NBA Finals and What it Means for the Wolves

There isn't much going on in Wolves Nation, so I'm going to blog about the NBA Finals and the beginning of the offseason.

The NBA Finals wrapped up on Sunday night just as the clock struck 10 central time and what a Final it was. I, personally, was rooting for the Mavs, not just because I hate the Heat. Sure, I hate the Heat. Everyone hates the Heat and I would have been heart broken if LeBron had won the championship after telling everyone he would. There are no short cuts to a championship LeBron. You clearly were not ready for this moment. There is no other way to explain your shortcomings in these playoffs. His 7 point differential between the Finals and the regular season is the largest in history. Maybe next year, LeChoke.

Don't blame the Heat for losing this series because the Mavs won the series. They won it with their grit, ability to play zone defense, and abilities to make huge plays down the stretch. Don't forget coach Rick Carlisles ability to make all the right decisions. He knew exactly when to play the zone and made a critical decision by making JJ Barea the starter in game 4, which forever shifted the series. His dribble penetration gave the starters a much needed boost in the first quarters. Dirk Nowitzki made every single big play down the stretch, with one back breaking fadeaway after another. Dirk stepped on the Heat's throats in the fourth quarter, and that's why they are champions.

What does this mean for the Wolves? In an era of "Super teams" where players are all buddys and teaming together to try to win championships, the Mavs proved you could win a championship with one true superstar and a bunch of high quality players. This is great news for the Wolves since they're never going to be able to lure a ton of big time free agents to this frozen tundra, but if they build a team the right way, they might have a shot at this thing. The big key will be finding that super star, and then putting high quality pieces around him. I think we have some high quality pieces, but I'm not sure we have the super star yet. Hopefully Love, Rubio, or Williams (we better draft him) can provide that.

Minnesota Timberwolves Win In a Shootout, 126-123 over Golden State Warriors

249 points. That's how many points were scored at the Target Center on Sunday afternoon in regulation. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Golden State Warriors 126-123 in one of the best games to watch all season. Kevin Love, like usual, led the way with 37 points and 23 rebounds. It was his 46th double-double in a row. Think about that again. 46 double-doubles in a row. Unreal. Furthermore, he only took 13 shots to achieve his 37 points. He went 18 of 23 from the free throw line, having a career night from the line. Michael Beasley chipped in 25 points and Wes Johnson had a fantastic game, adding 17 points and 7 rebounds.

Blake Griffin Posterizes Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves hosted the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. It was a winnable game, as the Clippers had lost recently to Toronto, Cleveland, and Milwaukee. However, that didn't stop the Clippers from defeating the Timberwolves. Blake Griffin got on the board early and often, making some insane dunks. The Clippers won 98-90, a score that was probably closer than the game indicated. I sense a level of frusteration among Timberwolves fans for a variety of reasons, that come merited. As fans, we want to see improvements and results. I expect that the front office feels a little pressure right now so stay tuned with everything. Sidenote, Kevin Love finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds and his 42nd double-double in a row.

Philadelphia 76ers Drop Minnesota Timberwolves

On Saturday night, the Philadelphia 76ers took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-87 at the Target Center. Thaddeous Young scored 18 points, Jodie Meeks scored 16 points, and Elton Brand chipped in 12 points for the 76ers. The Timbewolves were without 3 big players - Darko Milicic, Michael Beasley, and Martell Webster. On a side note, Kevin Love scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to extend his double-double streak to 40 games, which ranks third on the list for most consecutive in a single season since the merger.

Kevin Love Got Snubbed

The Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Reserves were announced yesterday. Kevin Love did not find his name on the roster. Here are the players selected:

Western Conference
Manu Ginobili Spurs SG
Tim Duncan Spurs C
Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks PF
Pau Gasol Lakers PF
Deron Williams Jazz PG
Russell Westbrook Thunder PG
Blake Griffin Clippers PF

You can certainly make arguments for players that made it and players that didn't. Kevin Love averaged 21.4 points and 15.5 rebounds a game in the first half. With those numbers, a player would be up for MVP consideration. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Timberwolves 11-37 record hurt them and ultimately was a deciding factor. I still think Kevin Love was snubbed.

A Look Back: Wes Johnson vs. DeMarcus Cousins

Well, we're nearing the halfway point of the NBA season and it's time to do some reflecting. At the 2010 NBA Draft, with the #4 overall pick, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Wesley Johnson out of Syracuse. The debate was between Johnson and center/power forward DeMarcus Cousins. He was drafted #5 by the Sacramento Kings. As of today, DeMarcus Cousins averages 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds. Wesley Johnson averages 9.4 points a game.

Both players have been hot of late, with Cousins averaging 17 points in January and Johnson scoring double digits in 4 consecutive games. I still believe on a team that needed athleticism, Johnson was the pick we needed. It's been noted that Cousins has already been fined several times by the team. It's hypothetical, but I imagine Cousins would have been one of those players that would have been a problem here. I still like the Johnson pick.

Minnesota Timberwolves Trounce Toronto Raptors

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Toronto Raptors 103-87 on Saturday night at the Target Center. It was a solid victory for the team and it sent the Raptors to their 11th consecutive loss. The Timberwolves played some suprisingly suffocating defense and held DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani to shoot 7 of 35 from the field. Kevin Love continued his magnificance, posting 21 points and 12 rebounds for his 42nd double-double on the season. Martell Webster had 15 points, Wes Johnson had 14 points, and Jonny Flynn had a stat line of 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Minnesota Timberwolves Lose Heartbreaker to Oklahoma City Thunder

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost a nailbiter to the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-117 in overtime. It was another one of those close games that the team couldn't close out and get the victory. Kevin Durant had a career night - 47 points and 18 rebounds. Kevin Love had another spectacular night, with 31 points and 21 rebounds. Michael Beasley had 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in a near triple double. The Timberwolves missed a chance with a tie game on the line at the end of regulation. Kevin Love's hook shot just rimmed in and out. In overtime, Corey Brewer's missed free throw resulted in a Luke Ridnour 3 point attempt. He missed and the game was over.

Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timbewolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves have some much needed time off for a few days. After a busy and rigorous schedule, the Minnesota Timberwolves will play the Houston Rockets on Monday, January 24th at the Target Center. The Rockets are currently 20-23 while the Minnesota Timberwolves are 10-33. The Minnesota Timberwolves could use some home victories that might give them some momentum. A healthy Michael Beasley, Jonny Flynn, Martell Wesbter, Darko Milicic, and Wesley Johnson will help that cause. Kevin Martin is the leading scorer for the Houston Rockets, at 23.2 points per game. Power forward Luis Scola is averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds a game. Should be a good one. Purchase your Minnesota Timberwolves tickets with Ticket King today!

Kevin Love Has 29 Straight Double-Doubles

Kevin Love has kept his streak of 29 straight double doubles with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 126-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. After finishing with 0 rebounds at the half, it looked bleak that Kevin Love could extend his streak. However, he snagged 11 rebounds in the 2nd half to keep the streak in tact. Also in the game, Blake Griffin snapped his double double streak at 27 games with a 29 point and 7 rebound performance. Love said after the game "I would rather be on Blake's end." Meaning, Kevin Love just wants to win. The Minnesota Timberwolves are 6-23 in the 29 games Kevin Love has recorded a double double.

Minnesota Timberwolves Exploring Trade Market...

It has been speculated and reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves have been exploring possible trades with several NBA teams. Some names that have been thrown out there include Aaron Brooks from the Houston Rockets, OJ Mayo from the Memphis Grizzlies, and Anthony Randolph of the New York Knicks. Some of the Minnesota Timberwolves players that have been mentioned are Jonny Flynn, Luke Ridnour, and Sebastian Telfair, as well as our 1st round picks. Nothing has happened yet but I wouldn't be surprised if a deal came through sometime soon.

Kevin Love's All-Star Credentials

Kevin Love won't make the starting 5 for the Western Conference based on fan voting. If voting ended today, the starters would be Yao Ming (center), Kobe Bryant (guard), Chris Paul (guard), Kevin Durant (forward), and Carmelo Anthony (forward). However, I really hope he gets in based on the coach's picks. Here are Kevin Love's stats thus far: 21.5 points and 15.7 rebounds a game. He has quickly become one of the best power forwards in the league. He has had 6 20 points, 20 rebounds game already this season, tying a franchise record. Here's to hoping Kevin Love represents Minnesota at the 2010-2011 All-Star Game.

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Minnesota Timberwolves Defeat Washington Wizards

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Washington Wizards 109-97 at the Target Center on Thursday night. Kevin Love had another day at the office, scoring 35 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He made 5 of 6 three pointers and was 13 of 18 from the field. Michael Beasley was out with a sprained ankle. The Washington Wizards fell to 0-19 on the road. The Minnesota Timberwolves closed the game with a 19-1 run. Luke Ridnour had 16 points and 9 assists and Corey Brewer chipped in 14 points.

2011 NBA Draft Prospects

I know, I know. The season is still long from over. But hey, if we may be headed for an NBA Draft Lottery, why not look at some of the prospects right? Who knows, what if the Minnesota Timberwolves won the NBA Draft? Here are my top prospects in the 2011 NBA Draft:

1) Perry Jones, Baylor - Freshman, small forward with elite athleticism

2) Harrison Barnes, North Carolina - Freshman, small forward with great work ethic and skill

3) Jared Sullinger, Ohio State - Freshman that can score in bunches
4) Kyrie Irving, Duke - Freshman, that showed glimpses of stardom but has been injured

5) Enes Kanter, Kentucky - Freshman has been ineligible so far, big center with huge potential

With a roster of possibly Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Darko Milicic, Jonny Flynn, and one of these players, how many games do you think this team could potentially win?

Portland Trailblazers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Portland Trailblazers tonight at the Target Center. The Trailblazers come in with a 19-17 record and trail the Utah Jazz by 5 games in the Northwest Conference. They have been hit hard by injuries. Star player Brandon Roy (former Timberwolf draft pick cough cough) has been out with knee injuries. Center Greg Oden is once again done for the season. LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, and Andre Miller are carrying the play for the team in Roy and Oden's absence. I believe the Timberwolves match up well with the Trailblazers and hope to see a victory. Get your Minnesota Timberwolves tickets with Timberwolves Tickets!

Minnesota Timberwolves Need Finishing Touch

Same script. Minnesota Timberwolves fans are used to it this season. The team simply can't win games down the stretch. The Minnesota Timberwolves should have beat the Boston Celtics in Boston. They were winning nearly the entire game. It was a tough finish. Then, the Charlotte Bobcats erased an 8 point deficit with 2 minutes to play and won 108-105 in overtime. This, how much, we know: Kevin Love is a great player. Michael Beasley can play at an elite level. Darko is a reliable center. We need more play out of our point guard and one more dynamic shooter who can score in clutch spots. Where's Michael Jordan when you need him. With a 9-27 record as of now, we may be headed for another lottery selection.

New Jersey Nets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

On New Year's Day, the Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the New Jersey Nets at the Target Center. The two teams can relate to eachother. Both franchises have suffered rebuilding pains after being a contender. Both teams have some good young players but are still looking to add the pieces around to create a contender. The New Jersey Nets have talented players in Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, and Derrick Favors. They also have Minnesota native, Hopkins grad, and Gopher alum Kris Humphries. He's had a breakout season averaging 7 points and 9 rebounds. Get your Minnesota Timberwolves tickets with Ticket King!

Minnesota Timberwolves Post Impressive Victory Over New Orleans Hornets

I've seen it happen before. The Minnesota Timberwolves play 3 quarters of solid ball against a good team but squander the lead in the 4th. It's happened on a few occasions this year. However, that was not the case on Monday against the New Orleans Hornets. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the New Orleans Hornets by a score of 113-98 at the Target Center. It was an impressive victory with Michael Beasley going off for 30 points and Wesley Johnson posting a career high 24 points. Wesley is starting to elevate his play and hit 6 three pointers in the victory. Next up is the Denver Nuggets at the Target Center on Wednesday. Get your Minnesota Timberwolves tickets with Ticket King!

Michael Beasley Drains Layup, Minnesota Timberwolves Edge Cleveland Cavaliers

Michael Beasley hit a layup with 5.9 seconds left in the game and the Minnesota Timberwolves squeaked out a 98-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was just the 2nd victory on the road this season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Michael Beasley finished with 28 points, Luke Ridnour finished with 23, and Kevin Love finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds. It wasn't a real pretty victory but it's one that the Minnesota Timberwolves will take. Victories have not been easy to come by this season and they will take that win.

Welcome Back Al Jefferson

The Minnesota Timberwolves welcome back Al Jefferson tonight at the Target Center. The Utah Jazz are currently 20-9 and have been playing very good basketball. Al Jefferson played for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2007 to 2010 and was the best player on the squad every season. He was traded last season for 2 first round picks and center Kosta Koufos. It will be a homecoming for the former Timberwolf and I'm sure he will be ready to go and excited to see some of his old teammates. Hopefully the Minnesota Timberwolves will respond.