Click here for the forum’s thread for tonight’s game against the Wizards
Game previews:
As opposed to Miller’s false modesty, Gomes seems to have an authentic understanding of his own skills and their role within the scheme of the game. The fact that this understanding has recently coincided with a spate of hot shooting is one of the few saving graces of this current Wolves’ swoon.
Saturday’s 95-93 loss to the Trail Blazers was the Wolves’ninth consecutive defeat, their 14th in the past 16 games, their 17th in 19. With 19 games remaining, if the Wolves expect to build any momentum toward another season — at least avoid a freefall into 2009-2010 — it probably will have to start with these games against Washington, Memphis, New York and Charlotte.
After that, the Wolves play six of seven away from home, including games at playoff-bound San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Cleveland and Atlanta.
“We have to step it up now and take advantage of the opportunity,” said Foye, whose team plays the 14-49 Wizards tonight. “We didn’t do it last week.”
From Sid Hartman:
Fred Hoiberg, the assistant general manager of the Timberwolves, was in Europe last week to watch 2008 draft choice Nikola Pekovic, a 6-10 center from Montenegro. “[Hoiberg] watched him and told me that he’s doing very well over there,” Wolves owner Glen Taylor said of Pekovic, the 31st pick overall last year and the first of the second round. However, Pekovic has two more years on his contract for the Greek team Panathinaikos unless the Wolves can buy it out. The Wolves expect Pekovic, 23, to be the best center ever to play for the club. He is averaging 11.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in Panathinaikos’ 18 Greek league games and 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in his team’s 14 Euroleague games.
This could be the beginning of a league-wide drive to reduce salaries over the next few years. The collective bargaining agreement can be reopened by the owners after two more seasons, and more than a few can’t wait for that day to come. There is already talk that the NBA will try to eliminate the mid-level exception, currently with a starting salary of $5.6 million, while also putting an end to the veteran minimum of $1.2 million.
“I just see a lot of dynamics affecting the long range and how we’re going to keep this a healthy business,” said Minnesota owner and chairman of the NBA owners’ group Glen Taylor last week. “I do see some changes that we have under contract. I don’t know if we can make those changes as quickly as we probably should.”
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