One entertaining and educational season

With Michael Beasley always treating us T-Wolves fans to a lip synch concert that outperformed Ashley Simpsons on SNL from a few years back, and Kevin Love inking his name his name in the history books, not since the Timberwolves were good and had Latrell “He might choke the coach” Sprewell, Sam “The first ever basketball player from area 51” Cassel and Kevin “I am really worried he will be go into the hall of fame as a Celtic” Garnett, was a season as fun to watch as this past season. However, this season was equally entreating as it was educational.
Here are five things we learned:

1.Johnny Flynn’s future as an NBA point guard might be over, but his future as a star on the And1 Mixtape Tour is bright.
2.If we pretend Wesley Johnson is really 22 years old and not actually 25, he looks a lot better than as good as he already is.
3.Before this year we thought every trade or transaction Kevin McHale made was bad. In hindsight he had one good one when he traded OJ Mayo for Kevin Love.
4.Darko Millicic might not be a bust????
5.Kevin Love is really really good.

Here are five things that entertained us:
1.Michael Beasley and his awesome lip synching.

2.Kevin Love and his Numb#rs video. Checkout in the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2OkK2jupU8

3.The Timberwolves in house DJ ‘DJ Mad Mardigan’ and his horrible disk jockey skills that reached a new level of unintentional comedy. Check out below in the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTF4LauCknc

4.David Kahn. As highlighted by what he said about Michael Beasley.
5.Kurt Rambis and his coaching. While he probably is getting fired, his facial expressions after John Flynn threw a ball out of bounds were always entertaining.

Minnesota Timberwolves Deflated by Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-95 at the Target Center on Sunday night. The Kings have a record of 17-51, while the Timberwolves have a record of 17-54. It has been a frustrating season and this score adds to the high level of disappointment. On Friday night, the Timberwolves were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers 106-98, although leading most of the game. Wesley Johnson scored a career high 29 points in the game. Against the Kings, Luke Ridnour scored 22 points for a team high. The Timberwolves now own the 2nd worst record in the NBA (wins wise), as they are tied with the Kings and the Wizards at 17. The Cleveland Cavaliers have 13 wins.

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.

All-Star Weekend Recap

The Minnesota Timberwolves had two players involved in the over the weekend for the NBA All-Star Weekend. Kevin Love was a representative for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game and rookie Wesley Johnson participated in the Rookie/Sophomore Game. Kevin Love played 12 minutes, grabbed 4 rebounds, scored 2 points, and dished out 1 assist. The Western Conference won by a score of 148 to 143 over the Eastern Conference. Rookie Minnesota Timberwolf Wesley Johnson scored 25 points while the Rookies defeated the Sophomore by a score of 148-140. Check out Timberwolves NBA Tickets!

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.

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!

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!

Minnesota Timberwolves Christmas List

Here is my Minnesota Timberwolves Christmas List:

1) An upgrade at shooting guard. I like the core of Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, and Darko Milicic. However, we need a guy who can drill the 3 and can create his own shot. Wesley Johnson and Corey Brewer have struggled at that.

2) An upgrade at perimeter defense. This team gets killed by the 3 pointer and it's shown against Phoenix and Los Angeles.

3) Point Guard play. Jonny Flynn has to become a more efficient point guard. Maybe Ricky Rubio can solve this.

Minnesota Timberwolves 129, Cleveland Cavaliers 95

Holy moly. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 129 to 95 on Saturday night at the Target Center. The 34 point blowout WITHOUT Michael Beasley was as surprising as it gets for Minnesota Timberwolves fans. The team made a record 18 3 pointers! Kevin Love had 28 points and 19 rebounds. Rookie Wes Johnson had 20 points for a career high. Darko Milicic had 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Wayne Ellington chipped in 16 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves shot 59% from the field. It was the 6th largest win in franchise history. Love is averaging 23.7 points per game and 18.8 rebounds per game in his last six games and has grabbed at least 15 rebounds in six straight games.

Kevin Love Makes History With 31 Points, 31 Rebounds

On Friday night, Kevin Love knew he had something going. During a timeout in the 3rd quarter, Love told Michael Beasley he was "gonna get 30 tonight." Turns out, he got 30 points and 30 rebounds. At the end of the game, Kevin Love made history. He finished with 31 points, 31 rebounds, and 5 assists. He was the first to post a 30/30 game since Moses Malone did it in 1982. He became the 19th player in NBA history to record a 30/30 game. Charles Barkley was the last to get 30 rebounds in game, in 1996. He joins Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Elvin Hayes, Bill Russell, Swen Nater, and Robert Parrish to name a few. By the way, the Timberwolves defeated the New York Knicks 112-103. Michael Beasley also had 35 points and Wesley Johnson had 15 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves Fall 117-116 to Sacramento Kings

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost a tough opening game to the Sacramento Kings, 117-116 at the Target Center. There were some positives and negatives from the game, but it was a game that the Minnesota Timberwolves should have won on paper. They have more talent and depth than the Sacramento Kings (like the Cleveland Cavaliers beating the Boston Celtics that same night). The Kings led the majority of the 2nd half and while the Timberwolves kept crawling back, we just couldn't hold the lead. The Timberwolves missed Jonny Flynn and Martell Webster and I hope both can have a speedy recovery.

Wesley Johnson showed his athleticism with a posterizing dunk for his first NBA points. He finished with 13 points and I hope he can get more minutes as he is a talented player. Luke Ridnour scored 20 points and looks like an efficient point guard. Kevin Love had a double-double in the first half, but didn't' play much in the 2nd half. Michael Beasley has the skill to get to the rim nearly every possession. I hope he can build on that.

Minnesota Timberwolves Defeat Detroit Pistons 99-88

The Minnesota Timberwolves moved to 4-1 in the Preseason after a 99-88 defeat of the Detroit Pistons. The game was played at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Kevin Love had 21 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Wesley Johnson finished with 4 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals in front of his hometown crowd. Although it wasn't the outcome Johnson probably wanted to show them, he admitted he was a little nervous and a little tired from all the traveling thus far.

Minnesota Timberwolves Playing in Syracuse, New York

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be taking on the Detroit Pistons in Syracuse, New York tonight. The Timberwolves boast 2 Syracuse alumni - Jonny Flynn and Wesley Johnson. Unfortunately, Flynn is still recovering from hip surgery and will not be able to play tonight. Hopefully Wesley can put on a clinic for the hometown fans their tonight.

Minnesota Timberwolves Down Denver Nuggets, Move to 3-0

It's only preseason. That being said, the Minnesota Timberwolves moved to 3-0 on Tuesday night defeating the Denver Nuggets 122-108. Rookie Wesley Johnson continues to excel from behind the 3 point line and finished with 16 points. Kevin Love had another Kevin Love-like performance with a 16 point and 15 rebounds performance. Michael Beasley had 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Any optimism helps with the franchise, and right now, the Timberwolves have several reasons to be optimistic. We are lightyears more athletic than last season, have tougher defense (13 blocks last night!), and will have much better shooting. They play at the Indiana Pacers tonight.

Minnesota Timberwolves Preseason Home Opener

The Minnesota Timberwolves will have their preseason home opener tomorrow vs. the Denver Nuggets. There is a substantial amount of optimism heading into this season than compared to last season. Gone are guys like Ryan Hollins, Oleksiy Pecherov, Aleksandar Pavlović, Damien Wilkins, Ramon Sessions, and Ryan Gomes. With 9 new players, Minnesota Timberwolves fans can now witness if Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, Nikola Pekovic, and Lazar Hayward can become NBA stars. Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn will be expected to become team leaders. There won't be many easy games for a team coming off of 15 wins, but the roster is now stock piled with talent that could make us 1 player away from being back in the playoff race.

What a Beauty: Minnesota Timberwolves 111, LA Lakers 92

Before I get to my analysis, here is what I am aware of. I get it that star Kobe Bryant played 6 minutes. I get that it is a preseason game being played across the pond. I get it that it "doesn't really count." That being said, the Minnesota Timberwolves opened up with a lopsided and dominating victory over the defending champions Los Angeles Lakers 111-92 in London. There were more highlights in this game then any game in my knowledge last season. After the game, there was some buzz on several media outlets of the possibility of the Timberwolves surprising some people this season.

Michael Beasley scored 21 points. Martell Webster had 24 points. Darko Milic (8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and Nikola Pekovic (7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) had solid outings at the center position, where historically the franchise has struggled at. Kevin Love had 11 points and 8 rebounds. Anthony Tolliver had 10 points and 6 rebounds. For highlights, Luke Ridnour threw the ball off the backboard to a streaking Wesley Johnson for a dunk. Michael Beasley went coast to coast on a play. Martell Webster had a dipsy-doo layup. Kevin Love had a behind the back and between the legs pass to Webster for a score. I know it's just a preseason game, but it's baby steps.

Burnings Questions Going into Season

Going into a season with 9 new players leaves a lot of unknowns. Here are my burning questions going into this season:

What is the realistic number of wins this team can achieve?

Who will be the leading scorer on this team?

Who will be the primary starters?

What will Welsey Johnson, Martell Webster, and Corey Brewer's stats look like?

What will Darko Milic and Nikola Pekovic do for the Wolves at center?

How many points will Michael Beasley average?

How many more points can Kevin Love average with possibly more playing time?

Will Jonny Flynn come back strong from injury and elevate his game?

2010 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster Remodel Notes

After the 2010 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a new look to their roster. However, it is still far from finalized as Free Agency begins in 12 hours, trades can happen at any time, and some European prospects are still possibly joining the team. Here is set roster as of right now:

- G-F Corey Brewer
- PG Jonny Flynn
- F-C Kevin Love
- SF Wesley Johnson
- G Wayne Ellington
- C-F Al Jefferson
- G Ramon Sessions
- F Lazar Hayward
- F-G Martell Webster

Players who could end up back in Minnesota from last season: F Brian Cardinal, C Ryan Hollins, C Darko Milic, C Greg Stiemsma

Possible European draft picks to come over: C-F Nikola Pekovic, F Nemanja Bjelica, G Ricky Rubio (2011-2012)

The latest trade rumors have had the Dallas Mavericks interested in Al Jefferson. It will be interesting to see if General Manager David Kahn moves Jefferson and what package Minnesota would receive. The roster is building nicely, with several players that have been courted by other teams (Flynn, Love, Brewer, Jefferson). Johnson should be a huge upgrade while it would be great if Pekovic could come over from Europe. Prized prospect Ricky Rubio is expected to join next season.

Grading the NBA 2010 Minnesota Timberwolves Draft

When a team goes 15-67, the draft is what fans look forward to in an attempt to land a star player. Hoping to land the #1 or #2 selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves settled with the #4 pick thanks to the wonderful draft lottery. In Minnesota's 13 opportunities to select in the lottery, they have either stayed the same or fallen back all 13 times. This year, Minnesota had the second worst record and thus the second best chance of landing the #1 spot. Luckily, Minnesota had three 1st round picks to work with, the most in the draft.

Fast forward to Thursday, June 24. The Timberwolves selected Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson fourth overall. The debate was between Johnson and power forward/center DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky. Time will tell which player the Timberwolves should have selected but as of right now Johnson was the pick Minnesota needed to make. Minnesota desperately needs athleticism and shooting, and Johnson best fits that need. Minnesota holds the right to Nikola Pekovic from the 2008 NBA Draft who could potentially play center. Factor that in with Al Jefferson still currently on the roster and you can see there are two players who could play center if needed. By the way the team still might bring back Darko Milic, a center who finished the season last year with Minnesota. The power forward position minutes should be given to Kevin Love, the smooth-rebounding 21 year old with endless potential. With Cousins, it could have potentially taken away minutes from Love.

The second pick Minnesota had in the 1st round was #16. After picking Luke Babbitt from Nevada, Minnesota traded him and Ryan Gomes to the Portland Trailblazers for another small forward in Martell Webster. This one was the head scratcher. Always keeping it interesting on draft day, Minnesota did not feel any players left at #16 were worthy of making an immediate contribution. Webster is 23, having being drafted out of high school so he has already been in the league for 5 years. Last season he averaged 9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds. He will get his chance to prove himself in Minnesota so we will see if the production comes that wasn't there in Portland.

The third pick Minnesota had in the 1st round was #23. With smooth shooting Jordan Crawford on the board and center Hassan Whiteside, I thought Minnesota would take one of these two players. Turns out we packaged the pick to Washington for the #30 and #35 picks. Crawford was off the board then by 30, and Minnesota selected Lazar Hayward from Marquette, another small forward/shooting guard. He seems to be an athletic type and has a good head on his shoulders, so the hope is he can be a contributor off the bench. With the #35 pick, Minnesota selected Serbian Nemanja Bjelica, a hybrid 6'10 forward.

The final pick was #45 Paulo Prestes, a 22 year old Brazilian center. New Assistant GM Tony Ronzone is considered one of the best international scouts and had to have had a hand in the final two selections. Hopefully Bjelica and Prestes can get the minutes overseas and pan out someday for the Timberwolves. I would rather have second round draft picks play overseas than either being cut by the team or playing in the NBA-Developmental League.

Overall, you can't put a grade to a draft until you see how the players play. I hope with Johnson, Webster, and Hayward, the Minnesota Timberwolves have improved their shooting and athleticism. Second round picks are always a toss up, but Prestes and Bjelica could maybe join the team down the road and contribute. Free agency begins July 1st and with General Manager David Kahn, you never know what to expect.