When the Wolves a rolling on all cylinders, they can beat anyone....a couple times. In a 7 game series, I don't know. One thing that excites me is the fact that you can see the trust that KG has in the "rooks". I think KG plays within the flow of the offense, but it just seems to me that he really feels that they can come through instead of hoping all the time. I honestly believe this team has potential but they need one more piece for me to think they can make some noise. They need a rebounding-banger in the post for the nights when the shot is not falling. Remember when we played the Pacers and Blount (of all people) went 1 - 8? I can't for the life of me figure out why we don't post Craig up more. I want to see more of him to see if he can take that role. I would like a Jeff Foster, who I know isn't the best scorer but his offensive rebounding is uncanny. Or a veteran like Antonio Davis, but I hear he has hung it up. Does anyone know exactly is the use of the exception we acquired in the Boston trade?
the twolves only have enough to take a 7 - game series to around 6 games... because they dont have a deep banch that a championship team has like dallas or phx or san antonio
I agree that their lack of depth (especially in the frontcourt) would be their downfall in a long series against the best of the west. Watching them play the rockets and having to put Mad Dog in the game when Blount and pacman got 3 fouls in the first half just made my stomach turn.
<div class="quote_poster">Sabretooth Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Does anyone know exactly is the use of the exception we acquired in the Boston trade?</div> If you are referring to the trade exception, I believe it is worth just over 4 million. The Wolves can offer the TE to a team that is looking to get under the Luxury tax threashold and may be willing to deal a player making less than the TE. However, the exception can not be used with another player to make a deal, so for example the wolves cannot offer someone T-Hud and the TE for something.
Do the TWolves still have the trade exception? Usually they expire in less than a year. This team reminds me of the Miami Heat before they traded for Shaq. During that season the Heat made a playoff run once the team unleashed Dwyane Wade, and now we're seeing the TWolves make a nice run with Randy Foye breaking out. Minnesota always gives themselves a chance to win, because of defense and rebounding. KG can dominate or hold his own against any big man in the league, so the TWolves have an edge in the paint everytime they step on the court. Another surprise has been the play of Mark Blount. He's been producing the last two weeks, and has scored over 20 points in three of the last four games for Minnesota. I'm not sure what's inspired Blount to elevate his game, but getting 20/10 from him on a consistent basis completely changes the effectiveness of this team. Their trading options are limited, so they'll have to count on someone stepping up to keep the TWolves in the playoff hunt.
Rashad McCants is hoping to rejoin the team in the next few weeks. Depending on how he looks and if they feel comfortable giving him significant minutes the wolves can look at dealing someone like Ricky Davis for another banger or for a legitimate SF. But those are some fairly big ifs
I'm curious to see how McCants works back into the rotation. McCants and Foye play the same position and both are scoring guards. At least having McCants back gives Casey another option incase Foye is having an offnight, but like you alluded to, the TWolves need another frontline player. Maybe they can sign a guy like Keith Van Horn or Chris Taft to a 10-Day contract.
Van Horn...ah, he's not coming back anytime soon. He's too busy fishing and what not. I think basketball is one of the furthest things from his mind right now. He's not the type pf player they really need anyways. They should give Craig Smith more playing time along side KG. Not the answer to their problems, but that would be a step forward.
I had assumed that they were going to try to pick up another big when they dropped Vin Baker and opened up a roster spot but nothing has happened yet. As far as Foye and McCants go, I am excited to see how they play together. While Foye is more of a scoring guard, the wolves have been using him exclusively at the point in place of MJ which allows him to drive to the hoop and either finish strong or dish outside if the defense collapses. McCants could work well with this because he is a deadly outside shooter. Both players are still going to need some time to develop so I try not to get my hopes up too much.
they may have a miniscule shot at the 8. and even thats kind of out of reach. maybe denver does horrible with iverson. that may be your only hope
to answer your question in complete honesty.... no they do not have a chance at a title, and dont even have a great shot at the playoffs. the west has amazing talent...much more amazing the garnetts tears. garnett will not be on your "squad" much longer. he is a very bright star, in a galaxy that doesnt exsist. i dont understand the timberwolves..they have had an amazing team for years and couldnt even make the playoffs. (some years) i blame it on your coaching staff
<div class="quote_poster">arre Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">kobe23: you might wanna add lakers to that list of yours </div> LOL i didnt waht to include the lakers because some people might say that im playing favorites
<div class="quote_poster">Team Steven 01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">garnett will not be on your "squad" much longer. he is a very bright star, in a galaxy that doesnt exsist.</div> WHAT <div class="quote_poster">Team Steven 01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">i dont understand the timberwolves..they have had an amazing team for years and couldnt even make the playoffs. (some years) i blame it on your coaching staff.</div> You dont get the wolves, let me explain it. They periodically have years where they have decent talent (Starbury, Chauncey, Spree & Cassell) but they have difficulty keeping these players. Marbury and Spree left because they felt they were not getting a big enough piece of the pie, Cassell sucked the year following their trip to the WCF and resented the organization for what he believed was putting the blame of the bad season on him, and Billups was allowed to walk as a FA in a mistake made by the wolves management. The mistake of not seeing how good Billups was has had a lasting effect because since then the wolves have been overpaying to keep guys in minny when they should have just let them go (ie Troy Hudson). People talk about KG demanding a trade because he has had to deal with so many years of sub-par talent around him. The wolves had TWO years with KG-Spree-Cassell and one of those years they made it to the Western Conference Finals and could have made it to the finals if Cassell hadnt gotten hurt. Wolves struggles have nothing to do with coaching, but everything to do with the incompetence of Kevin McHale as a General Manager.
<div class="quote_poster">Team Steven 01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">to answer your question in complete honesty.... no they do not have a chance at a title, and dont even have a great shot at the playoffs. the west has amazing talent...much more amazing the garnetts tears. garnett will not be on your "squad" much longer. he is a very bright star, in a galaxy that doesnt exsist. i dont understand the timberwolves..they have had an amazing team for years and couldnt even make the playoffs. (some years) i blame it on your coaching staff</div> Ok well currently we are 7th in the West, and how do we not have a great shot at the playoffs??? Golden state is the only other west team even at .500 right now, Check the facts before you make comments that sounds stupid. Thanks!
<div class="quote_poster">KG&Me Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The wolves had TWO years with KG-Spree-Cassell and one of those years they made it to the Western Conference Finals and could have made it to the finals if Cassell hadnt gotten hurt. Wolves struggles have nothing to do with coaching, but everything to do with the incompetence of Kevin McHale as a General Manager.</div> An example of management issues is look at us versus San Antonio. Switch these superstars and I believe Duncan would have left already. I do believe coaching does come into effect because of the fact that the Wolves can get big leads but the opposition knows they'll give it up. Now Phoenix can do this because they are so offensively dominate an 8 point deficit to them is like a 2 - 3 point deficit to other teams. But the Wolves can't do that and it seems like adjustments aren't made until the lead is gone. We need more post work when the shots aren't falling and KG needs to learn (he's great but he should know what a travel is) better footwork. I'm surprised at the amount of travelling calls that are called on him (correctly) but not on ALOT of others (superstars and less-thans). It has something to do with coaches complaining in the past I guess. Or is it because if you travel after the bounce it's not as obvious.
