Game #67, Road Game #35, Minnesota 95, Sacramento 89
1. Fine Points
There probably was a game way back in the Casey-coaching days of '06 when both Randy Foye and Mike James played with confidence, aggression, and efficiency, but it sure felt like a revelation in a water-for-the-parched win over Sacramento last night. It matters only a little that the Kings' Mike Bibby may be the most overrated point guard in the league and has never played decent defense--there have been literally dozens of games when James and/or Foye haven't bothered to look for penetration off the dribble, or even a quick crossover or two that would free them up from outside. Instead, "better safe than sorry" seemed to be the mantra in their heads, instilled either by overcoaching or their own memory demons. Not so last night, as the pair (who never played together) combined for 36 points, 6 assists and just 2 turnovers in 48 minutes.
Two-thirds of those point and assist totals were Foye's, registered in barely more than half the minutes-played. Foye was also a +9 to James's -3. But this is not the time to denigrate James just because, for a boatload of reasons, he has no business starting at this juncture of the season. For the third straight game he stopped playing like a deer in the headlights, even anticipating a lazy inbounds pass for a steal and layup midway through the third quarter, one of three layups he converted in the period en route to a team-high 10 points that helped the Wolves hang around until Foye could take over the game with 14 points in the 4th quarter.
Where has that Randy Foye been lately? "Learning" the point guard position, apparently. Whether it was Foye or Wittman or whoever who decided it was time to take the shackles off and "let Foye be Foye," it certainly helps put some juice back in the rook's self-regard, right in sync with three upcoming games against Seattle's Luke Ridenour (twice) and Portland's Jarrett Jack, a pair of foes over which a flourishing Foye enjoys a distinct advantage.
Two more things. We all know that ex-coach Dwane Casey is looking smarter all the time in absentia, and it is interesting to note that Wittman reverted back to Casey's old substitution pattern with Foye last night, playing him almost exclusively in the second and fourth periods. On that note, the ever helpful Wolves stat guru, Paul Swanson, sent along this interesting bit of info in the wee hours of the night/morn.
Inspired by Randy Foye's game-clinching jumper with :16.8 remaining at Sacramento:
2006-07 Minnesota Timberwolves
Scoring in Last 24 Seconds of 4th Quarters & Overtime Periods
(through Mar. 21)
Player FGM-A 3FG-A FTM-A Pts
Foye 11-21 2- 4 10-10 34
Garnett 6-20 3-10 13-16 28
Davis 9-23 3- 7 6- 8 27
James 3- 7 2- 3 8- 9 16
Blount 4- 6 2- 2 0- 2 10
McCants 2- 2 1- 1 2- 2 7
Hassell 1- 3 0- 0 4- 4 6
Hudson 1- 4 1- 2 2- 2 5
Smith 1- 2 0- 1 2- 2 4
Reed 1- 4 0- 0 0- 0 2
Wright 1- 3 0- 1 0- 0 2
Jaric 0- 2 0- 1 1- 2 1
Madsen 0- 2 0- 0 0- 0 0
Griffin 0- 1 0- 1 0- 0 0
Now Swanny's list doesn't include minutes played or assists, but it is pretty clear that Foye is the go-to guy, the Cassell replacement this team envisioned as James's role heading into the season (and it should be noted that James's numbers aren't that shabby here).
The other thing Wittman did well last night was realize the synergy that occurs when Foye and Marko Jaric play together. All but 43 seconds of Jaric's 21:52 came alongside Foye last night, and it is no coincidence that he was a team-high +15. In fact it bears noting that the Wolves staged their 4th quarter comeback with 4/5 of the same lineup that earned the comeback over Indiana: KG/Smith/Foye/Jaric, with Ricky Davis subbing in for Rashad McCants this time as the 5th man.
2. The Big Banger Theory
With Brad Miller and Kenny Thomas both waylaid with injuries, the Kings went with a frontcourt of Sharif Abdur-Rahim and Corliss Williamson. Since Garnett lunches on Ab-Ra every time they play, Sac coach Eric Musselman wisely decided to matchup with Sharif on Blount and Williamson on KG.
Unfortunately, Williamson had his way with Garnett in the first period, going off for 10 points and 6 rebounds to propel Sacramento to a 28-22 margin. Williamson would only get 7 points and 4 boards the rest of the game while playing 37:07, and KG hauled in a game-high 18 rebounds, so everything was all right in the end. But it once again drove home the point that the biggest need for this ballclub by a wide wide margin is acquiring a big banger who can patrol and intimidate in the paint, allowing Garnett to avoid the wear-and-tear that his injury-resistant body continually absorbs.
This isn't solely for Garnett's sake (although easing life and maximizing production for your superstar is Priority One for most ballclubs that have one); it would dramatically improve Minnesota's competitiveness. Don't forget that the most successful season in team history was accomplished with the hydra-headed trio of Erv Johnson, Mark Madsen and Michael Olowokandi rotating in at center. Of those three, an already aging Erv started because he set the tone on the court as well as in the locker room: Stay at home down low. Box out. Communicate on defense. Don't worry about how many points you score; just anchor the defense and allow no easy points in the paint. This is a lesson that undersized Craig Smith (+10 last night, second only to Jaric) understands. Players like this really aren't *that* hard to find for a million or two a year. Instead, we have Blount for more than 6 million.
On that note, here is another part of the Paul Swanson package from late last night:
2006-07 Minnesota Timberwolves
Offensive Fouls Drawn
(through Mar. 21)
Smith 21
Davis 17
Blount 13
Garnett 11
Foye 10
Madsen 10
Hassell 7
Reed 7
Jaric 6
James 5
Hudson 3
Griffin 2
McCants 2
Wright 1
2006-07 Minnesota Timberwolves
Plus/Minus by Month
(through Mar. 21)
Player G Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Tot
Blount 67 + 3 -21 -37 -62 -80 -197
Davis 66 -24 +38 +34 -35 -98 - 85
Foye 67 +17 -45 -12 -24 -25 - 89
Garnett 66 +18 +48 +40 -16 -54 + 36
Hassell 62 -16 +14 +22 -73 -18 - 71
Hudson 34 + 8 +21 -43 - 7 -45 - 66
James 67 -33 - 6 -25 -42 -24 -130
Jaric 60 +17 -26 -60 +15 -53 -107
Madsen 45 + 7 -16 +40 -20 - 3 + 8
McCants 23 DNP DNP + 1 - 7 +27 + 21
Reed 33 + 2 - 7 -28 - 5 + 7 - 31
Smith 67 + 6 +15 -44 -20 -21 - 64
Wright 14 + 6 - 4 +27 - 4 + 2 + 27
x-Griffin 13 -46 -26 DNP DNP DNP - 72
Wolves 67 - 7 - 3 -17 -60 -77 -164
You'll note that despite low minutes and the fact that we gets robbed by the refs at least half the time on these borderline charging-or-blocking calls, Smith has made taking charges something of a specialty (second only to Joe Smith in Wolves's history; it must be the mundane last name that compels such unsung behavior). To be fair, Blount also takes more than his share (ditto RD). But move on to the plus/minus totals. Blount's plus/minus is the worst on the squad by a wide margin, and the worst over the past two months as the Wolves have swooned. Davis is second, and the worst in the month of March.
Of all the confounding things about this franchise, their inability to secure and nurture at least one decent banger throughout their history--Felton Spencer comes closest, and they traded him after three years--is the most inexplicable, and Exhibit A in the mishandling of KG's career.
3. Quick Takes
I think I'll stop bashing Ricky Davis long enough to note that he had another really good game last night, helping Jaric (and to a lesser extent, Trenton Hassell) put the clamps on Kevin Martin and Ron Artest (although Martin missed a bevy of open j's and Artest was the "bad" Artest in terms of shot selection and overall team corrosion). Ricky even guarded Bibby a little bit to throw him off at the start of the game. He was a dishing maestro, with his 7 assists not doing his passing justice because of the would-be dimes that prompted fouls or easy misses, and the pass-before-the-assist-pass momentum that he stoked. To cap it off, he nailed a pair of crucial treys in crunchtime. Much as I wanted McCants on the floor for that final comeback (for the good of the future, which should be the point right now), to win this game on this night, Davis was the right choice.
Since the ankle sprain (and actually a bit before then), Hassell has had trouble finding his niche. Right now the ballclub clearly performs better with Jaric in the lineup. It really is a contrast of styles: Jaric runs around like the absent-minded professor, making all sorts of good and terrible things happen. Hassell is steady as Grandpa Molasses, making sure no opponent gets an easy look at the hoop and kind of ensuring the same for his teammates with his current inability to hit an open J or force the opposing D to respond to him in any other meaningful fashion.
IMHO: The less said about the playoffs, the better. One, it isn't going to happen. Two, if it does, the Wolves will lose a draft pick and suffer enormous embarrassment on a national stage in the first round, goading KG in the direction of bolting. Anyone who remembers my rant over the Madsen's clownfest in last year's finale knows my take on tanking. You honor the game and your karma by putting forth your best effort. Fortunately, in this case it means playing a young lineup--something Coach Wittman (who needs to go 12-3 to match Casey's .500 mark) either doesn't understand, or, as has been speculated by others, knows full well as he conducts a guerrilla campaign to get that draft pick.
No comments on Brandon Wright. It would be nice to have a younger, do it all power forward while McCants and Foye are taking most of the shots. He was pretty monstrous in the second half last night. I would also feel pretty good about Yi, although I haven't seen him play.
For those counting, that's Oden, Durant, B Wright, Yi, and Horford. 5 picks where I can't expect us to get better than #6 unless we throw Troy back in the mix.
Which makes me think, with all the talk about the apparent tanking of the season, do you think McHale got a call from Stern asking for an explanation on Hudson seeing floor time? Why would he be getting so many minutes and suddenly go to zero?
Re: Hibbert
Yes, he's slow, but so was Big Erv Johnson when he was with the Wolves. But he was still able to anchor the defense and that's what the Wolves need for a big man that they will never get from Blount.
That said, I'm drooling over Horford, too. It's just I don't see that happening unless the Wolves luck into the top 3, since if I'm remembering lottery protocol correctly, it's only the top 3 picks that are up for grabs and then after that, the remaining teams are slotted according to records? Hopefully someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Last I checked, the free agent class in the coming year is pretty thin at the PF/C positions. If anyone has some legit potential signings...I'd love to hear them.
On to the draft...Assuming the Wolves continue to tank, Al Horford would be a great pickup if the Wolves can land in the top 5. I have been extremely impressed with his game in the tourney. And he is a legit 6'9 with strength. Would look great next to KG.
Noah wouldn't be a bad late lotto pick either. He'd never be a star in the NBA, but reminds me of Varejao (and not just the funny hair). High energy, solid defense, and fundamentals. Great guy coming off the bench.
I was not terribly impressed with Acie Law. Jeff Green and Nick Young are nice prospects, but I think the Wolves should avoid more SG/SFs unless they are can't miss star players. Haven't seen Hibbert, but by all accounts he is big and slooowww.
Fresh off another winnable game, this time to Seattle without Ray Allen, it's time to revisit NBA prospects since it appears we're going to have a pretty good pick.
Of the bigs left in the tournament, I've been most impressed with Horford of Florida. The guy is an absolute beast. He's the big banger type that would fill the Twolves biggest need. I'd rank these guys as follows
Horford - Florida
Hibbert - Georgetown
Noah - Florida
Oden - OSU
I think Oden has a lot of promise but he's too raw for the NBA. All he's done is get into a lot of foul trouble and the Bucks have actually performed the best in the crunch without him. I think Noah will be a very good player in the NBA because of his intelligence more than his athleticism.
As far as the PG's, the best is OSU's Conley by far. Texas A&M Acie Law is also pretty good but I see him as more of a #2 in the pros.
Good call from Andy B regarding Acie Law as a player the Wolves should think about. The first time I saw Acie play I thought of him as a potentially great fit for the Wolfies.
We all know that the team needs a banger, but free agency may be a good option there.
I say screw the lottery - go for wins now - if that really is possible? - and work with free agency.
No fight picked Snyder... we're all on the same sinking ship here.
I misunderstood your thoughts on Thabeet. If we can get another big body (especially a 7'3" big body) in the second round, I'm all for it. Heck I would take Greg Eslinger for a big body in the 2nd round. After all, he's comfortable pushing people around and played center his whole time here at the U.
The Wolves have reduced our lower level season tickets by $10 a seat/game if we renew for next year by April 1. I'm an idiot and have been courtside now for all 17 years, so of course I'll do it. However, it does show how desparate the Wolves are to keep their shrinking fan base (even more threatened now by the U hiring Tubby Smith and instilling some possible legitimacy in that program again.)
That being said, someone inside the Wolves management suggested to me that the reduced ticket pricing might be laying the groundwork for the eventual trading of KG. I hope it isn't so.
P.S. Again, Craig Smith produced, where Mark Blount merely shoots.
Not to pick fights, but here's another take on Thabeet from ESPN's draft profile:
Positives: He's huge. Big-time rebounder and shot blocker. Excellent athlete who runs the floor very well. Explosive leaper. Good hands. Developing offensive game. Has added a nice turnaround jumper. Appears to be a fast learner ... his play seems to improve from game to game.
Negatives: He's still very raw, especially offensively. Still learning the game. Needs to add strength to his lower body. Has difficulty holding his position in the block. Poor free throw shooter.
That said, I'll also note he's slotted for late-first to early-second round, so I guess I wouldn't consider him with a top-ten pick if the Wolves have one, but I'd sure use a 2nd round pick on him since there's not much to lose in that case.
Hopefully, if the Wolves do keep their pick, they can find something better to do with it than yet another SG/SF that all the mock drafts seem to be predicting...
Jesse -
I'm not necessarily saying McCants *deserves* to start per se, it's just a way that we can quote unquote "tank" some games with the excuse of "developing our young guys." Maybe McCants will turn into something (I don't think he will ever mount to much) but at least we could try and develope some chemistry with him, Foye, and KG. That's all.
I try to avoid reading the strib and the pipress. Political reasons for the pipress and for the fact that they really have no insight into the game. Yeah we all bitch, but um, at least coming here people back their gripes up with reasonablly logical responses and explanations instead of half backed over used phrases and quotes. Simply, reading those two publications makes my brain go stale, fast. I honestly don't beleive that the sports writers put forth half the effort as Britt or for that matter, any of the people commenting. They have long since lost their passsion for the game. I mean the other side of the game with the other side of the passion. This is the part that connects us together as fans. The 3 pointer has provided fans a sounding board, a reasoning track, and more importantly, the connectedness we have the passion we have. I don't doubt for a second that the writers at the strib and pipress are NBA lovers, and MLB, NHL etc... but their focuse is so broad that I don't think they give it 110% to the T wolves. Nor do I expect them to come with it everytime, who could. But for the love of all that's good, could they please have some insight? And that is the passion I'm talking about. Not a love for the game, but the love of comiseration and elation.
Thanks for the clarification on the numbers. I go to the T wolves site to read the post game quotes more than anything.
To college wolf,
Sadly I think you're right, Ricky Davis will be here next season. And probably starting. My hope and dream is he's gone in an effort to ditch poor attitude and also get some position need and maybe move into the draft.
Is McCants a starter? I'm not sure I've seen enough of him to call him anything but trying to make a come back after a serious knee injury. It would take more than what I've seen so far to give him a starting nod over Hassel or Jaric. And even then I'm not so sure Hassel should be starting. Bruce Bowen did fine off the bench for many years. If a guy like Kobe or Melo is just going nuts, then send in Hassel to see if he can cool him off. I'm not even sure they should try Foye at thepoint guard spot.
Notice in the end of last night's game, various people moved the ball up court. What I saw was Foye moving well without the ball, looking for set ups. He was used like D wade in a sense and I think that really played to his strengths. He didn't need to set guys up, protect the ball, distribute clean 100% of the time. He had some freedom to go out and make space with and without the ball.
Andy B, I loved your comparison of Ricky to a baseball player. It really fits in my opinion. Puts a finger on what I haven't.
As far as that worst case scenario, not making the playoffs losing our pick would be devestating. That's why I'm screaming they have to find another way into the first round this year. Rebuilding takes draft picks. Um the WOlves don't have a betting track record in my book. So -2 first rounders and who knows, if they trade Ricky, they'll prolly throw in another 1 st round pick.
Don't big guys tend to develop more slowly as they adjust to the pro game, as well? So even if we got a quality F/C in the draft it might take a few seasons before he really reached his potential, which is too late for KG's timetable (though hopefully he could make a positive contribution before that).
Ideally (if we missed out on Oden and Durant) we could still follow Andy B's plan to draft someone like Acie Law and then sign/trade for an established veteran big guy.
I haven't read the article or comments yet because I like to wait and then print them all off at once to read on the bus, but I noticed you guys are talking about draft picks in the upcoming draft.
Unlike some fans that seem to want us to lose all our games every season (so that they just have something to bitch about), that isn't the case with me. I realize what's at stake and a top pick in this draft would do wonders for us. We've been losing the past two years so what is the last 20 games of this season if we can get a potentially huge reward?
I can't wait to listen to what people have to say when we (still) finish out of the playoffs AND have no draft pick due to us winning meaningless games at the end of the season.
Yeah, a few extra wins are great for our culture and future.... Builds character... blah blah blah no it doesn't, not with the crew of headcases one can find on our roster. Ricky Davis, Hudson, Blount, James, and Jaric won't give two shits about us finishing in the void. A few extra wins won't improve their attitudes. Is it better to win 35 games and have no draft pick than win 31 games and have a draft pick in this loaded draft???
As for what we should have/be doing for the rest of the season:
Maybe you could start by NOT playing KG 40+ minutes EVERY game. What the hell are they trying to do, destroy his legs? Rest him for god's sake.
Secondly, how about start FOYE. He's our future isn't he? I mean, I'm not his biggest fan but he should at least be starting during this trainwreck of a season.... ESPECIALLY considering we have started James for two campaigns and even HUDSON of all people got his chance to start.
Start McCants at SG and Davis at SF. McCants is our future too right? I hate him, but at least let him play with the other youngsters and KG. Why are we playing overpriced, crappy vets with bad attitudes. What the f*** does that accomplish? Play the young-ins with KG so that they get a feel for each other and gel. At least that could help our future, rather than winning a few extra games with the attitudes we've got while the young guys sit......................................... geeeeesh.
Whatever though, obviously I'm not in charge. I hate our entire front office and "Country Club."
Snyder:
hasheem thabeet is a big stiff. Although he can block shots, at 7'3", he doesn't rebound. He has no offensive game, yet doesn't want to hustle or work hard.
Along with Jesse, I would be pretty ticked if they drafted a shooting guard, point guard or security guard. Fortunately, I don't think any guards will be in the top 10 unless Tywon Lawson helps bring NC to the championships. I still wouldn't want him drafted by the wolves.
Jessie - I agree with you on the big guy point. If one were abailable when the Wolves draft, I'd definately take a big over a guard. I do think that Foye can develop into a very good NBA point guard. I have like what I've seen of Law so far. If he is the best player available when the Wolves draft, I'd definately take him and consider trading either McCants or Foye to play along side him in the hopes of getting a serviceable big in return.
There is a scenario wher the Wolves finish out of the draft running to their benefit, if Oden or Durant return for another year of college. If The WOlves don't have a chance at gettig either of the two this year, then perhaps their pick is better off going to the Clips with the Wolves suffering through a genuine and proclaimed rebuilding year - next year - with the hopes of getting a top pick for either of these two big guys - who appear to be the two with the biggest upside and chance to be NBA superstars. Taking a big guy just because he is big, might net you a Paul Grant.
Jesse and others--
If you like the numbers, thank Paul Swanson, one of the more intelligent hoops guys in town and the person most responsible for putting together the "Game Notes" you can read as a PDF file on the Wolves home web page.
Second, I do see some of Swanny's stuff reprinted elsewhere, although only occasionally verbatim, in the Strib and PiPress.
Andy B, if the Wolves do get a high draft pick this year I will be very upset if they take another guard, point or not, I'm not sold that Mike James and Foye or Jaric and Foye couldn't work in the long run.
I would hope they do whatever they could to move up and grab one of the big men that might be there. Think, buy a later 1st rounder, add our high pick in, maybe a 2nd rounder and one of our players for a very high pick.
I think it's clear no one really wants to come to Minnestoa and play. They couldn't even get a second tier big man in here in the off season. You know they tried. They can't really trade for one either. No one wants our long over paid contracts.
So getting a big through the draft would be the smartest in my opinion.
Britt, the numbers were awesome once again! I enjoy those very much because I have yet to see anything similar in any other major publication or site. Really helpful and insightful. Keep up the good work. Loved the 3 pointer.
I just read a Bill Simmons column that tipped me off to NBADraft.net
Wolves are currently slotted at #9 selecting someone named Nick Young, a SG out of USC, who is compared to Josh Howard (oh, the irony).
Question, since I'm in agreement with Britt that they playoffs aren't happening, even after last night's nice win: even if Nick Young is another Josh Howard, doesn't it make way more sense to draft someone like Roy Hibbert or Hasheem Thabeet (if they come out) even if they are rated lower overall?
My great fear, with this win and any others, is that the wolves will be in a position where lottery luck by others could push them below pick # 10. I don't know if anyone remembers (LAETTNERLAETTNERLAETTNER) but the wolves haven't had the best lottery luck in the past. If the wolves don't pick up a banger this year, preferably one with quick upside, I don't know if I'll be able to watch the product next year. No draft pick, plus the possibility that Wittman isn't stealth tanking the season, is too terrifying for me to consider.
Oh thank you Britt and everyone else. I honestly, after that game, I got to thinking about how similar the substitutions were to Casey. I was like, yeah but no one will see it that way, you're just a Whittman hater. Well, I am a Whittman hater and he did copy Casey. So why did we go through all this garbage only to have Whittman be stale and unoriginal? Because he can't do anything right. If I was Casey I would sue him if I could.
About Mike James. The guy is good sometimes. And that's only his offense. He still doesn't try on D and he really doesn't deserve the minutes. If you're gonna pull Blount for lazy D, then you should stay uniform no? And pull James. 25 minutes for Foye is not enough.
So now what? Are we going to make the playoffs? Is Rany going to start? I suppose the tank mode line is not yet forth coming from t wolves management? Bye bye draft pick? Even in a win this team is making my head hurt.
Re: Sabremetric McCants
I found your stats interesting with regard to McCants, especially in the face of some of the criticism he's received lately.
First, while Foye's "last 24 seconds" stats are clearly the most impressive thing on the list, I found it interesting that McCants is sixth on the team in scoring on perfect shooting (from the field, from 3, and from the line) despite the fact that he's played only a fraction of the season and his offensive game has been clearly broke. Maybe those were all meaningless games, not sure, but still caught my eye.
Secondly, and more significantly, McCants is the only rotation-player this month with a positive +/- effect since he started getting minutes this month. He tops the team by a WIDE margin for this month at +27, with his competition for minutes Ricky Davis at -98 (team worst) and Hassell at -18 in limited minutes. Again, though this is still a small sample size, it is interesting that McCants has been having such a clear positive effect even with his offense (the erstwhile best, and arguably to some ONLY positive of his game) so completely out of whack.
Players still alive in the tourney that Minnesota should be watching closely.
Jeff Green-Georgetown
Roy Hibbert-Georgetown
Nick Young-USC
Corey Brewer-Florida
Acie Law-Texas A&M
Derrick Byars-Vanderbilt
Aaron Gray-Pittsburgh
Reyshawn Terry-North Carolina
Andy B (Re: Ricky last night),
While you may have some good points about Ricky in general, your assumption last night actually isn't right.
First, he didn't get a T, he got a delay of game warning (small difference, but still). But bigger, his sauntering wasn't for getting pulled, it was because he had just gotten called for a questionable foul in the midst of a series of questionable calls against the Wolves (which eventually led to KG almost getting a second T as he yelled 'How are we supposed to win?" at the refs after another close foul and which did lead to Wittman getting a T soon thereafter).
Geoff -
Look at it this way. Take your adjusted gross income ('tis the AGI season) and multiply by .3. That's what $6 million is to KG.
In other words, it doesn't mean squat.
Just a note for a heads up on a NCAA tournament game tonight featureing the top point guard in this year's upcoming draft - Texas A & M's Acie Law. They are playing Memphis at 8:30 pm tonight. He might be a player the WOlves want to pursue or , at least a player that will be mentioned beforehand, if the Wolves end up with a pick.
I'M REPOSTING THIS FROM THE END OF THE LAST THREAD
******************************
Well, now we know what happens when you play Randy Foye. I wasn't sure about the strategy of playing the vets to secure the lottery pick and get a better position in the draft. But, it looks like the best means for getting to the playoffs, or staying around .500 is to play the rooks. Last night in Sacremento, in a game with team that was one spot ahead of the AWolves in the upcoming draft (iow, a game they should have lost) Wittman opens with their opening day starting lineup, but closes in the fourth with Foye, Smith, and Jaric substituted for James, Hassell, and Blount. The Wolves put the Kings away in the 4th and come away with theri first road win after 11 consequetive losses.
The 4th quarter lineup is what the WOlves should be working with for next year, with Hassell, McCants getting the majority of minutes off the bench. That is, if you could rely on Pretty Ricky putting in an effort for 35 - 40 minutes each and every night. Unfortuneately, you can't. I didn't watch the game last night. I had every intention, but the late start and a couple of bedtime stories to my son before the game started, caused my eyes to grow weary. I just couldn't motivate myself to watch this game between two teams that are both in such miserable shape.
But, I did read how "Pretty" was whistled for a technical for "sauntering" off the court during a substitution. The Wolves have left it to the Refs to try and instil some discipline and respect for the game into his head, instead of the coaching staff. McCants started the fourth and according to popcorn machine The Wolves were starting their surge with him in the lineup, but Wittman substituted Pretty back in to end the game with a win as he put in an effort to finish off the lowly Kings.
Pretty will get you a victory over a team headed for the lottery, he can even get up for a game against better competition, once in a blue moon. But, he's the epitome of what you don't want on a team. Sort of like the baseball player who won't run out ground balls in the infield. There's a right way to play baseball. Some baseball players have a lot of talent, but they won't do the little things. Sometimes they will hit homeruns in the ninth to win a game - perhaps more than anyone else on the team. But, if they don't put in the effort on defense or if they don't fun out every ground ball, then they are playing the wrong way (they don't play the Twins way as exemplified by Kirby), and they are a detriment to the team. The same goes for Basketball, if not even more so. Only five guys on the floor at a time, and the guys on the bench are watching and learning from the veteran starters.
What kind of example does Pretty Ricky set for McCants, when he gets a T. for "suantering" off the floor during a substituion, which I am assuming (hoping it does not make an Ass out of me) that he was pouting about being removed by Wittman, and then is substituted back in early in the 4th to close out the game with a win. The example he sets is one for losing in the long run, that's what. Pretty get's the win over a meaningless game, but won't show up for the big ones or starts looking for excuses and pointing fingers, instead of uping his own game to a level he is capable of and being the leader that his veteran status requires and the team despartely needs..
Military intelligence. Jumbo shrimp. Road win. Sometimes words that don't fit right together *can* be put in the same sentence.
The" last possession" stat is very interesting for two reasons. First, Foye leads and is the only guy with meaningful tries who is over 50% (and perfect from the line). That says a lot to me.
Second, my hunch is that if you removed the last 24 seconds of regulation where the game was not on the line, Foye would look even better and James would go from good to meh.
Awesome trey,
Did you see that the last game of the year is once again at home against Memphis? Could be a repeat of the disgraceful Mad Dogg three-point barrage if Wolves aren't careful. We need that pick. The problem is the Wolves very well might be tied for or one game back from the eighth spot until well into April. Who would have thought a team 10 games under 500 near the end of March would be this close to the playoffs in the Western Conference.
I read that KG just bought a big ass house in Orono. Guys, is this a sign that he's going to stick around, or is $6M and some change expendable to him?