Folks,
I'm taking my show on the road over to Canis Hoopus (www.canishoopus.com), at least for the time being. I'll be known as finewein, and we'll see what happens beyond that. If I have the time, I might use Hoops to do strictly women's and college bball--especially with the tournaments close, and my Marist women's team doing so well. And of course, I'll never forget about our Lynx team. Check me out over there, and hopefully I can a bit of levity and irreverence to their site.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
"The Answer My Friend, is Souhan in the Wind..."
When it comes to the Wolves, Star Tribune columnist and Wolves Live commentator Jim Souhan is a modern day Sybil. In December, when the Star Tribune published a headline about the Wolves possibly being the worst team ever, he defended them both in print and on the next Wolves Live broadcast. Then after a stretch of particularly horrible games, Sunny Jim rips the club in the paper.
Excerpts from a 12/21 column:
"This team has a purpose. This losing, with any luck, will land the Wolves their choice of dynamic players in the next draft. And what else could matter for this team, other than landing a franchise player to pair with Al Jefferson?"
The Wolves trotted him out the next telecast to help defend the Wolves--in a tizzy over the "Worst Team Ever?" headline--after a rare win over Indiana.
Excerpts from a 1/7 column, written after a particular putrid Sunday effort against Dallas:
"It's been written here that the Wolves might as well lose a lot this year, to maximize their chance at the top draft pick -- but there is a difference between losing with purpose and losing all credibility.
It's been written here that a season spent developing young players can be healthy, but that assumed the Wolves would develop young players and win more than once a month, not implode."
Now, with the current modest improvement in the team, he's back on the airwaves, supporting the notiion that the trades the Wolves made in the off-season were GREAT for the club, kind of back to the original 12/21 premise.
Well, which is it? Is nine wins with a little hope more credible than four wins with none? What if the Wolves go off on a mini tear, and hurt their chances for a higher draft choice?
We all are happy the Wolves are winning more; one can only bitch about losing so much. I think it's important for the fans to have hope for the future. Consistency however--especially in the mainstream media (MSM)--is important. Just because you're getting an extra stipend from the organization you criticize in another venue doesn't make it right..or professional.
Excerpts from a 12/21 column:
"This team has a purpose. This losing, with any luck, will land the Wolves their choice of dynamic players in the next draft. And what else could matter for this team, other than landing a franchise player to pair with Al Jefferson?"
The Wolves trotted him out the next telecast to help defend the Wolves--in a tizzy over the "Worst Team Ever?" headline--after a rare win over Indiana.
Excerpts from a 1/7 column, written after a particular putrid Sunday effort against Dallas:
"It's been written here that the Wolves might as well lose a lot this year, to maximize their chance at the top draft pick -- but there is a difference between losing with purpose and losing all credibility.
It's been written here that a season spent developing young players can be healthy, but that assumed the Wolves would develop young players and win more than once a month, not implode."
Now, with the current modest improvement in the team, he's back on the airwaves, supporting the notiion that the trades the Wolves made in the off-season were GREAT for the club, kind of back to the original 12/21 premise.
Well, which is it? Is nine wins with a little hope more credible than four wins with none? What if the Wolves go off on a mini tear, and hurt their chances for a higher draft choice?
We all are happy the Wolves are winning more; one can only bitch about losing so much. I think it's important for the fans to have hope for the future. Consistency however--especially in the mainstream media (MSM)--is important. Just because you're getting an extra stipend from the organization you criticize in another venue doesn't make it right..or professional.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sometimes on Sunday
I was going to title this post "Never on Sunday", based on the Wolves poor performance yesterday against the Nets. As history has proven, they have a hard time getting up for these "day-of-rest" contests.
Of course, they proceeded to win the game.
All along, I've been looking for signs of progress, and ranting that losing in and of itself is not a great teacher, stealing the line from George Karl. Yesterday was a good moment, a victory snatched from Nets team looking for answers and sliding into oblivion or in this case dissolvement, since pieces of their Big Three--Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson--may well get dealt to other teams. Up until the last minutes of the game, Big Al was the only player to show up on the Wolves. His performance was stud-like, and has been noted both in the MSM and blogosphere, the defense was better as well.
The late contributions of Corey Brewer, Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes can't be overlooked. Richard Jefferson was a thorn in the Wolves side all day long, but Wittman finally got a clue and put the bigger Gomes on RJ and his production dropped considerably over the second half. Brewer and Green played opportunistically; they hustled and delivered at both ends of the court. Considering the Celtic blunders on Friday, this was the best way to respond, against a struggling team.
Now what?
More to come...
Of course, they proceeded to win the game.
All along, I've been looking for signs of progress, and ranting that losing in and of itself is not a great teacher, stealing the line from George Karl. Yesterday was a good moment, a victory snatched from Nets team looking for answers and sliding into oblivion or in this case dissolvement, since pieces of their Big Three--Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson--may well get dealt to other teams. Up until the last minutes of the game, Big Al was the only player to show up on the Wolves. His performance was stud-like, and has been noted both in the MSM and blogosphere, the defense was better as well.
The late contributions of Corey Brewer, Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes can't be overlooked. Richard Jefferson was a thorn in the Wolves side all day long, but Wittman finally got a clue and put the bigger Gomes on RJ and his production dropped considerably over the second half. Brewer and Green played opportunistically; they hustled and delivered at both ends of the court. Considering the Celtic blunders on Friday, this was the best way to respond, against a struggling team.
Now what?
More to come...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
"How do I lose thee, let me count the ways..."
If Elizabeth Barrett Browning had been a basketball fan, I'm certain our Wolves would have challenged her muse.
From being again outclassed on Friday night after one quarter's effort against the Suns, to last night's Rocky Mountain futility, our club has lost about every way possible. I'm having a hard time keeping up--was last night a good loss or a bad loss? Watching Antoine Walker clang free throws, Al Jefferson get technicals, and Randy Wittman put his face in his hands is the stuff only a nihilist could love.They have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that--at least for this organization--there is no order, no ethic, no meaning to their professional lives. As I have mentioned before, they simply have taken all the fun out of watching pro hoops.
We're almost at the halfway point of the season. What have we learned?
1) Jefferson needs to stay a power forward. This has been widely discussed and accepted among the fans, yet the Wolves stubbornly still play Big Al major minutes at the five.
2) McCants is a poser. Here's a guy who scores when it's easy, and talks big, but has proven time and time again he's someone you can't rely on. Too many fouls, too many misses when the game is on the line. He's a head case, pure and simple.
3) Telfair is a reliable backup. He will be our Jacque Vaughn, if ever we can find a better point guard.
4) Gomes is okay. I'm still on the fence with this guy, but his play in the last month has been one of the few bright spots for the club.
5) Smith can't start for this team. The only way he can start for an NBA club is if there's a dominant center playing with him. He's one of my favorites, but he's a smaller version of Big Al, and defensively puts the Wolves at a serious disadvantage. Plus, he still gets no love from the referees.
6) Wittman is not the coach for a developing team. He's part of the fraternity, and that's the problem.
That's it. Richard hasn't played enough, Green probably won't be with the club next year, Foye's still on the shelf and the veterans are interchangeable bench parts. We'll get a top three draft choice next year, but at this rate it will take YEARS to develop a winning combination, given the front office we currently have.
Meanwhile, the fans remaining on board with the club are showing signs of desperation. I've read suggestions to put McCants at the point, for example. How bad of an idea is that? One of the reasons why the Celtics are looking for a point guard to assist (no pun intended) young Rondo is the fact that Eddie House has to come off the bench and play distributor, instead of doing what he does best, which is shoot the ball. I would put Rashad in that same category. I'm advocating dealing him, but if he stays on the team, he's a scorer, plain and simple.
I'm also seeing a lot of statistical comparisons and analysis, as well as a lot of draft talk about up and coming college hopefuls. The loyalty and support this fan base has demonstrated for a moribund organization like the Wolves has been nothing short of remarkable. Folks, the Wolves don't deserve us. Get ready for the hard truth however: outside of taking our money to watch a game, they don't care about us. They have gone out of their way to demonstrate their knowledge of the game, and our lack of it. They've told us we should have enjoyed the days when they were winning more, instead of being dissatisfied with illegal, franchise crushing free agent signings, and an inability to surround KG with talent to go deeper in the playoffs. Not exactly the most fan friendly approach in the world, to be sure.
In short, they may be the most arrogant 5-34 team in the history of professional sports. An optimist would say there's no where to go but up, but that's the problem, we haven't seen any reason to be hopeful. That's the fun--and work--of rebuilding.
From being again outclassed on Friday night after one quarter's effort against the Suns, to last night's Rocky Mountain futility, our club has lost about every way possible. I'm having a hard time keeping up--was last night a good loss or a bad loss? Watching Antoine Walker clang free throws, Al Jefferson get technicals, and Randy Wittman put his face in his hands is the stuff only a nihilist could love.They have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that--at least for this organization--there is no order, no ethic, no meaning to their professional lives. As I have mentioned before, they simply have taken all the fun out of watching pro hoops.
We're almost at the halfway point of the season. What have we learned?
1) Jefferson needs to stay a power forward. This has been widely discussed and accepted among the fans, yet the Wolves stubbornly still play Big Al major minutes at the five.
2) McCants is a poser. Here's a guy who scores when it's easy, and talks big, but has proven time and time again he's someone you can't rely on. Too many fouls, too many misses when the game is on the line. He's a head case, pure and simple.
3) Telfair is a reliable backup. He will be our Jacque Vaughn, if ever we can find a better point guard.
4) Gomes is okay. I'm still on the fence with this guy, but his play in the last month has been one of the few bright spots for the club.
5) Smith can't start for this team. The only way he can start for an NBA club is if there's a dominant center playing with him. He's one of my favorites, but he's a smaller version of Big Al, and defensively puts the Wolves at a serious disadvantage. Plus, he still gets no love from the referees.
6) Wittman is not the coach for a developing team. He's part of the fraternity, and that's the problem.
That's it. Richard hasn't played enough, Green probably won't be with the club next year, Foye's still on the shelf and the veterans are interchangeable bench parts. We'll get a top three draft choice next year, but at this rate it will take YEARS to develop a winning combination, given the front office we currently have.
Meanwhile, the fans remaining on board with the club are showing signs of desperation. I've read suggestions to put McCants at the point, for example. How bad of an idea is that? One of the reasons why the Celtics are looking for a point guard to assist (no pun intended) young Rondo is the fact that Eddie House has to come off the bench and play distributor, instead of doing what he does best, which is shoot the ball. I would put Rashad in that same category. I'm advocating dealing him, but if he stays on the team, he's a scorer, plain and simple.
I'm also seeing a lot of statistical comparisons and analysis, as well as a lot of draft talk about up and coming college hopefuls. The loyalty and support this fan base has demonstrated for a moribund organization like the Wolves has been nothing short of remarkable. Folks, the Wolves don't deserve us. Get ready for the hard truth however: outside of taking our money to watch a game, they don't care about us. They have gone out of their way to demonstrate their knowledge of the game, and our lack of it. They've told us we should have enjoyed the days when they were winning more, instead of being dissatisfied with illegal, franchise crushing free agent signings, and an inability to surround KG with talent to go deeper in the playoffs. Not exactly the most fan friendly approach in the world, to be sure.
In short, they may be the most arrogant 5-34 team in the history of professional sports. An optimist would say there's no where to go but up, but that's the problem, we haven't seen any reason to be hopeful. That's the fun--and work--of rebuilding.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
With or Without Youth
Two perspectives on youth:
Without freshmen guards Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, the Gophers don't win their game against Penn State yesterday. After watching Hoffarber knock down shots, and Nolen play defense and distribute the ball, I had the feeling that whatever success the Gophers have this year will be dependent on how well those two play. The three key seniors--McKenzie, Tollackson, and Coleman--had decent stat lines, but the critical plays belonged to the two youngsters.
Let's be clear: Penn State lost this game. They missed 7 of 8 free throws in crunch time, which would have put them over the top. Jamelle Cornley and Geary Claxton--PSU's two best players--were often men among boys, but didn't deliver when their team needed it. As good as the Gopher defense was, they couldn't seem to locate Danny Morrissey for most of the game, who like Hoffarber was knocking down threes. Penn State's offensive rebounding was the key to breaking open what had been a close game in the first half, and had created the prime opportunity for Penn State to win the game in the last seconds. This was a moral victory waiting to happen, but when the Nittany Lions stumbled, Nolen was there to seize the moment. He slid into the passing lane, intercepted the feed and got intentionally fouled as he was breaking away for the score. He was able to do what Penn State couldn't: knock down 3 of 4 critical free throws for the win.
As was repeated frequently throughout the last two broadcasts, Coach Smith doesn't trust freshmen. For Hoffarber and Nolen, he has recognized their skill level, put them in a position to maximize their talent, despite their inexperience. On the college level, it's where superior coaching makes all the difference in the world.
For the Wolves, their attempts to manage youth has been inept and disastrous, a buzzkill for the ages. After 36 games into the season, the Wolves are left with filling sections of their broadcasts with revised history snippets of analyst Jim Petersen's journeyman NBA career, instead of focusing on the team itself. Why? How many ways can one say they're terrible? There's no stabilizing force, no veteran or coach available who can provide a thread of continuity that would lead to progress.
Whatever fans felt about trading KG, what I've been to able to glean from all the postings and blogs is that most get the rebuilding concept. They are patient, willing to give the benefit of the doubt IF progress is demonstrated. That's the problem. What progress HAVE they demonstrated? What do they know that they didn't at the start of the season? They get blown out at Houston, show up for a half at San Antonio, only to have the Spurs finally awaken and put them out of their misery. All this after a win against Miami, where they finally demonstrate --for one game only--they MIGHT be able to the little things that win basketball games: defense, sharing the ball, creating opportunities for easy baskets. We've seen this all before.
The worst thing you can say about this club right now is that they've taken all the FUN out of watching. For example, as loathe as I am to say this, why not accept the fact they play lousy defense and put the scorers--primarily Gerald Green and Rashad McCants--together to try and outscore the other team? Or, don't worry about the nightly matchups, but establish a defined rotation where Jefferson will STAY at the four, and bring the two centers (Richard and Doleac) in for regular minutes? Make something fun for the fans, give them something to talk about, other than abject failure. Give us hope, don't expect that we will generate our own in the face of such incompetence.
The bottom line here: one organization has optimized their youth and made it a key to their success, the other hasn't and continues to use it as an excuse for the lack of progress. Win or lose with Tubby this year, we will be excited to watch the froshes play, because he has a plan and we can already see progress. With the Wolves, we're still waiting....for anything.
Without freshmen guards Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, the Gophers don't win their game against Penn State yesterday. After watching Hoffarber knock down shots, and Nolen play defense and distribute the ball, I had the feeling that whatever success the Gophers have this year will be dependent on how well those two play. The three key seniors--McKenzie, Tollackson, and Coleman--had decent stat lines, but the critical plays belonged to the two youngsters.
Let's be clear: Penn State lost this game. They missed 7 of 8 free throws in crunch time, which would have put them over the top. Jamelle Cornley and Geary Claxton--PSU's two best players--were often men among boys, but didn't deliver when their team needed it. As good as the Gopher defense was, they couldn't seem to locate Danny Morrissey for most of the game, who like Hoffarber was knocking down threes. Penn State's offensive rebounding was the key to breaking open what had been a close game in the first half, and had created the prime opportunity for Penn State to win the game in the last seconds. This was a moral victory waiting to happen, but when the Nittany Lions stumbled, Nolen was there to seize the moment. He slid into the passing lane, intercepted the feed and got intentionally fouled as he was breaking away for the score. He was able to do what Penn State couldn't: knock down 3 of 4 critical free throws for the win.
As was repeated frequently throughout the last two broadcasts, Coach Smith doesn't trust freshmen. For Hoffarber and Nolen, he has recognized their skill level, put them in a position to maximize their talent, despite their inexperience. On the college level, it's where superior coaching makes all the difference in the world.
For the Wolves, their attempts to manage youth has been inept and disastrous, a buzzkill for the ages. After 36 games into the season, the Wolves are left with filling sections of their broadcasts with revised history snippets of analyst Jim Petersen's journeyman NBA career, instead of focusing on the team itself. Why? How many ways can one say they're terrible? There's no stabilizing force, no veteran or coach available who can provide a thread of continuity that would lead to progress.
Whatever fans felt about trading KG, what I've been to able to glean from all the postings and blogs is that most get the rebuilding concept. They are patient, willing to give the benefit of the doubt IF progress is demonstrated. That's the problem. What progress HAVE they demonstrated? What do they know that they didn't at the start of the season? They get blown out at Houston, show up for a half at San Antonio, only to have the Spurs finally awaken and put them out of their misery. All this after a win against Miami, where they finally demonstrate --for one game only--they MIGHT be able to the little things that win basketball games: defense, sharing the ball, creating opportunities for easy baskets. We've seen this all before.
The worst thing you can say about this club right now is that they've taken all the FUN out of watching. For example, as loathe as I am to say this, why not accept the fact they play lousy defense and put the scorers--primarily Gerald Green and Rashad McCants--together to try and outscore the other team? Or, don't worry about the nightly matchups, but establish a defined rotation where Jefferson will STAY at the four, and bring the two centers (Richard and Doleac) in for regular minutes? Make something fun for the fans, give them something to talk about, other than abject failure. Give us hope, don't expect that we will generate our own in the face of such incompetence.
The bottom line here: one organization has optimized their youth and made it a key to their success, the other hasn't and continues to use it as an excuse for the lack of progress. Win or lose with Tubby this year, we will be excited to watch the froshes play, because he has a plan and we can already see progress. With the Wolves, we're still waiting....for anything.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Today's Secret Word is....
ENDURE.
That's the word guest spin-meister Clyde Drexler used in the 2nd quarter of last night's game, while the Wolves were getting thoroughly toasted by the Rockets. Paraphrasing his message, we have the talent, but we'll have to simply ENDURE this stretch of basketball, while they learn how to play together.
Hmm...kind of like the University of Houston fans did during his coaching tenure, going 19-37. Drexler seems to be one of those NBA players whose obvious on court greatness can't translate to anything else basketball-related but an analyst stint for the local club. Can't coach, and obviously shaky on personnel issues.
Other moments we had to ENDURE from The Glide last night were in the pre-game chat with Jim Pete, mentioning something to the effect that if Petersen were playing now, he'd be one of the premier power forwards in the game today. And, the manly bit about how they would hang out together in their younger days, working out and taking care of their bodies. Last night's love fest between Petersen and Drexler certainly exercised my patience. Maybe THAT'S what happened to the club last night; they all went down to the local fitness club to work out with Jim and Clyde, and simply tuckered themselves out.
Coming off a win against a terrible Miami club, you'd think the Wolves would have hung in a little longer than they did last night, like, at least past the first few minutes of the game. The darling of the week--Rashad McCants--once again proved why he's not someone to be trusted with leadership or a prominent role on a winning basketball team. He's a quote machine to be sure, and by all accounts works hard, but micro-fracture surgery or not, it's time to deal this guy, before he loses all value. He needs veteran leadership around him to be successful, and to smooth out the steep inconsistencies in his game.
How can a young team who's last game was Tuesday come out with so little energy? The Rockets were beating the kids down on the court, getting whatever shot they wanted. Scola looked like a superstar against Jefferson. After 29 assists against the Heat, they had 13 last night, and got outrebounded by a huge margin. With all due respect to Drexler, we don't have much talent on this club, only spin and excuses. Glide's got it half right though, it is something we'll have to ENDURE.
That's the word guest spin-meister Clyde Drexler used in the 2nd quarter of last night's game, while the Wolves were getting thoroughly toasted by the Rockets. Paraphrasing his message, we have the talent, but we'll have to simply ENDURE this stretch of basketball, while they learn how to play together.
Hmm...kind of like the University of Houston fans did during his coaching tenure, going 19-37. Drexler seems to be one of those NBA players whose obvious on court greatness can't translate to anything else basketball-related but an analyst stint for the local club. Can't coach, and obviously shaky on personnel issues.
Other moments we had to ENDURE from The Glide last night were in the pre-game chat with Jim Pete, mentioning something to the effect that if Petersen were playing now, he'd be one of the premier power forwards in the game today. And, the manly bit about how they would hang out together in their younger days, working out and taking care of their bodies. Last night's love fest between Petersen and Drexler certainly exercised my patience. Maybe THAT'S what happened to the club last night; they all went down to the local fitness club to work out with Jim and Clyde, and simply tuckered themselves out.
Coming off a win against a terrible Miami club, you'd think the Wolves would have hung in a little longer than they did last night, like, at least past the first few minutes of the game. The darling of the week--Rashad McCants--once again proved why he's not someone to be trusted with leadership or a prominent role on a winning basketball team. He's a quote machine to be sure, and by all accounts works hard, but micro-fracture surgery or not, it's time to deal this guy, before he loses all value. He needs veteran leadership around him to be successful, and to smooth out the steep inconsistencies in his game.
How can a young team who's last game was Tuesday come out with so little energy? The Rockets were beating the kids down on the court, getting whatever shot they wanted. Scola looked like a superstar against Jefferson. After 29 assists against the Heat, they had 13 last night, and got outrebounded by a huge margin. With all due respect to Drexler, we don't have much talent on this club, only spin and excuses. Glide's got it half right though, it is something we'll have to ENDURE.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Just Imagine...
A team...sluggish and down in the first half, able to use defense to create offense.
A team with limited talent...sharing the ball and looking for weaknesses in the defense.
A coach...able to make in-game adjustments and maintain a 10 person rotation.
A coach...able to use youth for success, not as an excuse.
A coach...despite acquiring a 9-22 roster, inspires hope in the face of adversity.
Hey!!! Stop dreaming! You know I'm talking about Tubby and the Gophers.
Northwestern, albeit feisty, is a bad team, but as has been pointed out by many already, they for the most part owned Dan Monson's teams. In watching victory last night, it was great to see the coach have enough resources to bring in Hoffarber to break the zone, then apply pressure at the half court to disrupt the Northwestern offense in the first half.
Even though the Gophs shot over 50 percent for the game, the game was closer than the final score.Two distressing factors: streaky offense and poor free throw shooting. Against superior opposition, those are items that Tubby will need to slow an opposition run, or stay in the game. Both Damien Johnson and Spencer Tollackson will have to do a much better job of converting free throws. As it happened last night, teams will not be afraid to hack at those folks in the paint, knowing they struggle from the stripe.
While Dan Coleman make get a look-see from NBA types, this team has primarily four year talent. No early departures, even for guys like Al Nolen, who has a chance to develop into a nice player, but is going to need a full tenure with Tubby to truly blossom into next level potential. This means their go-to players (Coleman, McKenzie) will be spotty, and not always come through in the clutch. But as I've mentioned in other posts, despite the obvious flaws, people will stick with this team despite the wins or losses, because they have a plan, play hard, AND play the right way. That's how rebuilding is done, both on the floor and with a dwindling fan base.
Onto Penn State!
A team with limited talent...sharing the ball and looking for weaknesses in the defense.
A coach...able to make in-game adjustments and maintain a 10 person rotation.
A coach...able to use youth for success, not as an excuse.
A coach...despite acquiring a 9-22 roster, inspires hope in the face of adversity.
Hey!!! Stop dreaming! You know I'm talking about Tubby and the Gophers.
Northwestern, albeit feisty, is a bad team, but as has been pointed out by many already, they for the most part owned Dan Monson's teams. In watching victory last night, it was great to see the coach have enough resources to bring in Hoffarber to break the zone, then apply pressure at the half court to disrupt the Northwestern offense in the first half.
Even though the Gophs shot over 50 percent for the game, the game was closer than the final score.Two distressing factors: streaky offense and poor free throw shooting. Against superior opposition, those are items that Tubby will need to slow an opposition run, or stay in the game. Both Damien Johnson and Spencer Tollackson will have to do a much better job of converting free throws. As it happened last night, teams will not be afraid to hack at those folks in the paint, knowing they struggle from the stripe.
While Dan Coleman make get a look-see from NBA types, this team has primarily four year talent. No early departures, even for guys like Al Nolen, who has a chance to develop into a nice player, but is going to need a full tenure with Tubby to truly blossom into next level potential. This means their go-to players (Coleman, McKenzie) will be spotty, and not always come through in the clutch. But as I've mentioned in other posts, despite the obvious flaws, people will stick with this team despite the wins or losses, because they have a plan, play hard, AND play the right way. That's how rebuilding is done, both on the floor and with a dwindling fan base.
Onto Penn State!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Whopper Alert!!!
An e-mail I wrote this morning:
"Dear Mr. Zgoda,
The Wolves organization is like the Bush administration...some general acknowledgment of oops, but no specifics on any particular issue.
"Dear Mr. Zgoda,
Imagine my excitement this morning to read in the Strib that our Iron Ranger finally was acknowledging/accepting fault for assembling too young of a group to compete this year. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" sort of thing.
But wait...pardon my remedial ability...but where does he actually say that he made a mistake? He says they should have won more games (not his fault there), they played terrible on Sunday (not his fault there), this is professional basketball, not a church league (stating the obvious, praise the Lord) and that if a veteran bunch lost this much, they wouldn't be as resilient as this young bunch (no blame there).
He goes on to say he's happy with Witt, and the usual trying to find a few good men out of this bunch
Where does he actually say anything resembling that he made a mistake in assembling this young of a team? Is there a direct quote you left off the article, or is this wishful thinking on either yours or the Strib's part?
But wait...pardon my remedial ability...but where does he actually say that he made a mistake? He says they should have won more games (not his fault there), they played terrible on Sunday (not his fault there), this is professional basketball, not a church league (stating the obvious, praise the Lord) and that if a veteran bunch lost this much, they wouldn't be as resilient as this young bunch (no blame there).
He goes on to say he's happy with Witt, and the usual trying to find a few good men out of this bunch
Where does he actually say anything resembling that he made a mistake in assembling this young of a team? Is there a direct quote you left off the article, or is this wishful thinking on either yours or the Strib's part?
The Wolves organization is like the Bush administration...some general acknowledgment of oops, but no specifics on any particular issue.
Thoughts?"
It's always good to get clarification from your local news organization.
It's always good to get clarification from your local news organization.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Flip 2.0
The road to irrelevance continued through Target Center last night, as the Nuggets outclassed our feckless youth 118-107. As I was watching both the Pistons and the Celtics gear up for their rematch tonight as well as our team, I didn't get to hear all the comedy stylings of our television broadcast crew. The broadcasts on KSTC seem almost subdued as opposed to the endless spin-presented-as-analysis efforts on FSN North. If you combine the last couple of broadcasts with the MSM media reports in addition to the blogosphere however, I'm fascinated with where this train is headed.
In the last few days we've heard both the coach and Chief Vindicator Jim Petersen talk about the need for better jump shooters. In fact, during the Portland broadcast, Petersen went so far to say jump shooters are what we should be looking for in the offseason. Commenting in Britt Robson's blog, I worked myself into my usual lather (role playing only, I assure you...I am NOT a curmudgeon!). My reasoning? It seemed to me that what was being hinted at here was Flip 2.0: another team who valued perimeter play and scoring over the hard work of playing defense, sharing the ball and developing the tough mindedness that comes with those traits.
As we've seen with Flip teams, he knows how to win in the regular season--it's the playoffs where he's been exposed. I've often said he's the junior version of Don Nelson--another offensive genius who will win a ton of games, but has failed somewhat miserably to demonstrate that his brand of basketball succeeds in the second season. I thought the whole reason of trading KG and "rebuilding" (if that's what you can call it), was to develop the "smashmouth" style of ball: points in the paint, tough defense, etc. Since both Petersen and Wittman were soft, jump-shooting players back in the day, it seems that in the face of adversity (4-28 is the definition of adversity, isn't it?), people will go back to what they know and value the most.
Last night's game demonstrates why they are mistaken. Of all the assets the Wolves need right now, jump shooters are about 4th or 5th on the priority list.
Who was the difference maker last night? Yeah, Anthony and Iverson did their usual damage, but it was Anthony Carter--a guy who couldn't get regular playing time here--who stepped up and set the tempo for the Nuggets. A +17 in the stats last night, 7 of 9 from the field, with 11 assists, he initiated fast breaks, shared the ball, finished, and played tough defense. AC is a 39% percent career FG shooter, similar to Our Man Telfair, who is at .388 for his career. This year, AC is currently hitting FG's at a 53% clip. What has caused that dramatic improvement? My guess is the style of play. The Nuggets are an aggressive, shot blocking club. They create opportunities for transition buckets and easy scores, which improves shooting percentages. Last night, the Nuggets also had 30 assists, to the Wolves 21. Denver dominated the fast break point total, which again leads to point blank shots and higher FG%.
The Wolves--even with 21 assists last night--don't share the ball particularly well. They don't stop anyone on defense, and don't create opportunities for easy baskets. They have one player who scores well in the paint, but as with all the other young knuckleheads on our club, seemingly feel they have to take the team on their shoulders to win the game. You'll rarely see Jefferson pass the ball back out to reset his position; he goes through all these low post moves to score. It's often a beautiful thing to watch, but in the context of winning basketball, it's only one piece.
What's needed first on this club are players who understand the dynamics of winning basketball, not just jump shooters. When they have a team who can do the little things and make each other better, and are able to post a few wins as a result, trust builds. When trust builds, and you have solid team play, then you can go and add individual pieces that might improve the club's chances. We just got rid of two jump shooters -- Mark Blount and Ricky Davis. Those guys could score, but didn't do much else and weren't particularly good team players. (They ARE making a huge difference for the Heat aren't they?)
Cut it from any angle you wish and the general feeling still is obvious: losing sucks. No matter who's doing the talking--Owner, VP, Coach, Broadcaster, Columnist, Blogger or Fan--losing often brings out all the worst qualities in humans. Blame and finger pointing touch all aspects of the operation; players, coaches, strategy, acquisitions and probably even the quality of vendors at Target Center. As I've said before, rebuilding is hard work. But you can't lose your focus. The answers are out there, it just takes the right folks to understand what they are.
That's the primary problem.
I certainly would be more charitable in this rebuilding process if I were confident a real plan was in place. What I've seen so far is pretty distressing: a broadcaster who's been consistently wrong about personnel and trades still acting as mouthpiece for the club, a VP who will take general responsibility for the team's demise, but fails to acknowledge specific mistakes he's made during his tenure and seems doomed to repeat them, an owner who continues to permit these mistakes to happen.
So, when I hear about needing Flip 2.0, I just shake my head. When will these folks ever learn?
In the last few days we've heard both the coach and Chief Vindicator Jim Petersen talk about the need for better jump shooters. In fact, during the Portland broadcast, Petersen went so far to say jump shooters are what we should be looking for in the offseason. Commenting in Britt Robson's blog, I worked myself into my usual lather (role playing only, I assure you...I am NOT a curmudgeon!). My reasoning? It seemed to me that what was being hinted at here was Flip 2.0: another team who valued perimeter play and scoring over the hard work of playing defense, sharing the ball and developing the tough mindedness that comes with those traits.
As we've seen with Flip teams, he knows how to win in the regular season--it's the playoffs where he's been exposed. I've often said he's the junior version of Don Nelson--another offensive genius who will win a ton of games, but has failed somewhat miserably to demonstrate that his brand of basketball succeeds in the second season. I thought the whole reason of trading KG and "rebuilding" (if that's what you can call it), was to develop the "smashmouth" style of ball: points in the paint, tough defense, etc. Since both Petersen and Wittman were soft, jump-shooting players back in the day, it seems that in the face of adversity (4-28 is the definition of adversity, isn't it?), people will go back to what they know and value the most.
Last night's game demonstrates why they are mistaken. Of all the assets the Wolves need right now, jump shooters are about 4th or 5th on the priority list.
Who was the difference maker last night? Yeah, Anthony and Iverson did their usual damage, but it was Anthony Carter--a guy who couldn't get regular playing time here--who stepped up and set the tempo for the Nuggets. A +17 in the stats last night, 7 of 9 from the field, with 11 assists, he initiated fast breaks, shared the ball, finished, and played tough defense. AC is a 39% percent career FG shooter, similar to Our Man Telfair, who is at .388 for his career. This year, AC is currently hitting FG's at a 53% clip. What has caused that dramatic improvement? My guess is the style of play. The Nuggets are an aggressive, shot blocking club. They create opportunities for transition buckets and easy scores, which improves shooting percentages. Last night, the Nuggets also had 30 assists, to the Wolves 21. Denver dominated the fast break point total, which again leads to point blank shots and higher FG%.
The Wolves--even with 21 assists last night--don't share the ball particularly well. They don't stop anyone on defense, and don't create opportunities for easy baskets. They have one player who scores well in the paint, but as with all the other young knuckleheads on our club, seemingly feel they have to take the team on their shoulders to win the game. You'll rarely see Jefferson pass the ball back out to reset his position; he goes through all these low post moves to score. It's often a beautiful thing to watch, but in the context of winning basketball, it's only one piece.
What's needed first on this club are players who understand the dynamics of winning basketball, not just jump shooters. When they have a team who can do the little things and make each other better, and are able to post a few wins as a result, trust builds. When trust builds, and you have solid team play, then you can go and add individual pieces that might improve the club's chances. We just got rid of two jump shooters -- Mark Blount and Ricky Davis. Those guys could score, but didn't do much else and weren't particularly good team players. (They ARE making a huge difference for the Heat aren't they?)
Cut it from any angle you wish and the general feeling still is obvious: losing sucks. No matter who's doing the talking--Owner, VP, Coach, Broadcaster, Columnist, Blogger or Fan--losing often brings out all the worst qualities in humans. Blame and finger pointing touch all aspects of the operation; players, coaches, strategy, acquisitions and probably even the quality of vendors at Target Center. As I've said before, rebuilding is hard work. But you can't lose your focus. The answers are out there, it just takes the right folks to understand what they are.
That's the primary problem.
I certainly would be more charitable in this rebuilding process if I were confident a real plan was in place. What I've seen so far is pretty distressing: a broadcaster who's been consistently wrong about personnel and trades still acting as mouthpiece for the club, a VP who will take general responsibility for the team's demise, but fails to acknowledge specific mistakes he's made during his tenure and seems doomed to repeat them, an owner who continues to permit these mistakes to happen.
So, when I hear about needing Flip 2.0, I just shake my head. When will these folks ever learn?
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Year's Losing Eve
The only thing more painful than viewing the Timberwolves on New Year's Eve was switching the dial to watch Dick Clark. On the other hand, he does have more tenacity and courage than our club. In both cases, there's some letting go to be done.
With dear Mr. Clark, it's time for him to walk away. Coming back from the stroke to broadcast one time was inspiring. Now, it's embarrassing. There's plenty of ways he can contribute to HIS broadcast without having to be a rotating anchor.
As for our club, if they weren't so bad, one might think they were tanking these games. What's remarkable about many of these losses is how quick it happens. We can see the bullet coming. For three quarters, they play good to mediocre against a bad Clippers club. Then late in the 3rd Cassell starts going to work, ably assisted by Maggette, Mobley and Kamman in the 4th, and voila, you have another loss. In the post game comments Wittman torches the guard play, but in truth the defense is as awful as the offense, and the coaching not much better. At 4-26, they stink.
However, a cynical fella at this point might be still be thinking, "Hmm...they did hold their best player out of games at the end of two straight seasons. Why not hold one of your top players out in the BEGINNING of the season, ensure yourself of a high draft choice, and make a little run at the end to build a little buzz..." No, that can't possibly true...can it? A little more specificity from our coach and front office might help to ease those suspicious nerves.
For example, we were told at the beginning of the year one primary goal was to find a few good men to build around--outside of Jefferson and Foye. After 30 games, I think it's safe to begin to evaluate our feckless youth, and establish a rotation that resembles being able to--in the words of the immortal Sweetwater Jones--separate the wheat from the chaff.
Happy New Year!!!
With dear Mr. Clark, it's time for him to walk away. Coming back from the stroke to broadcast one time was inspiring. Now, it's embarrassing. There's plenty of ways he can contribute to HIS broadcast without having to be a rotating anchor.
As for our club, if they weren't so bad, one might think they were tanking these games. What's remarkable about many of these losses is how quick it happens. We can see the bullet coming. For three quarters, they play good to mediocre against a bad Clippers club. Then late in the 3rd Cassell starts going to work, ably assisted by Maggette, Mobley and Kamman in the 4th, and voila, you have another loss. In the post game comments Wittman torches the guard play, but in truth the defense is as awful as the offense, and the coaching not much better. At 4-26, they stink.
However, a cynical fella at this point might be still be thinking, "Hmm...they did hold their best player out of games at the end of two straight seasons. Why not hold one of your top players out in the BEGINNING of the season, ensure yourself of a high draft choice, and make a little run at the end to build a little buzz..." No, that can't possibly true...can it? A little more specificity from our coach and front office might help to ease those suspicious nerves.
For example, we were told at the beginning of the year one primary goal was to find a few good men to build around--outside of Jefferson and Foye. After 30 games, I think it's safe to begin to evaluate our feckless youth, and establish a rotation that resembles being able to--in the words of the immortal Sweetwater Jones--separate the wheat from the chaff.
Happy New Year!!!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Rewriting History
Attention (and memory) spans are so short these days.
I didn't watch much of the Wolves broadcast last night--took in the Black Eyed Snakes at the Cedar Cultural Center --but I got back just in time to hear a brief discussion about Brandon Roy vs. Randy Foye. To paraphrase the announcers (on court and in the studio); they mentioned how unfair it was to compare the two players right now. Mr. Petersen attempted to put the situation "in context", saying that at the time of the draft, the Wolves needed a point guard, and that when healthy, Randy Foye will exist on the same level as Roy. Another catch phrase--"Fourth Quarter Foye"--was thrown out.
Hmm...I smell a whopper.
A quick journey in the Wayback Machine reveals that the Roy/Foye transaction indeed happened on draft night, June 28, 2006. A few weeks later, on July 13, the club made their big free agent acquisition....Mike James, a point guard. "We are pleased to sign a veteran player like Mike who brings the ability to score, shoot from the perimeter and run our offense", the Iron Ranger said at the time. Boy, it sounds like the team wanted Mike James to be the point guard, not Foye. What was the role for dear Randy? Here's where I'll stray from the facts to insert my opinion: the Wolves wanted the next D-Wade...a Mini-D, if you will. What does a Mini-D do? He slashes, passes, cuts, and scores at crucial times of the ball game. Other than Wade himself, what young, emerging player actually available to the Wolves is currently displaying those qualities? Why, none other than Brandon Roy, traded away on draft night. Since our resident superstar KG was at times a tad deferential, we needed to find a dynamo who could grow in that role.
That's context for you.
I'll go even further and present a "Big Picture": when a team displays the level of ineptitude both in the front-office and on the court that the Wolves have in the last few years (bad trades, disastrous free-agent signings, questionable draft picks), folks are going to second guess. Fair or unfair, that's human nature. Fans only hear the "buck-stops-here" mea culpas at coach firings and end of season press conferences. I guess that's the arrogant way of acknowledging that mistakes were/are being made.
So, returning to the original Foye/Roy issue, if one takes it out of that larger context and looks at the issue individually, is the criticism unfair? Yeah, at least until Randy is healthy, it is. However, put the thread back into the larger tapestry of failure the Wolves continue to weave, and it makes perfect sense why a fan or fans would bring it up. Them's the breaks fellas. Rewrite history all you want, but given the Wolves track record, losing breeds that sort of behavior. It makes folks skeptical.
When you give us some actual success to celebrate, you can puff out your chest, slap backs, and proclaim vindication for the Iron Ranger. I'll personally be happy to be one of those ordinary fans "who just didn't get it", cancel my NBA League Pass, and be excited to watch professional basketball in these parts again, as opposed to the JV stuff you're trying to sell now. Until then, suck it up, smile, and don't insult the fans you have left. Rebuilding is hard on everybody.
I didn't watch much of the Wolves broadcast last night--took in the Black Eyed Snakes at the Cedar Cultural Center --but I got back just in time to hear a brief discussion about Brandon Roy vs. Randy Foye. To paraphrase the announcers (on court and in the studio); they mentioned how unfair it was to compare the two players right now. Mr. Petersen attempted to put the situation "in context", saying that at the time of the draft, the Wolves needed a point guard, and that when healthy, Randy Foye will exist on the same level as Roy. Another catch phrase--"Fourth Quarter Foye"--was thrown out.
Hmm...I smell a whopper.
A quick journey in the Wayback Machine reveals that the Roy/Foye transaction indeed happened on draft night, June 28, 2006. A few weeks later, on July 13, the club made their big free agent acquisition....Mike James, a point guard. "We are pleased to sign a veteran player like Mike who brings the ability to score, shoot from the perimeter and run our offense", the Iron Ranger said at the time. Boy, it sounds like the team wanted Mike James to be the point guard, not Foye. What was the role for dear Randy? Here's where I'll stray from the facts to insert my opinion: the Wolves wanted the next D-Wade...a Mini-D, if you will. What does a Mini-D do? He slashes, passes, cuts, and scores at crucial times of the ball game. Other than Wade himself, what young, emerging player actually available to the Wolves is currently displaying those qualities? Why, none other than Brandon Roy, traded away on draft night. Since our resident superstar KG was at times a tad deferential, we needed to find a dynamo who could grow in that role.
That's context for you.
I'll go even further and present a "Big Picture": when a team displays the level of ineptitude both in the front-office and on the court that the Wolves have in the last few years (bad trades, disastrous free-agent signings, questionable draft picks), folks are going to second guess. Fair or unfair, that's human nature. Fans only hear the "buck-stops-here" mea culpas at coach firings and end of season press conferences. I guess that's the arrogant way of acknowledging that mistakes were/are being made.
So, returning to the original Foye/Roy issue, if one takes it out of that larger context and looks at the issue individually, is the criticism unfair? Yeah, at least until Randy is healthy, it is. However, put the thread back into the larger tapestry of failure the Wolves continue to weave, and it makes perfect sense why a fan or fans would bring it up. Them's the breaks fellas. Rewrite history all you want, but given the Wolves track record, losing breeds that sort of behavior. It makes folks skeptical.
When you give us some actual success to celebrate, you can puff out your chest, slap backs, and proclaim vindication for the Iron Ranger. I'll personally be happy to be one of those ordinary fans "who just didn't get it", cancel my NBA League Pass, and be excited to watch professional basketball in these parts again, as opposed to the JV stuff you're trying to sell now. Until then, suck it up, smile, and don't insult the fans you have left. Rebuilding is hard on everybody.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Miracle on 1st Avenue
I come bearing gifts today to the Wolves organization. It's been a tough year for the club, and I would guess the frustration level must be rising within the Target Center - 600 1st Avenue North. Thus, in my best Edmund Gwenn/Sebastian Cabot/Richard Attenborough mode, I offer presents that should bring cheer if not emotional relief to the team:
Al Jefferson - A gift of interior defense. You sir, are an offensive wunderkind. Match it on the defensive end and you will be a max contract player.
Sebastian Telfair - A gift of an consistent outside shot. You sir, have shown both growth and grit in the last few months. The ability to knock down a pull up 18 foot jumper consistently--especially in the fourth quarter--will separate you from players such as Jacque Vaughn and bring you the success your high school days promised.
Ryan Gomes - A gift of a handle. You sir, are the classic tweener. You possess shooting ability from three point range, as well as decent post-up skills. What you are NOT is a dribble penetrator. I haven't charted it out, but I would guess the majority of your turnovers come from trying to put the ball on the floor. My gift alleviates that problem, and allows you to progress into the upper echelon of NBA playerdom.
Rashad McCants - A gift of recognition. You sir, have told the press your intention to be a leader on this club. To date, I think that definition equates to jacking up as many shots as one can, and stunting any offensive ball movement. This has gotten you mostly a seat on the bench. To display true leadership you must understand you are NOT the offensive rhythm--and that making your teammates better will increase your opportunities to score, and to win. Since I had imagined you received this gift while winning an NCAA championship at North Carolina, consider this a licensed upgrade: Recognition 2.0.
Randy Foye - A gift of healing. This one's easy. I can't give you anything else until you can get on the court and show what you've learned from last year. Get better dude.
Craig Smith - A gift of a referee's love. You sir, have been a favorite of mine since your days at BC. I was considering giving the gift of a few inches of height, but that present would probably get you a league suspension. Since your domain is the painted area of the court, you absolutely need to get more calls from the refs.
Corey Brewer - A gift of increased muscle and bulk. You sir, also need a consistent outside shot, but unlike Mr. Telfair, you still have years and a option. This gift will not only help make you an upper echelon NBA player, but also differentiate you from Stacy Augmon and/or Keon Clark.
Antoine Walker - A gift of stability. You sir, have stability issues both organizationally and on the court. Watching you shoot from the arc without your feet set resembles watching mortar shots from the beach sequences of Saving Private Ryan and Flags of our Fathers. Organizationally, you have been handed off to different teams like the proverbial hot potato. From what I can see, your contribution here has been nothing short of a class act. Thank you. Hopefully, my gift will ensure your NBA employment into your mid-30's, if not longer.
Marko Jaric - A gift of discipline. You sir, have a reputation for the nightlife and are reportedly dating a super model. Thus I offer this gift on the basis of hearsay. This year, you have shown flashes of brilliance, but mostly your career here has been inconsistent and underwhelming, given your contract. Reject this gift at your own risk, but you do have some serious, needed skills to offer. I believe a little more discipline toward your craft might help smooth out those consistency issues. It certainly couldn't hurt.
Micheal Doleac - A gift of quickness. You sir, because of your size and ability to bang in the paint, probably will have a roster spot on an NBA club until your mid to late 30's. This gift will help your chances of consistently staying in a regular rotation.
Gerald Green - A gift of basketball IQ. You sir, have undeniable athletic ability. Your understanding of the small details of the professional game needs work, and threatens your continued employment. This club needs your offensive game, but not at the expense of everything else. This gift, taken seriously, might make you more than just the slam dunk champ. It might make you relevant.
Chris Richard - A gift of patience. You sir, have the talent and dedication to last in this league for at least a decade. Your time will come. Be patient, and learn well.
Mark Madsen - A gift of finishing. You sir, have the heart of a lion. Hands like one too. That's the problem.
Theo Ratliff - A gift of health. You sir, have only a couple of years left in your career. Either here or somewhere else where a playoff opportunity exists, this gift will help you exit on the court, and not on the inactive list.
Greg Buckner - A gift of leadership. You sir, I don't know well, but have shown the ability to play hard on defense and contribute on offense. This team needs your continued veteran leadership.
And for the front office and broadcasters:
Randy Wittman - A gift of professional luck. You sir, need better luck if you're going to have continued employment as an NBA head coach. Others might say you need skill, but that would be uncharitable this time of year, and given the two teams that have employed you, arguably unfair. Life unfortunately is not fair however, and your win-loss record is not impressive. Everyone can use a little luck now and then.
Wolves Assistant Coaches - A gift of a full year of employment. Sirs, let's hope your club has a better second half than the first. Ouch!!! I'm sure you'll land on your feet if the worst happens, but continued employment is always the gift that keeps on giving.
Jim Petersen - A gift of humility. You sir, have undeniable basketball analytical ability. However, I would not let you near a basketball personnel job, and your inability to admit error puts you in the same league with the Bush administration. Furthermore, as I have repeatedly said in the past, you have a penchant for prefacing your analysis with--and I'm paraphrasing here--statements like "what fans doesn't realize". Given the recent failures of this club to do anything meaningful and your whoppers, you need to cut the more critical of the Wolves fans some slack, and admit now and then when you've been mistaken. This gift will help you on the road to recovery.
Tom Hanneman - A gift of excitement. You sir, were the best sideline reporter and half-time host in the business. Now, along with your broadcast partner, you're mere shills for a poor product. Your idea of calling a game is coming up with corny catch phrases in a monotone which neither generates excitement or tension. You'll never be Kevin Harlan, but this gift might help you with your broadcasting dynamics.
Alan Horton & Billy McKinney - A gift of the Wolves television broadcasting assignment. You sirs deserve a chance to "see what they can do".
Fred Hoiberg - A gift of options. You sir, seem to be a stand-up fellow, and could get employment with many different basketball organizations. Why this one?
Rob Babcock - A gift of personnel evaluation ability. You sir, after your Raptor stint, seem to have the professional luck Coach Wittman lacks. Can anyone say Rafael Araujo?
Kevin McHale - A gift of absence. You sir, need to leave. Other NBA legends (Isiah Thomas, Willis Reed, Wes Unseld, Elgin Baylor, etc.) have failed to transfer their on-court basketball acumen to the front office. In this case, stubbornness is NOT a virtue. Your status as a Minnesota icon is secure; within a few years you'll be able to freely slap backs and call folks numb nuts in any venue of your choosing.
Glen Taylor - A gift of common sense. You sir, have admirable loyalty qualities, and have built wealth the majority of us can only dream about. I understand you have been able to combine those those two qualities successfully in your Mankato operations. The NBA seems to have a different ethos; and your competition is leaving you in the dust, or snow in this case. Can't you see that? If not, this gift will assist you in developing that vision.
I'm off to give real gifts to my family and friends. Given the bad weather and the resulting loss of life in the last few days, it's good to stop and remember what's truly important in life, because sometime it's all too fleeting. Happy holidays to everyone!!!
Al Jefferson - A gift of interior defense. You sir, are an offensive wunderkind. Match it on the defensive end and you will be a max contract player.
Sebastian Telfair - A gift of an consistent outside shot. You sir, have shown both growth and grit in the last few months. The ability to knock down a pull up 18 foot jumper consistently--especially in the fourth quarter--will separate you from players such as Jacque Vaughn and bring you the success your high school days promised.
Ryan Gomes - A gift of a handle. You sir, are the classic tweener. You possess shooting ability from three point range, as well as decent post-up skills. What you are NOT is a dribble penetrator. I haven't charted it out, but I would guess the majority of your turnovers come from trying to put the ball on the floor. My gift alleviates that problem, and allows you to progress into the upper echelon of NBA playerdom.
Rashad McCants - A gift of recognition. You sir, have told the press your intention to be a leader on this club. To date, I think that definition equates to jacking up as many shots as one can, and stunting any offensive ball movement. This has gotten you mostly a seat on the bench. To display true leadership you must understand you are NOT the offensive rhythm--and that making your teammates better will increase your opportunities to score, and to win. Since I had imagined you received this gift while winning an NCAA championship at North Carolina, consider this a licensed upgrade: Recognition 2.0.
Randy Foye - A gift of healing. This one's easy. I can't give you anything else until you can get on the court and show what you've learned from last year. Get better dude.
Craig Smith - A gift of a referee's love. You sir, have been a favorite of mine since your days at BC. I was considering giving the gift of a few inches of height, but that present would probably get you a league suspension. Since your domain is the painted area of the court, you absolutely need to get more calls from the refs.
Corey Brewer - A gift of increased muscle and bulk. You sir, also need a consistent outside shot, but unlike Mr. Telfair, you still have years and a option. This gift will not only help make you an upper echelon NBA player, but also differentiate you from Stacy Augmon and/or Keon Clark.
Antoine Walker - A gift of stability. You sir, have stability issues both organizationally and on the court. Watching you shoot from the arc without your feet set resembles watching mortar shots from the beach sequences of Saving Private Ryan and Flags of our Fathers. Organizationally, you have been handed off to different teams like the proverbial hot potato. From what I can see, your contribution here has been nothing short of a class act. Thank you. Hopefully, my gift will ensure your NBA employment into your mid-30's, if not longer.
Marko Jaric - A gift of discipline. You sir, have a reputation for the nightlife and are reportedly dating a super model. Thus I offer this gift on the basis of hearsay. This year, you have shown flashes of brilliance, but mostly your career here has been inconsistent and underwhelming, given your contract. Reject this gift at your own risk, but you do have some serious, needed skills to offer. I believe a little more discipline toward your craft might help smooth out those consistency issues. It certainly couldn't hurt.
Micheal Doleac - A gift of quickness. You sir, because of your size and ability to bang in the paint, probably will have a roster spot on an NBA club until your mid to late 30's. This gift will help your chances of consistently staying in a regular rotation.
Gerald Green - A gift of basketball IQ. You sir, have undeniable athletic ability. Your understanding of the small details of the professional game needs work, and threatens your continued employment. This club needs your offensive game, but not at the expense of everything else. This gift, taken seriously, might make you more than just the slam dunk champ. It might make you relevant.
Chris Richard - A gift of patience. You sir, have the talent and dedication to last in this league for at least a decade. Your time will come. Be patient, and learn well.
Mark Madsen - A gift of finishing. You sir, have the heart of a lion. Hands like one too. That's the problem.
Theo Ratliff - A gift of health. You sir, have only a couple of years left in your career. Either here or somewhere else where a playoff opportunity exists, this gift will help you exit on the court, and not on the inactive list.
Greg Buckner - A gift of leadership. You sir, I don't know well, but have shown the ability to play hard on defense and contribute on offense. This team needs your continued veteran leadership.
And for the front office and broadcasters:
Randy Wittman - A gift of professional luck. You sir, need better luck if you're going to have continued employment as an NBA head coach. Others might say you need skill, but that would be uncharitable this time of year, and given the two teams that have employed you, arguably unfair. Life unfortunately is not fair however, and your win-loss record is not impressive. Everyone can use a little luck now and then.
Wolves Assistant Coaches - A gift of a full year of employment. Sirs, let's hope your club has a better second half than the first. Ouch!!! I'm sure you'll land on your feet if the worst happens, but continued employment is always the gift that keeps on giving.
Jim Petersen - A gift of humility. You sir, have undeniable basketball analytical ability. However, I would not let you near a basketball personnel job, and your inability to admit error puts you in the same league with the Bush administration. Furthermore, as I have repeatedly said in the past, you have a penchant for prefacing your analysis with--and I'm paraphrasing here--statements like "what fans doesn't realize". Given the recent failures of this club to do anything meaningful and your whoppers, you need to cut the more critical of the Wolves fans some slack, and admit now and then when you've been mistaken. This gift will help you on the road to recovery.
Tom Hanneman - A gift of excitement. You sir, were the best sideline reporter and half-time host in the business. Now, along with your broadcast partner, you're mere shills for a poor product. Your idea of calling a game is coming up with corny catch phrases in a monotone which neither generates excitement or tension. You'll never be Kevin Harlan, but this gift might help you with your broadcasting dynamics.
Alan Horton & Billy McKinney - A gift of the Wolves television broadcasting assignment. You sirs deserve a chance to "see what they can do".
Fred Hoiberg - A gift of options. You sir, seem to be a stand-up fellow, and could get employment with many different basketball organizations. Why this one?
Rob Babcock - A gift of personnel evaluation ability. You sir, after your Raptor stint, seem to have the professional luck Coach Wittman lacks. Can anyone say Rafael Araujo?
Kevin McHale - A gift of absence. You sir, need to leave. Other NBA legends (Isiah Thomas, Willis Reed, Wes Unseld, Elgin Baylor, etc.) have failed to transfer their on-court basketball acumen to the front office. In this case, stubbornness is NOT a virtue. Your status as a Minnesota icon is secure; within a few years you'll be able to freely slap backs and call folks numb nuts in any venue of your choosing.
Glen Taylor - A gift of common sense. You sir, have admirable loyalty qualities, and have built wealth the majority of us can only dream about. I understand you have been able to combine those those two qualities successfully in your Mankato operations. The NBA seems to have a different ethos; and your competition is leaving you in the dust, or snow in this case. Can't you see that? If not, this gift will assist you in developing that vision.
I'm off to give real gifts to my family and friends. Given the bad weather and the resulting loss of life in the last few days, it's good to stop and remember what's truly important in life, because sometime it's all too fleeting. Happy holidays to everyone!!!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
A Tale of Two Teams
Love to use Dickens...
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities - 1859
Life, or in this case, Sport, imitates Art. We're witnessing two teams--the Gopher men's basketball team and our Timberwolves--trying to rebound from previous performances judged to be anywhere between mediocre to rock-bottom awful. In both cases, there is controversy; with the Gophers, a team who's coach walked out on them last year (Dan Monson) hires another coach (Tubby Smith) from a basketball program increasingly dissatisfied with his performance. With the Wolves, after trading KG, they are in rebuilding mode, and presently at 4-22, they are increasingly sensitive to criticism about said performance. Once again last night, they open their broadcast with Friday's Star Tribune front page article about potentially being the worst professional team ever. It was--using the overused metaphor used by the club this season--a punch in the mouth.
The verdict so far: for the Gophers, it well may be the best of times. For the Wolves, the worst.
Truth be told, as I've mentioned before, it's an apples to oranges comparison. In the college game, a coach can have much more of an immediate impact on a team. Witness the Gophs now 8-1, with predominately the same personnel as last year's 9 win squad. A lot of cupcake teams to be sure, but last year mid-major Marist put a whuppin' on our club. I don't think that would happen this year. Looking past the wins and losses however you see a team with an entirely different philosophy, and I might add intensity, from previous years. On defense: constant pressure, often times full court. On offense: sharing the basketball, using ball movement to exploit the weak points in the defense. Truly, it is the game being played the right way, regardless of talent or league level. Recruiting has been promising; it seems with an icon at the helm, players may actually want to come to the frozen tundra. Playing out the actual Big Ten schedule may temper fans' enthusiasm, but given where the Gophers were at this time last year, hope is alive and well on the U of M campus.
The Wolves? The most charitable thing that can be offered is no one said rebuilding was going to be easy. All along, it's been advertised that smash mouth ball is in, but this group is still primarily a jump shooting team that plays poor defense and doesn't share the ball much. Thus the point differential, foul shot disparity, fourth quarter shooting percentage, assist totals and resulting final scores are all generally NOT in the Wolves favor. The biggest gap in logic here is the "youth" angle. Yeah, the majority of core players on this team are chronologically young, but they're not rookies. In fact, many of them are in their make or break third or fourth year, where you find out whether or not they are interchangeable parts on an NBA team's bench, or important parts of a winning rotation. These aren't the new Baby Bulls; a lot of players come directly from a squad that lost 18 straight last year.
The fact Randy Foye hasn't played yet has mitigated some of the cynicism, but again, watching Brandon Roy as current lead stud on the Blazers offers room for doubt about the front office acumen. And, while Randy Wittman has proven himself to be a loyal member of Taylor.org's golfing buddy challenge, his overall record has to date suggests his value as an assistant coach.
In the end, folks will be true to their own nature. Those who see a glass half full will preach patience; they are the Wolves best friends. Others who have seen a load of BS and missed opportunities come from the club will--with each resulting loss--have fodder for increasing derision. The important results --regardless of any spin you might hear--will be on the court. Where do they show improvement? Are they more consistent? Can you see an identity emerge?
Right now, it's easy to see that in the Gophers, harder to see in the Wolves.
And that is our tale so far.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities - 1859
Life, or in this case, Sport, imitates Art. We're witnessing two teams--the Gopher men's basketball team and our Timberwolves--trying to rebound from previous performances judged to be anywhere between mediocre to rock-bottom awful. In both cases, there is controversy; with the Gophers, a team who's coach walked out on them last year (Dan Monson) hires another coach (Tubby Smith) from a basketball program increasingly dissatisfied with his performance. With the Wolves, after trading KG, they are in rebuilding mode, and presently at 4-22, they are increasingly sensitive to criticism about said performance. Once again last night, they open their broadcast with Friday's Star Tribune front page article about potentially being the worst professional team ever. It was--using the overused metaphor used by the club this season--a punch in the mouth.
The verdict so far: for the Gophers, it well may be the best of times. For the Wolves, the worst.
Truth be told, as I've mentioned before, it's an apples to oranges comparison. In the college game, a coach can have much more of an immediate impact on a team. Witness the Gophs now 8-1, with predominately the same personnel as last year's 9 win squad. A lot of cupcake teams to be sure, but last year mid-major Marist put a whuppin' on our club. I don't think that would happen this year. Looking past the wins and losses however you see a team with an entirely different philosophy, and I might add intensity, from previous years. On defense: constant pressure, often times full court. On offense: sharing the basketball, using ball movement to exploit the weak points in the defense. Truly, it is the game being played the right way, regardless of talent or league level. Recruiting has been promising; it seems with an icon at the helm, players may actually want to come to the frozen tundra. Playing out the actual Big Ten schedule may temper fans' enthusiasm, but given where the Gophers were at this time last year, hope is alive and well on the U of M campus.
The Wolves? The most charitable thing that can be offered is no one said rebuilding was going to be easy. All along, it's been advertised that smash mouth ball is in, but this group is still primarily a jump shooting team that plays poor defense and doesn't share the ball much. Thus the point differential, foul shot disparity, fourth quarter shooting percentage, assist totals and resulting final scores are all generally NOT in the Wolves favor. The biggest gap in logic here is the "youth" angle. Yeah, the majority of core players on this team are chronologically young, but they're not rookies. In fact, many of them are in their make or break third or fourth year, where you find out whether or not they are interchangeable parts on an NBA team's bench, or important parts of a winning rotation. These aren't the new Baby Bulls; a lot of players come directly from a squad that lost 18 straight last year.
The fact Randy Foye hasn't played yet has mitigated some of the cynicism, but again, watching Brandon Roy as current lead stud on the Blazers offers room for doubt about the front office acumen. And, while Randy Wittman has proven himself to be a loyal member of Taylor.org's golfing buddy challenge, his overall record has to date suggests his value as an assistant coach.
In the end, folks will be true to their own nature. Those who see a glass half full will preach patience; they are the Wolves best friends. Others who have seen a load of BS and missed opportunities come from the club will--with each resulting loss--have fodder for increasing derision. The important results --regardless of any spin you might hear--will be on the court. Where do they show improvement? Are they more consistent? Can you see an identity emerge?
Right now, it's easy to see that in the Gophers, harder to see in the Wolves.
And that is our tale so far.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Stripped Gears
It's apples and oranges, but...
this team is reaching depths of Brewster proportions. I know the guy has to watch his repaired back, but I can see Wittman at the end of the game, laying flat and prone on the hardwood, trying to will a free throw or a last minute shot into the hoop. It's that bad, and getting worse, especially on defense.
After reading this morning's boards and MSM, one would conclude that:
1) Wittman would like to challenge someone to a parking lot brawl
2) Jefferson has grown tired of being told they're young.
3) Mr. Robson enjoys beginning his blog with an accolade about himself. Of course, he does share a tip of the kudo to his readers, which is a credit to him.
4) Stephen Litel wants to be like Britt Robson.
5) The Iron Ranger is giving everyone the silent treatment, at least until mid-season, victory 10, or the end of the season, whichever comes absolutely last.
People can once again blame illness, injury, incompetence, or basketball IQ for another loss, but the key to winning is forcing the other team outside their comfort level. After having a halftime lead, the Wolves knew the Warriors were going to step it up, especially on offense. At that point, the team needed to play rock steady defense, and not turn the ball over. They could do neither, and when you combine the fact that seemingly everyone on the Wolves club--offensively speaking--wants to demonstrate leadership by jacking up shots, you have the perfect equation of a loss. The Wolves needed to force the Warriors inside the three point arc, not give them easy buckets via transition, and force them to make baskets under duress. However, a little of what Wittman said post-game was correct; they hung their heads and folded. Defense is all about intensity; you can't be be feeling sorry for yourself and expect to play good D. Baron Davis showed the club how much he respects them by draining a three at the very end of the game. If that doesn't make someone angry...
At the core, the Wolves have no extra gear to kick into, no mental toughness. It's been that way for a long time, but with this cast of characters, it's all too evident. No toughness, no strategy, no execution. Just losing games in embarrassing fashion. Like Tim Brewster.
this team is reaching depths of Brewster proportions. I know the guy has to watch his repaired back, but I can see Wittman at the end of the game, laying flat and prone on the hardwood, trying to will a free throw or a last minute shot into the hoop. It's that bad, and getting worse, especially on defense.
After reading this morning's boards and MSM, one would conclude that:
1) Wittman would like to challenge someone to a parking lot brawl
2) Jefferson has grown tired of being told they're young.
3) Mr. Robson enjoys beginning his blog with an accolade about himself. Of course, he does share a tip of the kudo to his readers, which is a credit to him.
4) Stephen Litel wants to be like Britt Robson.
5) The Iron Ranger is giving everyone the silent treatment, at least until mid-season, victory 10, or the end of the season, whichever comes absolutely last.
People can once again blame illness, injury, incompetence, or basketball IQ for another loss, but the key to winning is forcing the other team outside their comfort level. After having a halftime lead, the Wolves knew the Warriors were going to step it up, especially on offense. At that point, the team needed to play rock steady defense, and not turn the ball over. They could do neither, and when you combine the fact that seemingly everyone on the Wolves club--offensively speaking--wants to demonstrate leadership by jacking up shots, you have the perfect equation of a loss. The Wolves needed to force the Warriors inside the three point arc, not give them easy buckets via transition, and force them to make baskets under duress. However, a little of what Wittman said post-game was correct; they hung their heads and folded. Defense is all about intensity; you can't be be feeling sorry for yourself and expect to play good D. Baron Davis showed the club how much he respects them by draining a three at the very end of the game. If that doesn't make someone angry...
At the core, the Wolves have no extra gear to kick into, no mental toughness. It's been that way for a long time, but with this cast of characters, it's all too evident. No toughness, no strategy, no execution. Just losing games in embarrassing fashion. Like Tim Brewster.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Bottom Feeding
At what point does promised development become mere futility?
Say what you want to about our club, but if you compare the Wolves to another rebuilding club--the Sonics--who would you judge is farther along, especially after Friday's loss? After trying to sell the notion in the preseason that all those players we got from Boston equaled the number of lost # 1 draft choices in the Joe Smith debacle, the Wolves are running out of outrageous lies. You can blame injuries, or roster turnover but the farther the season progresses the more obvious it becomes: this organization is the worst in the league. We are true bottom feeders.
One could claim the Knicks are truly the most dysfunctional, and if you include all the off-the-court incidents that well may be true, but how can any one say that personnel wise Isiah Thomas has been worse for his team than Kevin McHale? Only putting the "rebuilding" tag on our efforts gives any rebuttal reasonable cover. Once again, compare us to Seattle, Charlotte, Memphis, even Philadelphia. We have even surpassed our own ineptitude, in losing to the Bucks last night. As incredible as it may seem, we have begun to make the Wolfenson-Ratner-Stein era look good in comparison.
In watching the game and reading the recaps this morning, it seems we are more than halfway to a shrug of our shoulders. Instead of being more determined and challenging each other to play better, there seems to be a general resignation to the situation and praise for the close defeats. I'll put it to you another way: if you want to see an under-talented team play hard and develop, Williams Arena is your venue. Tubby Smith is taking roughly the same team from last year and renewing optimism. How? By hard work, discipline, and an actual strategy on both offense and defense. That man can coach. I would estimate that by the time the actual Big Ten season is over, the Gophers will not have won many games in the regular season. You can tell however, that they headed toward success, just in the approach Smith is taking to the game. He can legitimately sell hope for the future. Right now the Wolves can't.
It is a waste of time trying to analyze this club. All the plus-minus, popcorn machine statistics are worthless. Even the most casual fan can watch a game and see the lackluster defense, the poor chemistry, and the resulting hard sell from the broadcasters. Folks know ugly when they see it. Right now, you couldn't even put lipstick on this pig, it would melt right off.
Based on their progress, it's going to get a whole lot worse, but will it ever get better?
Say what you want to about our club, but if you compare the Wolves to another rebuilding club--the Sonics--who would you judge is farther along, especially after Friday's loss? After trying to sell the notion in the preseason that all those players we got from Boston equaled the number of lost # 1 draft choices in the Joe Smith debacle, the Wolves are running out of outrageous lies. You can blame injuries, or roster turnover but the farther the season progresses the more obvious it becomes: this organization is the worst in the league. We are true bottom feeders.
One could claim the Knicks are truly the most dysfunctional, and if you include all the off-the-court incidents that well may be true, but how can any one say that personnel wise Isiah Thomas has been worse for his team than Kevin McHale? Only putting the "rebuilding" tag on our efforts gives any rebuttal reasonable cover. Once again, compare us to Seattle, Charlotte, Memphis, even Philadelphia. We have even surpassed our own ineptitude, in losing to the Bucks last night. As incredible as it may seem, we have begun to make the Wolfenson-Ratner-Stein era look good in comparison.
In watching the game and reading the recaps this morning, it seems we are more than halfway to a shrug of our shoulders. Instead of being more determined and challenging each other to play better, there seems to be a general resignation to the situation and praise for the close defeats. I'll put it to you another way: if you want to see an under-talented team play hard and develop, Williams Arena is your venue. Tubby Smith is taking roughly the same team from last year and renewing optimism. How? By hard work, discipline, and an actual strategy on both offense and defense. That man can coach. I would estimate that by the time the actual Big Ten season is over, the Gophers will not have won many games in the regular season. You can tell however, that they headed toward success, just in the approach Smith is taking to the game. He can legitimately sell hope for the future. Right now the Wolves can't.
It is a waste of time trying to analyze this club. All the plus-minus, popcorn machine statistics are worthless. Even the most casual fan can watch a game and see the lackluster defense, the poor chemistry, and the resulting hard sell from the broadcasters. Folks know ugly when they see it. Right now, you couldn't even put lipstick on this pig, it would melt right off.
Based on their progress, it's going to get a whole lot worse, but will it ever get better?
Sunday, December 2, 2007
My Fair Losers
What can you say about our club this week? The die-hards ARE trying to be patient. Britt Robson spoke of an "honorable" loss at Dallas, while again defending KG in a mini-rant rebutting Jim Souhan's remarks regarding the Ticket in giving Torii Hunter a fond farewell. Ever the Ticket's defender, even in absentia. Other boards have remarked how good of a teammate Antoine Walker is turning out to be. I guess you can defend all those points, but the losses still pile up, with huge fourth quarter collapses and errors in performance and judgment.
Last week, I suggested the tale of the Wolves' exploits would be well suited for a Heroes sequel--with the writers strike and all. This week, given our continuing fourth quarter foibles, I'm suggesting a different theme: an adaptation of My Fair Lady, called My Fair Losers. Imagine Randy Wittman as Professor Henry Higgins, with the entire Wolves roster playing the part of Eliza Do-Little (my take on the name. Kinda fits, doesn't it?):
Scenario:
The Wolves coach--believing he can make a youthful, unsophisticated bunch of individuals into a upper echelon team--addresses the group in a coaching session:
Wittman/Higgins: "Team, repeat what I just told you...
Team/Do-Little (in unison): "A pass 'cross lane will cause us to lose the game"
Wittman/Higgins: " I think they've got it!...Mr. Telfair...have YOU been paying attention?"
Telfair/Do-Little: "Yes, 'guvenor, I rightly believe so!"
Of course, on Friday with about 4:30 left in the fourth quarter against San Antonio, Telfair attempts a cross court pass, which is promptly intercepted and a resulting three is made by the Spurs. I switched channels at that point.
He didn't have it.
To paraphrase Trent Tucker (who was very good in Gopher color commentary yesterday), this game is very simple. When you swing the ball from strong side to weak side and play good defense, good things happen. The Wolves share the ball well in the win against NO, with over 20 assists, but revert back to form in losses to Dallas, SA, and last night in Memphis. So coming back in the second half from playing crappy defense and not sharing the ball in Dallas is honorable? I think not. In fact, it's a regression, an indication that the Wolves aren't learning from their many mistakes and few successes. If you're going to sell development, then develop; the first rule being trying to establish some consistency in your approach to the game. If the Wolves are trying to convince people they're coming together as team--especially in the fourth quarter--then ball (and player) movement is key. As opposed to all the tortured fighting analogies Sleepy Tom and Arrogant Jim are offering during the broadcast, intelligent fans will sit up and take notice. And, be patient.
Last week, I suggested the tale of the Wolves' exploits would be well suited for a Heroes sequel--with the writers strike and all. This week, given our continuing fourth quarter foibles, I'm suggesting a different theme: an adaptation of My Fair Lady, called My Fair Losers. Imagine Randy Wittman as Professor Henry Higgins, with the entire Wolves roster playing the part of Eliza Do-Little (my take on the name. Kinda fits, doesn't it?):
Scenario:
The Wolves coach--believing he can make a youthful, unsophisticated bunch of individuals into a upper echelon team--addresses the group in a coaching session:
Wittman/Higgins: "Team, repeat what I just told you...
Team/Do-Little (in unison): "A pass 'cross lane will cause us to lose the game"
Wittman/Higgins: " I think they've got it!...Mr. Telfair...have YOU been paying attention?"
Telfair/Do-Little: "Yes, 'guvenor, I rightly believe so!"
Of course, on Friday with about 4:30 left in the fourth quarter against San Antonio, Telfair attempts a cross court pass, which is promptly intercepted and a resulting three is made by the Spurs. I switched channels at that point.
He didn't have it.
To paraphrase Trent Tucker (who was very good in Gopher color commentary yesterday), this game is very simple. When you swing the ball from strong side to weak side and play good defense, good things happen. The Wolves share the ball well in the win against NO, with over 20 assists, but revert back to form in losses to Dallas, SA, and last night in Memphis. So coming back in the second half from playing crappy defense and not sharing the ball in Dallas is honorable? I think not. In fact, it's a regression, an indication that the Wolves aren't learning from their many mistakes and few successes. If you're going to sell development, then develop; the first rule being trying to establish some consistency in your approach to the game. If the Wolves are trying to convince people they're coming together as team--especially in the fourth quarter--then ball (and player) movement is key. As opposed to all the tortured fighting analogies Sleepy Tom and Arrogant Jim are offering during the broadcast, intelligent fans will sit up and take notice. And, be patient.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Alternative Programming
My daughter--home for Thanksgiving, now on her way back to NY--is trying to get me hooked on Heroes, the NBC Monday night comic book drama. Since the writers strike is as of this date not settled, reports are that shows are running out of first run episodes, and will either broadcast reruns, or find other reality based programming to show.
Civic minded pop culturist that I am, I'd like to propose an alternative. A spin-off of Heroes, based on the exploits of our own Minnesota Timberwolves, I present to you...Zeros.
Our storyline so far...
Local billionaire saves franchise from relocation, and along with a hall-of-fame sports icon turned vice-president (VP) and his youthful sidekick Flip, seeks to re-energize team by an infusion of fresh DNA and changed uniforms. A club is formed--Taylor.org--with the belief that parochial front office networking with former Gopher, Big Ten and Celtic greats will be the key to greatness. For a brief time, hope is high, as a threesome emerges to compete for the hearts and minds of the Minnesota sporting public. Success is fleeting, however, as front-office foibles and foul-ups cause two of the three to journey both west and east, leaving only one super-human alone to languish without help for years on end. The billionaire--seemingly under some sort of mind-meld emanating from our hall of famer--does the VP's bidding, signing mercenaries of reported disrepute to assist our one withering asset. For a single glorious year, order is restored and national fame is achieved. However the mercenaries--when not paid their excessive booty--rebel against our valiant club, causing the franchise to implode, nearly taking out loyal sidekick Flip, who after months of healing, wanders to Detroit to find his coaching "chi" again.
Meanwhile, our lone super hero begins to show signs of CLD--Chronic Losing Disease. Symptoms include looking wasted and hopeless in the 4th quarter along with paradoxical thinking, like using available Taylor.org resources to re-sign associates with limited talent, and demanding salary extensions that would extinguish any hope of acquiring the help needed to once again bring happiness to a restless and suspicious public. Tension between the VP and our lone hero grows, as the CLD only gets worse and the affliction threatens to spread throughout the entire organization, the irony being however that the VP is the carrier of the CLD--NOT the superstar. Increasingly besieged and isolated, the VP increases the intensity of the mind-meld on the local billionare, and begins to develop a plan. He must rid himself of the lone superstar before it's too late!
In the summer of 2007...the deed is done. Our one hero is dispatched to Boston, before the disease is irreversible. Within months, he is back to near peak health--with salary extensions intact. The Boston sporting public, having previously received gifts from other Minnesota sporting franchises, is thankful and energized. Having nearly rid themselves of all signs of their own CLD, they are looking forward AND upward to the rafters, where signs of previous glory hang from the ceiling.
News is not so good for the Midwestern homeland though. Trading the superstar did not halt the spread of CLD. In fact, much like an earlier transaction with the East Coast franchise, the CLD has only intensified and again threatens the entire organization. Our billionaire begins to show early signs of his own, giving bizarre interviews to local media, in hoping to convince the cynical public that time and the continuing expertise of our VP will be all that's needed to rid ourselves of this horrible affliction. The television color analyst takes the role of Chief Vindicator and attempts to misdirect the public. He often begins statements with "What people don't realize", or "what the ordinary fan doesn't know", in hopes of convincing the public that this affliction is not CLD, but merely a three to six year rash. Some of "the cultures" they received this time from Boston--along with local strains already developed, will prove themselves, he claims.
On the court, however, the results get only worse. "The cultures" sent from Boston sometimes show promise, only to fail by the 4th quarter. Turnovers, poor defense and shooting, and lack of execution all are taking it's toll on our team. To date mostly zeros exist.
Who will save us? Who will save them?
Civic minded pop culturist that I am, I'd like to propose an alternative. A spin-off of Heroes, based on the exploits of our own Minnesota Timberwolves, I present to you...Zeros.
Our storyline so far...
Local billionaire saves franchise from relocation, and along with a hall-of-fame sports icon turned vice-president (VP) and his youthful sidekick Flip, seeks to re-energize team by an infusion of fresh DNA and changed uniforms. A club is formed--Taylor.org--with the belief that parochial front office networking with former Gopher, Big Ten and Celtic greats will be the key to greatness. For a brief time, hope is high, as a threesome emerges to compete for the hearts and minds of the Minnesota sporting public. Success is fleeting, however, as front-office foibles and foul-ups cause two of the three to journey both west and east, leaving only one super-human alone to languish without help for years on end. The billionaire--seemingly under some sort of mind-meld emanating from our hall of famer--does the VP's bidding, signing mercenaries of reported disrepute to assist our one withering asset. For a single glorious year, order is restored and national fame is achieved. However the mercenaries--when not paid their excessive booty--rebel against our valiant club, causing the franchise to implode, nearly taking out loyal sidekick Flip, who after months of healing, wanders to Detroit to find his coaching "chi" again.
Meanwhile, our lone super hero begins to show signs of CLD--Chronic Losing Disease. Symptoms include looking wasted and hopeless in the 4th quarter along with paradoxical thinking, like using available Taylor.org resources to re-sign associates with limited talent, and demanding salary extensions that would extinguish any hope of acquiring the help needed to once again bring happiness to a restless and suspicious public. Tension between the VP and our lone hero grows, as the CLD only gets worse and the affliction threatens to spread throughout the entire organization, the irony being however that the VP is the carrier of the CLD--NOT the superstar. Increasingly besieged and isolated, the VP increases the intensity of the mind-meld on the local billionare, and begins to develop a plan. He must rid himself of the lone superstar before it's too late!
In the summer of 2007...the deed is done. Our one hero is dispatched to Boston, before the disease is irreversible. Within months, he is back to near peak health--with salary extensions intact. The Boston sporting public, having previously received gifts from other Minnesota sporting franchises, is thankful and energized. Having nearly rid themselves of all signs of their own CLD, they are looking forward AND upward to the rafters, where signs of previous glory hang from the ceiling.
News is not so good for the Midwestern homeland though. Trading the superstar did not halt the spread of CLD. In fact, much like an earlier transaction with the East Coast franchise, the CLD has only intensified and again threatens the entire organization. Our billionaire begins to show early signs of his own, giving bizarre interviews to local media, in hoping to convince the cynical public that time and the continuing expertise of our VP will be all that's needed to rid ourselves of this horrible affliction. The television color analyst takes the role of Chief Vindicator and attempts to misdirect the public. He often begins statements with "What people don't realize", or "what the ordinary fan doesn't know", in hopes of convincing the public that this affliction is not CLD, but merely a three to six year rash. Some of "the cultures" they received this time from Boston--along with local strains already developed, will prove themselves, he claims.
On the court, however, the results get only worse. "The cultures" sent from Boston sometimes show promise, only to fail by the 4th quarter. Turnovers, poor defense and shooting, and lack of execution all are taking it's toll on our team. To date mostly zeros exist.
Who will save us? Who will save them?
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Just like Coach drew it up...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Just before the actual game telecast on Channel 45, JB Bickerstaff was showing exactly how the Wolves were going to defend LeBron James that night. He spoke of how King James liked to work the left side, how the Cavs were going to clear space to exploit the defense, and how the Wolves were going to converge and make him give up the ball.
Wow. Who won that battle of strategy?
Yeah, they forced him to shoot jump shots in the second half, but the reality is he's a great closer, and he toasted the Wolves with clutch shot after clutch shot. James was a +14 for the night when only a few others on his injury riddled team decided to show up. The Wolves--by contrast--also have a few nicks, but again showed why this year is going to be rocky at best. They played harder than they did the last two games, and also notched 20 assists for the first time this season. However, the Cavs shot 20 more free throws than the Wolves, out rebounded the Pups, and had a slightly better field goal percentage than our club, in addition to having a player who's not afraid to take over the game when necessary.
In fact, I find LeBron is the perfect reply to those KG fans who ramble on about how Ticket didn't get the help he needed in Minnesota. Here's a guy that truly has taken lesser talent and at the right time, takes over games to lead his team to victory. Contrast that to KG, who plays maestro for three quarters, and now hands off the game to Ray Allen or Paul Pierce. KG may be an all around better player than James, but where he can't match the King is in those singular moments where the star has to shine brightly for the team to win. Five years into his career, James has done it many more times than KG has done it in 13. A primer for smaller market franchises: if you're going to pay one third of your cap to a single baller, then make sure he can do what James is doing for the Cavs. Seemingly, KG never quite understood the need to take significantly less money (not just the "discount" he took to get Sprewell and Cassell here) because, despite his greatness, he couldn't deliver in that one category--clutch 4th quarter shooting.
As for the Wolves, no one save Corey Brewer had a plus rating last night; technically Corey was at zero, but at least it wasn't negative. Jefferson had a good-to-great game, but also had five turnovers. Gerald Green probably will get some burn over the next few games off his performance as well. From a team viewpoint however, the Wolves are a collection of parts who are still trying to do too much individually on offense, and who don't defend well on defense. As time wears on, anyone paying attention to the players can see that, for example, Ryan Gomes should not be putting the ball on the floor--he's a spot up shooter. McCants is a talent, but not as talented as he thinks he is. No one on the club save Jefferson is a clutch finisher, which truly hurt the club last night.
Taking all these aspects into consideration, what improvements should we be looking for this year, since we will probably set the NBA single season record for losses ? The key will revolve around their identity. We hear a ton of talk from the Iron Ranger and Wittman about smash mouth basketball and throwing punches--real manly type of talk. The reality is right now the Wolves are still primarily a soft, jump shooting team. They have one true post player, and their offensive rebounding is better, but no team that gets to the line so infrequently, and plays as soft of defense as this club does can be labeled smash mouth or tough. At the end of the year if we have a core of players who have committed to that identity and know how to realize it, that should be one critical indicator of success.
If the fans can see progress in a core of players who show real commitment to developing and improving in all the "mental toughness" areas: defense, sharing the ball, 4th quarter play, etc, then hope can be legitimately sold. If what we've seen of the last three games is going to play out for the entire season, then I'm not sure a high draft choice will be enough to give any fans a sense that the current regime has any more clue than it did when KG was here to rebuild the team. It'll be like the Bickerstaff "chalk-talk" last night: great on paper, a failure on the court.
Just before the actual game telecast on Channel 45, JB Bickerstaff was showing exactly how the Wolves were going to defend LeBron James that night. He spoke of how King James liked to work the left side, how the Cavs were going to clear space to exploit the defense, and how the Wolves were going to converge and make him give up the ball.
Wow. Who won that battle of strategy?
Yeah, they forced him to shoot jump shots in the second half, but the reality is he's a great closer, and he toasted the Wolves with clutch shot after clutch shot. James was a +14 for the night when only a few others on his injury riddled team decided to show up. The Wolves--by contrast--also have a few nicks, but again showed why this year is going to be rocky at best. They played harder than they did the last two games, and also notched 20 assists for the first time this season. However, the Cavs shot 20 more free throws than the Wolves, out rebounded the Pups, and had a slightly better field goal percentage than our club, in addition to having a player who's not afraid to take over the game when necessary.
In fact, I find LeBron is the perfect reply to those KG fans who ramble on about how Ticket didn't get the help he needed in Minnesota. Here's a guy that truly has taken lesser talent and at the right time, takes over games to lead his team to victory. Contrast that to KG, who plays maestro for three quarters, and now hands off the game to Ray Allen or Paul Pierce. KG may be an all around better player than James, but where he can't match the King is in those singular moments where the star has to shine brightly for the team to win. Five years into his career, James has done it many more times than KG has done it in 13. A primer for smaller market franchises: if you're going to pay one third of your cap to a single baller, then make sure he can do what James is doing for the Cavs. Seemingly, KG never quite understood the need to take significantly less money (not just the "discount" he took to get Sprewell and Cassell here) because, despite his greatness, he couldn't deliver in that one category--clutch 4th quarter shooting.
As for the Wolves, no one save Corey Brewer had a plus rating last night; technically Corey was at zero, but at least it wasn't negative. Jefferson had a good-to-great game, but also had five turnovers. Gerald Green probably will get some burn over the next few games off his performance as well. From a team viewpoint however, the Wolves are a collection of parts who are still trying to do too much individually on offense, and who don't defend well on defense. As time wears on, anyone paying attention to the players can see that, for example, Ryan Gomes should not be putting the ball on the floor--he's a spot up shooter. McCants is a talent, but not as talented as he thinks he is. No one on the club save Jefferson is a clutch finisher, which truly hurt the club last night.
Taking all these aspects into consideration, what improvements should we be looking for this year, since we will probably set the NBA single season record for losses ? The key will revolve around their identity. We hear a ton of talk from the Iron Ranger and Wittman about smash mouth basketball and throwing punches--real manly type of talk. The reality is right now the Wolves are still primarily a soft, jump shooting team. They have one true post player, and their offensive rebounding is better, but no team that gets to the line so infrequently, and plays as soft of defense as this club does can be labeled smash mouth or tough. At the end of the year if we have a core of players who have committed to that identity and know how to realize it, that should be one critical indicator of success.
If the fans can see progress in a core of players who show real commitment to developing and improving in all the "mental toughness" areas: defense, sharing the ball, 4th quarter play, etc, then hope can be legitimately sold. If what we've seen of the last three games is going to play out for the entire season, then I'm not sure a high draft choice will be enough to give any fans a sense that the current regime has any more clue than it did when KG was here to rebuild the team. It'll be like the Bickerstaff "chalk-talk" last night: great on paper, a failure on the court.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The "Weak" in Review
It's gonna be a l-o-o-o-n-n-g season.
After winning their first game last Wednesday, and watching the first three quarters of the Washington game on NBA League Pass, I thought I was witnessing growth on the part of this club. Whoops. This was the "take one step forward, two back" type of effort from the Wolves. One thing the Iron Ranger said after the KG trade has come true: players are jockeying for positions of leadership and dominance on this team, and it ain't working.
Case in point: Rashad McCants. He was number one all night against Sac-town, but played like number two against Washington and New Orleans. If he can stay healthy and keep his head on straight, he can be a second or third option on this club, and maybe a designated dagger on some nights. But his shot troubles me, to the point where if adjustments aren't made, I'm wondering about his long term future in this league. If you look closely at his shot, his arc toward the basket is not the classic rainbow, nor is it as flat as KG's when he first came into the league. I've noticed him starting to front rim more shots, which is indicative of what happens when people start to lose their leg strength, especially long-in-the-tooth veterans. He seems to have his quickness back, but if another micro-fracture incident occurs, I think his shot drops off dramatically. I would start working on putting more arc (and touch) on his shot.
Then there are the turnovers. Currently he's 8th in the league with 3.7 turnovers, and a turnover to assist ratio of .46. For a team that wants to transition to a more smashmouth type of game, clearly this gent can't be the main option. It's sexy to fall in love with his shot when it's falling, but the rest of his game hasn't developed. I think his game flourishes when AJ learns how to pass out of the double team better, and draws folks in. It's great that he wants to be a leader, but leadership doesn't necessarily mean BMOT--Big Man on Team.
Other issues: Defense.
The Wolves have actually gotten worse the last five games in their point differential; they've allowed their opposition 10 more points than they have scored. True, the last two games have skewed that average, but for a team struggling to win, this almost seemed like they took a night off Saturday. Already. Their defense--particularly around the perimeter--is awful. They can't stop dribble penetration or prevent teams from getting a great look from downtown. Their zone is very soft, not good when you're trying to establish some sort of identity or chemistry. This can be possibly be explained by more playing time together, but as has been pointed out before, the Wolves have never been particularly good at team defense.
Issue #2: Sharing the ball.
I've harped on this from the beginning, but the club is still under 20 assists a game. Not that I'm a big Hoosiers fan or anything, but that whole three passes things before shooting generally isn't a bad idea. And, there are simply too many times where AJ doesn't touch the ball. Rashad--and the rest of the club--need to defer to him, and he needs to respond in kind with passes out of the double or triple team.
Issue #3: Coaching. For a supposed young team in search of identity or chemistry, early on it's the coach who makes the difference. How? By setting goals, establishing boundaries and being consistent in his or her message. Wittman hasn't been bad, but he hasn't been that great either. The reality is that he himself doesn't have that much head coaching experience. You see this in being unable to establish a true rotation or enforce a pecking order, and not being able to make adjustments, especially in the fourth quarter, where good teams always step up and make a run. It's early yet, but Coach Wittman needs reinforce his vision by clear decisive moves. He's made a lot of moves, but they're very random, like he's searching for something--anything--to work.
Finally, Issue# 4: Veteran leadership. Here's where I think Buckner, Ratliff and Antoine Walker have been pretty good, Walker in particular. Antoine has played hard, not settled for just the three, and seems like--at least so far--a pretty good teammate. Contrast that to the train wreck in Miami, where Ricky Davis has continued his quick shooting ways, and the player formerly known as the second best center in the Western Conference is causing heads to scratch everywhere, except in Minnesota and Boston. That trade doesn't look so lopsided now!
One last comment: Another subject I harp on way too often, but I can't help but notice the arrogance Jim Pete has for the common fan. Often, you will hear him preface many remarks with "what people don't realize", or "what the average fan doesn't understand". Mr. Petersen, actually I think a lot of us do understand more than you give us credit for. Let's be clear once and for all; you were absolutely mistaken about the first Boston trade, and about Mike James and Mark Blount. I'll give you your due because you played the game at the pro level, but you were a journeyman at best, and have been wrong enough in your player evaluations and insights into the game to make you no better than a garden variety knowledgeable person who's kept up via stats, occasional arena appearances, and blogs. You're fortunate to be at the broadcast table, so treat the dwindling Wolves fan base with some amount of respect. The way the club is playing, you're going to need every last one of us.
After winning their first game last Wednesday, and watching the first three quarters of the Washington game on NBA League Pass, I thought I was witnessing growth on the part of this club. Whoops. This was the "take one step forward, two back" type of effort from the Wolves. One thing the Iron Ranger said after the KG trade has come true: players are jockeying for positions of leadership and dominance on this team, and it ain't working.
Case in point: Rashad McCants. He was number one all night against Sac-town, but played like number two against Washington and New Orleans. If he can stay healthy and keep his head on straight, he can be a second or third option on this club, and maybe a designated dagger on some nights. But his shot troubles me, to the point where if adjustments aren't made, I'm wondering about his long term future in this league. If you look closely at his shot, his arc toward the basket is not the classic rainbow, nor is it as flat as KG's when he first came into the league. I've noticed him starting to front rim more shots, which is indicative of what happens when people start to lose their leg strength, especially long-in-the-tooth veterans. He seems to have his quickness back, but if another micro-fracture incident occurs, I think his shot drops off dramatically. I would start working on putting more arc (and touch) on his shot.
Then there are the turnovers. Currently he's 8th in the league with 3.7 turnovers, and a turnover to assist ratio of .46. For a team that wants to transition to a more smashmouth type of game, clearly this gent can't be the main option. It's sexy to fall in love with his shot when it's falling, but the rest of his game hasn't developed. I think his game flourishes when AJ learns how to pass out of the double team better, and draws folks in. It's great that he wants to be a leader, but leadership doesn't necessarily mean BMOT--Big Man on Team.
Other issues: Defense.
The Wolves have actually gotten worse the last five games in their point differential; they've allowed their opposition 10 more points than they have scored. True, the last two games have skewed that average, but for a team struggling to win, this almost seemed like they took a night off Saturday. Already. Their defense--particularly around the perimeter--is awful. They can't stop dribble penetration or prevent teams from getting a great look from downtown. Their zone is very soft, not good when you're trying to establish some sort of identity or chemistry. This can be possibly be explained by more playing time together, but as has been pointed out before, the Wolves have never been particularly good at team defense.
Issue #2: Sharing the ball.
I've harped on this from the beginning, but the club is still under 20 assists a game. Not that I'm a big Hoosiers fan or anything, but that whole three passes things before shooting generally isn't a bad idea. And, there are simply too many times where AJ doesn't touch the ball. Rashad--and the rest of the club--need to defer to him, and he needs to respond in kind with passes out of the double or triple team.
Issue #3: Coaching. For a supposed young team in search of identity or chemistry, early on it's the coach who makes the difference. How? By setting goals, establishing boundaries and being consistent in his or her message. Wittman hasn't been bad, but he hasn't been that great either. The reality is that he himself doesn't have that much head coaching experience. You see this in being unable to establish a true rotation or enforce a pecking order, and not being able to make adjustments, especially in the fourth quarter, where good teams always step up and make a run. It's early yet, but Coach Wittman needs reinforce his vision by clear decisive moves. He's made a lot of moves, but they're very random, like he's searching for something--anything--to work.
Finally, Issue# 4: Veteran leadership. Here's where I think Buckner, Ratliff and Antoine Walker have been pretty good, Walker in particular. Antoine has played hard, not settled for just the three, and seems like--at least so far--a pretty good teammate. Contrast that to the train wreck in Miami, where Ricky Davis has continued his quick shooting ways, and the player formerly known as the second best center in the Western Conference is causing heads to scratch everywhere, except in Minnesota and Boston. That trade doesn't look so lopsided now!
One last comment: Another subject I harp on way too often, but I can't help but notice the arrogance Jim Pete has for the common fan. Often, you will hear him preface many remarks with "what people don't realize", or "what the average fan doesn't understand". Mr. Petersen, actually I think a lot of us do understand more than you give us credit for. Let's be clear once and for all; you were absolutely mistaken about the first Boston trade, and about Mike James and Mark Blount. I'll give you your due because you played the game at the pro level, but you were a journeyman at best, and have been wrong enough in your player evaluations and insights into the game to make you no better than a garden variety knowledgeable person who's kept up via stats, occasional arena appearances, and blogs. You're fortunate to be at the broadcast table, so treat the dwindling Wolves fan base with some amount of respect. The way the club is playing, you're going to need every last one of us.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Lost Weekend
Doug Collins is right.
We are the worst team in the league.
Seattle may still give us a run for the money, but after watching the club this weekend, we "win" by a sprained ankle. Randy Wittman, mouth agape like someone just killed his dog in the front yard, must be checking the karma scope for what he did in his past lives to deserve two "set-up to fail" NBA head coaching opportunities. Membership in Taylor.org does come with some responsibilities though; he's been around here long enough to understand that. Every group needs the Fall Guy...Randy's time is now; his tenure may run for at least this year and the next.
The optimists in the room might offer that there are plenty of 0-fer teams still in the standings. Taking a look at the statistics, teams like Washington are solidly ahead of us in giving up points per game. I ask anyone, who would you pick to win in a Wizards-Wolves match up? How about the Heat or Warriors? Only Seattle makes you stop and think about it for a second.
The fallacy of the whole youth argument is that the players we received in the KG trade weren't rookies, each of them have enough years in the league for evaluators to know whether or not they have an upside. Their chronological age may be young, but most of the folks are in their make or break 3 or 4th year. In the case of Jefferson and Telfair, this is their 4th year in the league. Green and Gomes in their 3rd. Given that any team--except Boston, it seems--generally needs time to mesh in cases of extreme roster upheaval, these first five or so games provide a ready made excuse for those who bought into the starting over argument. But players should be figuring it out by this time in their professional career. It's the amount of games--not chronological age. This is where the hype of Taylor.org does deserve credit for lowering the bar. Youth and roster upheaval--what can we possibly expect? Keep those dollars flowing folks...after a couple of years, we'll maybe get back to playoff contention. It's up to us as fans to expect--and demand--more, namely:
1) Defense. It's sexy to have a shot blocker for those 4 or 5 plays a game where the ball gets swatted away. Theo's fighting the good fight, but what about the other 40 or so other plays that get run? Jim Pete correctly pointed out last night that the perimeter defense of the Wolves has been traditionally bad. This is not a particular coaching problem, it permeates the entire organization. How about a little smash-mouth at the defensive end of the court fellas? It's also clear that if anyone was planning to have AJ play the 5 for more than 10 minutes a game, they should have their head examined--since firings seem to be few and far between at Taylor.org. I enjoy watching Jefferson on the low block and rebound, but his defense is suspect, especially at center.
2) Sharing the ball. If it's true--as Britt Robson offers--that we lack talent, then finding the way to share the ball is paramount. We're averaging just under 20 assists a game; teams such as the Jazz and Celtics are around 28 and 26 respectively. We need to move the ball and establish the pecking order, to find match ups we actually can exploit. Inside out with AJ as first option. Like his defense, he will have to be better at passing the ball out of double teams, but there's the All-Star challenge for the young man. And, not much pick and roll so far. Sharing the ball is an aspect of chemistry and BBall IQ, so one would expect if they really do want to win, instead of reverting to "me-first on the playground" ball this should be hammered home for the entire season. Anyone who wants to stay here should make that commitment.
Those two dynamics are indications of effort--not talent. If you want to threaten people with watching what could be a historical amount of losses for one season (Doug Collins was on that team, BTW), then instead of merely selling chemistry and loyalty in your marketing campaign, how about actually displaying it?
We are the worst team in the league.
Seattle may still give us a run for the money, but after watching the club this weekend, we "win" by a sprained ankle. Randy Wittman, mouth agape like someone just killed his dog in the front yard, must be checking the karma scope for what he did in his past lives to deserve two "set-up to fail" NBA head coaching opportunities. Membership in Taylor.org does come with some responsibilities though; he's been around here long enough to understand that. Every group needs the Fall Guy...Randy's time is now; his tenure may run for at least this year and the next.
The optimists in the room might offer that there are plenty of 0-fer teams still in the standings. Taking a look at the statistics, teams like Washington are solidly ahead of us in giving up points per game. I ask anyone, who would you pick to win in a Wizards-Wolves match up? How about the Heat or Warriors? Only Seattle makes you stop and think about it for a second.
The fallacy of the whole youth argument is that the players we received in the KG trade weren't rookies, each of them have enough years in the league for evaluators to know whether or not they have an upside. Their chronological age may be young, but most of the folks are in their make or break 3 or 4th year. In the case of Jefferson and Telfair, this is their 4th year in the league. Green and Gomes in their 3rd. Given that any team--except Boston, it seems--generally needs time to mesh in cases of extreme roster upheaval, these first five or so games provide a ready made excuse for those who bought into the starting over argument. But players should be figuring it out by this time in their professional career. It's the amount of games--not chronological age. This is where the hype of Taylor.org does deserve credit for lowering the bar. Youth and roster upheaval--what can we possibly expect? Keep those dollars flowing folks...after a couple of years, we'll maybe get back to playoff contention. It's up to us as fans to expect--and demand--more, namely:
1) Defense. It's sexy to have a shot blocker for those 4 or 5 plays a game where the ball gets swatted away. Theo's fighting the good fight, but what about the other 40 or so other plays that get run? Jim Pete correctly pointed out last night that the perimeter defense of the Wolves has been traditionally bad. This is not a particular coaching problem, it permeates the entire organization. How about a little smash-mouth at the defensive end of the court fellas? It's also clear that if anyone was planning to have AJ play the 5 for more than 10 minutes a game, they should have their head examined--since firings seem to be few and far between at Taylor.org. I enjoy watching Jefferson on the low block and rebound, but his defense is suspect, especially at center.
2) Sharing the ball. If it's true--as Britt Robson offers--that we lack talent, then finding the way to share the ball is paramount. We're averaging just under 20 assists a game; teams such as the Jazz and Celtics are around 28 and 26 respectively. We need to move the ball and establish the pecking order, to find match ups we actually can exploit. Inside out with AJ as first option. Like his defense, he will have to be better at passing the ball out of double teams, but there's the All-Star challenge for the young man. And, not much pick and roll so far. Sharing the ball is an aspect of chemistry and BBall IQ, so one would expect if they really do want to win, instead of reverting to "me-first on the playground" ball this should be hammered home for the entire season. Anyone who wants to stay here should make that commitment.
Those two dynamics are indications of effort--not talent. If you want to threaten people with watching what could be a historical amount of losses for one season (Doug Collins was on that team, BTW), then instead of merely selling chemistry and loyalty in your marketing campaign, how about actually displaying it?
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