Timberwolves Coaching Change Kevin McHale, Last Chance?

In a very predictable move (Timberwolves fans have been waiting too long for this), Glen Taylor fired Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman. Wittman had a pitiful 38-105 win loss record and has openly admitted to Twin Cities media that the players were no longer playing for him. In a somewhat unpredictable move, Glen Taylor moved Kevin McHale into the head coach slot. Hmmm…

It’s no secret that Kevin McHale doesn’t want to be a head coach, he has publicly declared this before so I was surprised to see Glen Taylor assign him the role. If I were Glen Taylor, I would have fired them both and started fresh with two other guys. My guess is that this move is Glen Taylor giving Kevin McHale one final chance with the Timberwolves organization. I am hoping he told Kevin McHale, “OK, you picked this team, now show us what they can do, no excuses. And if you don’t, pack your bags, too.”

Thoughts Wolves fans?

Timberwolves Aren’t Playing for Wittman

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be back at the Target Center on Saturday, but I am not sure anyone will want to go. It seems the dysfunctional team can’t get it together and I am still standing by the fact that it is time to get some new leadership. I read this quote in the pioneer press:

"Your main guys have to do it if you're going to be a competitive team," Wittman said. "If they're not going to do it, then you're in trouble."


Yeah, we are in trouble. The players aren’t performing the basics for coach Randy Wittman. Doesn’t Kevin McHale see that he is losing (if not already lost) the Minnesota Timberwolves fan base? I guess the good thing about the Timberwolves being 4-13 is that there are plenty of cheap Timberwolves tickets in the Twin Cities ticket market.

Time for a new Timberwolves coach

The Timberwolves players just don’t play for Randy Wittman.

It’s time for a new coach. The Taylor/McHale camp needs to swallow their pride, call up Flip Saunders and offer him a position. McHale has almost single handedly lost the entire Timberwolves fan base, don’t you think a big move would do the team some good? I think Timberwolves fans would be excited to see Flip Saunders on the Target Center sidelines once again. It’s time for change alright, change at the Target Center.

Randy Foye to represent Timberwolves in summer outreach program in Turkey, How about Minneapolis?

Timberwolves point guard Randy Foye and assistant coach Ed Pinckney will head to Turkey in June as part of the NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” program. Former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey will also be with the group in Turkey – hmmmm. I wonder if that will be awkward. I don’t think Randy Foye is a super supporter of current Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman so perhaps Foye and Casey can spend a few days grumbling over the Timberwolves administration. That’s what I would do. Misery loves company.

It would be nice to see Randy Foye do more in the Minneapolis community as well. Perhaps a high school basketball clinic or something to raise Timberwolves and NBA support in the Twin Cities. I don’t think they sell too many Timberwolves tickets to Turkey residents, but if they got a little more involved in the community, perhaps they could sell some of those empty Target Center seats to Minnesotans. I always say, fans will rally around a team if the team can produce victories or if the team has likable personalities, but when you don’t have either, you don’t have fans.

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 beat Philadelphia 76ers

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Philadelphia 76ers 104-88 last night to snap a five-game losing streak. That puts the Wolves record at 11-41, the worst record in the West, but the win was a definite morale booster for the team. Al Jefferson played hard and ended the night with 19 points and 14 rebounds against the 76ers and Randy Foye, who missed the first three months of the season with a knee injury, made his first start and finished with 13 points and 5 assists.

Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman paired Foye and Sebastian Telfair in the backcourt, and said he's not sure how long he'll go with that experiment.

"They'll determine that for me,'' Wittman said. "When you put new combos together, they'll tell me how it's working by how they play.''

This Timberwolves fan enjoyed the combination and was just plain excited to see Randy Foye back on the court and looking healthy – let’s hope the rest of the season is as successful as this game was!

Wolves need to look ahead after All-Star Break

The Minnesota Timberwolves are planning on using the rest of the season to figure out what direction the club will take in the future.

"These 30 games are important for us,'' Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "In my mind, and probably in management's mind, this is important to see how we're going to build this.''

One player who seems certain to be central to that future is forward Al Jefferson, who leads Minnesota with 21.2 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Other players, like Gerald Green and Antoine Walker are begging to be traded. It will be an interesting remainder of the Timberwolves season…just think if we win the rest of the games this year, we could finish at .500

Randy Foye returns

Randy Foye is back on the floor, a good sign for Minnesota Timberwolves fans. After missing the first 43 games of the regular season, Foye saw action against the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night. He came in with 4:13 left in the first quarter and finally scored his first points of the season with 11:26 left in the second. His final line for the night included 11 points, two assists, one rebound and a steal in 17 minutes.

Randy Wittman gave the clichéd “rusty” quote, but he also said he played under control, which is a good thing. I don’t want to see additional damage to Randy Foye’s knee, because he has to come back healthy for next season. Randy Foye is back on the court Timberwolves fans, which means Al Jefferson might have an outside threat to compliment his inside presence.

Timberwolves lose to Atlanta Hawks

I went to the Timberwolves game vs. the Atlanta Hawks last night and the second half was pathetic. The first half the team looked like it was on fire. Marko Jaric was making shots like crazy and Rashad McCants looked like he had his MoJo back. At one point the Wolves had a 20 point lead, 20 points! The Wolves didn’t even bother to show up the second half and I blame the coaching staff for that. Randy Wittman has got to find a way to motivate the team and when the Hawks are marching you up and down the court, call a timeout – regroup. This young Timberwolves team keeps showing me glimpses of potential, but I don’t think Randy Wittman is the guy to bring it to the next level.

TIMBERWOLVES FINALLY GET IT

I think that the Minnesota Timberwolves finally understand that there is no hope this year and that they are better off losing. I hope that their 4th quarter collapse versus the Super Sonics was simply a sign of things to come. I think that the Timberwolves players have thrown in the towel even though Randy Wittman claims that they are still in playoff contention and that they won't raise the white flag and play for next year. Keep in mind, it is his job to paint a positive picture and if he actually admitted that there is no hope, the Timberwolves players would have an excuse to mail it in. I just wish that Kevin Garnett would admit defeat. All I can say is lose baby lose!!!

RANDY WITTMAN WANTS RICKY DAVIS TRADED

A little birdie told me that Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman has told Kevin Mchale and Glen Taylor that he will not come back next year if Ricky Davis is on the team. That ultimatum will put the Timberwolves front office in a tough spot this off season. How can the Timberwolves afford to trade their second best player? What team would actually want Ricky Davis and his attitude issues? What could the Timberwolves get for Ricky Davis? I have the feeling that we will get the answers to all of those questions this summer. Stay tuned, it is really going to get interesting.