Howlin' T-Wolf A Fresh Perspective and Completely Biased Blog About Everything Minnesota Timberwolves

As the NBA Finals continue to tread on, the most important player, in my mind, has been Rajon Rondo. His flashy play has led to key moments on both ends of the floor; the from-behind blocked shot on Kobe that subsequently followed with some big free throws; Rondo’s signature fake lay-up that made Andrew Bynum jump out of his shoes on the pump. Rondo’s combination of determination, hustle and intelligence are what sparked the Celtics game 2 win in L.A. and those traits will continue to push his career as he surpasses most point guards in significance in the NBA.

The position in which the Wolves are stuck in now is on the contrary to the situation in Boston; we have a young point in Jonny Flynn who didn’t quite pan out like we expected this year and it looks as if our GM is putting all of his chips in one basket with Ricky Rubio. It’s unclear what will eventually unfold when it comes to our  mysterious future at the point guard position. But would you be surprised if I told you that our situation could look a lot like that of Boston’s?

In a story written by Pat Forde, it is unveiled that Wolves owner Glen Taylor was trying hard to obtain Rondo as a key piece in the Kevin Garnett deal in 2007. The only problem was that Boston GM Danny Ainge was refusing to toss their young, speedy point guard who had just finished his rookie season into the deal. After a few days of mulling over this soon-to-be franchise-dooming deal, Taylor agreed to leave Rondo out of the deal and continue on by taking Sebastian Telfair, the kid from Brooklyn with all the talent in the world but was struggling to find his way in the NBA.

Visualizing what could have come from a KG deal that included Rondo opens up a plethora of opportunities, as well as a roster that could have playoff potential.

Coming into this season, that deal would have solidified our point guard and power forward positions with a few bright stars from Boston in Rondo and Jefferson. If McHale had not traded O.J. Mayo for Love, Mayo would man the 2-guard, a position which has never been properly filled in the franchise’s history. Darko could still be our center in 2010 or they could use the #4 spot to draft a true center like Greg Monroe or Cole Aldrich. Or maybe even grab Demarcus Cousins with the hope that he could be a center in the NBA. Ryan Gomes would be a good starter at small forward but saying he’d be replaceable is an understatement. That #4 pick could be used to grab Wesley Johnson or Al-Farouq Aminu without any regrets from the front office, and most importantly, the fan base.

This year’s draft brings up so many

You can see that a solidified point guard position — especially filled by the electrifying Rondo — would have led to a more balanced Wolves lineup. Instead of having holes all over the roster, the Wolves would have a firm core of players and a starting lineup that could contend with the best of the West. But instead we ended up with only one key piece in exchange for the franchise’s engine and Jefferson alone cannot save this franchise from falling under.

If only, right?

We here at Howlin’ T-Wolf would like to take a quick second and apologize for our brief absence lately. We are working through some transitions behind the scenes and it has kept us quite busy to say the least which has also slowed down our production of amazing articles the past few weeks.

Soon, I will be ousting my butt into gear and begin churning out new material for the anticipated offseason as well as the playoffs. In addition to new material, Howlin’ T-Wolf will also be getting a new make-over very soon. Yes, you heard it here first. The most intimidating and manly blog on the Truehoop Network has decided it is time for a new look, so please, when the site changes, give me your thoughts and opinions on what you like/dislike so I can customize it to your preferences.

Thanks for the cooperation, guys. I hope you continue to watch the NBA playoffs and if you’re not watching for whatever reason, I will have a Round 1 recap ready to go for you guys to spit through and discuss how it went and what will happen next.

Until then, keep on keepin’ on, howlers!

Hey guys! I hope you guys aren’t missing Wolf Tracks already but here is today’s question:

Before the Wolves moved into the Target Center, where did they play?

Step up, guys if you want a sweet copy of this book! Give us your answer in the comments section.

Introduction and Rules can be found here.

Congrats to Memyworld who knew the answer to yesterday’s question which was 23, 45, 12 and 9. Jordan was forced to wear 12 for one game when his jersey was stolen from the locker-room (I have an old Sam Vincent basketball card with Jordan in the background wearing the #12 jersey) and few people remember the Olympic team number. Well done!

Today’s question is a two-parter:

What team do the Wolves have the worst record against all time and which team do they have the best record against all-time?

Please post your answers in the comments section.

Heard this before? The Wolves barely show up and drop another two games over the weekend. Highlights included being beat by a reeling playoff team and a should have been playoff team without their best star player. The latter also includes a rookie backcourt (Collison+Thornton), that most Wolves fans wouldn’t think twice about trading their own (Flynn + Ellington) for, doing just about anything they wanted to against the T-pups.

“Notable” happenings:

• Jefferson played potentially the worst game of his career. If he needs to be with his family I am all about that. But coming back and taking minutes from Love to play the way he did wasn’t worth it.
• Rambis got thrown out of the Hornets game. Can you say too little to late? This just a few games after they were talking about how he learned as a player it never really pays to argue with the officials.
• Brian Cardinal, yes the recently returned Brian Cardinal, led the Wolves in assists last night with 3. On the other side rookie Darren Collison had 11. By the way that was in just 12 minutes of play before he fouled out.
• Not a single Wolves player had a positive +/- last night.
• In the Lakers game Darko was +7 in 39 minutes. Which means the 9 he was on the bench the Wolves were -18. Legit center anyone?

At halftime Mike McCollow said the Wolves need to trade whatever it takes to get a superstar. I couldn’t agree more. The easiest way? Get the 1st or second pick in the draft. The hard way? There is no other way really. The Wolves don’t even have the collective assets, especially with how bad they played down the stretch, to convince anyone remotely close to superstar level to sign here even for big bucks. And no team is going to take an Al Jefferson/Jonny Flynn pu pu platter at this point in return for anyone resembling a “superstar.” Unfortunately Wolves fans it’s a top 2 pick or bust.

In lieu of Friday’s Lakers recap and last nights against the Raptors let’s look at a few of the positives from the Wolves last two games.

• For the first time all season Jonny Flynn appears to be playing without the leash Rambis has kept so tight all season. He’s going to the hoop (8-10 from the line last night) and it’s effective. Only problem is now the Wolves’ offense is a three-headed monster which is trying to push the ball up court fast, and then either a) running some form of the triangle, b) iso posting Jefferson (or whoever happens to be posting up) and c) letting Jonny create. The problem with option c is that no one is used to playing this way. Love and Jefferson each missed a dime from Flynn off a drive, and Love missed an easy lay-up after a great pass from his as well. Not to mention no one seems to know which of the 3 to run. Flynn is good at creating but he still has his “rookie” moments taking a few bad shots or failing to get the ball to Jefferson when he’s been doing work.
• On that topic, getting the ball to Jefferson, it still baffles me that this team won’t at least get him a touch every time down the floor when he’s in the game (9-16 last night, 7-15 friday) and playing well. A lot of this lands on Flynn’s shoulders but not all. Numerous times Gomes or Brewer took the ball on the wing and went to Love at the high/pinch-post.
• Darko. For those of you that have watched the last two games, were you thinking the same thing I was thinking? Darko Millic if the Wolves can just convince him to stay on this side of the pond next year, is going to soon be the Wolves best all-time center. Yes that’s right, ALL-TIME. Go ahead try and pick one who was better. Don’t say Jefferson because we all know he’s a power forward. Yes Darko freaking Millic has the chance to be the Wolves best all-time center. What I still can’t figure out: why the heck wasn’t he playing in New York? Must have gotten off on the wrong foot with D’Antoni or something. All I know is I am happy he’s a Wolf. Blocking shots, making smart passes, hitting lefty hooks in the post, dropping 20 footers, and using his legit size to rebound the ball. I couldn’t expect more from a starting center.
• Wayne Ellington. Could we get this guy a start? Knocking down shots and playing solid defense. Ellington has shown that he works well at the 2 and I still would like to see him start next to Flynn with Brewer at the 3. Gomes is better at the 4 anyway.
• Did anyone see that the Wolves were tied in the Lakers game at 66 and also just before halftime with the Raptors at 45. Small, moral victories right?
• At the end of last night’s game we were once again shown that Rambis is not very good with the clipboard at drawing up plays for the team. I know it hasn’t been needed much but he better start working at it if we’re going to win close ones down the road.
• I should also note that Corey Brewer’s impressive 33 game streak of games with at least one 3-pointer ended on Friday in LA. For a guy who once had one of the worst NBA Hot Spot charts that I posted back in November and who I asked to just stop shooting, he’s come a heckva long way. Props to you Corey, keep shooting it.
• Anybody missing Ryan Hollins? Yea me neither.
• Kevin Love didn’t have a stellar game last night but he did on Friday in LA. It’s clear though with Darko playing well recently that even with a legit center the Jefferson-Love combo still isn’t solved. I will be shocked if one isn’t traded this summer. It just feels like neither of them can maximize their potential on the same team. What say you on this subject?
• Next up the Bobcats who play in Washington tonight and are coming off 2 losses to the Hawks and Heat. Could the Wolves steal a win? If not the good news is all signs point to us getting their 1st rounder this June. See there’s always a silver lining somewhere.

Is a couple games off to reflect all it took for Big Al to give us a throwback game?

Of course a Big Al throwback game comes with pluses and minuses. On the plus side Al did pretty much what he wanted to on the block and finished 15-21 from the field and was the first Wolf to break 30 points this season.

The minus of course was that no one else really had a good game on offense. (Other than Sessions but we’ll get to that.)

The difference in this one was the Mavs zone defense. It frustrated the Wolves who couldn’t shoot over it and also helped force them into 25 turnovers, including 8 from Jonny Flynn. The Wolves actually did well to keep it somewhat close in spite of the 17  turnover difference.

On to the Wolves related notes:

• Miracle of miracles, I saw not one but 2 great passes from Big Al out of the post. Even better was the fact that they were all to Wolves players cutting behind the zone to the hoop. One was to Sessions and the other to Gomes. It was beautiful basketball, I just wish I wouldn’t be so shocked to see it.
• Oh Jonny. What are we going to do with you? Your defense is far from David Kahn’s prediction of first team NBA. Sure you had 4 steals. But I counted at least 4 other “gambles” that left the Wolves with 4 players guarding 5. On offense, how many 3’s do you need to shoot with 18+ seconds left on the shot clock? How many times can you avoid getting the ball right away to Big Al when he’s not being stopped? I really want to be on board with you as the Wolves point guard. I do. But it’s getting harder and harder to stay on board.
• Ramon Sessions was 5-5 from the floor with 2 assists (and 2 turnovers). He only played 18 minutes to Jonny’s 30. His +/- was -7. Jonny’s was 1 better at -6. This is an example of when advanced stats make my head hurt.
• Hey coach can you please play Sasha Pavlovic some more? He’s only, you know, awful. His adjusted +/- on the season is only -12. Last night you played him 21 minutes and the Mavs outscored us by 20 during that time.
• Corey Brewer’s shooting is regressing. Sure he’s hit a 3 in 28 straight games which is remarkable. But he’s not the shooter we saw in January. He’s broken 50% shooting just twice in the last 15 games going back to the start of February.
• I know he couldn’t put the ball in the hoop down low, going 1-7, but only 12 minutes for Senor Amor?
• Ryan Gomes did quietly have a nice game with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists and a 0 +/-.
• Shawn Marion showed once again why the Wolves need an athletic guy like say Rudy Gay or Wesley Johnson to swing from the 3 to the 4. Marion finished with 29 points, 14 boards, 3 steals.

Next up the Wolves host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Let’s hope they bring the same energy they brought when they snapped that 15 game losing streak way back at the end of November.

Wolves Record: 14-48

What is it about the American Airlines Center that the Wolves love so much? Is it the sell-out crowd that is always into the game? Is it the friendly rims that gave the Wolves a handful of “shooter’s” bounces? Was it just the team bringing a lot of energy after 3 days rest? Or lastly could it be the team rallying together to play well without Big Al Jefferson? I’d say it was all of the above. The Wolves shot the ball well, rebounded the ball well, and were surprisingly aggressive and as a result got the to line well. Those 3 things usually add up to a nice big W. Last night however the Wolves Achilles Heel, turnovers, hurt them in a big way and cost them the win. But as a suffering Wolves fan I was happy that a) the Wolves played hard for seemingly 48 minutes (other than being a little bamfoozled by the Mavs zone during a few stretches), b) they played with energy and did a great job both pushing the ball up court and taking it to the rim aggressively, and c) they played enough D and rebounded well enough to keep it close down the stretch and make it an exciting game. I will be happy to watch these type of losses the rest of the way as opposed to the stinkers they’ve been dropping like last Saturday’s game against Portland.

Other observations:

• Is it just me or the did the paint feel a lot more open last night? It’s amazing what Flynn and especially Brewer were able to do with some room down there. It’s been a long, long time since we’ve been able to watch our team take it to the hoop. I think since Marbury was around 14 years ago!
• Along with that even with the extra space the Wolves still out rebounded the Mavs by 15 including 16 offensive boards.
• Brewer did have 6 turnovers but he finished +6 as a result of being aggressive going to the basket. Yes he was only 6-16 from the floor but if you watched the game a lot of those misses came at the end of the shot clock when he was forced to create his own shot. This is the difference between Brewer and say a top of the line shooting guard like Wade or Roy for instance who can create a much higher percentage shot with less than 7 seconds left on the shot clock.
• Can we all just agree that Ryan Hollins is good for about 10-15 minutes a game but not 36? Ok done and done.
• Ryan Gomes again showed that he can play much better as a stretch 4, especially with Jonny Flynn, than he can when plays at the 3.
• Anybody else jealous that the Mavs have spark plug Roddy Beaubois?
• Really is a Jonny Flynn drive our best end of game play? Can’t we get the ball to Love on the roll for a 3 or Brewer in the corner off a pin-down?
• Coach Rambis, please stop playing Sasha Pavlovic. He’s not good. At all.