The Wolves now are 0-1 in Barack Obama’s presidency. Monday’s victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles made the Wolves exactly even during George W. Bush’s presidency. They were 327-327 since he took office in 2001.
They had a .263 winning percentage (73-205) during George H.W. Bush’s presidency and had a .414 winning percentage (262-371) when Bill Clinton was president.
From David Aldridge/NBA.com-How to fix the Timberwolves.
“The guys are out there playing with confidence again,” assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg said, and he gives McHale all the credit. The Mayor is in a unique position to judge, having played for McHale for those 31 games at the end of his playing career in ’05, and having played in Indiana for Larry Bird for two seasons in the late ’90s.
McHale “has such a unique ability for getting inside your head and figuring out what makes you tick,” Hoiberg said. “He and Bird are a lot alike in that area…he has such a good demeanor about him. He handles discipline behind closed doors. And confidence in our league is such a big thing. He had a great meeting with the team his first day. He told them exactly what he expected of them. He said, ‘I’m not going to be able to keep 15 guys happy.’ And guys in our league, I think they react to that better than if you leave them in the dark.”
One man who would not be surprised by the success Kevin McHale is having coaching the Wolves is the late Red Auerbach, who won nine NBA titles as coach of the Celtics. I remember my friend Red telling me that “[McHale] might not be the greatest athlete, but he was one of the smartest players.”
The Hornets will travel on Thursday to play in Minnesota on Friday. The Timberwolves currently have the fourth worst record in the West and the fifth worst in the NBA. The Wolves will be off on Wednesday and Thursday so they’ll be rested for the game on Friday. Minnesota is 6-13 a home this year and 8-20 within the Western Conference. You wouldn’t think the Hornets would have too much trouble, but with a depleted lineup there’s no telling.
For all the notoriety that came from playing 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, the championship rings and the induction into the Hall of Fame, Kevin McHale is a regular guy.

A 6-foot-10 everyman.