Category Archives: NBA

Game Logs, NBA

2012 Game Logs: Game 16 Minnesota @ Utah

101 Comments

I had to take a small nap during half time last night that extended about 8 minutes into the third quarter but I watched the end of the game last night on East Coast time. I think I am really falling for this team. As many of you on the site know I have always considered myself and "NBA fan" but never really had an affiliation towards a team until I started hanging out in these parts. Seeing Stick's love of the Wolves, warts and all, was kind of contagious and I started to monitor the team a little more closely. And though I am still looking for proof, there are rumors that I said I would move to the Twin Cities if the Wolves drafted Rubio in 2009.  Well, the Wolves drafted Rubio and while I am still here in Buffalo, I am watching this team with much more interest than I have watched with any of my local teams in some time.

I know I volunteered myself to the Wolves last season when I made my formal decision to take my fandom to the Twin Cities. But I will admit, as the season wore on, my interest waned. I found myself watching more Oklahoma City, Trailblazers, or Heat games than anything else.. This season, well, I don't think I am going to run into that problem.

Bonus points for a Wolves win tonight as Minnesota has Utah's first round pick in the next draft!

 

 

 

 

 

Game Logs, NBA

2012 Game Logs: Game 15 Wolves @ Clippers

243 Comments

364 days ago I left for work in the morning with an extra hop in my step. The Minnesota Timberwolves were scheduled to play the Los Angles Clippers that night. Two of the best power forwards in the league would be facing off, in Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. Blake was really hitting his stride about this time last season, quickly becoming must watch tv for anyone with League Pass.  I even thought about taking a brief nap after work just to make sure that I would be able to stay up all night at watch the game.

I didn't get to watch the game that night. Instead I was in a hospital room, watching a PBS documentary on Jeff Bridges and checking for score updates on my telephone as Mrs Buffalo yelled at me and told me to put that thing away-- I did. A couple of hours later I was feeding her ice chips, shortly after that  a new member of our herd joined us.

I've gotta say, I really don't remember who won that game but I am pretty sure it wasn't the Wolves. Maybe it worked out for the best that way. Maybe this way the Calf and I will be able to watch the Wolves take their revenge. Then again, it will probably be past his bedtime.

 

 

Game Logs, NBA

2012 Game Logs: Game 14 Detroit @ Minnesota

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An interesting fact about tonight's opponent, the Detroit Pistons:

They are bad.

How bad are they? Well, last year the played the Timberwolves twice and lost both times. That was LAST YEAR. With that said, the Wolves, I believe, are roughly 13.2% better than last season. By my half baked calculations that means the Wolves should win by somewhere between 14-18 points tonight.

I think it is getting to the point where, as a team, the Wolves and their fans should start to put together realistic goals or expectations for the season. While I think a NBA title is a little hopeful and a Western Conference Final birth might just be wishful thinking, a playoff birthday is closer to a statistical improbability than a drug induced pipe dream at this point. I think the Wolves should dream a little bit bigger than just making the playoffs though. I think there is one goal the Wolves should aim towards as a litmus test to best judge the season. One goal that would mean as much to Kevin McHale as it would mean to David Kahn. A goal that would finally let Minnesota fans that things are turning around. This year the goal should be for Minnesota to have a better record than the Celtics.

Do it for Gerald Green and Theo Ratliff's expiring contract. Do it for Ryan Gomes and Bassy. Do it for the first round draft pick that turned into Wayne Ellington and Al Jefferson.  Don't do it for Jonny Flynn though. That guy stinks so bad he should be on the Pistons. Alright, you can do it for Jonny Flynn, too.

 

 

 

 

Game Logs, NBA

2012 Game Logs: Cowtown @ Wolves

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The Wolves were up by 18 points late in the third quarter Saturday night before the Hawks went on a 24-2 run as Minnesota grabbed defeat from the clutches of victory. Love and Co. look to rebound tonight against a Kings team that looked seriously awful on Saturday night-- Sacramento scored 23 points in the first half Saturday, for real.

Minnesota is a 7.5 point favorite at home, let's see if DeMarcus Cousins is ready to make the Timberwolves pay for drafting Wesley Johnson ahead of him in the 2010 draft. Hopefully he will go easy on Minnesota as Wes himself seems to have taken the lead on punishing the Wolves.

Game Logs, NBA

2012 Game Logs: Game 12 Timberwolves @ Atlanta

88 Comments

Minnesota did their best to do a 2010-11 Timberwolves impression last night in giving away a 4th quarter lead. The main problem for the Wolves last night was Emeka Okafor being unguarded by Anthony Randolph for much of the game last night. Thankfully, Al Horford is going to be out for (likely) the rest of the season leaving Zaza Pachulia as Atlanta's starting center.

Here is a weird gambling fact about tonight's game:

Road team is 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.

The Wolves are 7.5 point dogs tonight against a Al Horford-less Hawks team. I appreciate these teams having their better players injured to give the Wolves a chance while Beasley is out. It is mighty sporting of them.

Game Logs, NBA

2012 Game Logs: Game 11 Timberwolves @ NOLA

156 Comments

Minnesota is a 1.5 point favorite on the road tonight. I know the nation may not be filled with gamblers but it doesn't take the wagering type to know that it isn't every day the Wolves are favored on the road.

Eric Gordon is out tonight for the Hornets. The Wolves will be without Beasley. So I figure that is about even.  Or not.

Below some information from covers.com

Matchup Edge

MIN Edge in: NO
Points/Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

 

NOLA is averaging .5 boards more per game than the Wolves. Let's see is Kevin Love close that gap a little bit tonight.

Offense

Season Stats Rank
Points/G 95.4 12
Field Goal % 43.1 22
3-Point % 35.3 11
Free Throw % 71.7 22
Rebounds/G 44.1 7

Defense

Season Stats Rank
Points/G 95.1 18
Field Goal % 43.8 12
3-Point % 31.5 10
Free Throw % 79.0 29
Rebounds/G 42.1 17

There are still a lot of improvements to be made but this team is a lot better than last season.  Or at least it feels a lot better than a 3-7 team.

 

NBA

Chicago Bulls at Minnesota Timberwolves 7:00pm

104 Comments

The Wolves are 3-6 on the season, but its the most exciting 3-6 in franchise history! It seems like they should have more win than 3, but turnovers are killing this team (among other things). This is the last of 3 straight games for the Wolves (Wash, Toronto before) and the Bulls are on the end of back to back roadies. Tired legs should apply for this game.

 

NBA

NBA Lottery Alternatives

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There's something about tweaking the rules of sports leagues that really appeals to me. It's probably because I'm a control freak, but there could be other factors.

No one seems all that happy about the NBA's lottery process. If I understand correctly, it used to be evenly weighted amongst non-playoff teams, which would reduce the incentive for tanking at the end of the season. Under that system, some didn't feel the worst teams were getting enough help. Fair enough. Now there's a weighted lottery, but some teams clearly play to lose "improve their draft position" at the end of the season. The system opens itself up to conspiracy theories, and it doesn't seem to be all that fair to fans of some of the most terrible teams in the league. Is there a better way?

I'm not really sure that there's an absolute better way, but I like exploring alternatives.

Continue reading NBA Lottery Alternatives →