With the stunning blowout win versus the Pistons still fresh in everyone’s mind, Wittman’s job should be safe enough to endure a little criticism. Of the 15 players on the roster, only two, Craig Smith and Kevin Ollie, are performing better than anyone’s reasonable expectations. Wittman has neither shortened his bench nor given the kids reliable roles to play. He’s playing for victories when development remains the priority–case in point was Corey Brewer, who blanketed Paul Pierce in two games last season (it was his chief claim to fame) and did a nice job for awhile on Friday, yet still only got 13:50 of burn. Meanwhile, Rodney Carney got 12:01. Kudos to Carney for the 3 steals, but isn’t this just a Kirk Snyder redux? You know–is Carney part of this team’s future? Carney and Brewer are very similar type players. One is your lotter pick–the one who should get the vast share, if not all, of those combined 25:51.
Wyn at Canis Hoopus on the team’s sometimes poor taste in in-game entertainment.
This would be the first time Kevin Garnett crossed paths with his ex on her turf, and the shiny new ring on his finger let 17,000 mutual friends know exactly who was better off. It was an inescapable topic of discussion Friday night and if anyone could identify with K.G.’s emotions, it was Ray Allen…
RandBall posts a fictitious conversation between head coaches Brad Childress and Randy Wittman.
From Basketbawful:
Kevin Love’s pants: Basketbawful reader Garron thinks Love needs to address the droop in his draws: “Both the commentators of the Celtics-Wolves game on Friday kept harping on about this, but they are right; Kevin Love needs pants that fit. At least once every possession, Kevin Love has to pull up his pants, and in the third quarter, the Celtics caught on to this and kept waiting for Kevin to make his adjustment before driving passed him. There have been worse wardrobe malfunctions (Donyell Marshall anyone?) but this has been the only one I’ve seen that affects play.” What do you think guys? Examples here, here, and here. But the best one’s here.
Defensively, the Pistons had no clue when it came to Randy Foye. Nobody in the Detroit backcourt could stop him, everyone got a chance, and the third-year guard finished with 23 points and 14 assists with just two turnovers. He just kept moving. Mike Miller continued his “I don’t care about shooting anymore” turn with a nine-point, eight-rebound, and seven-assist game in only 24 minutes. And Al Jefferson (19 and eight boards) was nearly unstoppable in the third quarter.
Need to put a bad game in the rearview mirror? Take it out on the next opponent. That’s exactly what the Timberwolves did on Sunday night in beating the Detroit Pistons 106-80 for their first road win of the year and second win in the last three games. The other game in that set was a humiliating home loss to the Boston Celtics that the Wolves can now quickly forget.