2/28 Updates Part II
Beginning Sunday, Britt Robson will be posting at The Rake Magazine.
His new column is called
"On The Ball." (via
Wolves Hoops Blog)
In
his last column for City Pages, Robson discusses last night's game:
Of the dozen players who saw time tonight, only two, Trenton Hassell and Craig Smith, earned their pay with a complete effort. Not coincidentally, they are also the two players with the clearest idea of what their respective roles are and how best to fulfill them.The gentlemen at the Basketball Jones talk Garnett and the Wolves' future in today's edition of the their daily podcast.
Tony Mejia/CBS SportsLine wants to know how Kevin McHale can "stomach watching Garnett waste away due to his own ineptitude."
Joanne C. Gerstner/ The Detroit News includes Garnett in a list of 5 players who are "
entering March with a dark cloud over them."
He's an All-Star stuck on another sinking ship of a season. The T-Wolves didn't swing a trade before the deadline, so he's riding out the rest of the season in Minneapolis. However, questions about his future won't stop, since he can opt-out of his contract in a year.
Wolves Updates 2/28
Garnett lists Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash as
his top two candidates for MVP:"You take these players off their teams and you see the influence on their teams. (Nowitzki) has a very good cast around him, but at the same time he's a big part of why they win."Mark Madsen injury update:Wolves forward Mark Madsen went through a light workout Monday but has not been involved in contact drills yet since spraining his left ankle Feb. 21.KG on Mavs coach Avery Johnson:"Nothing against any short people in the world, but short people are probably the most feistiest because they look at it from a different perspective," Garnett said. "When you're the smallest, you have to have a fight in you. He's always been a person who, you trash-talk to him, he's not necessarily going to trash back. But he's going to let you know that he's coming, and he's not going to back down. He definitely has [transferred] that to his team."Garnett on whether Reggie Miller, the former player in whom Mavs owner Mark Cuban has recently expressed interest, could make a comeback:
"If it's Reggie Miller, yeah. Michael Jordan, yeah," Garnett said. "Any other old names you want to put in there, I don't think so."DraftExpress on the D-League's Fort Worth Flyers:
Ndudi Ebi played his first game of the season on Sunday, and finished up with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks before fouling out in 33 minutes. Ebi's play will be important for the Flyers with the loss of Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
Wolves 65, Mavericks 91
From
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:The Wolves never mounted a serious challenge during a 91-65 flatline loss to the Mavericks, who won their 13th consecutive game.
The Wolves shot just 29.6 percent, the worst performance in franchise history. The previous low: 30.1 percent in March 1990 against Denver.AP RecapBox ScorePostgame quotes
"We don't have the experience nor the personnel to sort of get us in positions to climb ourselves out,'' said Garnett, who had 15 points and 13 rebounds. "We sometimes hang our hats on our youthfulness, and sometimes that's a disadvantage.''"I don't think it's about our shooting. I think it's about pride, and that we don't have right now,'' said Marko Jaric, who went scoreless in 10 minutes. "We need to find it."
Wolves Updates 2/27
Dennis Scott on KG's reaction to him and others talking about their college experiences:
“You could tell he felt bad about not being able to add anything to the conversations,” said Scott, now a Hawks radio announcer, referring to Garnett’s emptiness after leaping from high school to the NBA. “Finally, I asked him about it, and he said, ‘Yeah, it crosses my mind sometimes that I missed out by not having that college experience.’ "Gilbert Arenas blogs about getting revenge for the lack of hot water in the vistor's locker room at the Target Center:
We gonna cut off they hot water when they come to our city. See if KG likes the feel of that cold water. It was so cold that I almost went in their locker room and took a bath in their Jacuzzi. The water was cold man, it was cold.
Patrick Reusse/Star Tribune talks to owner Glen Taylor about whether he has a potential replacement within the organization should Kevin McHale leave:
"I do think we would need a public figure who could be a spokesman for the team, as well as a good basketball man," Taylor said. "I think we have him."On whether KG's salary could preclude the player from being traded:
"I'm definitely not saying that we plan to trade Kevin Garnett," Taylor said. "It's not likely we would do that. But your question is, 'Is it possible with Kevin's salary to trade him?' The answer is yes. It would be difficult, but it wouldn't be impossible."Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune writes that after a 20-point game and a 17-point game, Mike James "hasn't reached double figures in his other four games off the bench, so there clearly is room for growth. "
From
Roscoe Nance/USA Today:However, Blount has tapered since the All-Star break. He has averaged 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 38.8% from the field in his last four contests. Blount averaged 22.8 points and seven rebounds the four games before the All-Star break, and had five games of 20 points or more in February.A preview of
tonight's game against the Mavericks.Coach Wittman on the possibility of Dirk Nowitzki being this season's MVP:
"He's got to be right at the top, no question. I always think you have to look at it as where your team is, too. They're 46-9. I think that plays a part in it."
Wolves Updates 2/26
Britt Robson/City Pages believes that every Western Conference team "has at least two players better than the Wolves's second best."
But toting it up, I would trade the Wolves second-best player for the second-best player on every single Western Conference team, the third best player on half of those teams (7 out of 14) the fourth best player on two teams, and the fifth best player on Phoenix. That's the short-term supporting cast of these Wolves.Owner Glen Taylor says the decision on whether Randy Wittman will return as coach next season will be made at the end of the year.
Wittman has the support of Wolves all-star Kevin Garnett, who on Sunday reaffirmed his approval of Wittman. Garnett said he "absolutely" wants Wittman back next season.Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune writes that "it seems clear that, barring a meltdown or tabloid-worthy incident, he will be back next fall."
Sid Hartman calls the
relationship between Taylor and KG "very good" and writes that Taylor still thinks that Garnett will finish his career in Minnesota.
Hartman also talks about Taylor's belief that the team's record is due not to its "personnel," but to its "lack of chemistry and the inability to play as a unit." He adds that Taylor says he approved a deal at the trade deadline that was killed when one of the teams backed out.
Wolves president Chris Wright "said that for the 2005-06 season, the Wolves had only one sellout, and they have
already had five this season and could have three more..."
Coach Wittman on advice he gave to the players for the Sunday afternoon game:
"I just tried to tell them, 'Don't lay in bed until noon,' " he said. "Get up and do your normal thing. Get something to eat. Make it as routine as a 7 o'clock game."
Wolves 98, Wizards 94
From
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press: Veteran Ricky Davis talked a little trash and scored 27 points. Rookie Randy Foye played a strong floor game. And the Timberwolves watched Washington all-star Gilbert Arenas shoot 4 for 22.Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune recapStephen Litel/SPM recapAP recapPostgame quotesBox ScoreThe Wizards had an
extended, difficult trip into Minneapolis because of the snowstorm and didn't arrive til around midnight on Sunday for that day's afternoon game. After its loss, the team discovered there was no hot water in the visitor's locker room, prompting Gilbert Arenas to rinse off with bottled water instead.
Wolves Updates 2/25
Mike James on playing for the Wolves:"At times it's like putting an oval block in a circle piece," said James. "It looks like it's going to fit. It seems like it's going to fit, but no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't seem like that fit is there. It's been kind of difficult. Maybe I can sand down the sides of the oval shape and force it to be a circle."KG on the Sonics retiring Spencer Haywood's jersey:"I'm forever grateful to him for leading the way," Garnett said last week. "Without Spencer Haywood there would be no Bill Willoughby, Darryl Dawkins, Moses Malone or myself. I'm very happy that he's being recognized for all of his accomplishments and is receiving the recognition he deserves. I want to congratulate him on having his number retired."From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:The Timberwolves, occasionally chastised by their coach for thinking of "me" instead of "we," have a greater problem right now: being thought of as wee.Israel Gutierrez/Miami Herald wonders how McHale "manages to get away clean."
A preview of this afternoon's
game against the Wizards.Updated:
Coach Wittman on KG's comment "thank god for opt-outs":"Kevin's a professional," Wittman said. "He comes every night to play. I'm not worried about Garnett coming to play or playing well. Sure, he's frustrated a little bit."According to
Charley Walters/Pioneer Press, "people who know say " KG could have been traded to the Bulls before last summer's draft for Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng, their 2006 draft pick, and the draft pick they're getting this summer from the Knicks. Walters says the Wolves "wouldn't entertain the offer."
Walters also writes:
Regardless, look for the Wolves, despite a huge financial cost, to start over with new players after the season. And for assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg to become the chief decision maker in the organization.The Bulls, by the way, also were interested in Hoiberg to work in their front office after he was forced to retire as a player because of heart complications.
Wolves Updates 2/24
Bill Simmons hands out trade deadline grades to each team and gives the Wolves an
"F-infinity-minus."The Pioneer Press says that Eddie Griffin has not been working out with the Wolves since his January suspension. In a sign that he's probably not rejoining the team,
Griffin's name was removed from his dressing stall and Trent Hassell was taking it over.
The team and Griffin's representatives reportedly tried to negotiate a buyout of the final 1 ½ years on the 24-year-old's contract, but the case could go to arbitration.Coach Wittman and Mad Dog think the player
could miss two weeks due to his ankle sprain.
Coach Wittman on Mike James as a reserve:
"I've liked what I've seen since we've made the change," coach Randy Wittman said. "He's gotten his aggression back offensively."From
Ray Ratto/San Francisco Chronicle:The Timberwolves have been running around like Hamlet, holding Garnett's skull before them and wondering, "To be, or not to be." Randy Foye is worth watching, and Ricky Davis is, well, Ricky Davis. This team looks dead-ended...From the
AP:Former NBA star Latrell Sprewell, accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their children, may communicate with his children only by phone, e-mail or text message.
Garnett: Thank God for opt-outs
According to
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune, Garnett didn't sound too thrilled with the fact that the team made zero roster changes before the trade deadline.
Though KG can't opt-out of his contract til after the 2007-2008 season, the following are not exactly words some fans, including this one, want to hear:
"We made no moves. Typical," Garnett said in a raspy voice, apparently fighting a cold.Asked if he had been hoping for a trade to boost the team's playoff chances, Garnett responded: "We're trying to get better, right? It is what it is.""Thank God for opt-outs," Garnett said as he wrapped up the brief interview.
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press says that Garnett was later asked to explain his comments:
"I didn't say that," Garnett said over his shoulder as he exited down a corridor. "I said 'opts.' I said 'outs.' "
Wolves 104, Suns 116
From
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:Garnett had 28 points and 19 rebounds, but the Wolves' defense couldn't contain the Suns, who beat Minnesota 116-104 at Target Center. The Wolves (25-30) fell to a season-worst five games under .500.The most amusing part of the night had to be when a snippet of "Promiscuous Girl" was piped into the arena during the second quarter. The song features Nelly Furtado asking, "is your game MVP like Steve Nash..."
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune Recap
AP RecapBox ScoreGame time entertainment was aimed at celebrating Crunch's birthday. The PR department must have decided that if the fans are anything but impressed by the Wolves, they could be appeased somewhat by the team mascot breaking the world record for dunking over the
biggest pyramid of dancers, mascots, and fire.
McHale on Dennis Johnson
Kevin McHale on the death of NBA great and former teammate, Dennis Johnson:
"I'm shocked and saddened after hearing the news about D.J.," said Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale, a former teammate of Johnson's, in a statement released by the Wolves. "He was truly one of the good guys to play in the NBA, and he was a great teammate who was fun to be around."
Wolves Updates 2/23
From
Sid Hartman:While I believe the Wolves needed to make a trade to improve their personnel and make the playoffs, coach Randy Wittman said he believes a much better attitude is what the Wolves need the most.Stephen Litel/SportsPage Magazine believes that more of the team should play with the same "consistent heart" that Troy Hudson does.
From
Chad Ford's ESPN chat yesterday:
Dave K, Minneapolis: Why is the Minnesota Timberwolves Front Office so colossally inept? Please tell me they do something about our roster today! Chad Ford: If they don't move Kevin Garnett to the Bulls by 3 p.m., They'll never get anything great in return for him and the team will never get out of the first round of the NBA playoffs. That's about all I can say about the Wolves roster today. Kevin McHale is about to hand Fred Hoiberg the keys to the Titanic in Minnesota. A preview of
tonight's game against the Suns.
Team Chemistry
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune says the team's chemistry is "an obvious deficiency."
"From what I see, everybody's thinking, 'It's not me,' " guard Marko Jaric said. "We're always blaming somebody else. Maybe nobody feels this is 'my team,' besides maybe KG. Or everybody's like, 'If I don't play good, the heck with it, somebody else is going to do it.' "Mike James compares the bond among the Pistons with whom he played to that of the Wolves:
"I think the biggest thing that's the difference (compared with Minnesota) is we were all friends," James said. "We all hung out with one another. We were not just close off the basketball court, but we were close on the basketball court. We cheered for one another. Our families got together and hung out. Our kids knew each other. That goes a long way. When you really enjoy being around one another, it's easier to cheer for one another. Then when someone makes a mistake, it's easier to lift them up because you really do care.''About the Wolves chemistry:
"I think there can be more," James said. "I think that's how you build a championship team, when you accept one another for just who they are, and just deal with it and just value what you have."Tom Powers/Pioneer Press writes that while "making no moves wasn't a terrible alternative," he'd wanted the team's "chemistry issue" to be addressed.
McHale's message to fans
In between checking
Lowpost and other sports sites, hoping that maybe I'd missed some late-breaking news regarding changes to the Wolves roster, I noticed the following email in my inbox addressed to season ticket holders from Kevin McHale.
Dear xxxxx,As you are probably aware, the NBA's trading deadline passed today, and we did not make a trade. I can tell you that we were extremely active in calling teams around the league as we continue to look for ways to improve our basketball team. Myself, Jim Stack, Fred Hoiberg and Rob Babcock have been busy the past few weeks as we explored a number of trade scenarios. Unfortunately, there was a lack of movement around the league, with teams not willing to make changes. Though our focus now shifts to making a strong second half push with our current roster, we will continue to hold discussions with other teams regarding moves that can be made at a later date to improve our club as we head into next season. With the final 28 games remaining in the regular season, our goal, as it always has been, is to make the playoffs. Sincerely, Kevin McHaleAccording to sources of
Marty Burns/SI.com,
Chris McCosky/Detroit News, and
Krista Jahnke/Detroit Free Press, the Wolves were looking for first-round draft picks for player/s whose last name wasn't Garnett. These are just rumors but if true, could very easily explain why no team was "willing to make changes."
While the above letter did make me laugh for a minute, it did nothing to alleviate the disappointment of a fan whose team sits well below .500 yet, while claiming its goal is to make the playoffs, does nothing to even tweak a roster with deficiencies so apparent that even Stevie Wonder can spot them.
No trade news
From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:The NBA trading deadline passed at 2 p.m. Twin Cities time, with no word of a deal involving the Timberwolves."This is our team," coach Randy Wittman said this afternoon, after his team's 100-95 collapse against Charlotte at Target Center. "If anything did happen, it wouldn't [have been] a 10-player deal. We've got to, between our ears, understand what's causing these letdowns, where we've just thrown games away."
Wolves trashtalking at Wizards game
No news on the trade front concerning the Wolves but
Dan Steinberg at DC Sports Bog has a couple funny stories regarding the game at the Wizards on Tuesday night.
On Andray Blatche saying KG was
"trying to get into my head" with his trashtalking during the game:
'Dre's version of the conversation was indescribably dull; he said KG kept saying "I'm comin' at you" and "you ready?" and stuff like that, and that he [Blatche] responded by saying things like "bring it" and "show me something." When we asked DeShawn Stevenson what KG was saying, he gave a better answer: "I can't say it on TV." But we did get Blatche to rate KG as a talker: "Top 10," he said. "Top five. Top three." If we had given him a few more minutes, we would have gotten into negative numbers.Steinberg also talks about an account of the back and forth between Ricky Davis and some heckling fans. According to the report he received, Steinberg said "the dialogue reached a point where Ricky Davis was miming what he took to be homosexual behavior, on the court, for the benefit of his Wizards hecklers."
Mike James to Houston and other pre-deadline trade rumors
From Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle:
The Rockets have had talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a long-shot deal in which they would acquire former Rockets Mike James and Eddie Griffin before today's trade deadline, two Western Conference officials said.The Rockets, however, are among many teams that have inquired about James since he was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Randy Foye. The Timberwolves are insisting that to get James any team must take Griffin, whom the Rockets, and most other teams, would likely then release.From
Marc Stein/ESPN:A three-team scenario in which Cavs power forward Drew Gooden and Minnesota's Mike James would land in Sacramento no longer appears to be an option, but it's believed that neither Cleveland nor Sacramento has abandoned hope of striking a deal before the trade buzzer.The Wolves, conceding now that signing James was a mistake after drafting Randy Foye, are working hard to move him before the deadline ... with the Houston Rockets emerging Wednesday as a very plausible destination.
James played on Detroit's 2004 championship team and the Pistons have interest in reacquiring him. The latest signals, however, suggest that the Pistons won't be making a deadline deal.
From Lang at SLAM Online:
Once again the T-Wolves look like they’re going to stand pat. I heard chatter at All-Star that things might not change there until this summer. And if that’s the case, it seems almost perfect that GM Kevin McHale would stand by and not do anything as the team slinks their way to another postseason without a postseason.Mike James on the possibility of being traded before today's 2pm deadline:"It is what it is," James said before scoring 17 points in the Wolves' 100-95 loss to Charlotte at Target Center on Wednesday. "You understand how this business goes, that things happen. If I get moved, I'm just going to work. Grind. Be the first one to gym, last one to leave. I can't worry about getting moved. My family is ready."
Dime interview with Garnett
The Vegas Edition 07 of
Dime Magazine features KG on the cover and a great interview with the player inside. Below is an excerpt:
"Caring about something, respecting something, actually having some love for something that has value and substance to you...that's competitiveness," Kevin says. "When I think of being competitive, it's caring about something wholeheartedly, that you'll put sweat, blood, everything you have behind it."I compete at a high level every night. I give 1,000 percent when I'm out there. Every night I step on the floor, it's to terrorize and compete at a high level. There's only one level for me."He calls it "The Beast."
Wolves Updates 2/22
KFAN's Chad Hartman interviewed
Britt Robson about the Wolves and his future plans in terms of covering the team. You can listen
here. Brian Murphy/Pioneer Press on Mad Dog's ankle injury:
Madsen writhed in pain before being carried off the court. Initial x-rays were negative, and he will be re-evaluated today. Madsen, whose status is day to day, said it was the first time he has sprained an ankle since his sophomore season at Stanford in 1997-98.The Li'l KG Farewell tour continues at
10,000 Takes. Steve Nash on his "perfect team":Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan at center, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki at forwards and Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen (or Tracy McGrady) at guards. Bryant was his point guard.
The La Crosse Tribune had a column yesterday calling for KG to be traded.
Wolves 95, Bobcats 100
From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:The Wolves (25-29) blew their biggest lead of the season -- they were up 58-41 late in the first half -- and lost for the seventh time in the past 10 games.Adam Morrison scored all 26 of his points in the second half to help the Bobcats overcome the Wolves 17-point lead.
Britt Robson/City Pages game discussion
Brian Murphy/Pioneer Press recapAP RecapBox Score-Mad Dog had to leave the game in the second half with what the
team said was an ankle sprain.-Ricky Davis was sporting a new hairdo tonight:"I usually only do it once a year. I think I've played pretty good [on those nights]," he said.
Mike James trade rumors
Marc Stein/ESPN with recent trade rumors:
Bibby going to Cleveland, however, remains a possibility. The Cavs lack the trade assets to complete a trade for Bibby, but one scenario in circulation Tuesday had Minnesota joining in on a three-team deal that would potentially send Mike James, among others, to Sacramento as Bibby's successor at the point.The Wolves, according to NBA front-office sources, have committed to trying to move James before the deadline after he lasted just a half-season as the No. 1 point guard in Minnesota before ceding his starting spot to rookie Randy Foye.
Wolves Updates 2/21
Chad Ford/ESPN with a few trades he believes should be made before the deadline, including one sending Garnett to the Bulls.
On whether his proposed deal would actually happen, Ford says:
The chances look slim. The Wolves have steadfastly refused to deal Garnett over the years and haven't shown any signs of softening their stance.Peter Vecsey/New York Times on the chances Garnett asks to be traded:
I don't see it happening. For one thing, the rapidly improving Timberwolves are a brute forward/center away from declaring their legitimacy. The barbed snag is finding a team willing to swap that special species for one of the team's albatross contracts: Marko Jaric or Troy Hudson.From the
Star-Telegram:The Minnesota Timberwolves would love to unload guard Mike James, who was one of the top free-agent targets of Mavericks coach Avery Johnson last summer. The T'wolves signed James to a four-year, $23.5 million contract and are listening to anyone who's interested, although moving the six-year veteran won't be easy.Chris McCosky/Detroit News on whether the Pistons have inquired about Mike James:
Yes. Like I wrote last week, James is the type of player they are looking for and his salary matches Nazr Mohammed's. But I can't imagine why Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale would want to make a deal that would help a coach he fired two years ago win a title.Ricky Davis on Gilbert Arenas:"He shoots a lot of free throws and gets good calls," Davis said of Arenas. "I wish I could get calls like that and be great."From
Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:It's just a matter of time before the Wolves sever ties with troubled forward Eddie Griffin, who has not played for the team the past two months.KG on the remainder of the season:"Witt let us know what we needed to do to [make the playoffs]," Kevin Garnett said. "This is the grind part of it. I anticipate us coming out and doing just that for the rest of the year."Ricky Davis on going to All-Star weekend along with Garnett, Rashad McCants, Justin Reed, and Mike James:
"We all went together, with Kevin, and it was really nice," Davis said. "It's fun, actually, sitting and watching guys play the game. It's a fun thing."The Wolves host the Bobcats at the Target Center tonight.
Wolves 100, Wizards 112
From
Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune:Tuesday, the Wolves did what they have done a number of times this season: dig a hole on the road that they were unable to climb out of, then put on a mad (or is that maddening?) rush late to make the game closer than it appeared.Pioneer Press recapAP RecapBox ScoreAndray Blatche on KG:"He is the player I used to watch when I was little," said the 20-year old Blatche, who like Garnett bypassed college on his way to the NBA. "When I went to the courts, I used to practice all of his moves. He is the player I idolized and is still my favorite player in the NBA. The fact that I came out and played really well against him means a lot to me. I'm excited to go home and watch the game over and over."When asked about Blatche after the game, Garnett offered only a stiff "no comment."
Wolves Updates 2/20
"Being in Vegas, it's a great place to be, a great place to chill," Minnesota's Kevin Garnett said. "But it's out with the fantasy and back to reality."Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press with 5 "key factors" in the team's quest for a playoff spot.
A preview of
tonight's game at the Wizards. KG on Gilbert Arenas:"He's entertainment," Garnett said. "Not a lot of hype. Things Gilbert does is a lot of fact. Gets buckets. He's the reason that team wins when they win. ... He, at times, man, is a little bit over the top. But he's well-deserving of everything."Shoals at NBA Fanhouse with commentary on Ricky Davis' All-Star weekend fashion sense.
From
David DuPree/USA Today:The NBA's trade deadline is Thursday, and some big names could move. But don't expect Kevin Garnett to be among them.
Although the Minnesota Timberwolves are struggling, Garnett is happy where he is and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale maintain that they aren't interested in moving the former MVP and one of the league's best all-around players, even though there are plenty of suitors.
Wolves Updates 2/19
From Sid Hartman:
According to Fred Hoiberg, assistant general manager for the Wolves, it's not definite that the career of suspended forward Eddie Griffin is completely over with the club. Griffin has been working out with the Wolves to find out if he can contribute, or if a trade can be worked out while lawyers talk about a contract settlement.Click here for "Tru Luv," a new T-Hud song featuring Ray-J.
You can listen to the ESPN Radio interview with Garnett which Marc Stein wrote about earlier this weekend.
David Friedman/HoopsHype said that when he asked Garnett about the rookie/sophomore game, the player answered "with a lot more energy and enthusiasm than he displayed when talking about Pippen."
About the game, Garnett said "it was terrible."
Flip Saunders on KG:"He continues to get better and better," Saunders added. "I don't think people really understand the professionalism that Kevin has and the respect he has for the game -- both now and the respect he has for the people and the players that have played previous to him."
West wins All-Star game
Click
here for a recap of the Western Conference All-Stars' 153-132 win over the East.
From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:And who spent the least time on the court of anyone in the game? Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett. In 14 minutes, 11 seconds, he scored seven points with six boards and four assists while tying for the second-fewest minutes of his 10 consecutive All-Star outings..."Tonight, it's entertainment," he said. "I'm here to sit back and relax, and try to even out the minutes. Give somebody a breather."Shoals at NBA Fanhouse called Garnett's block on Dwyane Wade in the first half the "turning point" of the game. You can see the block among the highlights
here. KG on memories of
his first All-Star game in 1997:"I remember Charles Barkley giving Gary Payton a hard time in the locker room, and how they were just going at it," Garnett said."In the game, M.J. had come over to me and told me to make sure I didn't shoot an air ball. That made me more nervous than ever."Garnett said what he'll always remember most is, "I got to meet Wilt [Chamberlain] for the first time. I saw him sitting there, and I just went up to him. He was so cool."All-Star game MVP Kobe Bryant recalls how Garnett
"took care" of him during his first all-star appearance:
"He said when I get the ball, follow me. He threw me a lob for a dunk, and after that, I was fine."Garnett on
Utah's Mehmet Okur and his first time in an All-Star game:
"I told him I was going to look out for him," Garnett said. "I helped Kobe when we was in New York [in Bryant's All-Star debut in the 1998 game]. I helped Kobe relax and be at ease a little bit. I wanted to make sure I did the same for Memo. Worked out well."
Wolves at All-Star parties
Lang at SLAM Online recounts seeing Garnett and "
a crew that included Rashad McCants and Jawad Williams" at the Steve Nash/GQ Party on Saturday night.
Nash and KG each had VIP areas set aside for them, but neither of them hid in their areas, instead moving freely around the small club, shaking hands and just acting like regular people...
A DJ was playing some great old school hip-hop, from Brand Nubian to Poor Righteous Teachers, and before long KG could help himself: The Big Ticket staked out a spot right in front of the DJ table and started dancing, mouthing along to every lyric. An hour later, KG finally took a seat, drenched with sweat. Soon after, KG headed out, and by 1:30 we were gone, too.
Another post on SLAM Online gives an account of Paris Hilton's birthday bash at the Hard Rock this weekend. Shannon Booher comments that "the NBA finally made itself present, albeit weakly, when Marko “Hollywood” Jaric came through, followed shortly by Sean Rooks, and then Alaa Abdelnaby!"
Garnett was listed as an "also there" at a party hosted by T-Mac and Diddy and featuring Busta Rhymes on Friday.
KG on "hosting" All-Star parties:
"Every man takes care of himself," he said. "I don't really lend my name out there for events unless I'm going to throw one. I'm very funny about that -- it's my name at the end of the day. It's all I got. I've been here before. It's not my first time."
(Though the picture of Prince has nothing to do with this post except for the fact that he was at All-Star weekend, it still seemed relevant.)
More KG quotes from All-Star Weekend
NBA TV talked to Allen Iverson and Garnett on Friday. After chatting with the interviewers for a bit, KG looked at Iverson and said:
What's up, baby? We almost had it done... We ain't going to talk about it...On if he'd ask out of Minnesota:"I've never been good at following," Garnett said. "When it's time to make a decision on what's best for me, I'll make a decision on Kevin Garnett."Garnett on the possibility of finishing his career without a title:
"It will be kind of ... a discount, if you will, if I don't win it, because I never went through that. I have a lot of things in my career I can look on, but you play this game to win and the ultimate is (to win) the championship, so ask me that when I'm done."
Kobe Bryant on KG:
"It's unfair. There's been a lot of great players in the past who haven't won a title, but I don't think it affects their greatness," three-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant said. "That being said, Kevin still has a long way to go in his career. He's not done. I hear a lot of people talk about him like his window is shut, closed and gone, but he's still young. He's just an incredible player. He does everything."
KG on
"any unsavory influences on the sanctity of the game" if there were to be an NBA team in Las Vegas:
"It's going to go on whether [the league] is in Vegas or not. It's not in Vegas now, and you still have the issue to worry about."
From
Fred Mitchell/Chicago Tribune: Asked if his friends and family members who live in Chicago have been encouraging him to finish his career with the Bulls, the longtime topic of trade rumors replied: "I've been getting encouragement from all kinds of places. Not just Chicago."
"When you're loyal, it's...just what you do."
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune with Garnett's answers to some of the questions posed to him this weekend, including the most popular one regarding his loyalty to the team:
"You're looking at it from the standpoint of what someone does for you for you to be loyal," Garnett said at the Palms. "That's not how I'm looking at it. That's not my definition of being loyal. When you're loyal, it's ... just what you do."Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press compiled stories and thoughts on Garnett from a couple of his teammates and other players around the league. Mad Dog shared the following story which he though illustrated that Garnett was "really loyal" to the team:
"A member of our staff (assistant athletic trainer Anthony Aldridge) had a Dallas Mavericks screensaver on his phone. We were all on a bus during the preseason for a game. One of the players saw it and said, 'Hey, Kevin, Anthony has a Dallas Mavericks screensaver on his phone.' Kevin saw it and said, 'Heck no, heck no.' Kevin said, 'When the bus stops, I'm going to hold the Dallas Mavericks phone, and you've got to sprint to that truck over there, 150 yards away, and you've got to sprint over there and jump up and down three times and say I love the Timberwolves.'
Wolves Updates 2/18
The league made the official announcement yesterday that the Wolves, Celtics, Raptors, and Grizzlies will be taking part in
NBA Europe Live 2007. The schedule is available for the teams' training camps and exhibition games in various European cities. The Wolves will be holding their training camp in Istanbul. The team's October 6 game against Efes Pilsen Istanbul of the Turkish League will be the
first time an NBA team has played in Turkey.
KG responds to the news about the team's preseason:"I've done it before," Garnett said. "It's not one of the easiest things to do. It will be quite difficult."The D-League's Fort Worth Flyers have acquired
Ndudi Ebi. From
David Berri/The New York Times:The losing in Minnesota has produced a pattern similar to Philadelphia’s. This season Minnesota is playing before capacity crowds on the road. But at home, where Minnesota fans are again seeing a team struggling to reach .500, Garnett plays before crowds that only fill 86 percent of the Target Center.The tales of Iverson and Garnett highlight the basic pattern in the N.B.A. Home fans demand that their teams win games.Randy Foye said he treated his intial lack of playing time as a
"learning experience":"If I said I wasn't frustrated at the beginning because I wasn't playing, I'd be lying."Mike James on being replaced by Foye in the starting lineup:
"It's tough at times because I just feel like, if I'm not a fit here, then like they always say, if it ain't one place, it always can be another."
From Sid Hartman:
Owner Glen Taylor and the Timberwolves were losing $250,000 a month in trying to book shows at Target Center when Taylor decided to give the worry back to the city.
Garnett on asking for a trade
Marc Stein/ESPN has part of a Friday afternoon interview with Garnett.
Garnett on why he hasn't heeded external suggestions to ask Minnesota to trade him:
"It sounds like people want better for me. And my perspective is, why do I have to be the component that's moved? Why can't organizations change? ... Why can't things change in the front office to bring in different people to better it?"I've seen players move on and go to other situations and it just be a stalemate. ... If I did decide to make a decision on moving or whatever, I'm going to make sure that it's going to be for the better. I'm not into inheriting someone's problems or going through the same problems [elsewhere] that I'm used to [in Minnesota]. Plus, man, I have hope. I'm not one of these people who just up and bail when things are tough."I'll take your hits. I'll take your comments. I'll take what you put out there because obviously you have a job to do. ... But I won't compromise my values. When I feel like it's time to make a decision on moving, then I will. But it will be on my terms and when I feel I'm ready."
Wolves Updates 2/17
From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:The NBA will announce at a news conference this morning that the Wolves will be one of four teams participating in series of Europe games this fall. Minnesota will hold its training camp in Istanbul and likely will play a game against Turkey's national team. Then the Wolves will travel to London to face the Boston Celtics in a preseason game.From
Liz Robbins/The New York Times:“I follow my own path,” Garnett said. “At a time when I feel like what’s best for me, I’ll make a decision on what’s best for Kevin Garnett.”Garnett expressed his disappointment with the organization for firing his favorite coach, Flip Saunders, and, most recently, for firing Dwane Casey. He has been described as loyal to his organization, perhaps to a fault. “It’s a compliment,” he said.Marty Burns/SI.com on Scottie Pippen wanting to make a comeback:
In his role as an ESPN analyst, Pippen has criticized Garnett for not doing enough to lead his team to a championship.When asked about the prospect of Pippen suiting up for the T'wolves, Garnett at first said he had "no reaction" to the news. He later said he'd welcome any player who could help the team, and said he harbored no ill will.From
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:As expected, the idea of Las Vegas landing an NBA team is popular with the all-stars on hand here. Garnett was on board, too. He said he didn't think players would be irresponsible during visits to Vegas for games, at least not any more than in other cities. He said players understand they play road games expecting to win the game, and that's their priority.Wolves Dancer Sally seems to be having a good time in Vegas and remarks that "I have always been told that the NBA is a "big business," but I had no idea just how big until this week."
Foye tells Roy: One day this will be my team
Randy Foye had 14 points and 7 assists in the rookies' loss to the sophomores in last night's
Rookie Challenge. According to the
Star Tribune and
Pioneer Press, a few of Foye's teammates joined him in Las Vegas courtesy of Garnett's chartered plane. After KG was finished goofing around in the photo booth during the All-Star media availability, he, Rashad McCants, and Ricky Davis attended the game.
KG on Foye:"He's definitely going to be one of the best, and if he's not I'm going to be very disappointed, knowing how hard the guy works, how well and how quick he's able to pick up new schemes and our game," Garnett said. "He wants to be good; he wants to be one of the best. His ambition is over the top."Brandon Roy, the player the Wolves traded for Foye on draft night, says about his fellow rookie:
"He's focused to be great one day. You can tell. He works hard. He told me, 'I might not play as much right now, but one day this will be my team.' "
Garnett and Foye on All-Star weekend
Mike Trudell at the Timberwolves site talks to Garnett and Randy Foye about this weekend's festivities:
Garnett
On if he has any favorites in the dunk or three-point contest:I like the young boy from Boston (Gerald Green). When I watch highlights, and I watch him get into the open court...he's creative, he's young, and he's got springs. I hate that they put a cap on who can enter with age limit and all that. I would like to see Vince Carter and others. Just a good, different mesh of players going up against each other - that's what the dunk contest is all about. It shouldn't be capped.On if there will ever be a better All-Star moment than Magic Johnson's final game:No, that will be forever the best All-Star game in my eyes. Ever.
Randy Foye (check out one of his All-Star portraits above)
On what he wants out of the All-Star Weekend:I just want to go out there and play, and hopefully my big brother KG will go out there and play well too. A successful trip for me would be for me to win MVP, KG to win MPV, and come back and win 12 games in a row. That'd be a great trip for meOn his boys on the Rookie team:All of them are boys. We email and text each other all the time. I spoke to Rudy (Gay) four days in a row. Our families are going to eat out there together, so everything is cool.
Some love for Craig Smith
John Hollinger/ESPN ranks the league's top rookies as of the All-Star break and puts Craig Smith at #4, ahead of Randy Foye at #8.
The fact he was left off the rookie team so they could add Adam Morrison -- perhaps the single most ineffective rookie in the league so far -- speaks volumes about the pharmaceutical consumption habits of the voters. Or at the very least, it speaks to the power of the almighty points-per-game stat.Per-minute, Smith scores just as much, grabs three times as many rebounds, shoots nearly 20 percentage points higher, and gets to the line more. His PER of 16.36 is more than double that of The 'Stache (7.98).But since the Bobcats insist on playing Morrison his 32 minutes a game regardless of how badly he plays, he's in Vegas and Smith isn't. Hollinger says about Foye that the rookie has "given a middling performance in his first season in Minnesota."
Wolves Updates 2/16
From
Sid Hartman:-Wolves owner Glen Taylor said he doesn't know where the rumors started that the team is for sale. He says it isn't.-Taylor said that negotiations to buy out the contract of the suspended Eddie Griffin were going well until lawyers got involved.Detroit Bad Boys with thoughts on the Mike James to the Pistons rumor.
10,000 Takes came up with a list of Valentine's Day gifts for some of the team while
Elie Seckbach talked to T-Hud, Mike James, and others in the league about what gifts they planned on giving that day.
Stephen Litel/SportsPage Magazine writes that Mark Blount needs to come back from the All-Star break with a "team-first" attitude.
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press on the team's upcoming games.
Garnett, Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph, Chris Bosh, and Carlos Boozer are currently the only players
averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. NBA.com lists Garnett at #8 in this week's player rankings.
Gary Washburn/The Seattle Post-Intelligencer puts Eddie Griffin at the top of his list of freshmen who should have stayed in college longer before coming into the league.
From
Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:Ex-Gopher Trent Tucker was to have the Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett participate with Michael Jordan and other celebs in his $10,000-per-entry poker tournament Thursday night in Las Vegas. The event raises money for a nonprofit youth organization.Reggie Miller on KG:"One thing I will always say is that Kevin Garnett will never ask to be traded because he's a gentleman," said Miller, who spent his entire 18-year career with Indiana. "He believes, a lot like I did, that you want to start and finish [with the same team] and try to create something in Minnesota. But it's not going to happen. ... Kevin Garnett should be in the playoffs and should be in the conference final, east or west, and potentially playing for an NBA title. He is too good of a talent -- one of the best talents the league has ever seen -- and he's only been to the playoffs a handful of times and past the first round once. This is a travesty that a player [like Garnett] is not showcased come May or June."
KG All-Star shoes
The snakeskin shoe on the top and the shoe on the bottom right are limited edition shoes designed for All-Star weekend.
The KG Bounce shoe on the bottom left is apparently what Garnett will be wearing for the All-Star game on Sunday.
(Via
Freshness Mag.com)
Click
here for more info on these and other All-Star weekend shoes.
Wolves Updates 2/15
Mad Dog blogs that he got "fired up" after reading some comments on John Amaechi, the former basketball player who recently outed himself. Without discussing his "personal views on this issue" or using the words "gay" or "homosexual," Madsen talks diplomatically about "the prospect of having a teammate like Amaechi."
I don’t care if my teammate is green or purple. I don’t care if he is from the U.S., overseas, or Mars. If my teammate respects the space of every man in the locker room and keeps the locker room code, he will be welcomed by me. Garnett on the foot race between Charles Barkley and ref Dick Bavetta scheduled for All-Star weekend:
"I'm watching everything, man. I can't talk no stuff if I don't watch," he said. "I'm rooting for Dick, too. ... Charles talks so much, it's going to be entertaining. It's going to be good to see him back out there on the floor."KG on the injured Western Conference All-Stars and their replacements:
"There's a lot of talent in this league, a lot of up-and-coming talent. And a lot of talent that's still established. It's unfortunate these guys aren't playing, but it doesn't exactly mean we're undermanned."Randy Foye on taking part in the Rookie Challenge during All-Star weekend:
"I'm excited to be out there," Foye said. "No. 1, I'm going to be out there with K.G. representing not only the Timberwolves but the city of Minneapolis. So we're just looking forward to going out there and representing the city well."Fred Hoiberg on the team's 2006 second round pick, Loukas Mavrokefalidis:
"Loukas has had a very good season over there so far. He's playing in Rome this season and you know we feel that he can make an impact on this roster hopefully in a couple years."I don't know if he'll be ready for next year -- we're looking possibly the year after that. We know he can shoot it, he's a very good passer, he's about 6-10, a very good rebounder, can bang in there and you know the big thing for him is he needs some experience against some top-notch talent. And we've got him in a situation right now where he's doing that with his team in Rome."Day 2 of Wolves dancer Sally's All-Star Extravaganza.
Wolves 99, Nuggets 94
From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:Their performance also was pretty modest, a 99-94 victory on Wednesday at Target Center in which the Wolves did just enough, long enough. They didn't hit the All-Star break like lions, but they went on the lam for the next five days by tucking into their pockets a victory over a division rival, in a crowded playoff picture, that essentially counts double.Brian Murphy/Pioneer Press recap
AP RecapBox Score Postgame quotesBritt Robson/City Pages discusses the game and writes about Mark Blount being replaced by Mad Dog in the third quarter:
In any case, he was clearly pissed as he went to the bench. He exchanged some words and commiserated with Davis and also Troy Hudson and Justin Reed. (There is a tight camaraderie among the three ex-Celts, Blount-Reed-Davis, that has threatened to damage overall team chemistry whenever Blount and/or Davis are unhappy with the coaches and their recent handling. It is the downside of the beautiful chemistry Davis and Blount have on offense when playign together.) But Blount performed like a veteran pro when Wittman summoned him back into the game with 4:07 to play. Nevertheless, when he was swapped out for McCants in order to improve the Wolves' 3-point defense in the final seconds, he took a roundabout route away from Wittman to the end of the bench...
Mike James trade rumors
Chris Sheridan/ESPN lists Mike James at #2 among the top 10 players to be traded by the Feb 22 deadline.
In the category of "seemed like a good idea at the time" (see Harrington, Al, in Indiana), we point to Minnesota's signing of this free agent last summer as the next mistake the Wolves will try to rectify.The Heat are very interested, but so too are the Pistons and Cavaliers. And since Detroit (able and willing to move Nazr Mohammed, Dale Davis and Flip Murray) can likely outbid Cleveland and Miami, the educated guess here is that James is back playing Deeee-troit bas-ket-ball by this time next week.
Foye to make second consecutive start
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune says that Randy Foye will be in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the Nuggets.
Aschburner also says about the rookie:
The way Foye has handled everything so far this rookie season -- from playing time, to moving into the starting lineup to dealing with the glare of negative publicity, regardless if he felt he deserved it -- is a big reason why Wittman isn't taking a big chance by starting Foye. And it's why he will be going to Las Vegas to represent the team in the All-Star rookie game over the weekend.Foye on advice from his grandmother regarding Monday's citation:
Foye admitted with a smile that he had been contacted by his grandmother back home, who suggested getting in earlier.
"Big time, me and my little cousin," Foye said. "I gotta listen to her. She told me what to do."In an interview on
KFAN yesterday, Coach Wittman said that Randy Foye will face no team discipline for the incident. He also said that, though he probably shouldn't have been out that late, Foye did the right thing by pulling his vehicle over. You can listen to the interview
here. Randy Foye on his approach to the game as a starter:"I pass first with them guys," Foye said. "One of the biggest things is, with them guys, I'm a passer in the beginning, but late in games I'm a scorer."
Wolves Updates 2/14
From
Brian Murphy/Pioneer Press:Meanwhile, James was diplomatic in discussing his demotion after Wittman stunned him with the news last weekend. A reporter asked him directly if he was going to blow his stack over not being the starter."Blow for what? I'm a grown man. I have kids. I have a wife. I'm a man of God," James said. "I ain't got no time for little disses. This is just a piece of my life. If my life was consumed by basketball, maybe I would. My life is more than just basketball."
Mike James on "speculation" that he could be traded:
"If that's the case, then you move on. It's not the first time it's happened in my life," said James, who has played for Miami, Detroit, Houston and Toronto. "If this is not the situation for myself or for them, then you move on."Congratulations to #1 hoops blogger
Henry at True Hoop on his new partnership with ESPN. This almost makes up for the Britt Robson news.
Via True Hoop, an article about Kevin Durant on
Slate.com in which Nathaniel Friedman uses the Timberwolves as an example of how not to handle a "versatile superstar."
Marc Stein/ESPN was asked if the Clippers' Corey Maggette would "be great" for the Wolves:
As for the Wolves, they've shown as much interest in Maggette as anyone. Yet like we often seem to say about the Wolves, they lack the obvious trade assets to make an impact deal.The picture above is of Rashad McCants playing rock, paper, scissors with kids from Minneapolis Bethune Grade School. On Tuesday, he and Bracey Wright read and decorated cookies with some of the school's 3rd and 4th graders.
USA Today picks Garnett for the first team of its "All-Hands" squad.
Wolves dancer Sally journals about the first day of her trip to Las Vegas to be part of the All-Star dance team.
Jack McCallum/SI.com on which former Celtic's front-office job he'd prefer to have.
A preview of
tonight's game against the Nuggets.
Garnett and FALSE collaborate on "Monster Baller"
Garnett is collaborating with
FALSE on a line of clothing called "Monster Baller." The shirt pictured on the left is part of the collection.
According to a rep at FALSE, "Monster Baller" is a "special collaboration" both with and for Garnett.
The line is part of FALSE's Season 3 collection and
debuts in Las Vegas today.
Wolves Updates 2/13
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune and
Rick Alonzo & Emily Gurnon/Pioneer Press recap Randy Foye's apology and the rookie's statement that he was trying to be "the peacemaker" and "was not involved at all" in the incident for which he received a citation for disorderly conduct.
Dan Barreiro/KFAN on Ricky Davis "standing there in Jordanesque fashion" after his game winning shot against the Celtics:
Maybe the Wolves can commission a statue of Davis, the way the Bulls did one of Jordan. Of course, this one would have to be a statue on wheels, so it can be rolled out of the lobby on days when the statue refuses to be exhibited.The gentlemen at
The Basketball Jones celebrate their 100th podcast with a special anniversary episode.
10,000 Takes isn't too optimistic about the Wolves right now.
Sad news for Timberwolves coverage
Britt Robson will no longer be working at City Pages as of March 1, according to the
Star Tribune. City Pages senior editor and writer Britt Robson abruptly resigned Monday, the latest in a series of shakeups at the alternative weekly. Robson said that chief among his reasons for quitting: editor Steve Perry's resignation, followed by the immediate hiring of new editor Kevin Hoffman from owner Village Voice Media's Cleveland paper...Robson, 53, said that it was clear to him that Village Voice Media, now controlled by the New Times chain after a merger, "wants standardized templates for all their newspapers. I don't agree with those people." He doesn't know what he'll do next, but said he hoped there were enough local and national media outlets available for him to continue writing in his areas of expertise.
The fact that he's in
good company isn't much consolation.
To say that
Robson's post-game analysis and
general team coverage, along with his articles on music and politics, are always top notch would be an understatement.
Randy Foye says he "was not involved at all" in incident
Randy Foye issued a statement apologizing for the
early morning altercation for which he received a citation. You can listen to his press conference
here. "I want to apologize to the fans and the Timberwolves organization because this is totally not me. If you read certain things, it makes it out as if I were involved (in the altercation). I was not involved at all. I wanted to make that clear and wanted to apologize to my fans out there. That's not me and it won't be me in the future, because I'm much smarter than that."Foye also explains what happened:
I was driving and there was arguing in the back between two family members. I pulled over to try and settle them down. They got into a little scuffle, so I told them to get out of the car. I stayed inside the car, the police pulled up, and they just made sure everything was OK. They spoke to me because I was still sitting in the car. Once they spoke to me, everything was cool, and they just let us know what was going to happen. I wasn't arrested at all.One of my family members was arrested because he didn't calm down when the cops were speaking to him so they just took him from there. I was not arrested. I was at the scene. I had nothing to do with the situation. I basically tried to stop the situation and (the police) saw me there, spoke to me and I went home.Yes, younger cousins. People who I grew up with for 15-plus years. Two of the guys got into a little altercation and started arguing. It was among themselves. It wasn't among anyone else.
Carnival of the NBA #41
Check out
Loy's Place for the All-Star Edition of the latest Carnival of the NBA.
Randy Foye cited for disorderly conduct
From
WCCO:Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Randy Foye was cited by Minneapolis Police early Monday morning for fighting in the parking lot of a gas station.Police were called to the Holiday gas station at West 25th Street and Hennepin Avenue South around 2:40 a.m. When police arrived, they found four people fighting near a parked SUV. Police said all four people knew each other and it appears all four arrived at the gas station in the same SUV. Foye and two other people were cited for disorderly conduct, police said. A fourth person was booked into Hennepin County Jail for obstructing the legal process. Police said that man refused to be seated in a squad car, kicked the door and kicked at officers.Police said they do not know what the men were fighting about.
Update: The AP report on the incident.
Wolves Updates 2/12
The Timberwolves are hosting a
"Nickname the Rookies" contest. After seeing
this week's list of choices, I hope that Randy Foye and Craig Smith have either veto power or an "opt-out of contests where frustrated fans can vent their anger towards the team by suggesting godawful names by which to refer to me" clause in their contracts.
Sid Hartman writes that owner Glen Taylor says:
-"he is not in the mood to change coaches for a while" and that Randy Wittman will be back next season as the team's head coach.
-currently, "there are no deals cooking to improve the team."
-Eddie Griffin's buyout "will take some time to resolve" and that he will not be rejoining the team
Mike James' reaction to his first non-start of the season:
He wasn't happy when he found out Saturday from coach Randy Wittman that he wouldn't be starting Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics. It wasn't what he had imagined for himself when he joined the Wolves...James was indicating that he could have been — and might yet be — a better fit elsewhere. His reaction to the change in the starting lineup?"He's the boss (Wittman), so you've got no choice but to … whatever he says goes, so I can't worry about nothing I have no control over," James said. "I don't think that it was right, but that's his decision, so that's what he went with."Randy Foye on learning that he was
replacing Mike James in the starting lineup for the Celtics game:
"[Wittman] just said, 'I think we need a change' and he asked me if I was ready," said Foye, a rookie from Villanova. "And obviously I'm not going to say no. So I said yeah. He said keep playing how I'm playing. Go out there and make plays."From
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:Wittman said he doesn't know for sure whether Foye will be the long-term starter in place of Mike James. It appears Foye will start for the foreseeable future. It wouldn't make sense to yank him in and out of the lineup.Stephen Litel/ SportsPage Magazine with a letter to Mike James about the player not starting last night.
Wolves 109, Celtics 107
After 2.5 hours of nothing but uncertainty, the Celtics' losing streak was extended to 18 games.
From
Steve Aschburner/Star Tribune:Davis went freeze-frame on the follow-through of his wide-open jumper from 18 feet, fairly confident with just 0.2 seconds left that he had broken a few hearts right behind him on the Boston Celtics' bench. Then Wolves center Mark Blount rushed over and embraced Davis, two former Celtics celebrating their team's 109-107 victory at Target Center on Sunday evening as if Bird, McHale and Parish still were around, as if something vital had been at stake.From Britt Robson/City Pages: Wittman said he went with his gut in starting Randy Foye in place of Mike James for the first time this season. He could have gone with his ears, hearing the near-unanimous chorus that a change at the point was necessary.AP RecapBox ScorePost-game quotesYesterday's game also marked Garnett's 18th career triple-double and his second in the last three games.
