So the Wolves’ 90-minute meeting Thursday with NBA Players Association executive director Billy Hunter was more than a simple hey-how-are-ya. The agenda was private, but it’s a good bet players were advised to prepare financially in case the 2011 season is disrupted.
“It’s important to stay informed, so it was a good meeting,” said rookie guard Jonny Flynn. “You never know, there could be a possible lockout. So (Hunter was) just keeping us up-to-date on what’s going on.”
“It’s important to stay informed, so it was a good meeting,” said rookie guard Jonny Flynn. “You never know, there could be a possible lockout. So (Hunter was) just keeping us up-to-date on what’s going on.”
From Jon Krawczynski/AP Sports:
So far, Rambis is taking everything in stride. He expected these struggles. He anticipated the growing pains.
“The only thing I didn’t foresee was Kevin breaking his hand,” Rambis said. “Everything else I understood was going to be a process. Everybody else is looking like, ‘Oh my goodness they don’t get it nine games into the season.’
“Whereas I’m looking at this as a one-, two-, three-year process for guys to really even sort of get a grasp on what we’re talking about where they feel comfortable with what we’re asking them to do.”
So far, Rambis is taking everything in stride. He expected these struggles. He anticipated the growing pains.
“The only thing I didn’t foresee was Kevin breaking his hand,” Rambis said. “Everything else I understood was going to be a process. Everybody else is looking like, ‘Oh my goodness they don’t get it nine games into the season.’
“Whereas I’m looking at this as a one-, two-, three-year process for guys to really even sort of get a grasp on what we’re talking about where they feel comfortable with what we’re asking them to do.”
Here’s where I think Kahn stumbled: By waiting until after the draft to hire a coach, he wound up with a mismatch between coaching philosophy and personnel.
Kurt Rambis is determined to run the Triangle Offense. That in itself is a questionable decision, given that the only teams in the NBA known for running the Triangle at a high level employed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Even if you believe the Triangle is a worthwhile offense for a young, struggling, team, it’s already obvious that the Triangle is not a good fit for the Wolves’ two best offensive talents _ Flynn and Al Jefferson.
Kurt Rambis is determined to run the Triangle Offense. That in itself is a questionable decision, given that the only teams in the NBA known for running the Triangle at a high level employed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Even if you believe the Triangle is a worthwhile offense for a young, struggling, team, it’s already obvious that the Triangle is not a good fit for the Wolves’ two best offensive talents _ Flynn and Al Jefferson.
From Steve Aschburner/NBA.com:
For players such as Pecherov — little-used in his two seasons with Washington despite being the No. 18 pick overall in 2006 — Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Opportunities, though any one guy won’t get nearly that many chances. Then again, it also is the Land of 10,000 Hard Lessons. Some come from success, others from setbacks and sitdowns.
“It’s always fun when you’re playing,” Pecherov said. “When you feel trusted and get playing time. You get in the game, do good things, get some stops, get some shots. It’s exciting. This is why you play basketball. Everybody wants to play, everybody thinks they are good players.
“It’s always hard when you start to play a little bit, then you’re back on the bench. It’s a mental problem. You’ve got to be mentally tough and get through this.”
From Tom Ziller/Fanhouse: The Pitfalls of Rebuilding Via Atom Bomb, Starring the Minnesota Timberwolves
The word from the ‘burbs is that Oak City is making some noise on the Bloomington nightlife scene. The restaurant now features DJs on weekends. Tonight, Oak City will have a fashion show featuring the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders (modeling clothes from Twin Cities boutiques). The show’s producer, JD Style Group, says customers who bring in nonperishable food items (donated to Second Harvest Heartland) will receive an autographed photo of the cheerleader squad. The Timberwolves dance team will have their own fashion show on Dec. 11.
From David Brauer/MinnPost:
Phil Miller, the lowest-seniority Pioneer Press reporter laid off in summer cuts, joined the Star Tribune’s sports staff Thursday as a part-timer.
Phil Miller, the lowest-seniority Pioneer Press reporter laid off in summer cuts, joined the Star Tribune’s sports staff Thursday as a part-timer.
Miller had been the PiPress’ primary Twins beat writer. At the Strib, he’ll work two days a week backing up Jerry Zgoda on the Timberwolves beat.
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