The TWolves Blog Forum Game Thread. Peruse… if you dare!
Game Preview for tonight from the Orlando Sentinel:
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: It should be a big night for Dwight Howard. Look for the Magic to try to establish Howard early. Jefferson is going to be a load down low for Rashard Lewis.
– I think a “big night” is an understatement. D-Ho will probably go off for 20 pts and 25 boards in like 30 minutes of work, max. Is there any possible situation where the Magic don’t absolutely destroy the TWolves tonight? I don’t see it.
Here’s a much better game preview for tonight from Howard The Dunk:
Kevin Love, who scores 14.4 points per game, is one of the league’s best pound-for-pound rebounders. Love’s rebounding rate is 20.9%. To put that into perspective, Dwight Howard’s reboudning percentage this season is 21.9%.
Keep an eye on former Florida Gator Corey Brewer – he always seems to be good for one highlight play.
Former Magic big man and notable bust Darko Milicic has been playing much better as Minnesota’s starting Center. He even posted a double-double, 16 points and 12 rebounds, against the Los Angeles Lakers last week.
Orlando does have a far superior team and if they come to play, should have absolutely no problem getting back to their winning ways.
– Oh weird, the traditional print media “preview” is short and cookie-cutter, while the blog preview is indepth and contains much more analysis. And people wonder why newspapers are dying?
The Orlando Sentinel also says that Al Jefferson says that “I don’t think you can stop Dwight Howard.” I says the TWolves are doomed.
Minneapolis seeks upgrades for Target Center:
As Target Field gets ready for its big debut next month, an older neighbor that shares the same first name is quietly waiting for a series of improvements that would — in the city’s view — make the arena “viable” for the next two decades.
The city of Minneapolis — which owns the 20,500-seat Target Center, home of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, concerts and other events — sought state money to pay for some of the planned upgrades, but the request failed to find its way into the conference committee bonding bill.
– Is a Better Team a doable upgrade?
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Per Jerry Zgoda from the Strib, at least the Wolves rookies are still keeping it real:
Fast forward 12 months to their new careers, their new lives, their new team, which has lost 14 consecutive games and 20 of its past 21 with nine games left to play in their first professional 82-game season.
“It’s crazy, a crazy difference,” Ellington said after practice Thursday in Orlando. “So much changes in one year. It’s a different kind of madness than it was last year.”
– I don’t really have the heart to say anything insulting. At least Flynn tries hard. I think. Ellington has actually looked pretty good lately. And he’s got the second highest 3PT % of anyone in the NBA in 2010!
Stephen Litel and David Kahn Talk it Out:
With Rubio, we have a pretty good sense that he won’t be here next season. At this point, do you have any idea on Pekovic?
“I know that he’d like to come over next year. My sense is that he does. I’ve visited with him in person and he knows the next step now is for me to come over with Kurt in May and we’re going to spend some time watching him together and then we’ll figure out how to proceed.”
What is your response to the apathetic view that it is impossible to build a championship level team in Minnesota, as far as attracting free agents?
“I’m not a believer that that’s going to be relevant. At the end of the day, most of the cities are cold weather cities in the winter. There are only a few exceptions and I don’t really believe that is at the top of the players’ lists in terms of picking places to play.
– Ruuuuuuuuubio!!!
Please say you saw the Kansas State – Xavier 2OT Thriller last night?!?!
– One of the best games I’ve ever seen. Wow. And Jordan Crawford can straight-up ball.
From Paul Forrester at CNNSI.com. From High-School to D-League to NBA Draft?