Wolves / NBA:

by **SouthTexGopher** » Mon 4/26/10 8:48 am

Add Mike Bacsik of DFW's KTCK "Ticket Sports Radio" to the list of broadcasters who have suffered a career-ending foot-in-mouth injury. It's bad enough to shoot your mouth off after your NBA team loses...but then to compound it with this...

Link

:shakehead:

by **BlueBandit24** » Tue 5/18/10 6:18 pm

The NBA Draft Lottery is taking place in 13 minutes (well, technically it took place earlier; they unveil the order in 13 minutes) on ESPN. I honestly could not care less about the NBA except around draft time, but I would like to see the Wolves secure one of the top two picks...I think Wall or Turner would help to breathe some life into a flat-lining franchise.

by **BlueBandit24** » Tue 5/18/10 7:22 pm

And the Wolves pick 4th. It's just fitting.

by **Greyeagle** » Tue 5/18/10 7:22 pm

Too funny.
Fourth pick must mean it's a three player draft. :lol:

by **F Da Sue** » Tue 5/18/10 7:24 pm

Yes!!! I hate the Wolves and bouncy ball. This makes up for the Twins loss this afternoon.

Kind of fishy they don't show the balls being picked however.

by **Hammy** » Tue 5/18/10 7:31 pm

Is anybody really surprised? :bored:

by **Handyman** » Tue 5/18/10 7:38 pm

Well the Wolves better figure out a way to package Rubio and or Al Jefferson and move up or there is no point to drafting. There is no one outside of the Top 2 picks even worth caring about when it comes to this team.

by **Ben** » Tue 5/18/10 7:40 pm

I don't know which one I like better:

"A good friend just got mugged outside First Ave. in downtown Mpls. The masked gunman forced him to take a pair of Wolves season tickets."

or

"I had a pair of Timberwolves tickets on the dash of my car. Somebody smashed the window, and left 20,498 more."

by **BlueBandit24** » Tue 5/18/10 7:41 pm

Handyman wrote:Well the Wolves better figure out a way to package Rubio and or Al Jefferson and move up or there is no point to drafting. There is no one outside of the Top 2 picks even worth caring about when it comes to this team.

While I think Wall/Turner are the clear-cut top two in this draft, I still feel Favors/Cousins/Johnson/Monroe can all be excellent pieces for the Wolves to continue to build around. If we could move Jefferson and add a big man better suited for Rambis's system I think that would be ideal.

by **Greyeagle** » Tue 5/18/10 7:46 pm

Handyman wrote:Well the Wolves better figure out a way to package Rubio and or Al Jefferson and move up or there is no point to drafting. There is no one outside of the Top 2 picks even worth caring about when it comes to this team.

This would lower the number of woodmutts I am able to name to zero, and technically one of them isn't even a mutt.

by **eddieshore** » Tue 5/18/10 8:59 pm

Can someone that is in-the-know of the NBA explain to me why there is a lottery? Even in the NHL?

A certain level of intrigue, sure, but it can be debilitating to unlucky franchises like the Wolves. Not that they would pick the right guy with the black cloud that looms over this franchise but at least it would be at their own hands.

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 5/18/10 9:45 pm

BlueBandit24 wrote:And the Wolves pick 4th. It's just fitting.

You ain't kidding...

Handyman wrote:Well the Wolves better figure out a way to package Rubio and or Al Jefferson and move up or there is no point to drafting. There is no one outside of the Top 2 picks even worth caring about when it comes to this team.

I was thinking the same thing. Move up to #2 and get Turner. Honestly, he would be far more productive than either of those two.

F Da Sue wrote:Yes!!! I hate the Wolves and bouncy ball. This makes up for the Twins loss this afternoon.

Kind of fishy they don't show the balls being picked however.

I don't get it. Even if you hate basketball, why do you wish ill on the wolves? That's just... dumb.

by **F Da Sue** » Tue 5/18/10 10:09 pm

Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 5/18/10 10:18 pm

F Da Sue wrote:Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

Wow... Just, wow...

by **Next Crosby** » Tue 5/18/10 10:35 pm

F Da Sue wrote:Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

If there wasn't a twins thread he'd be in the 3 digit club still.

by **Six Hole** » Tue 5/18/10 10:45 pm

Next Crosby wrote:
F Da Sue wrote:Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

If there wasn't a twins thread he'd be in the 3 digit club still.

Come on, you're underselling his ability to come up with multiple pet peeves and simple pleasures daily...

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 5/18/10 11:10 pm

Next Crosby wrote:
F Da Sue wrote:Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

If there wasn't a twins thread he'd be in the 3 digit club still.

Only 198 posts there

Six Hole wrote:
Next Crosby wrote:
F Da Sue wrote:Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

If there wasn't a twins thread he'd be in the 3 digit club still.

Come on, you're underselling his ability to come up with multiple pet peeves and simple pleasures daily...

3 in the past week and a half?

by **Six Hole** » Wed 5/19/10 12:04 am

dxmnkd316 wrote:
Six Hole wrote:
Next Crosby wrote:
F Da Sue wrote:Because I want them to leave town so there is one less subject for you to post worthless comments on 100 times a day.

If there wasn't a twins thread he'd be in the 3 digit club still.

Come on, you're underselling his ability to come up with multiple pet peeves and simple pleasures daily...

3 in the past week and a half?

Damn. Headline News? Astronomy? Grasping at straws here...

It's ok, judging by my posts, you'd never know I like Gophers puck a helluva a lot more than the Twins.

Back to the Wolves: Has anyone come across an updated analysis of the statistical improbability of the Wolves lottery ... luck?

by **dxmnkd316** » Wed 5/19/10 12:10 am

The Timberwolves, making their 13th appearance in the lottery, never have landed the No. 1 pick -- or even picked higher than third. Along with Charlotte, Denver, Dallas, Detroit and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Wolves have never even moved up in the lottery. The Wolves have maintained their position six times in the lottery and fallen six times.

Source:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Timb ... y-29966910

Edit: Amend that text above.

The Timberwolves, making their 14th appearance in the lottery, never have landed the No. 1 pick -- or even picked higher than third. Along with Charlotte, Denver, Dallas, Detroit and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Wolves have never even moved up in the lottery. The Wolves have maintained their position six times in the lottery and fallen seven times.

by **SouthTexGopher** » Wed 5/19/10 7:33 am

In the rankings of sporting events by integrity, I place the NBA draft somewhere well below professional wrestling.

by **Handyman** » Wed 5/19/10 8:39 pm

Well I believe the official reason for the lottery is so that teams wont tank it (worse than they do now and the NBA has by far the worst reputation in this regard) to guarantee a top pick. It also gives every nonplayoff team a shot to improve.

Unoffically it is so they can rig it. I usually don't buy into that stuff but it is the worst kept secret in sports. They rigged it the year Ewing came out for New York (even apologists acknowledge that one) and they for sure rigged it the year Orlando had one ball and somehow got the number 1 pick for the second year in a row I believe drafting Penny Hardaway. The fact that Sterns good buddy is the outgoing owner of Washington had nothing to do with them getting the pick. I am sure that LeBron being from Akron had nothing to do with Cleveland getting the #1 pick. The lottery has and always will be a fraud.

If the Wolves can't move up to 2 and take Turner (I wont lie I dont want them taking Wall but I barely follow basketball anymore outside of college) then I say package the the two later first round picks and move up to get Aldrich. BTW that is not cause I like Aldrich, or even think he is worth such a move, but they need anything to get people to show and the "one of us" angle is about all they have left.

by **monty** » Thu 5/20/10 8:20 am

The number of NBA championships won by team in the last 30 years

Lakers 9
Bulls 6
Celtics 4
Spurs 4
Pistons 3
Rockets 2
Heat 1
76ers 1

by **Handyman** » Thu 5/20/10 11:51 am

What is your point?

by **monty** » Thu 5/20/10 12:40 pm

Either the NBA is star driven league or the NBA wants loads of ad revenue from playoff ratings. Or both. Do you really think that a Magic vs Wolves NBA final would be watched by anyone on either coast or in Chicago? I wouldn't be surprised if the NBA is as rigged as "professional wrestling".

by **st8ofhockey** » Thu 5/20/10 12:47 pm

There's a video of the 1985 Draft Lottery on YouTube, and it's almost laughable how poorly they were trying to conceal it's rigging. Some clod litterally whacks the Knicks envelope against the side of the bin to bend the corner of the envelope.

by **Handyman** » Thu 5/20/10 1:00 pm

monty wrote:Either the NBA is star driven league or the NBA wants loads of ad revenue from playoff ratings. Or both. Do you really think that a Magic vs Wolves NBA final would be watched by anyone on either coast or in Chicago? I wouldn't be surprised if the NBA is as rigged as "professional wrestling".

I hate to tell you this but every league is like this. In some leagues it is about stars, in some leagues it is about name cache. The MLB would love the Yanks or the Sox to be in the series every year, the NHL wants to see Crosby in the Finals every year and so on. The only league that doesnt care is the NFL which is lightyears ahead of every other league.

If the NBA was rigged why would they have had the Spurs win 4 titles (in series that almost no one watched) or had the Pistons beat the Lakers a few years back? Why would they have had Lebron lose out this year knowing that he will overshadow everything else that is going on? I am no NBA apologist but once the games start it is pretty hard to rig it in the longterm.

by **sunbone** » Thu 5/20/10 1:47 pm

Handyman wrote:
monty wrote:Either the NBA is star driven league or the NBA wants loads of ad revenue from playoff ratings. Or both. Do you really think that a Magic vs Wolves NBA final would be watched by anyone on either coast or in Chicago? I wouldn't be surprised if the NBA is as rigged as "professional wrestling".

I hate to tell you this but every league is like this. In some leagues it is about stars, in some leagues it is about name cache. The MLB would love the Yanks or the Sox to be in the series every year, the NHL wants to see Crosby in the Finals every year and so on. The only league that doesnt care is the NFL which is lightyears ahead of every other league.

If the NBA was rigged why would they have had the Spurs win 4 titles (in series that almost no one watched) or had the Pistons beat the Lakers a few years back? Why would they have had Lebron lose out this year knowing that he will overshadow everything else that is going on? I am no NBA apologist but once the games start it is pretty hard to rig it in the longterm.

Well, having refs on the take does make it easier to rig.

by **Handyman** » Thu 5/20/10 2:50 pm

Yeah but they are on the take to gamblers not the league. Gotta make sure to cover the spread

by **BlueBandit24** » Tue 6/22/10 2:46 pm

Wolves close to dealing the #16 pick to Memphis for #25 and #28. Exciting.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2010 ... pn_5315275

by **Chris Eckes** » Tue 6/22/10 2:49 pm

They've GOTTA trade up to get Turner

by **Hobey Baker** » Thu 6/24/10 4:47 pm

What will the Wolves do? Three picks in the first round. Any expectations?

by **Jupiter** » Thu 6/24/10 4:55 pm

Who are the Wolves?

by **psych** » Thu 6/24/10 5:51 pm

Hobey Baker wrote:What will the Wolves do? Three picks in the first round. Any expectations?

I bet we'll draft three straight point guards...oh wait..how stupid would a franchise be to do that...I mean...

by **dxmnkd316** » Thu 6/24/10 6:45 pm

The X Factor wrote:They've GOTTA trade up to get Turner

Package the #4 overall, and either jefferson or rubio to move up.

by **dxmnkd316** » Thu 6/24/10 6:52 pm

Well, I guess I can go back to not caring anymore... Timberwolves pretty much blow it by passing on trading up for turner despite the fact they are overloaded with trade material.

by **Chris83** » Thu 6/24/10 8:19 pm

Best scenario for all involved: Wolves fold or leave town. Put some $$$ together and update Target Center and use it for sectional hockey playoffs.

by **Armadillo** » Thu 6/24/10 9:15 pm

Two disclaimers: I'm no basketball expert, and Rube Chat is not exactly known as a bastion of reason and intelligence, but they're just SAVAGING the Wolves over there for this draft. What do the bouncyball fans here think?

by **dxmnkd316** » Thu 6/24/10 9:45 pm

Chris83 wrote:Best scenario for all involved: Wolves fold or leave town. Put some $$$ together and update Target Center and use it for sectional hockey playoffs.

That would be awesome. I loved the setup at the target center quite honestly. But I'd much rather give up another venue than maroosh. Nothing better than hockey and campus pizza.

Between maroosh and the coliseum I can't think of better (non-pro) venues.

by **Greyeagle** » Thu 6/24/10 9:57 pm

Armadillo wrote:What do the bouncyball fans here think?

by **Zwak** » Fri 6/25/10 7:32 am

The Trailblazers fired their GM prior to the draft but then asked him to conduct the draft anyway. :confused2:

by **Maize** » Fri 6/25/10 10:17 am

Zwak wrote:The Trailblazers fired their GM prior to the draft but then asked him to conduct the draft anyway.

And he still managed to fleece the Wolves in a trade.

by **Ballz** » Fri 6/25/10 12:39 pm

Who wins more games next year? Wolves or Gopher Basketball???

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 6/25/10 12:44 pm

Winning percentage: Gophers
Actual wins: That's a tough call. Coin flip.

by **psych** » Fri 6/25/10 2:59 pm

Wolves drafted 3 PG's last year, and end up getting 3 SF's this year (Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, and Lazar Hayward). Is Kahn retarded, or drunk when he does the draft? :drunk:

by **Chris Eckes** » Fri 6/25/10 3:01 pm

we only need 3 more years and we'll have someone at all 5 positions

by **Ballz** » Fri 6/25/10 3:34 pm

psych wrote:Wolves drafted 3 PG's last year, and end up getting 3 SF's this year (Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, and Lazar Hayward). Is Kahn retarded, or drunk when he does the draft?

This team is completely clueless. I'm actually embarrassed to have them represent my state.

by **Don Adams Wheel of Justice** » Fri 6/25/10 9:43 pm

Step away from the ledge guys. Free agency hasn't even started yet and the Wolves are expected to make some trades so what you see now likely won't be the final roster.

by **Five-HoleFrenzy** » Fri 6/25/10 11:30 pm

This from Fanhouse:

Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves had a lot of picks, including No. 4 and No. 16 overall. What did the team come out with? Small forward Wesley Johnson, veteran small forward Martell Webster, relatively unsung small forward Lazar Hayward, two international players (Nemanja Bjelica and Paulao Prestes) and Rutgers shotblocker Hamady N'diaye. Not exactly a bumper crop of talent. The team still doesn't have a legit center not named Darko Milicic in mind for 2010-11, and Webster is almost assuredly going to have to be wedged into the two-guard to make time for Johnson and Corey Brewer. Minnesota, I do not understand what the frick you are doing. Final Grade: D-.

I really could care less about the pro-basketball and only watch the lottery and NBA draft to see the ineptness of the local squad. Once again they did not disappoint.

by **gopherguy06** » Mon 6/28/10 10:01 am

Ballz wrote:Who wins more games next year? Wolves or Gopher Basketball???

Wolves or Gopher Football?

by **Greyeagle** » Mon 6/28/10 10:28 am

gopherguy06 wrote:
Ballz wrote:Who wins more games next year? Wolves or Gopher Basketball???

Wolves or Gopher Football?

Take the under.

by **Next Crosby** » Tue 6/29/10 8:14 am

Is anyone else a little intrigued about the NBA free agency like I am? Having Lebron, D Wade, and Bosh on one team would really be fun to watch.

by **Elm Grove Gopher** » Thu 7/01/10 8:28 am

As an out of towner, someone help me; I keep reading the T-Wolves HAVE to trade Al Jefferson, Why?

by **BlueBandit24** » Thu 7/01/10 8:40 am

Elm Grove Gopher wrote:As an out of towner, someone help me; I keep reading the T-Wolves HAVE to trade Al Jefferson, Why?

He and Kevin Love are an awful defensive front-court. Al's not athletic enough to get up and down the court and he does not exactly fit Rambis' offense.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Thu 7/01/10 3:00 pm

Did the Timberwolves seriously just give Darko Milicic $20M over 4 years? Could there be a more inept franchise in the history of pro sports? 'Cuz we just shot past the Clippers out of a cannon.....

by **fishingmn** » Thu 7/01/10 3:31 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:Did the Timberwolves seriously just give Darko Milicic $20M over 4 years? Could there be a more inept franchise in the history of pro sports? 'Cuz we just shot past the Clippers out of a cannon.....

Well... Over on the best Wolves blog a post about Darco's true value pretty much pegged that exact number as being fair value for him so I wouldn't call them "more inept" just yet - http://www.canishoopus.com/2010/6/30/15 ... with-darko

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Thu 7/01/10 4:21 pm

fishingmn wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Did the Timberwolves seriously just give Darko Milicic $20M over 4 years? Could there be a more inept franchise in the history of pro sports? 'Cuz we just shot past the Clippers out of a cannon.....

Well... Over on the best Wolves blog a post about Darco's true value pretty much pegged that exact number as being fair value for him so I wouldn't call them "more inept" just yet - http://www.canishoopus.com/2010/6/30/15 ... with-darko

I'm sure there were baseball blogs out there that numerically justified paying Nicky Punto 4M per year, too....Nobody outside of the Wolves would've given Darko $20M--that's the point, and why he is seriously overvalued. He was leaving the NBA to go back to Serbia for crying out loud (as Chad Ford rightly mentions in this article).

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5345905

by **Don Adams Wheel of Justice** » Thu 7/01/10 4:25 pm

I'm sure there were baseball blogs out there that numerically justified paying Nicky Punto 4M per year, too

Did Nick Punto's name just get brought up in a basketball thread? We're through the looking glass here, people :lol:

.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Thu 7/01/10 4:33 pm

Don Adams Wheel of Justice wrote:
I'm sure there were baseball blogs out there that numerically justified paying Nicky Punto 4M per year, too

Did Nick Punto's name just get brought up in a basketball thread? We're through the looking glass here, people .

Lol! You gotta cut me a little slack Don. Just trying to demonstrate the absurdity of overpaying for bench players, regardless of the sport they happen to play. :wink:

by **Zwak** » Sun 7/04/10 5:33 pm

Sad story about former Gopher Ray Williams. He is now homeless and lives in a car.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_d ... nba,253262

by **DT6011** » Mon 7/05/10 6:58 pm

Read that article about ray williams sad ending for him. same goes to other basketball stars like derrick coleman and scottie pippen. Anyways, NBA will be very interesting next season if the free agent stars will sign to different teams. Waiting for this to happen.

by **ScoobyDoo** » Tue 7/06/10 8:34 am

BlueBandit24 wrote:
Elm Grove Gopher wrote:As an out of towner, someone help me; I keep reading the T-Wolves HAVE to trade Al Jefferson, Why?

He and Kevin Love are an awful defensive front-court. Al's not athletic enough to get up and down the court and he does not exactly fit Rambis' offense.

I've never understood coaches who run offenses that their best players can't run instead of figuring out what they can run. He's their best player and it's been a mission to get rid of him ever since Kahn got here it seems like.

by **gopherguy06** » Tue 7/06/10 12:52 pm

Rick Rickert may be back!

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_154 ... ck_check=1

by **Jupiter** » Thu 7/08/10 11:09 am

Talk about the James media hyped signing here.... Not in the local media thread or a new thread.

by **Slap Shot** » Thu 7/08/10 11:10 am

Commentary on James.

http://deadspin.com/5581889/

by **sunbone** » Thu 7/08/10 12:26 pm

Slap Shot wrote:Commentary on James.

http://deadspin.com/5581889/

Classic article. Loved this line about ESPN:

"They're the whoringest whores that have ever whored."

by **Hammy** » Thu 7/08/10 12:46 pm

I wasn't a huge Lebron fan as it was...

I have grown to hate ESPN. Other than football season, I don't even watch them that much any more. I can get enough sports stuff on the web.

by **Maize** » Thu 7/08/10 12:57 pm

sunbone wrote:
Slap Shot wrote:Commentary on James.

http://deadspin.com/5581889/

Classic article. Loved this line about ESPN:

"They're the whoringest whores that have ever whored."

One would think it would be difficult for Deadspin to stand on a high horse when that site has completely devolved into TMZ-Sports, but there you go. You can add self-awareness next to quality writing on the list of things that site no longer has.

by **sunbone** » Thu 7/08/10 1:48 pm

Maize wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Slap Shot wrote:Commentary on James.

http://deadspin.com/5581889/

Classic article. Loved this line about ESPN:

"They're the whoringest whores that have ever whored."

One would think it would be difficult for Deadspin to stand on a high horse when that site has completely devolved into TMZ-Sports, but there you go. You can add self-awareness next to quality writing on the list of things that site no longer has.

Thanks for the lecture. I just thought it was a funny article.

by **Zwak** » Thu 7/08/10 2:16 pm

I'm not a huge Mitch Albom fan but I like this article.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... ullarticle

Also, if you are on Twitter, check out @lebronjamesego

by **Ben** » Thu 7/08/10 2:18 pm

sunbone wrote:
Maize wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Slap Shot wrote:Commentary on James.

http://deadspin.com/5581889/

Classic article. Loved this line about ESPN:

"They're the whoringest whores that have ever whored."

One would think it would be difficult for Deadspin to stand on a high horse when that site has completely devolved into TMZ-Sports, but there you go. You can add self-awareness next to quality writing on the list of things that site no longer has.

Thanks for the lecture. I just thought it was a funny article.

He's right. Deadspin's gone to hell since Leach left. That being said, it was pretty good.

EDIT: It's by Magary, aka Big Daddy Drew. No wonder it's good.

by **gopherguy06** » Thu 7/08/10 4:04 pm

Late breaking news.. Lebron signing with the Wolves..

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-07-08/w ... minnesota/

by **Snowcool08** » Thu 7/08/10 8:22 pm

gopherguy06 wrote:Late breaking news.. Lebron signing with the Wolves..

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-07-08/w ... minnesota/

I still wouldn't care...

by **dxmnkd316** » Thu 7/08/10 8:59 pm

What a douchebag...

by **Amonte_10** » Thu 7/08/10 9:25 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:What a douchebag...

Could not agree more, I might now start watching the NBA to see him lose!

by **dxmnkd316** » Thu 7/08/10 9:36 pm

Caution, dramatic post ahead. Proceed with caution.

I don't like the NBA. I really don't. But what LeBron James did to the state of ohio is beyond basketball and beyond sport. He publicly ripped the heart out of everyone in the state. The way he went about it can only be described as perverse.

I get ESPN's desire to cover this. But I don't get how someone can do that to an entire state. If he quietly announced he was not resigning with the Cavs and quietly announced he was going to Miami he would be forgiven.

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