Thursday, February 4, 2009
What a difference a week makes. Last time we chatted, the Vikings had just lost out on a fifth Super Bowl visit by dropping the NFC championship game to the New Orleans Saints.
In that time, the Wolves returned from a few rough games on the road and found themselves winning back-to-back home games against the LA Clippers and the NY Knicks.
Since Sunday night’s win, the Wolves have been back to practice and enjoying the opportunity, rare as it may be in the NBA, to be home, get workout time and just ease up a bit.
Al Jefferson told me at one of those practices that the team had to get better defensively. “We see how teams are reacting to us, thinking we’re going to be an easy team to beat because of the way we’ve played. That’s gotta’ end and it has to be with our defense.” He’s right. One thing that Coach Rambis has been telling his team is that there has to be better, and constant, communication on the defensive end of the court. “We get that and that’s what we’ve been working on. Defense. Defense. Defense.”The Wolves know that they are at a disadvantage nightly. They lack the premier player (LeBron/Kobe) they once had in Kevin Garnett. Although Jefferson is one of the league’s better scorers, the Wolves still lack the young dominating player like a Kevin Durant. They have holes and players will tell you, they understand that and they know what has to be done to overcome that and win games.
I was very impressed by the way the Wolves won those two home games. Remember, they have struggled against the Clippers and were pounded in New York just days before this visit. A revised lineup for those games made the difference. In the middle, Ryan Hollins entered and Kevin Love became a sixth man specialist. Granted, it was the Clips. Yes, it was the Knicks. But just look at the way they turned it around. Don’t leave out a career high 25 points for Love off the bench. How about the 65 rebounds and 51 bench points for the Wolves.
I’m one who sees the possibilities that this team offers. Granted, there will most likely continue to be changes until that winning “mix” is found. But considering all the rough edges these guys have already smoothed over this season. Understanding they’ve lost 3 of nearly every 4 games they’ve played. We should be reminded of the good things that are happening.
Just like the person who’s slogging through a week of rain, it’s nice to see a sunny day. Or that person who’s fighting unemployment, it’s nice to get an interview call. For anyone at work, to see a little more pay in that check, that’s good news. These young players love a winning streak after all the negative vibe kicking around their office and they’ll gladly take some good love in a week. Bottom line, you can see it in practice, they are enjoying a week when they can talk about winning. Talk about what they have done right. Be it Utah or Golden State, the Clippers or Knicks. The fellas are grinding out a season of change and doing it together. The Wolves left for Dallas yesterday and will play the Mav’s Friday.
Bits and pieces:
>Jan from Golden Valley is excited about finding the Wolves this season. She emailed me this note just yesterday, “…Thanks for writing about the team and being positive. I got free tickets from work and hadn’t been to a game in years. We saw the T’Wolves beat the Clippers and we had a great time. We will be coming back for sure. I was able to take my husband and little boy and we couldn’t have had a better time. Why don’t we hear more about the team on local TV?”
Jan, I can’t answer that last question. My guess is that when the Wolves start winning, covering them will be cool again for local TV. Surprisingly, players don’t mind playing in the shadows of other sports. Their lives are busy enough. They get plenty of attention to satisfy that area of the ego. We’re glad you and your little family enjoyed the game. I agree with you on all fronts. Thanks for the e-mails folks…keep ‘em coming.
>This is a big week for the T’Wolves and Lynx. The teams just kicked off their Scholarship Program. You might not have known this, but each and every year the organization provides financial assistance to local high school seniors who are looking to get a college education. Give it up for the FastBreak Foundation. They’ll review applications and then award five-$2,000 scholarships to graduating seniors to be used towards college tuition this fall. If you or someone you know would like to apply, get those Scholarship Program applications online at www.nba.com/timberwolves/community/education and get to work. They have to be submitted by Friday, March 5. And for more information, e-mail fastbreakfoundation@timberwolves.com.>Speaking with Coach Rambis about the team’s play, he is encouraged. “This is a process and we’re making strides. You may not notice it, you may only see that we lost a game or played better in a win. We live it day in and out and we have grown so much since the start of the season. THAT’s how we measure our progress and we’re getting better”. Coach, I agree.
>High-5 to the players taking part in the Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation's Black History Month. At the recent Foundation “Reading Timeout”, Wolves players Corey Brewer and Damien Wilkins were armed with books and read a pack of the books, including "Meet Martin Luther King Jr." to second and third grade students at Whittier International School in Minneapolis. You might not have known but this is pretty common. Players get out nearly every week and give back to the community and get valuable face time with kids all over the metro and the state. Thanks too to the Hennepin County Medical Center for sponsoring the event.
If you like good shows on TV, it’s time to catch SPORTS FINAL before you call it a night. Sports Final is now at 10pm on Sunday night’s and it’s moved to a new home on the CW/Twin Cities-23. Sports Final will bring you inside your favorite teams, including the T’Wolves, with exclusive interviews, team notes and as always, offering you the best guests and a full interactive website. I’m back with longtime colleague “Coach” Dean Dalton and we couldn’t be more excited about the Vikings strong showing this season and all the possibilities surrounding the Wolves in this new NBA season. Sports Final is just moved and launches on the CW-Twin Cities-23 Sunday November 8th at 10pm! We hope you tune in and let us know what you think.
