NBA: The Timberwolves Source - A Fanblog

2008-11-26T10:50:00.000-06:00

Here's today's game day info for tonight---Wolves vs. Suns.

2008-10-30T13:15:00.000-05:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Timberwolf fans!

2008-10-16T16:35:00.000-05:00

6pm can't get here fast enough! Ready to kick some Raptor bootie!

2008-07-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

Here's a good article about why re-signing Gomes is so good for us: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/consistently_solid_aka_ryan_gomes_080729.html

From the sports world to the world's ears

2008-02-28T09:59:00.002-06:00

I can't even imagine what it must be like to be in the limelight and be watching such massive upheavals back in your home country. I don't know if I agree with Marko Jaric's position, but I'm glad he spoke out, because honestly, this article is the first I've heard over here of his side on the issue of Kosovo independence.

Goodbye Eddie

2007-08-28T11:24:00.000-05:00

Talk about sad... I can't even imagine what Eddie Griffin must have been thinking when he hit that train. I don't want to know. I'm sure the Timberwolves will miss him, as will the rest of the NBA. Rest in peace, Eddie. :(

Garnett makes All-NBA

2007-05-11T11:38:00.000-05:00

Wolves forward Kevin Garnett has earned the honor of being named to the All-NBA Third Team. This honor is the seventh of Garnett's career. He shares the roster with Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, and Chauncey Billups.

Raptors drop Wolves

2007-04-10T17:13:00.000-05:00

The Timberwolves suffered a 111-100 loss yesterday to the Toronto Raptors. Toronto slated an excellent fourth quarter to overcome the Wolves. No thanks to Jose Calderon, but the younger Wolves played well no less - they may still have to step it up along with the rest of the team for the coming Dallas and San Antonio matchups this week.

2007-01-16T16:15:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves: tough to beat in '07. Just ask the Pistons!

Timberwolves Looking Forward to Lakers

2006-12-18T13:50:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Timeberwolves are in the middle of a much need rest after back-to-back losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks. On Wednesday the Timberwolves will be looking to get back on track when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. This will be a tough test since the Lakers have found their winning ways again and are battling the Phoenix Suns for the Pacific division. I just wish someone besides Kevin Garnett would step up, because one man cannot defeat a team.

Timberwolves Hosting Nuggets

2006-12-01T17:18:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to another slow start this season, and of course they're relying on Kevin Garnett for all of their production, offensive and defensive. He leads the team in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and minutes. He's averaging a double-double each game, and he's the only reason they're only 2 games under .500. So I guess I should say it's Kevin Garnett vs. Denver Nuggets tonight.

Time for something funny

2006-10-31T16:39:00.000-06:00

Before we get down to the serious business of the NBA regular season, that is. Check out the Paul Lukas article on "Page 2" of sports.espn.go.com. I don't have much luck reproducing URLs here, but the title is "A new look for the NBA." It is all about how not only is the basketball changing but the uniforms are changing. Way more than you ever thought about the subject, I'm guessing, but very nicely illustrated.

Warning, if you are partial to purple: Mr. Lukas has unkind things to say about that majestic color. Enjoy!

Welcome to Minnesota, Randy Foye!

2006-10-17T11:29:00.000-05:00

Our preseason victory over the Indiana Pacers (103-87) really happened in the 4th quarter. When the 4th started, we were already up, but only by 4 points. Foye, who's a rookie from Villanova, had 5 points for the first part of the game, then added 8 in the final quarter, including a sweet 19-foot jumper. With Marko Jaric and Bracey Wright also getting into the action, the Timberwolves doubled the scoring of the Pacers during that last period.

Close games are exciting, but I love it when the T'Wolves go on a tear, even in a preseason game.

Buck Hunting anyone?

2006-10-11T19:43:00.000-05:00

Well the game is on right this second and here I am at work unable to even listen to it on XM or the interweb! :( Well, i can tell you one thing, all eyes are on Kevin Garnett to pull some crazy moves. To say that guy is talented would be an insult, that actually goes for a number of players on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Everyuone always wanbts to say things like "it isn't a dynasty" and as such they cant have true talent like the Lakers (or some other such BS), we shall see how this pans out, they look hella strong. I wish i had gotten tickets to this one, i bet it will be good!

True Blue presaeson time is here

2006-10-06T14:56:00.000-05:00

We have the Bucks this coming wednesday and it ought to be a good show. Granted presason is always a little sloppy, but I have a feeling based on early reports the team is working well and the starters feel good and rested and ready for a hell of a season. I can't wait doesn't even begine to cover it, this is going to be a great season for the Timberwolves and Coach Casey finally looks like he's in a good mood!

Vegas Summer League

2006-10-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

This summer, Minnesota sent a young squad to the Las Vegas Summer League, headed by Rex Kalamian, second year assistant coach for the Wolves. Rookie Randy Foye and Bracey Wright gave notable performances, and Foye led the league in shooting with 24.8 points on .530 in five games. Foye was also named league MVP. These performances bode well for the upcoming season, where improvements to the summer players’ game will hopefully be showcased. Training Camp will be a testing ground for these players, where they will hone skills they improved in the summer season.

Could there be another NBA Finals sweep in the future?

2006-06-12T16:07:00.000-05:00

Well, like everyone else I stayed up late last night to watch the Dallas Mavericks beat up on the Miami Heat. It wasn’t a great game by any means because both teams were playing kind of ugly but the Dallas Mavericks managed to dominate the Heat despite not giving a stellar performance. It looked like a battle of sheer intimidation. They put Dirk into the double team on Shaq and it worked like gang busters. Shaq couldn’t get a shot of and eventually sat down for pretty much the entire second half. He walked away with only 5 points. I was impressed that the Dallas Mavericks could take two in a row without playing to their potential once. Wow.

Award Winning Personality and Performance.

2006-05-15T19:41:00.000-05:00

Kevin Garnett has been honored with the NBA’s award for community service, the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. KG is the Minnesota Timberwolves best player and he represents himself with dignity and respect for his position and influence. It is nice to see him giving back to the community and setting a good example.

Where did we go wrong?

2006-04-24T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves finished out the 2005-2006 season with a 33-49 record. The Wolves did not have the season we thought we were going to have when they picked up Marko Jaric and Rashad McCants in 2005. In your opinion, what went wrong?

Am I missing something?

2006-04-02T23:07:00.000-05:00

I have been hearing a lot of gossip about the possibility of Kevin Garnett being traded. Personally I don’t think the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to do that, but stranger things have happened. There is a more speculation now than there ever was and I am wondering why. KG has said he will never ask for a trade and Glen Taylor claims he has no intention of trading our star forward.

Why do you think this has become such a hot topic lately?

I believe we can do better.

2006-03-10T12:46:00.000-06:00

Kevin Garnett led the assault with 26 points and 16 rebounds, as the Minnesota Timberwolves bested the New Jersey Nets. Garnett got some help from the bench in the form of rookie Rashad McCants who scored 21 points. It would be nice to see Minnesota play like that every night and I still believe they can.

KG Headed to Honolulu

2006-02-10T17:54:00.000-06:00

Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been selected for his ninth consecutive trip to the All-Star game. In his 11 years, Kevin Garnett has earned his shining reputation and his stats speak for themselves.

No more spell check madness for this Timberwolves fan!

2006-01-30T10:38:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been doing some mid-season rebuilding. We just made a big trade with the Boston Celtics that included Wally Szczerbiak. I am glad I won’t have to stress over the spelling of his name in this blog anymore, but I hate to see us lose a leading scorer.

Griffin On The Job

2006-01-21T23:39:00.000-06:00

It really started to look like the Minnesota Timberwolves were going to pull off a win in the fourth quarter of their game against the Indiana Pacers. They had struggled throughout the past three quarters but surged with energy in the final minutes. The Pacers fought hard as time ran out but it wasn’t enough. This wasn’t the Wolves best game defensively, but I liked seeing Eddie Griffin working hard under the net for an impressive fourteen rebounds.

Wolves Win over Nuggets and Bulls

2006-01-14T18:59:00.000-06:00

The Timberwolves have had a mediocre season but looked great in their games against the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls. It is hard to believe that we have gone on such large losing streaks this season but the wins still give me hope. Kevin Garnett got a double-double and Wally Sczcerbiak scored 28 points in our win against the Nuggets. It was a game that showed we have the ability and talent to win, yet having the skill and using it are two different things. We have about half the season left and I would like to see this team turn it around.

Marco Lights Fire Under Wolves

2006-01-07T19:23:00.000-06:00

The Dallas Mavericks played their worst game of the season against our Minnesota Timberwolves this week. They scored only 78 points and played terrible defense. Marco Jarik was playing aggressively and scored 22 points. He didn’t play very well in the two losses this weekend but he finally broke out of the funk he was in and produced well in the second half of the game against the Mavericks. His energy fed to the other players and they followed their point guard’s lead playing with power and pressure. Sczcerbiak and Garnett both felt Marco was focused and a big part of their win over the Mavs.

Garnett and Wally Steal the Show

2005-12-29T17:46:00.000-06:00

Wally Szczerbiak scored 30 points in the Timberwolves recent win over the Seattle Supersonics. Kevin Garnett had 26 points and got ten rebounds to lead the Wolves to their 108-95 win. The combination of those two players is deadly for the opposing team because they also play hard defense and aren’t afraid to block shots and shoot free throws. Wally and Kevin are playing at an All-Star level in every game and have been the driving force behind the Wolves beating some formidable opponents his season. Even the final quarter effort by Damien Wilkins of the Sonics was not enough to break the Timberwolves stride. The Sonics continued to allow turnovers and gave up the win.

Wally and Kevin Slap Hornets

2005-12-23T19:24:00.000-06:00

The Timberwolves finally pulled out a win playing against the New Orleans Hornets and this time they did it right by not allowing their opponent to get too close. The score was 88-69 in our favor and it was all due to the heroics of two players. Wally Szczerbiak and Kevin Garnett were those players. Wally had 21 points and Garnett had 17 points and nine assists. With 7 rebounds he was really a force in this game. Wally Szczerbiak knows better than anyone how to stay positive even when you are losing and this was a great win for him. Wally said:

"You can't get too up with a win or too down with a loss. You got to take all the positives you can from a loss and try to end losing streaks. It was nice to end that losing streak, no question."

Timberwolves Play Well in Loss to Kings

2005-12-15T18:49:00.000-06:00

Wally Szczerbiak had 25 points and eight rebounds, Kevin Garnett racked up 22 points and Marko Jaric shot well with 16 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves unfortunate loss to the Sacramento Kings. It was a close game that was decided in the final seconds and our Timberwolves played well on defense as well as offense. Our defense could have stepped up with more fire in the fourth quarter but overall they were impressive. Don’t let the score fool you into thinking this game was not a joy to watch because it was. Wally and Garnett are artists in action and hardly ever disappoint us fans.

Szczerbiak and Jaric Dominate Portland

2005-12-09T12:46:00.000-06:00

The Minnesota Timberwolves are now into a four game wining streak and things are really looking up. We beat the Kings, the Lakers, the Jazz and the Trailblazers. They were all formidable opponents and in three of the games we held the teams from scoring more than 80 points. Our defense is looking great and Kevin Garnett is looking aweome. Wally Szczerbiak and Marko Jaric were the stars of our game against Portland, though, with19 points each. Kevin Garnett was pretty quiet with 16 points, but had 14 rebounds and is still getting the assists he was awarded for by the NBA in November.

Garnett: Is Not Enough

2005-12-02T11:45:00.000-06:00

We were not the same team who beat the Cleveland Cavaliers when we played the LA Clippers. The score, 84-93, was about the average for this season since we haven’t scored many times over a hundred, but it wasn’t a strong offensive effort at all for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Corey Maggette of the Clippers had his best game of the season against us with 10 rebounds and 30 points. Kevin Garnett didn’t play strong defense game, yet he scored 29 points and racked up more rebounds than Maggette with 13. Kevin Garnett even said that the Timberwolves had a chance to win but didn’t deserve it because of their poor play in the first three quarters of the game.

Hornets Sting the Timberwolves

2005-11-25T12:41:00.000-06:00

The New Orleans Hornets beat our Minnesota Timberwolves 84-80 in Oklahoma City this week. The game was close for four quarters and came down to important missed shots, turnovers and two free throws in the final minutes. The Timberwolves lead the Hornets for a better part of the game. At one point we had 18 points on them. What happened to the intensity and field goal percentage we had in the second quarter. Kevin Garnett was actively blocking and rebounding but just couldn’t get any shots. Let’s hope Garnett can get it together for the Cavaliers and Clippers.

No Smoke No Fire

2005-11-15T14:03:00.000-06:00

New coach Dwane Casey has yet to see his Timberwolves win away from home yet they are undefeated at home. Even against Kevin Garnett, the Nuggets’Marcus Camby looked great putting up 18 and rebounding 22. Minnesota didn’t really benefit from the absence of Kenyon Martin with Marcus Camby out in force. Earl Boykins came off the bench and started a minor fire but it wasn’t the blaze we needed. Wally Szczerbiak put up 20 and Kevin Garnett had 19 but we still got out played. Why can’t the Minnesota Timberwolves keep up the intensity they start with and break that 0-3 away record?

Shaq or Wilt?

2005-06-06T15:54:00.000-05:00

Who is better Shaquille O’Neal or Wilt Chamberlin? Now before anyone decides to answer this question, one should take time to think about it. To think about all the factors that comes into play.

For one I am not a big fan of Shaq but the man is very good at what he does and will some day join Wilt in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

But consider it was two different eras and two different styles. It is almost like comparing Joe Montana to Brett Favre, both great players but two different eras. So what do you all think?

Ten

2005-05-30T13:07:00.000-05:00

The number is now at ten. That is the number of people owner Glen Taylor has interviewed for the head coaching vacancy for his Timberwolves. And tenth to be interviewed is the San Antonio Spurs Assistant P.J. Carlesimo. Carlesimo was able to get away during the Western Conference Finals for an interview after the Spurs gave permission to the Timberwolves to speak with him. So far I like this candidate the best.

Lottery Time

2005-05-24T17:41:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the NBA lottery and the Wolves will participate in it. But all eyes will be on fan favorite Fred Hoiberg, as he will be drawing for the team. Hope the Wolves are feeling lucky. It seems like a long shot but it is still possible for Minnesota to get one of the top 3 spots in the lottery.

"Hopefully, he will bring us some luck. Maybe he can pull a rabbit out of the hat.” - General Manager Jim Stack

Open Game

2005-05-19T18:59:00.000-05:00

After longtime Coach Flip Saunders was released in February he was replaced by the vice president of operations Kevin McHale, but McHale didn’t impress with his 19-12 finish as the T’wolves failed to make it to the playoffs.

Owner Glen Taylor is expected to name a new coach within the next month as he sits and waits for more applicants for the opening. All three assistant coaches have already applied.

"It's an important selection, so to wait another couple of weeks isn't going to make a difference to us." - Glen Taylor

Another kind of Camp

2005-05-11T18:30:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the T'wolves

Thank you for your interest in camp registration! We're very excited about our summer basketball camps. We have something for everyone, including coed camps, advanced super skills camps and girls-only camps.

Our goal is for all campers to have fun and learn basketball skills in a positive and nurturing environment. We will focus on self-esteem, fair play and fundamental skill development while playing three games per day. A formal awards ceremony will be held each Friday to celebrate the successes of the week. Please join us, and bring a friend, for a wonderful summer. See you on the court!

McHale to Return for 2005-06 Season

2005-05-06T17:02:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the Minnesota Timberwolves

On Wednesday afternoon Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale announced that he would return to the team for the 2005-06 season, marking his 13th campaign with the organization. The announcement was made at a media gathering held at Target Center.

"I had to ask myself if I still had the passion to do this thing, and I felt that I do," McHale said. "I feel very responsible for this team and feel terrible that we didn't achieve all of the goals we set out to achieve this season."

"The final straw was watching the playoffs. I was so darn mad that we weren't in there. There's absolutely no reason this team should not be playing. I thought about all the opportunities we had to make a race of it this year, and it just bothered me a lot and I didn't want to go out with that taste in my mouth."

On February 12, McHale took over the head coaching duties from Flip Saunders, becoming the sixth bench leader in team history. Under his leadership, the Wolves went 19-12 to complete the 2004-05 season (44-38). Prior to McHale taking over the reigns, Minnesota allowed opponents to score 96.5 points per game while shooting 44.3% from the floor and 37.8% from three-point range. In the Wolves' last 31 contests they gave up only 93.4 points per game, while holding teams to 42.9% shooting, including 33.5% from beyond the arc.

McHale's immediate priority this off-season is to address the coaching vacancy, as he will not be returning to the bench next season. He said he currently has 5-6 potential candidates in mind for the job. McHale's plan is to have a new coach in place prior to the NBA Draft in June.

McHale began his career with the Wolves as a special assistant in 1993-94, prior to becoming the assistant general manager in 1994-95. He ascended to his current position in 1995. In that capacity, McHale is responsible for the team's entire basketball operations department, overseeing player personnel decisions, scouting and the coaching staff.

Prior to coming to the Timberwolves organization, McHale played 13 seasons as a power forward for the Boston Celtics before retiring in the spring of 1993. A first-round selection (third overall) by Boston in the 1980 NBA Draft, McHale helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984 and 1986), five Eastern Conference titles and eight Atlantic Division crowns. He was voted the NBA's top sixth man twice (1984, 1985) and was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1987. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times (1986, 1987 and 1988). The 6-10 forward/center averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds in 971 career regular-season games.

Szczerbiak sparks Minny comeback

2005-04-19T12:51:00.000-05:00

by the Associated Press, from Espn.com

One day after saying he might like a fresh start with another team next season, Wally Szczerbiak gave the Minnesota Timberwolves plenty of reasons to keep him around.

Szczerbiak scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, leading Minnesota to a 102-99 comeback victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday night.

Szczerbiak had expressed frustration with his sixth man role, saying he felt he had played well enough to start for the Wolves, who had been eliminated from the playoffs after losing Sunday to Seattle.

But Szczerbiak said his love for the game will keep him playing to win regardless of his situation.

"That's all you can do when you step out there on the floor, whether it means something or not. Just go out there and try to make your teammates better and play like a team and come away with the win," Szczerbiak said. "If you're a true basketball player who loves the game, you play during the summer, in summer leagues and give a true effort. If you're going to be out there and if you're going to be performing and they pay you a lot of money, you'd better give a darn good effort."

Sam Cassell scored 16 points and Kevin Garnett had 14 as Minnesota handed New Orleans its eighth straight loss, one that guaranteed the Hornets (18-63) could do no better than tie the franchise's all-time worst record. In 1989-90, the then-Charlotte Hornets, only in their second year in the NBA, went 19-63.

"You go through the whole season and you figure out in Game 81 that you pretty much saw every way we could possibly lose a game and we invented a new one tonight," Hornets coach Byron Scott said.

Minnesota went through several lethargic stretches, looking like a team deflated from their recent elimination from the postseason. The Hornets took advantage early in the fourth quarter, hustling in their transition game to produce a breakaway dunk by Casey Jacobsen, who had a team-high 15 points, and a driving dunk by Bostjan Nachbar.

Nachbar's dunk gave New Orleans an 89-84 lead. But Szczerbiak scored eight straight points during the heart of the final period on three soft jumpers and a driving layup to keep the Wolves within three points. His fallaway with about 2 minutes left pulled Minnesota to 97-95.

Then, with the Hornets still leading by one inside the final minute, Szczerbiak picked off Dan Dickau's baseline bounce pass. He started the Wolves back up the floor on a possession that ended with Anthony Carter's driving layup, giving Minnesota a 100-99 lead with 29 seconds left.

After Dickau missed a floater, New Orleans got the rebound, but had to settle for a 16-foot jumper by Maciej Lampe that missed.

"That's frustrating. We were playing well," Dickau said. "I have to take a lot of responsibility. I missed a shot in that (final) stretch and had a turnover. Defensively, Anthony Carter scored that go-ahead layup while I was giving help on Szczerbiak."

Nachbar's running 3-point attempt at the buzzer, which could have tied the game, fell short for a bitter end to what was a strong game for him. Nachbar had 14 points, including three driving dunks and two 3-pointers. Dickau had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while J.R. Smith and P.J. Brown each scored 13 points.

The Hornets played without injured center Jamaal Magloire and point guard Speedy Claxton. Scott kept Brown, the team's leader all season, on the bench in crunch time because he's still trying to figure out which of the younger players he wants around next season.

"You have to give those guys a chance. You have to see how they are going to act and react in adverse situations," Scott said.

Michael Olowokandi had 12 points for Minnesota on 6-of-8 shooting.

"We found a fun way to win one. It was pretty much like an exhibition game for us," Minnesota coach Kevin McHale said. "Wally carried us for a while. The players were loose. That's to be expected at this part of the season when there's nothing to play for."

Dropping a heart Breaker

2005-04-09T14:52:00.000-05:00

from the official site of the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Denver Nuggets delivered a blow that has the Minnesota Timberwolves staggering toward the canvas.

Andre Miller had 22 points and a season-high 15 assists to lead the Nuggets to a 107-104 victory over the Timberwolves, whose postseason hopes took another serious hit.

Last season, the Timberwolves were the Western Conference's top seed and eliminated the Nuggets in five games in an emotional first-round series. But the Timberwolves' hopes of making the playoffs for a ninth straight season seem to be fading.

Minnesota (40-36) fell 3 1/2 games behind Memphis for the final playoff berth with six games left.

"This was a huge setback," Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett said. "It's like waiting on a right hook and getting hit with a body blow. And we got nobody to blame but ourselves."

"It's definitely a major, major blow, but it isn't over yet," Timberwolves point guard Sam Cassell said.

Miller, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin kept the Nuggets (44-31) rolling toward the postseason. Denver has won six straight and 20 of its last 22 games, pulling within one-half game of sixth-place Houston.

"We keep it (last year's loss in the playoffs) in the back of our minds," Anthony said. "But that's not our main motivation. We just want to keep getting better."

"We're playing with confidence and swagger," Martin said. "Coach has us believing in his way of playing the game. We're playing as a team, moving the ball well, being unselfish and aggressive."

Effectively getting the Nuggets out in the open court all night, Miller fed Marcus Camby for a dunk with 1:36 to play, giving the Nuggets a 103-98 lead. Miller also hit a clutch jumper with 40 seconds left for a 107-101 advantage.

After Garnett's three-point play with 31 seconds left pulled the Timberwolves within 107-104, Miller missed an ill-advised 3-pointer.

Minnesota went without a timeout and Cassell's 3-pointer with under four seconds left glanced off the front of the rim.

Anthony scored 26 points and Martin 24 before fouling out late in the contest for Denver, which held a 30-10 advantage in fast-break points and a 48-20 edge in points in the paint.

"Out transition defense was very poor," Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale said. "They ran it down our (butt) - Miller especially. He attacked us."

Cassell scored 27 points and Garnett had 26 and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who battled back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit before falling short.

"We knew Minnesota was going to fight," Denver coach George Karl said. "They made some tough shots down the stretch. We gave them some shots, but they earned most of them."

A pair of free throws by Wally Szczerbiak with 3:29 remaining pulled the Timberwolves even at 96-96. But Martin fed Anthony for an alley-oop dunk to give Denver the lead for good and Martin scored on a drive with 2:38 to go.

"Getting dunks in the last two minutes of the game is huge," Karl said. "I thought that was the key. We're getting dunks and they're taking jump shots."

"This was a big game," Miller said. "It all starts with coach (Karl). He keeps us composed. We feel like we can beat anybody right now. The only team that can beat us in the last 23 games, at least is Phoenix."

"Games like these are really important for us," Karl said.

Timberwolves 94, Houston Rockets 86

2005-03-23T15:34:00.000-06:00

by the Associated Press, from ESPN.com

Sam Cassell and the Minnesota Timberwolves aren't giving up on what has been a disappointing season just yet.

Kevin Garnett had 30 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, but it was Cassell's return to the lineup that keyed the Timberwolves' 94-86 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.

Cassell flashed some of the skill and leadership that was responsible for the Timberwolves' run to the Western Conference finals last season, but has been sorely lacking from the team so far this year.

After missing Friday night's loss at Memphis with a sore hamstring that has plagued him nearly the entire season, Cassell scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 26 minutes.

He smiled often and was his wily old self -- drawing fouls, jawing with the opposition and even getting into a shoving match with McGrady.

"That's the first time we've seen Sam in awhile," guard Fred Hoiberg said. "He was very aggressive. That's when we're at our best is when he's out there getting everybody fired up. Hopefully he can play out the rest of the season now."

The Timberwolves' season may depend on it.

They are 2½ games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference and now have just 14 games to make up the ground.

"We have to have a little run right now, an eight-game winning streak, something like that," Cassell said. "I think this team has the capability of doing it, but I have to stay on the court."

They played like a desperate team against the Rockets.

Garnett scored 13 of his points in the third quarter, when the Timberwolves took advantage of poor shooting by Tracy McGrady and the Rockets to pull away.

The Rockets were just 3-of-14 from the field in the third and trailed by as many as 23 points to lose for the second time in a row following a six-game winning streak.

Yao Ming had 21 points and five rebounds for Houston, but did most of his damage in the first quarter and was quiet for the rest of the game.

McGrady's shooting slump continued on Sunday. He missed seven of his first eight shots and finished with 15 points on 4-of-22 shooting. In his last four games, McGrady is 27-for-88 from the field (31 percent).

Despite his monumental struggles, the Rockets used a 10-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter to cut into Minnesota's lead. Mike James' 3-pointer with 6:14 to go made the score 86-77, but the Rockets never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

"We will follow the lead of myself, Tracy and Yao, and right now none of us is inspired at all," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "The lead of myself and those two is not what it needs to be."

The Timberwolves have also been missing that leadership for most of what has been a puzzling and frustrating season. But it was out in full force, courtesy of Cassell on Sunday.

Cassell sparked the team to a fast start with a nearly flawless first half in which he was 5-for-6 for 14 points to help the Wolves to a 13-point lead.

The Timberwolves opened the third quarter with an 11-1 run to go up by 23 points. McGrady seemed uninterested for much of the rest of the game, settling for 3-pointers and often drifting away from the offensive sets.

"I'm shooting poorly from the field and it's carried over to my defensive game, my energy," McGrady said. "It seems like it all falls apart on you."

The only time McGrady really showed any emotion was during a second-quarter scuffle with Cassell. Both players picked up technicals for tussling after colliding on a pick and roll. After the collision, McGrady shoved Cassell, who retaliated, and several Wolves coaches had to step in to separate the two players.

"Sam has that fire every night," Garnett said. "Where he's struggling right now is with consistency with his injury. But he brings the fire. We know that."

James finished with 13 points and six rebounds, but Houston shot just 35 percent for the game.

Wally Szczerbiak had 20 points and five assists for the Wolves, giving them the kind of balance that will be critical if they are going to leapfrog the Lakers and Denver and get into the playoffs.

"It's very doable," Cassell said. "I've been in situations like this before in Milwaukee and New Jersey. We just gotta go on a win streak. Plain and simple."

Sprewell to the Rescue

2005-03-07T15:48:00.000-06:00

from the official site of the Timberwolves

Latrell Sprewell's driving layup with 0.9 seconds left to play gave the Timberwolves a 99-97 win in Boston on Sunday. Kevin Garnett was a force on both ends of the court, scoring 21, grabbing 13 boards and handing out nine assists for Minnesota.

Back to the drawing Board

2005-02-13T15:29:00.000-06:00

At the half the Timberwolves where ahead 41-37 and seemed to have the game in control. It was in the 3rd quarter that things started breaking down for the T’wolves. The odd thing about this game was that every starter and the Jazz score more points than KG.

"Offensively, we were OK, but in the second half they start to get dunks and second-chance points. You can't win like that on the road," Garnett said.

Latrell Sprewell had a Minnesota team high of the night with 16 points and Troy Hudson helped out the cause with 15 of his own points. Poor Minnesota, they had just back to .500 after snapping a six game slide.

Better Times

2005-02-02T13:58:00.000-06:00

Our Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the Milwaukee bucks 91-86 Tuesday night; it was less than fall and more of break down. The T’wolves just seemed to give up after half time when they where leading 56-47.

It was in the third quarter mostly that the Bucks were able to make it a game, and it wasn’t that the T’wolves tired to fight back in the fourth, it was just too little to late.

The Timberwolves had won five straight games before dropping one at home to the Kings, Sunday. Minnesota is now flat 7-12 against teams from the Eastern Conference, with a pathetic 1-9 road record against the east as well.

The Turn Around

2005-01-22T19:33:00.000-06:00

In the month of January the might Timberwolves are only (4-8) kind of leaves you scratching your head a bit...

Since in December the Timberwolves posted a (8-6) record and in November posted a (8-5). We know the talent is there, right KG?

This month has been a complete turn around for the Timberwolves. Just sitting in 2nd, in the Northwest standings behind the Seattle Super Sonics, who are (27-11) and 7 games in front of our T'wolves.

…Although the T'wolves helped their own cause recently by defeating Seattle 112-107

Grizzlies 104, Timberwolves 95

2005-01-03T13:19:00.000-06:00

Minnesota has now lost 4 of thier last 5 games, and after the game the locker room of the Timberwolves stayed closed for an exceptional long time. Coach Flip Saunders stayed inside and talk to his time about thier slump.

"They feel bad," Saunders said. "They're not taking this lightly."

Garnett who had 30 points and 10 rebounds didnt seem happy with things either.

"It's easy to stay together when things are great," Garnett said. "When things are down and you go through a little adversity, you start to show your true colors. The thing about this team is that we're all real with each other and feel like we're brothers."

Cavaliers Cage Wolves

2004-12-22T16:14:00.000-06:00

from NBA.com

With the Cleveland Cavaliers on the verge of blowing a big lead for the third straight game, LeBron James got involved.

James had 26 points and 12 assists and helped turn back a rally as the Cavaliers held on for a 107-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"When we need it, (James) can provide it," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "That's the mark of a quality player."

The Cavaliers had lost two in a row, squandering a 10-point halftime lead Thursday at Detroit and a 15-point fourth-quarter bulge in Saturday's home overtime loss to Boston. In that contest, James scored just two points in the fourth quarter and admitted his team played "tight" as the offense sputtered.

This game seemed to follow a similar script as Cleveland led by 16 points early in the final period before Minnesota began a comeback. But James, who turns 20 on December 30, wasn't going to let that storyline repeat itself.

"I passed up a lot of shots that I know I should be taking in the game against Boston," James said. "But, tonight I was aggressive, I was attacking, and our offense had a good flow."

Seven straight points by Troy Hudson cut the deficit to 83-74 before James sank a jumper from the right corner over Wally Szczerbiak. A 3-pointer by Hudson and a jumper by Szczerbiak made it 85-79, but James hit a driving 10-footer to again stall the rally.

When Eddie Griffin drilled a 3-pointer to make it 87-82, James drove strong around superstar Kevin Garnett and drew a foul. His free throw and two more by Jeff McInnis made it 90-82 with 5:22 to play.

Down the stretch, James added a free throw and zipped a pass through a zone to Drew Gooden for a dunk and a 99-88 lead with 1:46 left.

"We talked about it after the (Boston) game and we talked about it yesterday in practice and the guys responded," Silas said. "We cannot walk the ball up the court and become tight. And that's what we did in the Boston game."

Asked if James raises his level of play against the league's marquee teams and elite players such as Garnett, Silas replied, "I think so. Absolutely. He loves to play against quality opponents."

"We played a great game tonight from the first quarter through the fourth quarter," James added.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 25 points and nine rebounds and McInnis scored 21 points for Cleveland, which had lost its last four meetings with Minnesota but improved to 10-2 at home, the best mark in the Eastern Conference, and 6-3 against Western Conference opponents.

"It's important for us to establish (Ilgauskas) early," McInnis said. "And the rest of us just fit in. I took it upon myself to be aggressive tonight."

Led by James' 10-of-18 shooting, the Cavs shot 53 percent (39-of-74) from the field and had 28 assists.

Garnett had 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves, who played without Latrell Sprewell. The swingman suffered a foot injury in Friday's win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

"We looked too much for our own shots instead of moving the ball," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "You look at McInnis, James and Ilgauskas, and (the Cavaliers) have three positions where they can really score at. Other guys know how to play off them."

"We really didn't shoot the ball like we know we can, and, at the same time, our defense wasn't really established," Garnett said.

Threes Rain in Wolves’ Win

2004-12-09T14:14:00.000-06:00

from NBA.com

Eddie Griffin's homecoming was a lot better than that of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Griffin drained six 3-pointers and scored 20 of his career-high 27 points in the first half as the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a 119-84 victory over the lethargic 76ers, who have lost six straight games.

A Philadelphia native who attended Roman Catholic High School, Griffin was signed as a free agent by the Timberwolves after a troubled start to his career in Houston. He missed all of last season due to off-court issues that included an assault on a woman and was cut by two teams.

"I've just been trying to stay focused and positive all season," Griffin said. "I've been doing a lot of extra shooting. The veterans have been a big help. They've let me know what to do on and off the court."

"The guy has been through a lot the last couple of years and it's great to see him to come out and have a great game like he did tonight," Timberwolves superstar forward Kevin Garnett said. "It's great to be in a nice flow and rhythm, to be part of a system that really enjoys him. To have our guys truly care about him, that's rare."

The rejuvenated Griffin has worked his way into Minnesota's rotation and is providing 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a reserve.

"I made a decision as a coach that when we got Eddie that we would give him enough responsibility that he would keep on improving," coach Flip Saunders said. "We didn't want to overload him, we didn't want to put too much pressure from the standpoint of being a starter. We let him know that when he goes in there, he has the ability of playing pretty loose."

In his hometown, Griffin was the best player on the court in the decisive first half. He came on midway through the first quarter and sank two 3-pointers, helping the Wolves to a 31-26 lead.

He put on a blistering performance in the second quarter, draining four more 3-pointers as he repeatedly found openings in the double-teaming defense of the Sixers.

"They went to double on KG and that left me open," Griffin said. "Sam (Cassell) and Troy Hudson were able to find me."

In the best game of his career in front of a handful of friends and family, Griffin made 9-of-21 shots and added 11 rebounds and four assists.

"It meant a lot," Griffin said. "A lot of my family were here. I left about 25 tickets. They were able to see me play a good game."

The Wolves held a 61-48 halftime advantage and led by double digits for all but 63 seconds thereafter as the Sixers heard boos throughout the second half. Minnesota opened a 37-point bulge in the fourth quarter.

Latrell Sprewell returned from his one-game suspension to score 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 19, eight rebounds and seven assists in just three quarters for the Wolves, who held a 51-37 advantage on the glass and got back on track after Tuesday's home loss to Dallas. Minnesota has won six of its last seven games.

The Sixers are helping plenty of teams get back on track. Returning from a winless five-game road trip, they suffered their worst loss in their eight years in the Wachovia Center and are mired in their worst slide since also losing six in a row in January 2003.

"As Truman said, it stops right here," said coach Jim O'Brien, pointing to himself. "We have the personnel to be a lot better that we've shown over the last week and a half. We have the personnel within the Atlantic Division to get into the playoffs, but we are not playing up to our capabilities."

Allen Iverson made 2-of-13 shots and Kyle Korver 2-of-14, including 1-of-12 from the arc. Philadelphia made 4-of-25 3-pointers while Minnesota made 15-of-34.

"I wish I could put my finger on one thing," said Iverson, who scored 14 points. "There are a lot of things wrong right now. We're just not playing well. We are not playing well as a team and our individual games are not that great as well. Our communication is not there, like it should be."

4 'Wolves on Ballot

2004-11-30T16:08:00.000-06:00

from NBA.com

Minnesota Timberwolves fans now have the opportunity to vote for their favorite players as starters for the 54th NBA All-Star Game as the 2005 NBA All-Star Balloting program began today. Timberwolves' guards Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell along with forwards Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak appear on this year's ballot. Timberwolves fans can vote for their favorite players on www.nba.com, or via in-arena ballots at Target Center. Balloting continues through Jan. 23, 2005. This year’s All-Star festivities will be held in Denver on Sunday, Feb. 20.

Garnett, who has made seven consecutive NBA All-Star appearances and has been voted a Western Conference starter six consecutive seasons through the fan voting process, led all Western Conference players in voting with 1,780,918 votes a year ago. Sprewell is vying for his fifth all-star appearance, while Szczerbiak and Cassell have been named to the all-star team one time each in their NBA careers

Ten years ago, NBA All-Star Balloting extended beyond the United States for the first time, when ballots were made available to fans in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia. A decade later, fans will have the opportunity to vote in more ways than ever as the balloting program for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game has expanded to include 19 languages on the NBA.com Network, downloadable ballots via Verizon Wireless and approximately 150 Loews Cineplex Entertainment movie theaters in the United States. Twentieth Century Fox this year joins Sprite, America Online, Reebok and approximately 2100 Foot Locker and Champs Sports stores in the United States and Canada as All-Star balloting partners.

NBA All-Star 2005 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community enhancing activities and fan festivals.

A total of 120 players - 60 from the Eastern and Western Conferences - are listed on the NBA All-Star ballot, with 24 guards, 24 forwards and 12 centers from each conference comprising the ballot. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media experts who regularly cover the NBA. This year’s panel included; Ric Bucher (ESPN the Magazine), Mark Heisler (Los Angeles Times), Ernie Johnson (Turner Sports), Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated) and Sam Smith (Chicago Tribune and President, Professional Basketball Writers’ Association). For a complete list of NBA players on the ballot visit www.nba.com.

Garnett Delivers For Timberwolves

2004-11-14T18:54:00.000-06:00

from NBA.com

The Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of Tracy McGrady's absence to record their first road win of the season.

Kevin Garnett scored 20 points and Sam Cassell added 18 and both made some big shots down the stretch as the Timberwolves posted a 96-91 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Garnett, who also had 17 rebounds and nine assists, struggled offensively for much of the game but came alive when it counted, scoring seven points in the fourth quarter. After Cassell hit a jumper to give Minnesota a 90-87 edge, Garnett drained a 14-footer for a five-point lead with 1:40 left.

The Rockets, who had won three in a row, responded with four straight points from Yao Ming. But again Garnett responded, grabbing an offensive rebound after Cassell missed a jumper and just beating the shot clock with a 19-footer with 8.3 seconds left.

"We were just trying to bounce back from the Pacers loss" said Garnett, whose club lost 102-101 to Indiana on Tuesday. "I wasn't happy with that loss at all. We move the ball well. They did a lot of fronting, and we moved the ball around and came out focused."

"We can make shots," said Cassell, who spent his first three seasons with Houston. "We're a shot-making ballclub. But the defense for us was excellent tonight."

Jim Jackson was called for an illegal screen as the Rockets tried to in-bound the ball and Wally Szczerbiak made a pair of free throws to cap the scoring.

"I thought it was a terrible call, nothing more, nothing less," Jackson said. "That didn't lose us the game, but it didn't give us a chance to shoot either. Maybe he (the referee) saw something we didn't see. He said that I tried to set a pick, but I was the shooter."

"We played 36 hard minutes, real hard minutes tonight, and that is not good enough," Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

Van Gundy was alluding to a poor first quarter in which Minnesota built a 35-24 lead. The Timberwolves made seven straight shots, including a 3-pointer by former Rocket Eddie Griffin, in a 19-7 run late in the period.

"This is a first-quarter league, not a fourth-quarter league," said Van Gundy, whose team has trailed at halftime and after three quarters in four of its six games. "We don't have that down yet.

"Down in Detroit, down in Toronto, down tonight; we were able to escape with the win the other night against Memphis with the same start as tonight but we weren't able to overcome it (against Minnesota)."

Griffin struggled on and off the court in two seasons with the Rockets before being released in 2003. He was logging his first significant minutes of the season after a three-game suspension and responded with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Griffin's second 3-pointer with less than five minutes left snapped an 83-83 tie and gave Minnesota the lead for good.

"He doesn't say much but he is a (heck) of a player," Garnett said. "He is making the most of his opportunities and I just told him to stay aggressive."

"Eddie played extremely well," Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said. "He made some big shots and had some big blocks. He did a great job fronting Yao when (Michael Olowokandi) was in foul trouble."

Griffin said the Houston fans' boos didn't bother him.

"I did expect it," he said. "It just made me play harder. It didn't bother me. I knew as soon as they announced my name, I'd be booed. It's nice to show (Rockets fans) I can play."

McGrady, who had scored 53 points over the first two games of the Rockets' winning streak, left Tuesday's win over the Memphis Grizzlies with strains in his right hip and groin and was in street clothes vs. Minnesota.

Yao picked up the slack with 25 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Maurice Taylor added 19 for Houston, which was outrebounded, 41-33.

"We knew without Tracy McGrady, (Yao) would get twice as many touches," Saunders said. "He played well."

The Rockets cut the Timberwolves' double-digit lead to one on five occasions before taking a 72-71 edge with 10:39 left on a layup by Ryan Bowen. The teams exchanged leads three more times before Griffin's big shot set the tone down the stretch.

Timberwolves Recover Nicely After Slow Start

2004-11-01T10:53:00.000-06:00

From NBA.com

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 29 (Ticker) -- Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and Eddie Griffin chipped in 15 off the bench as the Minnesota Timberwolves posted a 102-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the preseason finale for both teams.

Picked by many to win the Western Conference and meet the defending champion Pistons in the NBA Finals, the Timberwolves overcame a 13-point deficit after one quarter.

Garnett did his best to keep it close, scoring 14 in the first quarter, including Minnesota's first six. Anthony Carter had three steals and a pair of baskets during a second-quarter run and Troy Hudson had all nine of his points in the third as the Timberwolves took control of the game.

Minnesota outscored Detroit 58-37 in the second half.

The Pistons went on an 11-1 run in the fourth to trim the deficit to five, but Michael Olowokandi converted a three-point play for a 93-85 lead with 4:01 left.

Griffin, who was signed by the Timberwolves on Oct. 5 after plenty of off-the-court problems, added a pair of blocks in his best game of the preseason.

Minnesota beat Detroit twice in the preseason en route to a 4-4 record. It opens the regular season at home on Wednesday against the New York Knicks.

Richard Hamilton scored 21 points for the Pistons before picking up his second technical foul with 3:12 remaining. Ben Wallace contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Detroit wrapped up the preseason with a 3-5 mark and will begin its defense of its crown by hosting the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Thanks for stopping by!

2004-09-06T16:38:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, I'm just getting started here, so bear with me. This blog will be up and running for the 2004-2005 season, so come back and check it out soon!