tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140638002024-03-13T17:40:07.180-05:00Timberwolves DenDiscussion about the Minnesota Timberwolves and basketball in general, brought to you by those who rejoice in the firing of Kevin McHale.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger428125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-13571185166302183852012-06-20T14:47:00.000-05:002012-06-20T14:47:10.959-05:00Charlotte goes cheap, buys Dallas' uniforms...adds orange racing stripe....<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--g2SdIuicLA/T-IoO8xnrYI/AAAAAAAAAdw/F6kjG4fLqAc/s1600/xlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--g2SdIuicLA/T-IoO8xnrYI/AAAAAAAAAdw/F6kjG4fLqAc/s320/xlarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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...their own players laughTrip Darvezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250233041386852554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-87661344893760036542012-03-19T14:55:00.000-05:002012-03-19T14:55:35.800-05:00The Slow Fade of GeorgetownThink back to the 2007 tournament. It was all coming together for Georgetown. The son of their classic coach was in charge. Hell, the son of one of their most famous players was the 6th man on the team. They made the Final Four. Despite that being the end of the road, there was no reason to think that Georgetown was back as a top college basketball team. John Thompson III was a happy man!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Bo6fC_0GCE/T2eLlVy__0I/AAAAAAAAAac/8uRvmWjAMiY/s1600/jt+happy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Bo6fC_0GCE/T2eLlVy__0I/AAAAAAAAAac/8uRvmWjAMiY/s1600/jt+happy.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Since then? Well, every year Georgetown starts out with high hopes...and sometimes even enters the <i>tournament </i>with high hopes...only to see their shorts soiled.<br />
<br />
2007/08, Big East Champs: A #2 seed, lose to Davidson in the 2nd round<br />
2008/09: Fail to make the NCAA's, loses first game in NIT<br />
2009/10: A #3 seed (with a very average record), get their shit rocked by Ohio in the 1st round<br />
2010/11: A #6 seed (still average), get their shit rocked by VCU in the 1st round<br />
2001/12: A #3 seed (pretty good team), win first game, then lose to #11 seed N.C. State<br />
<br />
Amazing for a team that gets as much talk as they do, and over the last half-decade they don't have much to show for it beyond failure. The Washington Post's summary of the events include this nugget from Jason Clark:<br />
<br />
“We weren’t picked to do anything at the beginning of the season,” said Clark, who scored 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting. “Everybody doubted us. <span>. ."</span><br />
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<span>Holy Shit...Jason, you're leaving the school, but let me give you a quick geography lesson. As long as there are more hot wings-fed sportswriters on the east coast than anywhere else, all Georgetown would have to do is beat Seton Hall and Providence at home, and boom! In the top 25. John, kind of a streak going on here...how does it...oops.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ejrOuopYh0/T2eOF1B1FNI/AAAAAAAAAak/zw8HCqzXlrA/s1600/jt+sad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ejrOuopYh0/T2eOF1B1FNI/AAAAAAAAAak/zw8HCqzXlrA/s1600/jt+sad.jpeg" /></a></div><span> </span><br />
Trip Darvezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250233041386852554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-1030134896103402512012-03-15T16:38:00.002-05:002012-03-15T16:38:52.724-05:00Keep shootin' em, Matt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbsRvy0NTJc/T2JhY7WawZI/AAAAAAAAA8U/Fu2CK-1OumI/s1600/Matt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbsRvy0NTJc/T2JhY7WawZI/AAAAAAAAA8U/Fu2CK-1OumI/s1600/Matt.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-14550656702040547112012-03-13T08:05:00.001-05:002012-03-13T08:05:46.820-05:00Oh, you're depressed about the Wolves? Well, Ricky's not....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---dqEL9tflk/T19ES6I5uII/AAAAAAAAA8E/yF7XyWcIL-Q/s1600/rick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---dqEL9tflk/T19ES6I5uII/AAAAAAAAA8E/yF7XyWcIL-Q/s400/rick.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Ricky, you sand-bagging, happy-go-lucky son of a gun-ya. Tweeting pictures of yourself riding a stationary bike two days after tearing a knee ligament... It brightens my day.<br />
<br />
He'll be back. And he'll smile.<br />
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P.S. Can we ever tell if Rubio just woke up, or is the hair literally always like that?<br />
<br />
P.P.S. <a href="http://www.thehotglove.com/">The Hot Glove</a> recently shut down after 2 years, which bums me out completely, so I've decided to add these post-scripts in its memory.<br />
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P.P.P.S. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqUylhbM9XI/T19FgtqOo_I/AAAAAAAAA8M/eFWX3tPUGp4/s1600/Breasley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqUylhbM9XI/T19FgtqOo_I/AAAAAAAAA8M/eFWX3tPUGp4/s320/Breasley.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br />
Ummmmmmmmmmmm....<br />
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P.P.P.P.S. Framed Wally jersey on the wall? GROSS.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-29794883862877927382012-03-10T18:28:00.001-06:002012-03-10T18:28:49.063-06:00We can't have nice things hereFuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-24072755390997596062012-03-07T13:02:00.000-06:002012-03-07T13:02:26.610-06:00Hey KJ, you pumped, or?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IN0-JWIwAx4" width="400"></iframe><br />
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And, 2:08, is Gavin thanking Isiah Thomas? Is that what he said? Holy hell, what is going on here?<br />
<br />
I know one thing and one thing only about this entire situation... KJ and Tom Chambers made the Suns INFINITELY more dominant in Lakers vs. Celtics than they were in real life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-83143656577045496152012-03-01T17:08:00.000-06:002012-03-01T17:08:18.843-06:00Just a few Rashad McCants videos, no big dealIf you can make it through 15 seconds of each of these videos, you have more patience than me.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8EPHgik7wQY" width="540"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dIPPrXG4YzA" width="540"></iframe><br />
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This is so awesome. It's like Troy Hudson, only he's actually doing videos for the songs. And the budget is LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-81636229549345786292012-03-01T08:17:00.000-06:002012-03-01T08:17:00.377-06:00We're going to make it after all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUnKBIA9-IM/T0-EM9nLd7I/AAAAAAAAA7k/T3BbOQt0XgQ/s1600/Coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUnKBIA9-IM/T0-EM9nLd7I/AAAAAAAAA7k/T3BbOQt0XgQ/s400/Coffee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We're moving up in the world!<br />
<br />
Now, instead of a can of <a href="http://mnwolves.blogspot.com/2011/03/stop-everything-ive-got-new-rule-for.html">wax beans</a> ("You know, I've been buying the generic brand and pulling the labels off.... you can't hardly tell the difference"), you have to purchase a BAG of coffee and a BOTTLE of juice in order to obtain tickets to Timberwolves games.<br />
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Pretty soon, you'll only be able to get them for money!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-82304140848859034352012-02-08T11:48:00.001-06:002012-02-08T14:05:19.074-06:00We go to club now, OK.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s1600/rubio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s200/rubio2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Hey guys we are playing great games now and is time to celebrate!!! Who wants to meet ladies at club?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s1600/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s200/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
(stirring pot of beef and barley)
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s1600/rubio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s200/rubio2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Nikola! Yes, my good friend Nikola Peki, you must want to comes to club and dance with many ladies, yeah?!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s1600/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s200/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
(lights cigarette, ashes into boiling pot)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s1600/rubio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s200/rubio2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I make a pass to you so many times tonight, I think you must be Miss USA contestant!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s1600/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s200/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
(dials cell phone) Ya. Ya. NO! (pause) Leave him to me. I know ways to make lies turn to truths.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s1600/rubio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s200/rubio2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I get dressed in my best clothes and we head out to club, eh Nicky?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s1600/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s200/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
(muttering) I must make stew for my brothers. They very hungry, and no stew for the winter.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s1600/rubio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--P0XQLJXdmg/TzKy0n5PgUI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/owqI0UFiBKo/s200/rubio2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Hey, it's OK! Let's maybe go to the club tomorrow, hey? (pause) Why are there fingers in your stew, Nikola?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s1600/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXGUdapQioo/TzKy2XNssWI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/0fN1BOKcMd8/s200/220px-Nikola_Pekovic_Timberwolves.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
(smiles)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-64165241770032379122012-01-29T12:08:00.003-06:002012-01-29T12:08:48.786-06:00Am I in America right now?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kI7yxlQLlJI/TyWKyTSzXUI/AAAAAAAAA7I/U7EZyOvUEDc/s1600/Mike+Brown+Wins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kI7yxlQLlJI/TyWKyTSzXUI/AAAAAAAAA7I/U7EZyOvUEDc/s400/Mike+Brown+Wins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Is this real life?<br />
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I don't know if that's just total clown shoes on the Lake Show because of Mike Brown and his face, or if Rick's going to untie the waistband and show Derek Fisher how things are done.<br />
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We haven't seen a line like this since.... oh, never.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-57903098078594520552012-01-25T23:08:00.000-06:002012-01-25T23:08:04.058-06:00The Greatest Thing Ever<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="265" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ADjoq8G-yuQ" width="460"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-20719191195198921732012-01-24T19:52:00.000-06:002012-01-24T19:52:53.030-06:00Let the circle be unbrokenLook at this photo. GRIM FACES.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cF7leg2xD80/Tx9UWyDva_I/AAAAAAAAAaE/8N-xP7k-ap8/s1600/witt_presser_670B_012412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cF7leg2xD80/Tx9UWyDva_I/AAAAAAAAAaE/8N-xP7k-ap8/s320/witt_presser_670B_012412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
"Uh...we had to make a change...uhhhh...Randy'll take this team and derp de derpy doooo."<br />
<br />
A quick summary of the recent performance of the Washington Bullets. (Yeah, when I wanted to get this photo, that's what I entered into Google...it took me to their page, but we can dream)<br />
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<ul><li>After a year off, Flip is coach of the team, and each year gets worse for a myriad of reasons</li>
<li>The "Whiz" start this season at the bottom of the barrel</li>
<li>Randy Wittman will coach the rest of the season</li>
</ul>I'm not writing this post for any kind of analysis beyond the thought that Randy Wittman himself will make the team good. Making the playoffs isn't a good yardstick in the East, since you can be .439 and grab that 8 seed. Still, I challenge the Bull-er, Whiz to prove me wrong. Anytime you have a chance to get a coach with a .326 winning percentage, you have to make that move.Trip Darvezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250233041386852554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-52822580245123860672012-01-20T21:52:00.001-06:002012-01-20T21:53:17.820-06:00Ricky Rubio: Haters Beware<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember all the people who immediately called the Wolves stupid for drafting Rubio? All they could talk about was how he wasn’t going to play here, ever, and if he did, he’d suck. I’m not going to say that I was sure he would find his way into a Wolves jersey but I can’t say as though I ever doubted that it was a bad pick. The value was always there, even if we were forced to trade him. Then, when he announced he was coming, those folks decided that he was going to suck. Out loud. Sure, he’d had a down year in Spain but he was playing at a higher level than he had played, in different role, and he was getting much less playing time than he was used to. Oh, and he wasn’t trying to Git Buckets. He was trying to fill a roll his team needed him to fill. Everything I read NOT written in the U.S. was positive about him but here, all they could talk about was how his stats were down across the board. <br /><br />Yeah, in 32 minutes a game he’s scoring 10.7 points per game and a whopping 8.3 assists per game. Anyone who expects more out of a rookie point guard doesn’t pay much attention to basketball. Sure, they can throw Chris Paul at me, but he’s a freak – always has been, always will be. Sure, he’s not Magic Johnson, but the Wolves aren’t the Lakers. James and Kareem would do wonders for Ricky too – not to take away from the Magic of Ervin. <br /><br />But if you take a look at a number of similar players – point guards taken in the top-10 and some later round surprises that have become leaders at the position – Ricky looks like he’s doing just fine thank you very much. Yeah, he’s not lighting up the league like Chris Paul or Derrick Rose did in their rookie years, but he’s out performing Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker in their first years in the league. Ray Felton and D.J. Augustin aren’t necessarily guys you want to compare a top-5 pick to, but he’s on par with them in their rookie years overall. His 8.3 assists per game rank pretty high as far as rookies go. It hurts me, but that’s the number Marbury put up his rookie year and, despite his short comings overall, he was as impressive a point guard the Wolves have ever had. He helped them to the playoffs for the first time, he assisted in their first 50-win season before turning into a total asshole.<br /> <br />It’s early in a shortened season but I have one message to anyone who doubted Ricky’s skills. Suck it. Suck it long and suck it hard. The kid can play, that much we know. Will he become an All-Star? Who knows. But can the kid play PG in the NBA? Yes, yes he can. And no one is happier to see that than me. </span><br />
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<br /></div>Jake MacDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405093549722193165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-17509785469524210722012-01-19T09:55:00.003-06:002012-01-19T09:56:15.203-06:00Is it... safe?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abhCeTal930/Txg5jD3KGrI/AAAAAAAAA68/DrA-9DVEyOo/s1600/peek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abhCeTal930/Txg5jD3KGrI/AAAAAAAAA68/DrA-9DVEyOo/s320/peek.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Can I.... Is it ok if I let my hands fall to my sides a little bit? Can I let the guard down for a minute?<br />
<br />
Is... is K-K... Kevin still in charge?<br />
<br />
What? WHAT?!?! The team plays defense??? The coach is competent??? The young stars are showing signs of fundamental improvement???<br />
<br />
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MINNESOTA BASKETBALL?!?!?<br />
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---------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Last night was the biggest win of the season. I'm not kidding. Sure, you may say "It's only the Pistons, at home... they SHOULD beat them." And that's exactly it. They've shown us all exactly how good they are. They are 6-8. They are hovering around .500, and will likely end the season somewhere around there. You know what that means? That means they might, could, possibly, maybe, contend for a play---<br />
<br />
OH DON'T JINX IT!<br />
<br />
But yes, they are 6-8. They are not great. They have flaws like every other "middle" team. But sweet Moses, they are a middle team. They are as middle as it gets. I never thought it would be so good just to be mentioned in the same breath as Portland and Houston.<br />
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Last year, they were so horribly inconsistent and awful. Look at the record... they would beat Indiana and Utah, back to back, at home... and then lose 15 games in a row. They would beat Houston at home, and then go get done by Indiana and Philadelphia. There was no momentum at all, and they hardly ever won games they should have won. <br />
<br />
It's changed this year. Rick has the team playing up to their potential and at their talent level. A team like Detroit comes in, and the Wolves find a way to win a game when they couldn't shoot for shit. They keep working the offense, keep plugging away on defense, toughen up the paint (I'm seriously loving that on-the-block defense... it hasn't been here since, what, Joe Smith? Oh christ....), and they come out with a win against an inferior opponent.<br />
<br />
So many things to celebrate... but let's stop for a moment to consider that statement. "Inferior opponent". There are other teams that are worse off than the Wolves now. IT'S BEEN YEARS.<br />
<br />
So sign Love. Extend Rubio. Dump Beasley, or not. Just keep the coach. Keep improving. The slow burn of NBA Rebuilding is warming the room. I'm ready to emerge from this dark dungeon. Like Bubs, I think I deserve a meal at that table now.<br />
<br />
It's been long enough.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-30407608008696778142012-01-08T20:30:00.000-06:002012-01-08T20:30:44.017-06:00Was "Phil Jackson to Mike Brown" the biggest drop in coaching talent in sports history?Serious question here. To watch the Lakers this season is to watch the Cleveland Cavs from 3 years ago. Good talent, defensively sound, absolutely no identity. And the players barely acknowledge the coach's existence. But that got me thinking... have we ever seen a drop-off in talent like this? Let's take a look:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jS4hdpCCujo/TwpHTIM_QkI/AAAAAAAAA6U/SQzYP3j4C3k/s1600/tony-dungy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jS4hdpCCujo/TwpHTIM_QkI/AAAAAAAAA6U/SQzYP3j4C3k/s200/tony-dungy.jpg" width="176" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrzghdCrBug/TwpHQe5MbnI/AAAAAAAAA5U/2IglmSYh2xk/s1600/jim+caldwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MrzghdCrBug/TwpHQe5MbnI/AAAAAAAAA5U/2IglmSYh2xk/s200/jim+caldwell.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell</b><br />
One speaks eloquently and understands the game of football. The other one closes his mouth only when he tastes a lemon.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEOzdXkMIQo/TwpHI7Xh8CI/AAAAAAAAA4c/3X3SUQE0VmM/s1600/bill_parcells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEOzdXkMIQo/TwpHI7Xh8CI/AAAAAAAAA4c/3X3SUQE0VmM/s200/bill_parcells.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vo2hiAiFlwI/TwpHTcKjnMI/AAAAAAAAA6c/sISfMPK3ilc/s1600/wade_phillips.263w_350h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vo2hiAiFlwI/TwpHTcKjnMI/AAAAAAAAA6c/sISfMPK3ilc/s200/wade_phillips.263w_350h.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Bill Parcells to Wade Phillips</b><br />
Oh dear. The look on Wade Phillips' face is one of complete confusion 98% of the time. The other 2% are when he is giggling like a school-boy because some White Boy Roy from Sconnie returns a pick for 6. Either way, Parcells wins in every single category, especially brain cells.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZhxaKCVoY8/TwpHJZEMvmI/AAAAAAAAA5A/mkAwYkn3yFs/s1600/flip-kg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qZhxaKCVoY8/TwpHJZEMvmI/AAAAAAAAA5A/mkAwYkn3yFs/s200/flip-kg.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzSJw3lPUvY/TwpHQ-3lr_I/AAAAAAAAA5c/HxFV-bCy6z4/s1600/kevin-mchale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzSJw3lPUvY/TwpHQ-3lr_I/AAAAAAAAA5c/HxFV-bCy6z4/s200/kevin-mchale.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Flip Saunders to Kevin McHale </b></div>
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Here's some home-town flavor. Was there a single smart person in the world who thought this was a good move? I remember this news was broken to me by Mr. Driznewski at a drinking establishment wherein he happened to be working as a bouncer. It was announced through grit teeth. Anger was high, and we all knew where it would lead: 6 years (and counting!) of utter irrelevance and failure. Flip has gone on to have an uneven career, but McHale has gone on to be the most worthless person, ever.</div>
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<b>Dick Vermeil to Mike Martz</b><br />
Sure, Martz made it back to the Big Bowl. But the look on his face should tell you all you need to know. Confusion, 24 hours a day. Plus, at every stop since, he's been an utter failure, and has left the organization in worse standing than when he got there.<br />
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<b>Mike Holmgren to Ray Rhodes </b><br />
The Packers had to replace a Super Bowl winning coach when he bolted suddenly. Instead of hiring someone smart, they went with Ray Rhodes. He inherited one of the best teams in the NFL and went 8-8, their only non-winning season in 12 years.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wg2Dq6VY54/TwpHSQqqg7I/AAAAAAAAA6E/a-Prsw4wCOs/s1600/terry+ryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wg2Dq6VY54/TwpHSQqqg7I/AAAAAAAAA6E/a-Prsw4wCOs/s200/terry+ryan.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-j9LFIHU9c/TwpHI74lARI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ddRDm_oChXY/s1600/billsmith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-j9LFIHU9c/TwpHI74lARI/AAAAAAAAA4k/ddRDm_oChXY/s200/billsmith.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
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<b>Terry Ryan to Bill Smith </b><br />
Not a coaching change, but this had to be one of the biggest drops in front-office talent ever recorded. Terry Ryan was good at the following things: evaluating talent, planning for the future, trading for prospects, drafting, signing contracts, keeping payroll manageable. Bill Smith was good at the following things: eating donuts.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTxyrUlfUlg/TwpHR6D19GI/AAAAAAAAA50/VgY8mJMR5k4/s1600/phil-jackson-pointing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTxyrUlfUlg/TwpHR6D19GI/AAAAAAAAA50/VgY8mJMR5k4/s200/phil-jackson-pointing.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnCgZJhRWRY/TwpHSh3x9tI/AAAAAAAAA6M/-HnGK6hPIO8/s1600/tim-floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnCgZJhRWRY/TwpHSh3x9tI/AAAAAAAAA6M/-HnGK6hPIO8/s200/tim-floyd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Phil Jackson to Tim Floyd </b><br />
This was the first Phil retirement, and it sure did bode well for the Bulls. In one season, they lost Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson. They got Tim Floyd and a decade of failure instead.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTxyrUlfUlg/TwpHR6D19GI/AAAAAAAAA50/VgY8mJMR5k4/s1600/phil-jackson-pointing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTxyrUlfUlg/TwpHR6D19GI/AAAAAAAAA50/VgY8mJMR5k4/s200/phil-jackson-pointing.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xskNCUJAbPU/TwpHRdJrePI/AAAAAAAAA5s/ZkIanX55l-8/s1600/Mike-Brown-131-306x396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xskNCUJAbPU/TwpHRdJrePI/AAAAAAAAA5s/ZkIanX55l-8/s200/Mike-Brown-131-306x396.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<br />
And that brings us to Fail City. Is it as bad? At first, I have to think that the fall-off between Phil and Tim was worse, but time's going to tell on this one. With every Laker game I watch, I see Mike Brown becoming more and more of a laugher on the sidelines. If they miss the playoffs this year, it will be the greatest thing ever. I wouldn't put it past them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-14212985188718287192011-12-31T12:50:00.001-06:002011-12-31T12:50:10.189-06:00Hey Louisville, I've got an idea...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shoot your way out of it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-26399409041068115212011-12-16T22:18:00.001-06:002011-12-16T22:19:42.779-06:00Can I Get An Amen...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
for the ad on ESPNs NBA page...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOEVQHMOhKw/TuwX22SF_UI/AAAAAAAAAZg/rXx8h_xygXI/s1600/NBAmoney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOEVQHMOhKw/TuwX22SF_UI/AAAAAAAAAZg/rXx8h_xygXI/s400/NBAmoney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jake MacDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13405093549722193165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-89212981203795553422011-12-15T18:58:00.000-06:002011-12-15T18:58:04.446-06:00"Oh, you guys wanna make a trade?""Maybe I can be of some help?"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w_vNAmk68tc/TuqQWL1ePsI/AAAAAAAAAZw/NHTUI66A-Os/s1600/stern607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w_vNAmk68tc/TuqQWL1ePsI/AAAAAAAAAZw/NHTUI66A-Os/s320/stern607.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
"No. Anyone else? Lakers? No. Orlando, you better...no. Nope. I decide where players play."<br />
<br />
(The phone rings)<br />
<br />
"Very funny, who changed Donald Sterling's phone ID to 'Archie Bunker?' Hello, Donald. (pause) You know what, I said no before, but since someone here will be fined for changing your caller I.D. you <em>can</em> make that trade."<br />
<br />
Just in case it wasn't clear before, the NBA Players Union did not "win" with their new deal. They lost. Sure, they may have won "concessions" but to Stern (a <em><u>lawyer</u></em>) he defended his client (owner's typical bullshit) and can once again lord over his employees...which is what they really are.<br />
<br />
For the Clippers, they've had money...not as much as the Lakers, but they've had it. Sterling, a very uneven miser, simply couldn't attract talent to the team. More often than not, a meeting with him would seal the deal: the player would go elsewhere. And even with this trade, the Clips still have moves they need to make. (They likely <em>won't</em> or will make dumb moves, but still...)<br />
<br />
Lest we forget about David's LOVE of TV markets and ratings. Therefore, this trade makes complete sense to David because:<br />
1. By trading away the best player of a league-owned team, they can then work on the dwindling fan interest as they see fit, and then choose to move it (or fold it) whenever they'd like. Maybe Eric Gordon can be the franchise, right?<br />
2. By directing Paul to the Clippers, he gets his wish: another big talent in LA, but this time with the other team. This helps the ratings (in theory) and makes David look like he's holding his end of the deal from the lockout agreement.<br />
3. If anyone is against this deal from a New Orleans perspective, David can play the "I sure wish someone would take over this franchise/I'm a single mom working two jobs" card. Here's his quote after the trade went down:<br />
<br />
"It was not my favorite role, but I did it," Stern said. "... I must confess that it wasn't a lot of fun."<br />
<br />
You had to have been a nervous wreck, David. Hey Derek Fisher, you were in all the meetings with him, and as union president watched your initial demands dwindle down like the casual fan's interest. What do YOU think of the trade?<br />
<br />
"I just think the overall approach to things in this business is getting a little bit difficult to stomach." <br />
<br />
<br />
Too bad you haven't had a chance to change anything. Well, Sterling continues to do his thing, David pulls the strings, and people complain as they always do. But you know, I'm no Laker fan, but I do follow the Clips...and they've fucked up so many times, maybe the league literally had to shove a great player to the team. You could ask anyone on the Clippers staff to make you a sandwich, and an hour later you'd find a ring of bologna on the floor and the bread unopened as they "are in the process of moving forward." So, again, merely as a fan, I think this is fantastic! <br />
<br />
Then again...maybe it's the fact that a fucking sleazeball runs the league and the team I've chosen to give mild interest to is one of the worst over its history...maybe that's why I don't like the NBA. Enough about me, how are those Clippers car flags coming?Trip Darvezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13250233041386852554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-18255356211452152292011-12-12T11:01:00.000-06:002011-12-12T11:01:20.859-06:00The Orlando Coffee FiltersWant to know the sure-fire way to fail at running a sports organization?<br />
<br />
Start <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7343330/dwight-howard-orlando-magic-cites-poor-relationship-gm-reason-trade-demand">taking advice from your players</a> as to who you should acquire.<br />
<br />
I don't know who this Otis Smith is. If it's the same guy whose <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=840&tbm=isch&tbnid=a3ff3lU_yTcpoM:&imgrefurl=http://www.checkoutmycards.com/Players/Basketball/Otis_Smith/359597&docid=WhHwf1Qa_uUBkM&imgurl=http://images.checkoutmycards.com/zoom/982fe363-ad90-4751-b524-9250a634f075.jpg&w=540&h=760&ei=Ui3mTtH0CIXO2AWwqL3CBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=207&sig=105356552589300260873&page=6&tbnh=149&tbnw=111&start=125&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:125&tx=87&ty=80">NBA Hoops</a> card I had back in the early 90s, then I have to say, nice knee-pads. But one thing I do know is that he sounds like he's lucky to have a job.<br />
<br />
From what I can gather on the Magic, their success has been pretty simple. They got the first pick and drafted Dwight Howard. Then, as teams will do, they began the almighty Pursuit To Surround The Star Player With A Talented Team. They went after Rashard Lewis, which seemed like a steep price to pay, but it worked out. They drafted Jameer Nelson, which was a good choice. They lucked into a resurgent year from Hedo Turkey, and they went to the Finals. That was neat.<br />
<br />
Since then, there has been MOUNTAINS of coffee on the floor.<br />
<br />
Vince Carter. Gilbert Arenas. Jason Richardson. Quentin Richardson. Just one fail after another, as Dwight's prime wastes away. Hey, you don't have explain this shit to me. We lived through Bowl of Kandi and Anthony Peeler. It's no fun trying to fit pieces together that just don't fit.<br />
<br />
But when you start letting the star player have input on personnel moves, you're days are numbered.<br />
<br />
You can't win in that situation, Otis. If you do what he wants, sure he might be happy, but that's just going to erode your power. If you say no, you piss him off and then he comes out and demands a trade. By the time you've said "Hey Dwight, what do you think about...", you've lost.<br />
<br />
What's the solution? How about DO YOUR JOB.<br />
<br />
When someone is the GM of a team, they have the ultimate and final say. They take input from their staff, but it all comes down to them. Who is their "staff"? The people they hire specifically to advise them. Unless I'm mistaken, Dwight's paycheck doesn't contain an "advising" salary. He's really good at basketball. Probably not so much at navigating the salary cap.<br />
<br />
But this is the world of a modern-day NBA GM. There are literally 10 of them that are competent. The rest are running around making decisions with absolutely no thought to any sort of organizational plan. Every move occurs in a vacuum. "Hey we got this guy, we should build our team aroun- ARE YOU OFFERING ME CHRIS KAMAN, YES I WILL TAKE HIM." To teams like the Lakers, Heat, Mavs, Knicks, etc, it doesn't matter... because players will fall into their laps. If LA dumps Odom and Pau, they'll just get back Howard. But teams like Milwaukee and Philly.... you have to have a goddamned plan. You have to put pieces in slowly, and develop them into a cohesive team. It's the same with Orlando. Big moves aren't going to fall into your lap. You have to build it one piece at a time.<br />
<br />
So, as it starts to erode for the Magic, we learn another great lesson about the NBA. Stars are going to do whatever they want, and the GM position is really just a joke for the majority of the teams in the league. Why even have one if you're just going to ask your star who he would rather play with? "Hey I played with this guy back in B-more, we should sign him even though he doesn't believe in playing defense."<br />
<br />
The good thing for Dwight? If he gets traded to the Lakers, he won't have to worry about a GM not taking his advice. He'll just have a constant rotation of superstars stopping over in LA on their way to a gift championship.<br />
<br />
Sometimes this league just brings me down.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-20690997955365156122011-12-08T14:37:00.001-06:002011-12-08T15:08:32.593-06:00Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches, try to find Jesus, on your own...That ol' train is roaring down the line, and we're banking hard into another season of gambling and basketball. First, let's lay a few lines down and see where this gets us:<br />
<br />
NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR<br />
Derrick Williams +350<br />
Ricky Rubio +800<br />
<br />
Hmmmmmm.... this is tough. At first glance, I would say no way is Williams going to get this, because the Wolves aren't going to run the type of offense that is going to feature him (I'm thinking Love is going to be getting Hogg Points all year long). But look at the rest of that rookie class: Enes Kanter is +500, as is Jimmer Fredette. Ugh. Neither of them has a chance in hell. But then, in order for Williams to do well, Rubio's going to have to get him the ball, which should boost his own totals. There's no way you take Rubio to win rookie of the year, unless they base that award on "number of re-donkey-kong passes he throws between his legs". He's likely to get tired in the second half of the season and they'll likely be out of contention before that anyway. So, Williams? Sure, I guess. Why not?<br />
<br />
NBA MVP<br />
Kevin Durant +400<br />
<br />
Isn't this free money? Look at the other guys at +400: Derrick Rose and LeBron. Ok, Rose has a shot... but the Bulls won't be as good this year as they were last year, and I don't trust him to be able to lift the entire team. And LeBron? HA HA HA, Wade won't let him win the MVP. He'll take it away like a parent takes away a child's toy. So doesn't Durant make the most sense? He's the clear points leader not only on the team but in the Western conference. And the team keeps getting better... this could be the year that the Thunder go to the finals. Oh, maybe the Lakers will knock them off... oh wait, who is the coach again? WRONG CHOICE.<br />
<br />
NBA Championship<br />
Miami Heat +250<br />
<br />
I know. It pains me too.<br />
<br />
Look, I went at this thing from every possible angle. I considered a fellow blog who mentioned that the Clippers at 50-1 was a decent long-shot, being that they are a team on the rise and could swing a mid-season trade. Or the Magic, who could get hot in Dwight's last year and make 20-1 look like a steal.<br />
<br />
But let's be honest. This is Team Stern. The two favorites to win the title this year are Miami and the Lakers. The Bulls are not far behind. Stern still believes that the way the NBA grows stronger is if the same 4-5 teams keep making deep runs year after year. Parity is his enemy. He likes the little guys to put up fights, but he knows that the big stars are what get the big ratings. He'll have the Heat in the championship again if it kills him. Same with the Lakers... they are aging and will be coached by a buffoon. But do you know how popular Kobe is around the world? Instant Finals ticket. I'd love to sit here and say "MEMPHIS HAS GOT A SHOT IF THEY STAY HEALTHY", but they don't. Sorry. David won't let them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-77289838011849989952011-10-27T17:01:00.001-05:002011-10-27T17:01:15.319-05:00NCAA might keep UConn out of NCAA tournament...... and in related news, Major League Baseball announced they are kicking the Yankees out of the playoffs, because they "bring in too much money".<br />
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Oh really, <a href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7157051/ncaa-rule-changes-expected-keep-connecticut-huskies-2013-tourney">NCAA?</a> You're going to hold the University of Connecticut out of the tournament because their ballers get bad grades? How much money do you think you're going to lose by doing this? Millions? You wouldn't want anyone in that area to watch your tournament now, would you? You wouldn't want all that revenue to dry up would you? What a joke.<br />
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Here is the exact timeline of how this is going to go down.<br />
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1. We have some bullshit announcement about how the NCAA is cracking down on bad programs and is not going to let in some powerhouse schools because they can't get good grades. This makes the NCAA look like they are doing something, anything, other than filling their pockets with cash and getting fat off a free product.<br />
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2. UConn (and specifically Calhoun) are going to RAISE HELL and call the scumbag down at headquarters, use the F word approximately 100 times in a minute, and remind them that coffee (and tournament appearances) are for closers only.<br />
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3. In a month, a small press release will come out regarding this "change"... surprisingly, they are pushing back implementation of the standards until 2014 at the earliest.<br />
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4. Everyone who works for the NCAA, everyone who works for the conferences, and every single person who makes millions of dollars off of free athletes will eat a meal that costs more than my car.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-78560222672650947342011-07-26T10:04:00.002-05:002011-07-26T10:09:25.415-05:00There's room in the middleAnd no, that's not a reference to cheese curds.<br />
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In the summer of 2007, Kevin McHale decided he didn't want professional basketball to succeed in Minnesota. This was preceded by three awful years of futility, and followed by something even worse: irrelevancy. He traded away the only true superstar the team has ever seen, and replaced him with marketing nightmares. <i>"Come see Al Jefferson stand by while people dunk!" - "Hey kids, come on down and see Sebastian Telfair throw the basketball into the stands!"</i> It was clear in July of 2007 that the Wolves would be occupying the basement for sometime. The team, though the expectations were extremely low, still managed to underperform. The future was dark then, completely black without hope. Now? There's a glimmer. And it has nothing at all to do with the Wolves.<br />
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In the 2000s, the League suddenly got frighteningly good. The Lakers began the decade with dominance, and managed to peak again towards the end. The Spurs took 3 titles in 5 years. The Mavericks have been a 50-60 win team for the entire decade, and the Kings only recently fell off. The Suns were fantastic in the middle, and the Magic emerged in the later half. Detroit went to the conference finals for SIX consecutive seasons. The Celtics, of course, got lucky because Deadzo likes to trade good players for not-good ones. Then there's the Cavs, and now the Heat. Let's not forget the bottom of the upper crust... teams like Denver and Chicago, who have spent a few years toying with the greats. Amidst all of this, there was absolutely a zero chance for the Wolves to compete. None. Even the teams in the middle: Atlanta, Memphis, Utah, Portland... these teams were LIGHT YEARS ahead of Minnesota. Dark future indeed.<br />
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So what has happened recently? First, ever since Pau Gasol started it (and LeBron kicked it into full gear), we've seen a definite movement in top-shelf talent towards already successful teams. Chris Paul will do it too. The underside of these kinds of moves is personified in Amare and Carmelo... two guys who decided it was in their best interest (and certainly NOT for the money) to go to a New York team that had absolutely no recent success, and would have absolutely no surrounding cast to offer them. They did this, presumably, because playing in New York is more fun than winning basketball games. And if Stern wasn't such a homer, and will undoubtedly be granting them every trade exception and signing loophole under the sun, they would suck for the next decade.<br />
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The second thing that happened was good old Father Time, that stubborn sumbitch who's dragging us all down to the Void. He slowly took out the Spurs, he's started in on the Lakers and Celtics, and he'll turn his sights to Dallas and Orlando next. These older players are not being replaced with the kind of talent that came along in the 2000s. OJ Mayo is not Dwyane Wade. As the olds fade away, the young guys haven't yet developed into top-flight talent.<br />
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Ok, so this is all fine and dandy, but what does it mean for the Wolves? Well, look at Phoenix. They were firmly in the middle for the last 3 years, getting by with an aging Steve Nash, solid Amare, and some complimentary pieces. Now Amare disappears, Steve has no one to throw the ball to, and those complimentary pieces suddenly aren't nearly as good as they used to be. Welcome to mediocrity! The exact same thing happened to Denver, and will soon happen to New Orleans. This exodus of talent from mid-level teams, combined with the gradual decline of the veteran teams, creates a wide-open middle class in the NBA. Suddenly, teams like Oklahoma City are leaping right past the middle on their way to the upper crust. Portland is like one good move away from a title run. But yet Utah, Phoenix, Houston and San Antonio run the risk of not being good for a decade. Take a look at two of the last #1 seeds: San Antonio and Cleveland (two years ago). Oy. It happened in Cleveland... it's going to happen in San Antone. It might be slower, but it's going to happen.<br />
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If the Wolves are looking for a model, they need look no further than Memphis. There was no discernible difference between the Grizz in <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MEM/2007.html">2006 </a>and the Wolves in 2009. 22 wins, a roster steeped in young talent, a bad coach with bad players. Then they traded their best player for young pieces, and just kept acquiring younger players, drafting well, and keeping salary low. In the summer of 09, they make their move, going after Zach Randolph (a decision that was, how to say, <a href="http://mnwolves.blogspot.com/2009/07/your-mother-should-know.html">mocked</a> by this blog here). And what has happened? By toppling San Antonio and getting to the Conference Semifinals, they have firmly announced their arrival to at least the middle, if not the lower reaches of the upper crust. And all it took was a good 5 year plan, quality drafting, and taking one chance at a big contract.<br />
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This could happen in Minnesota. They are in position. Guys like Zach Randolph are out there... guys who have worn out their welcome with a specific team, but still have something to contribute. Guys like Arenas, Baron Davis, Rip Hamilton, etc. I'm not endorsing anyone in specific. That's another blog post. But one move could be all they need to at least get to the middle.<br />
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And once you get to the middle? Well, it's amazing how success can sometimes breed success. Look at Portland, Memphis, Chicago. You get on a roll, suddenly you can get the <i>right </i>kind of free agents, at appropriate prices, and teams want to deal with you.<br />
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Nothing's worse than the bottom. Nothing's worse than that dark night, lasting forever, sans hope. If you can get off the mat and compete for the 8th spot in the playoffs, hey, at least a few games a year actually mean something. That's better than we've had since 2005.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-3583474090417219402011-06-22T17:24:00.001-05:002011-06-22T17:24:00.513-05:00These are great<iframe width="380" height="330" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wAxdgZMk1D4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-74266123233609245642011-06-19T00:06:00.002-05:002011-06-20T10:16:48.104-05:00Mark Alarie, Washington BulletsRecently, Dave Stryzinski loaned me a few<a href="http://mikefetters.blogspot.com/2011/06/buckle-it-up.html"> magazines</a> from Days Gone By, and I made it my mission to dig out as much gold as I could. That, of course, led me to pull out my own <a href="http://pacificgold.blogspot.com/2011/06/looking-backwards.html">stash</a> of Sports Illustrateds and see <a href="http://failurefantasysports.blogspot.com/2011/06/cross-post-bonanza.html">what I could find</a>. Let's take a journey:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-lVfrHEzDI/Tf19ElozwuI/AAAAAAAAAwM/FWtDlm1CF90/s1600/scan0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-lVfrHEzDI/Tf19ElozwuI/AAAAAAAAAwM/FWtDlm1CF90/s400/scan0094.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>"Young and Never Going To Amount To Jack Shit"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ydv56w83mBo/Tf19QxTy7UI/AAAAAAAAAwc/xWQCZsQ5824/s1600/scan0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ydv56w83mBo/Tf19QxTy7UI/AAAAAAAAAwc/xWQCZsQ5824/s400/scan0033.jpg" width="298" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Ha ha ha, Glenn Rivers. He actually looks smarter in this picture than he does now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atoqiTxwRHg/Tf19aCuIm-I/AAAAAAAAAwg/KJv2nVjQ3f4/s1600/scan0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atoqiTxwRHg/Tf19aCuIm-I/AAAAAAAAAwg/KJv2nVjQ3f4/s400/scan0034.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wow, I guess I forgot just how horrible the Magic were before they got Shaq and Penny. Jerry Reynolds?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4axUYRvDRhs/Tf19i8TuD7I/AAAAAAAAAwk/-boTRVXVSi4/s1600/scan0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4axUYRvDRhs/Tf19i8TuD7I/AAAAAAAAAwk/-boTRVXVSi4/s400/scan0037.jpg" width="310" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is this the All Knee Pad team? Ledell Eackles? I think he sold me my last Buick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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This has to be the worst NBA team ever assembled. Blair Rasmussen? Come on, that's not a real name. And Joe Barry Carroll? Did you play for one season and die like you should have?<br />
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Now this is from a "Sports Illustrated for Kids" (which really is just Sports Illustrated For Idiots, come on, kids can understand sports, they don't need their own version of the magazine) and I normally wouldn't make fun of children (yes I would), but just picture a kid saying these words. "Twined means he swished the ball through the hoop." Yes, yes. Here, why don't you go eat this outside, sport.<br />
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It still hurts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14063800.post-1883824084196938722011-06-13T01:21:00.001-05:002011-06-13T09:49:02.750-05:00How much grease is on your hair? More than John Travolta movie....<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="309" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OunWJ1fDByE" width="460"></iframe><br />
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And,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYuF7zbdoH4/TfYjMfLk5nI/AAAAAAAAAwI/l6P3L9bSjg8/s1600/4th-quarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYuF7zbdoH4/TfYjMfLk5nI/AAAAAAAAAwI/l6P3L9bSjg8/s320/4th-quarter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2011/06/making-sense-of-2011-nba-finals-reddit-style/">I love this.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1