Timberwolves Lose At Home

Last Thursday I wrote that the Timberwolves are up to their old tricks and this Thursday I could write the same thing. The Timberwolves lost last night at the Target Center to the Atlanta Hawks 86-94.

What is the deal with this Wolves team and their inability to play four quarters of NBA style basketball? Seriously, is it conditioning? is it heart? What is the deal? Last night the Timberwolves look tired, lethargic, lazy, unmotivated, should I go on? and the worst part, they were on their home court! I think Kevin McHale may need to put some curfews in place or perhaps put the guys up in a hotel the night before a home game – because the Timberwolves are playing better on the road than they are in front of their own fans and that has got to change.
Next home game is Tuesday, February 10th against Toronto Raptors. The Timberwolves have two road games before then – any bets on the turn-outs of the games?

Timberwolves hope to improve next year

Ok, after reading my Timberwolves post title the first thought, is “duh.” Of course the Timberwolves want to improve next year. My main point of this post is how much will the Wolves improve?

Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said he thinks the team will improve with 20 more wins next year. That is a pretty bold statement considering he doesn’t have any solid plans on how they are going to do it. Sure the roster will change…a little...but so will everyone else’s in the NBA. The key players won’t change and McHale said he has no plans to make a coaching change. So what is going to be different about next years Timberwolves team that they will be able to win 42 games? More experience? I suppose a little, but that might get you 5 more games max.

My thoughts, throw the coach under the bus. I just don’t think Randy Wittman is the guy to coach these youngsters. I think a change at head coach could shake things up enough to get a few more wins on the board. Any thoughts Timberwolves fans?

Timberwolves stats through 30 games

Despite a record that looks colder than the most chilling of Minneapolis winter days, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been modestly filling out the stat sheet this season. Al Jefferson has had some truly glistening box score lines, including the December 8 win against the Phoenix Suns when Jefferson dropped 32 points, 20 rebounds and 4 steals. Jefferson also notched a twenty-twenty night on December 17 at the Miami Heat (22 points and 20 boards).

No other players on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster are averaging more than 15 points a game, but Rashad McCants is close with 14 a game. Craig Smith is third in scoring on the team with 11.1. points per game. Smith is also shooting an excellent .552 from the field, good for best on the club. Three other Timberwolves average double figures in scoring – Antoine Walker at 10.3 points per game along with Ryan Gomes and Sebastian Telfair with 10 a game. Theo Ratliff has only played in six games, but those six displayed his defensive ability, as he averaged 2.83 blocks a game. Hopefully the Timberwolves can get him back soon from injury to receive more of that kind of contribution.

Twolves lose two more

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Washington Wizards 88-102 on Tuesday night and then lost again Wednesday night to the Philadelphia 76ers 94-98. The 76ers game was close and the Wolves even led with less than 2 to go, but like most of the season, the Timberwolves are unable to close the deal. Come on Wolves, get it together and win a few games for your fans! (before you don’t have any left)

Timberwolves on a losing streak

Let’s face it – being a Timberwolves fan is thankless work. The Wolves could at least show they appreciate their very small fan base by winning another game. I am sick of hearing about all of the losses ...Wolves lose to Washington Wizards 89-105, Wolves lose to New Orleans Hornets 82-100, Wolves lose to Cleveland Cavaliers 86-97… on this Thanksgiving day, it is hard to be thankful for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the new young team. Perhaps the most I can be is hopeful that next year at Thanksgiving I won’t feel the same ... Happy Thanksgiving Timberwolves Fans! I can tell you I won't be asking for any Timberwolves Tickets for Christmas this year.

Timberwolves start season out winless

The Minnesota Timberwolves have yet to put a scratch in the Win column this season. At 0-5, the Timberwolves season is starting out worse than I thought it would. The young wolves players look solid during certain parts of the NBA games, but they have not found the magic touch to win. Timberwolves tickets are pretty much free these days – in fact if you are a member of the military they have a special six ticket promotion this Saturday vs. Hornets – that’s six Timberwolves tickets for free! I guess the Timberwolf marketing team just wants to get some warm bodies in the Target Center chairs. Tonight the Timberwolves take on the Sacramento Kings at the Target Center! Come on Wolves, you have to be hungry for that first win.

Randy Foye Injury Setback

What is going on with Minnesota sports teams? It seems every team has a star player (or two) hurt and now the Timberwolves have joined that club. First, the Minnesota Vikings with Tarvaris Jackson, then the Minnesota Wild with Marian Gaborik and now the Wolves with Randy Foye. On of my favorite Wild blogs has a message for Marian Gaborik to put his big girl panties on and tough it out and I agree! Now I know Randy Foyes knee injury is a little more serious than a pulled groin muscle, but the same principal applies. These athletes are paid tons of money to PLAY, not to sit in rehab. What is going on? These guys need to take better care of their bodies - its their source of income.

Foye, a second-year Wolves guard, will miss at least the first three weeks of the regular season because of a stress reaction on his left kneecap. The reaction, a sort of precursor to what might have become a stress fracture, was finally detected late Monday after Foye had both an MRI and a CT scan on the joint.

Randy Foye was one of the reason I had planned to buy Timberwolves tickets this season. The offense is built around his leadership and abilities. It will be tough for Sebastian Telfair (who isn’t 100% healthy either) and Marko Jaric to fill the hole.

It seems a dismal Timberwolves season just got more depressing.

Timberwolves Gain Playing Experience

The young Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team has been gaining valuable playing experience this week taking on the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks. Unfortunately, none of the experience is on how to win an NBA game. The Wolves lost both preseason contests by over 10 points. The Wolves appear to be lacking the fire they need to win big games. I was expecting more fervor from the young Wolves. I know Randy Whittman has challenged his guys to play better defense and to put up more points. The Wolves take on the Indiana Pacers on Friday night in Indiana, let’s hope the TWolves can play better basketball . . .good thing it’s only preseason or I would have already jumped off the fan wagon.

Injury update: Forward Ryan Gomes (sprained ankle) and point guards Randy Foye (knee tendinitis) and Sebastian Telfair (sprained ankle) did not play Tuesday night. Wittman said the injuries aren't cause for long-term concern, and the players are scheduled to be re-evaluated before the team departs Thursday for its next game, Friday at Indiana. Forward Mark Madsen, who has been sidelined since August because of surgery on his right shoulder and pectoral muscle, said his "progress is going very well and very steady." He didn't want to put a time frame on his return, but he's expected back in mid-November.

ONE STEP FORWARD TWO STEPS BACK

The Minnesota Timberwolves followed up one of their biggest and best wins of the last three seasons with two bad losses to very marginal teams. After the thrilling and hard fought victory over the Phoenix Suns on 1/29, my favorite NBA team fell flat on their face with a loss to the previously reeling Sacramento Kings on 1/31. I was sure that the Wolves would rebound against a very mediocre New Orleans team, but they proved my hunch wrong and lost by two points.

The inconsistency that we have all been witness to this year did not end with the changing of the coach. At some point, Kevin McHale and Glen Taylor are going to have to look at themselves in the mirror and accept responsibility for the mess that they have created.