Wolves win 3rd in a row, 5 of its last 7!!

[BleedGopher]

All five starters score in double figures, Telfair and Foye form a great backcourt this evening.

Howl Wolves!!

[Zeppelin Gopher]

Winning is so much more fun than losing!

You've gotta love the job McHale is doing on the bench right now.

[Gopher4Life]

Did McHale make a New year's resolution?

[bga1]

They have become watchable. It looks like the players are getting more comfortable in their roles. Jim Peterson made a comment that the Wolve's games are starting to look like "real basketball" now. Kind of a funny comment but true. Good for them.

[jamiche]

It is fun to see some victories. McHale seems to have developed a rotation and his bench demeanor (interactions with the players and working the refs) is helping the team.

I know that Randy Foye got a key block late in the game on him, but OJ Mayo is the real deal. Love is serviceable and will be in the league for a long time but there are very few players who can get their own shots at will and Mayo is one of them. Having seen him twice in a week, I like everything about Mayo's game. He is poised, plays defense, moves the ball and scores easily. The difference in the talent levels of the two players is obvious to even the casual fan. Why didn't the wolves see that? A threesome of Jefferson, Mayo and Foye (even at pg) would have been something to build around.

[tikited]

They have become watchable. It looks like the players are getting more comfortable in their roles. Jim Peterson made a comment that the Wolve's games are starting to look like "real basketball" now. Kind of a funny comment but true. Good for them.

I was thinking the same thing as Peterson.... I was thinking that the Wolves looked like they had an actual plan of attack last night. Amazing what can happen when you have a point guard lead the offense.

[tikited]

It is fun to see some victories. McHale seems to have developed a rotation and his bench demeanor (interactions with the players and working the refs) is helping the team.

I know that Randy Foye got a key block late in the game on him, but OJ Mayo is the real deal. Love is serviceable and will be in the league for a long time but there are very few players who can get their own shots at will and Mayo is one of them. Having seen him twice in a week, I like everything about Mayo's game. He is poised, plays defense, moves the ball and scores easily. The difference in the talent levels of the two players is obvious to even the casual fan. Why didn't the wolves see that? A threesome of Jefferson, Mayo and Foye (even at pg) would have been something to build around.

After watching Mayo for the third time this year, I have come to the conclusion that Memphis could have taken Madson and McCants from us while adding a future first round pick and the trade still would be a total bust for the Wolves. Mayo is that good.

[bga1]

It is fun to see some victories. McHale seems to have developed a rotation and his bench demeanor (interactions with the players and working the refs) is helping the team.

I know that Randy Foye got a key block late in the game on him, but OJ Mayo is the real deal. Love is serviceable and will be in the league for a long time but there are very few players who can get their own shots at will and Mayo is one of them. Having seen him twice in a week, I like everything about Mayo's game. He is poised, plays defense, moves the ball and scores easily. The difference in the talent levels of the two players is obvious to even the casual fan. Why didn't the wolves see that? A threesome of Jefferson, Mayo and Foye (even at pg) would have been something to build around.

Jamiche- I totally agree with everything you said about Mayo. Absolute stud - a miniature Kobe. However, when evaluating what the Wolves did you have to realize four other factors:

1. It ridded them of Marko Jarik's contract.
2. They also got Mike Miller - though he has been a little dissapointing he's been a bonafide NBA starter and a top shooter
3. Mayo plays the same position as Foye who is the Wolves second best player.
4. The word was that Mayo didn't want to be here long term- so he's adios after three years.

Nobody thinks Love is as good as Mayo and I think that was reflected in the trade terms. Love however is not a bust by any means- he's a very good rookie.

[jamiche]

Jamiche- I totally agree with everything you said about Mayo. Absolute stud - a miniature Kobe. However, when evaluating what the Wolves did you have to realize four other factors:

1. It ridded them of Marko Jarik's contract.
2. They also got Mike Miller - though he has been a little dissapointing he's been a bonafide NBA starter and a top shooter
3. Mayo plays the same position as Foye who is the Wolves second best player.
4. The word was that Mayo didn't want to be here long term- so he's adios after three years.

Nobody thinks Love is as good as Mayo and I think that was reflected in the trade terms. Love however is not a bust by any means- he's a very good rookie.

1. Cardinal's contract is only a sight improvement over Jaric's (one year less).
2. Agree with you on Miller but it would be nice if he would stop passing up open threes
3. I wouldn't have a problem moving Foye around, even trading him, to get Mayo in the lineup
4. The wolves would have controlled Mayo's rights for up to five years, a lifetime in the NBA.

[Iceland12]

I lean toward the "Mayo and Foye" play the same position arguement. Foye needs to look for his shot and not to set anybody else up; and Mayo well NEVER look to set somebody up! :)

They also got rid of Walker's killer contract and unlike Jaric in Memphis, Cardinal can actually give you 15 minutes or so on the court. If Foye and Gomes can continue to score and Miller gets healthy and reverts to form the trade will look pretty good. Love is a great rebounder already and he is finally getting to the line. He'll never outscore Mayo but the Miller/Love/Cardinal line will usually look WAY better then Mayo/Jaric!

Now if the Wolves could find somebody to take Collins, Madsen and Booth....

[tikited]

I lean toward the "Mayo and Foye" play the same position arguement. Foye needs to look for his shot and not to set anybody else up; and Mayo well NEVER look to set somebody up! :)

They also got rid of Walker's killer contract and unlike Jaric in Memphis, Cardinal can actually give you 15 minutes or so on the court. If Foye and Gomes can continue to score and Miller gets healthy and reverts to form the trade will look pretty good. Love is a great rebounder already and he is finally getting to the line. He'll never outscore Mayo but the Miller/Love/Cardinal line will usually look WAY better then Mayo/Jaric!

Now if the Wolves could find somebody to take Collins, Madsen and Booth....

Sadly, Jaric was possibly our best point option last year. I'm not dumping on the players we did get, I'm dumping on the fact that we gave away a future all-star. Future all-star out-weighs any collection of nice players we did get. Plus, and this is a BIGGY... If we would have kept Mayo, we would have kept Chalmers. Chalmers is light years better than Telfair and cheaper. Keeping Mayo would have opened up many trade options with Foye if wanted. I personally would have liked the guard play with Mayo-Foye-Chalmers-Jaric. Foye would look a lot better at the point with Mayo next to him. Oh well!

[BleedGopher]

Two words = Mario Chalmers.

We gave him away for NOTHING. As bad as the Mayo trade may or may not be, giving a starting PG on an improving team who has started every game this year and has consistently put up solid numbers, and a guy who would be making next to nothing as a 2nd round pick, and getting a wad of cash and another 2nd round pick in return is the worst trade that we made that night (on relative terms) and oddly enough, the local media hasn't said a word about it. I wish that the local reporters would ask McHale who he and the front office anticipate drafting this year in the 2nd round with Miami's pick that will have a greater impact than Chalmers.

Howl Wolves!!

[Iceland12]

No guys that's the "point" if you will. I agree with you about Chalmers, but the reason they sold him to Miami is because they thought they were KEEPING Mayo! With Mayo, Telfair, Foye AND Jaric they certainly didn't see the need for another Point Guard. One that, despite his play in the tourney and his play with the Heat was passed-on by 30+ other teams.

I wish they had Chalmers too and I admit to being happy they drafted him but you can certainly see their point if you look at it from that night, not in hindsight. How many Points are you going to carry on the 12 man active roster? Both Memphis and Minnesota admit that the Memphis turned down the trade originally because they wouldn't include Miller. By the time their Owner agreed to it the Wolves had agreed to sell the rights to Chalmers.

Also, color me unsold on the "All Star" stuff with Mayo. Rudy Gay is already complaining about Mayo only looking for his shot. Add the way Mayo has mouthed-off to the Head Coach and his way over-blown Defensive talent and I'm not a big fan.

He'll get you 24 per game which is great and he's a highlight reel on Offense but he'll add 6 more at most through assists and like Cassell before him, the guy he's guarding will total close to the same damn thing.

[UpnorthGo4]

Quote: "Also, color me unsold on the "All Star" stuff with Mayo. Rudy Gay is already complaining about Mayo only looking for his shot. Add the way Mayo has mouthed-off to the Head Coach and his way over-blown Defensive talent and I'm not a big fan."

Enough said for me. I am not at all surprised that it is happening. Mayo would not be happy in Minnesota for more than two seasons. He has the potential to be a huge pain in the a$$. After what he went through with Marbury I would expect McHale to factor that into his decision. Barring injury, Love will be here for most of his career. The Wolves did the right thing.

[jamiche]

During the two games that I watched Mayo moved the ball very nicely. Maybe the problem is with Gay because he is no longer the top dog. I don't know anything about mouthing off to the coach but the guy has a terrific all around game. Love will be a decent player who will stay in some team's rotation most of his career. Mayo is a star in a stars' league. The wolves blew it.

[tikited]

Also, color me unsold on the "All Star" stuff with Mayo. Rudy Gay is already complaining about Mayo only looking for his shot. Add the way Mayo has mouthed-off to the Head Coach and his way over-blown Defensive talent and I'm not a big fan.

He'll get you 24 per game which is great and he's a highlight reel on Offense but he'll add 6 more at most through assists and like Cassell before him, the guy he's guarding will total close to the same damn thing.

I guess I just see things with Mayo differently. I think he has all-league talent in all aspects. He's already a better defender than anyone we have (not-injured). I don't care what Gay say's (even though I wish we had him). Gay shouldn't talk about passing the ball. Mayo will have tons of trade value if things go south and we need to get rid of him three years down the line. I'd take that risk in a heartbeat.

[Iceland12]

You're right guys we just agree to disagree.

Some notes: The game where he yelled at the Coach was at Target Center time they were in town.

- My point on Jaric is about this year. He never gets off the bench in Memphis while Cardinal has given the Wolves some good minutes. I always thought that of all the Point Guards the Wolves had he did the best job of getting McCants the ball in a position where he could score.

- Chalmers could be better then Telfair. I still don't think they could have kept Mayo, Chalmers, Foye, Buckner, Jaric and McCants;al guys under contract. Maybe they could have traded Foye, I just don't know.

- I agree that Mayo was a good defender in college by all accounts. I only saw him three or four times in college. I have seen him play more then half his games on the NBA League Pass on Dish. He isn't shutting a lot of people down; but he is a rookie.

- All that said he could still be the Wolves best perimeter defender! :)

- But I also agree with Gay, it doesn't matter who is open Mayo is taking his shot period.

- His upside to me would be to be the next Steve Francis. A good player but not a great one. One who can score but doesn't make a lot of teammates better. Maybe a Coach can change that, but he'd have to listen.

- All that said I'd take him straight-up for Love, but so did the Wolves. I wouldn't take Mayo, Jaric, Buckner and Walker for Love, Miller and Cardinal. Unless of course I could throw Madsen, Booth and Collins in. ;)

[MinnesotaMadman]

I have to say, McHale, for being a bad GM, is actually not a bad coach. When he took over for Casey the team did better. Now, taking over for Wittman, the team is starting to come around a little bit more. The offense has a better flow (possibly better coaching combined with the move of Foye from point to 2 guard) and the defense... well the defense is still pretty poor.

[Zeppelin Gopher]

Pure domination tonight against OKC...4 straight

[Cosmo Kramer]

nm

[MN Gopher Fan]

I'm starting to think Wittman was a horrible coach...Mchale is getting his symstem in place and molding his players he hand picked to do what he thought they would and boom, 6 of 8...Foye is starting to look like a baller, Jefferson is the man, Gomes is really coming around nicely, Love is turning in very solid double doubles, and all we need now is Miller to get his head screwed on right and be the stud he was in the past and we'd make the playoffs........in the east, haha

[jamiche]

I'm almost embarrassed to say that I checked the standings last night to see how far the wolves were from the 8th spot.

The victories are a nice respite from the chronic losing but they are in a very easy stretch of their schedule. The next step is to start to beat some playoff caliber teams.

[playhosea!]

Gopher4life told us that Blake Griffin would (by some unspecified magic) end up playing for Oklahoma City and would never play for a "loser" franchise like the Timberwolves. But if Oklahoma City gets destroyed by the Wolves are they a "super loser" franchise?

[Zeppelin Gopher]

McHale is the right coach for this team. Hell, he acquired all the players, who could possibly believe in them more than he does?

The difference in Foye's play under the 2 coaches is jarring. McHale pimps Foye's confidence at every opportunity and lets him do it thing. We are seeing the results. OTOH, Wittman rode Foye mercilessly and would jump down his throat for committing the smallest of mistakes. The result was a free flowing scoring guard somehow being turned into a hermit on the floor.

[Iceland12]

I think you are correct about the difference between McHale and Wittman. Watch Foye, Telfair and Love after they've made a mistake. Under Wittman the first thing they'd do is look over at Randy to see if they were being pulled and usually Bobby Knight, sorry Wittman, would glare at them and often send someone else in.

McHale doesn't have nearly as "quick a trigger" and seems to encourage and coach more then glare.

A little ironic considering the way he use to glare at Flip! ;)

Oh, did you hear Saunders on Barriero before the game? He was very diplomatic and (paraphrasing) said he'd have to listen if he was offered the T-Wolves job. Barriero seemed a little taken aback by that.

[Monty519]

I don't think that breakup was as bitter as people think. Plus, if Saunders was offered the Wolves job, more than likely McHale would be gone for good. I don't think he's going back into the front office, unless as a minor consultant type role.

[Goph4phan]

I don't think that breakup was as bitter as people think. Plus, if Saunders was offered the Wolves job, more than likely McHale would be gone for good. I don't think he's going back into the front office, unless as a minor consultant type role.

It was very bitter between Flip and McHale. As far as Glen Taylor and the others in the front office, I'm not sure.

[Monty519]

Yeah, sorry that's what I meant. I think McHale would be gone, so Flip wouldn't be against coming back in that circumstance.

[UpnorthGo4]

The split between McHale and Flip has been very bitter. And I don't think there is any love lost between Tayor and Flip either. Flip was a total jerk after he was fired. He acted like he was the first coach ever to get fired. Although I was never a fan of his coaching, the Wolves had completely stopped playing for him by the time he was fired. Flip blamed his good friend of 20 plus years and never missed an opportunity to publicly throw it back in McHale's face when he was coaching the Pistons. If it wasn't for McHale in the first place, Flip would never have gotten an NBA job. He is an ungrateful jerk who is overated as a coach. Besides that, we have Flip to blame for not having Chaucey Billups as our point guard. McHale wanted to sign Chauncey to a long term contract but Flip said that he would not play him. He wanted to use Terrell Brandon instead. Think about that. I am probably one of the few Holers that still regularly attends Wolves games. If Taylor ever brings Flip back, that is going to end.

[Monty519]

To clarify, Flip wouldn't guarantee a starting spot to Chauncey, not just he simply wouldn't play him. Billups wanted a guarantee that he'd be starter, and considering the Wolves record before and after Brandon's injury that season, it was hard to argue not guaranteeing him that spot. As far as Flip as a coach, I don't think he was very overrated and I wouldn't be that mad to have him back. All that is a non-issue though, cause there's virtually zero chance of that happening. I say let's start fresh, get an outside influence on this team.