You know what they say, one week good. The next, uh, not so. And so goes it for the Timberwolves.
The chase to secure coach Rick Adelman’s 1000th career coaching win was exciting and took essentially two games to get it done. Kudos to the team. A season ago, that might have stretched into the new season.
This week, the Wolves find themselves on the left coast in a shooting slump against playoff teams with much for which to play. It’s drawn the ire of GameON! TV watchers who regularly pound my in-box with thoughts, suggestions, stats and their “expert” opinion. I love it. Here’s a handful as the snow flies outside my office, making it feel like a warm & fuzzy December in mid-April-when-it-should-be-spring-and-I-should-be-cleaning-off-my-clubs.
That said, now, to the SimonsSays e-mail box. This from Eddie in Hutchinson: Hey Rod! Love your show but give me some more Wolves and less Twins, OK!? There’s plenty of time for the baseball team. Anyhow, what’s up with (Ricky) Rubio’s horrible shooting? Can’t they find someone who can pass AND shoot?
Eddie, thanks for the note and NO, if you are alluding to a trade of the Spanish sensation, NO, NO and NO. Yes, Rubio is struggling and in the midst of an 8-for-39 shooting slump. But he’s one of the lead faces of the franchise and you can fix the shooting with plenty of offseason work. Leave Rubio where he is. There are plenty of other areas in which to address.
This note from Dan in Burnsville: I think it’s cool to hear you on the radio after Twins games and your GameON! thing. Do you think coach Adelman will retire at the end of the season? Dan, and thanks by the way, the GameON! “Thing” is every Sunday at 10 a.m. on MY29 (also the over-air-home of the Wolves). As for coach, as I’ve mentioned many times here, I just don’t know. I do know that if coach wants to come back, he’s in, the man, glad to have him! It all depends on the health of his wife and where he is after getting that 1k win! I’ve said it before and will again, I certainly hope he’s back. Adelman is the man. Keep the good vibe going…too easy to go negative, k?! And keep your GameON!
Fans Come First
Fans get top billing soon! The Wolves organization will extend a "Thank You" one more time on Monday, April 15 as the Wolves host the Utah Jazz on Fan Appreciation Night.
"We want to express our sincere gratitude to our phenomenal fans for their continued support," said Timberwolves President Chris Wright. "Every season our fans enthusiastically support us on the court and in the community and their passion is truly appreciated by all of our players and staff."
As a special "Thank You," the Wolves are making upper level tickets to Monday's game available for $5. Fans can purchase those tickets by logging onto timberwolves.com, calling 612-673-1234 or by visiting the Target Center box office. During the game, hundreds of prizes will be given way. The VIP entrance will open at 5 p.m. for season ticket members.
KLove injury update
Good news on the K-Love front! The Timberwolves report that Kevin Love underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his left knee Wednesday to remove a buildup of scar tissue. The surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. A typical recovery time for this type of procedure is 4-6 weeks.
Love has missed the past 47 games after breaking the third and fourth metacarpal in his right hand at Denver on Jan. 3. He underwent surgery on Jan. 15 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Love originally suffered a fracture of his third and fourth metacarpal in his right hand on Oct. 17 while working out, and missed the first nine games of the season. For the season, Love played in 18 contests and averaged 18.3 points and 14.0 rebounds.
Schedule set for Lynx
It’s getting closer! The 2012 Western Conference Champion Minnesota Lynx kick off their 15th season in the WNBA at home against Connecticut on Saturday, June 1 at 7 p.m. The 2013 WNBA campaign includes 34 regular-season games, dating from May 24 and Sept. 14. This year’s All-Star Game will be held in Uncasville, Connecticut on Saturday, July 27. The Lynx will play Western Conference teams Los Angeles (three times on the road, twice at home) and Phoenix (three times at home, twice on the road) five times this season, while facing off with San Antonio, Seattle and Tulsa four times each, twice at home and twice on the road. Minnesota will face all six Eastern Conference teams twice, once at home and once on the road. The 2013 Lynx campaign also includes two nationally broadcast home games on July 9 against Atlanta and Aug. 24 against Indiana.
We’re all on MY29!
You know that GameON! is on FOX’s MY29! The Wolves will play a franchise-record 78 regular-season games televised locally, including 50 on Fox Sports North and 25 on the Wolves' exclusive over-the-air broadcast home, WFTC My29. For the second consecutive season, every Wolves regular season contest is carried live on News Radio 830 WCCO-AM.
Breaking News!! See you on TV AT A NEW TIME
Catch your Wolves on this Sunday’s GameON! this week!! You don’t want to miss the Emmy nominated GameON! at 10 a.m. this Sunday morning on FOX’s My29 and throughout the weekend on MidCo Sports Net. Our special show this weekend originates from New Orleans & Super Bowl XLVII where we tackle hunger with Taste of the NFL. Chef Andrew Zimmern, former Viking and Hall of Famer Paul Krause, Miss America Malory Hagan and Taste founder and Minnesotan Wayne Kostroski.
GameON! is broadcast in High Definition and can be found on ITunes, on our new GameON! App (free and available for Apple/Android) and online at www.gameontvmn.com. GameON! allows you the opportunity to get up close and personal, to meet your favorite players and fellow fans at our weekly tapings at Kieran’s Irish Pub and its sister locations. GameON! offers in-depth interviews with the top players, great food, sports newsmakers and we get you inside your favorite teams (including the Wolves). You can friend us on Facebook at GameOnTvMN. Drop me a note, Rod@KTWIN.com GameON! is also seen in North & South Dakota and Western Minnesota on MidCo SportsNet several times a weekend. We reserve the right to use your e-mails here in SimonsSays at Timberwolves.com.
And last but not least, please catch Rod as he hosts the new Twins Post-Post game show w/longtime Minnesota music aficionado Jason Nagel on 96.3 KTWIN-FM radio during this baseball season.
Keep your GameON! See you soon!