point, KG is going to have to wait a long time for that ring. This year seems to be a lost cause and next year will be the breakup of this team. Spurs are not going away anytime soon. I think last year was a blown opportunity.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Timberwolf:</div><div class="quote_post">I think last year was a blown opportunity.</div> I posted before that I believed that the Wolves had to win it last year because teams will get up for them this season. Last year we had new players, but noone really thought that much of us until we got the best record in the West. Now all of the spotlight is on the Wolves and every loss looks horrible. BUT, last season it wasn't that we choked ala Sacramento against the Lakers, we had some serious injuries and were playing with pick-up players. KG had to play "All-World" because he really didn't have much help. A couple shots by Wally, a couple by Spree, a blown dunk (Yes I'm bringing it up again) by Kandi and now KG HAAAASSSSSS to do it all. This season seems like almost every season prior to last season (except I give Wally thumbs up). Last nights loss to the Lakers says everything, something has to change. Seriously.
You know what this Timberwolves season reminds me of. It reminds me of the 1999 Nets. That year (the lockout year), Nets were supposed to take the Eastern Conference by storm with a healthy trifecta of Cassell, Keith Van Horn, and Jayson Williams. Unfortunately, it became a disaster starting in the first game of the shortened season at Atlanta in which Jayson Williams got hurt. It got ugly with the trade of Cassell to Milwaukee (Cassell was involved in a three-way trade to get Marbury) and the firing of John Calipari, who likely coached his last NBA game. Keith Van Horn never became the same after a great rookie year. Nets became a mess for three straight years after that till Jason Kidd arrived. Wolves are in a smiliar situation like the 1999 Nets. Like the 1999 Nets, the Wolves had high expectations and they were a favorite by some to win the NBA Championship. Unfortunately, there is no hunger or desire by the team. Several guys has no interest. Some are unhappy about their contract situation. Some guys don't like their roles. It's a mess. This team is ripe to lose in the first round. We can't be thinking playoffs right now as the Wolves are out of the playoff race if the season ended today. The Timberwolves need to start winning consistently like they always have done.
^In some ways, but overall not really. The 99' Nets got killed by an early season injury to Sammy. And nobody was picking them to win the East just yet they were just a rising team in the East going into the season. This Wolves team is totally different cause anything less then a championship is unacceptable, the 99' Nets different have that type of expectations or pressure. Also the lockout that year left alot of guys out of shape on that team...Kendall Gill came back out of shape. The long layoff from their lost to the Bulls in the 98' playoffs till the start of the 99' season in Febuary had alot to do with their rust. And John Calipiri got fired more due to the fact, he just wasnt built to coach in this league then the fact they didnt live up to some expectations because even in 98' when they were on their playoff run, there was light talks of him being replaced before the year was over. Calipari was the type of guy that went back & forth with player in a in your face style during practice. He got into it with Gill thru the NY media. All that type of stuff might work in College but not with grown men in the NBA.
