Click here for the forum’s thread for tonight’s game against the Knicks
Game previews:
While Hollins was helping the Wolves close out the Clippers in the fourth quarter, Love was on the bench for the final nine minutes. Rambis was looking for a spark to shake the Wolves (10-38) out of a five-game losing streak, and Hollins, who hadn’t started since Nov. 14, delivered an impressive performance.
“Ryan played great in the fourth quarter … the whole game, actually,” Love said. “He did a lot of things to open up our offense. If he continues to do that, he’s going to figure out what he can do in this league.”
Even Love, who admitted his frustration with not playing more in the fourth quarter, credited Hollins for taking advantage of a key opportunity.
“Ryan played great in the fourth quarter … the whole game, actually,” Love said. “He did a lot of things to open up our offense. If he continues to do that, he’s going to figure out what he can do in this league.”
Corey Brewer, guard: Don’t look now, but the guy who couldn’t shoot straight is blossoming into a scorer. Averaged 21.3 ppg on 54.3 percent shooting in the three games.
Rambis said he will stay with the same lineup — the two Ryans (Hollins and Gomes) to start, Kevin Love and Damien Wilkins off the bench — that helped produce Friday’s 111-97 victory over the Clippers.
Asked if he has tinkered with the lineup in searching for a unit that can play at a faster pace, he said, “More energy, not necessarily a faster pace.
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune: Q&A with Kevin McHale
Q Is this team better than where you left them? Is there a reason for fans to still hope?
A I’ve seen about two-thirds of their games. They’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out who they are. That always happens with a new coach, new teammates, new lots of stuff. Then you add young guys. They’re searching to find how they play together, who’s going to play together. That takes time.
From Bob Geiger/Finance & Commerce: New Timberwolves ads admit losing ways to woo fans
Compared to the team’s post-Kevin Garnett “See what they can do” advertising theme, a billboard in the Wolves’ latest media message to hoops fans is brutal but candid: “A message for our harshest critics: You’re right.”
That billboard contains the forthcoming theme, “An honest assessment of the past. A plan for the future.”
That billboard contains the forthcoming theme, “An honest assessment of the past. A plan for the future.”
Patrick Hunt, president of Minneapolis ad agency Hunt Adkins, explained that the Wolves’ current ad campaign is an effort to be honest with fans, some of whom pay as little for NBA seats as parents do to attend middle school suburban traveling basketball contests.