The hands-down biggest reason for the Wolves’ January surge was the confidence and comfort demonstrated by Randy Foye at the off-guard positon. A contender for the biggest cause of Minnesota’s February swoon is a suddenly overwhelmed Foye, gassed by too many minutes and flummoxed by the bigger two-guards he now will inevitably encounter. People talk about the rookie wall, but Foye is entering unprecedented territory in terms of his own workload. He’s already started more games than in the previous two years of his pro career combined, and, if his current minutes-per-game pace holds, will set a career high for court time in Minnesota’s second game back from the all star break.
If you can stomach it, Fanhouse linked to a video of Al hurting his knee in yesterday’s loss in New Orleans.
You Been Blinded posts video of David West’s flagrant foul on Mike Mille yesterday.
From the Associated Press:
The NBA is reviewing a hard foul by David West that resulted in the ejection of the Hornets’ All-Star from a game against Minnesota on Sunday night.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed Monday that the league is reviewing the play for possible punishment with a ruling expected before the Hornets were scheduled to play Monday night at Memphis. West could be fined, suspended or both.
Bill Poehler/Statesman Journal on Sunday night’s Oregon Sports Awards banquet.
Other award winners at the ceremony included Kevin Love, a former Lake Oswego High School student and current Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player. Love was awarded the Bill Hayward amateur athlete of the year for men.
The Timberwolves have been one of the league’s bright spots since the New Year. This already young and talented group has a chance to get even younger and more talented with possibly four first-round picks in June’s NBA Draft.
Through previous trades, Kevin McHale has stockpiled a bunch of conditional first-round selections. Minnesota has its own pick, which goes to the L.A. Clippers only if the Wolves do not finish with one of the 10 worst records in the league (their 17-33 mark is currently seventh worst). Minnesota has Miami’s pick, which Miami keeps only if the Heat finish with one of the 10 worst records in the league (their 27-23 record is currently 15th worst). Minnesota also has Boston’s pick, which is protected only if the Celtics finish as one of the league’s bottom three teams, which isn’t happening. Finally, Minnesota has Utah’s pick, which Utah keeps only if the Jazz finish with one of the 22 worst records in the league, which is probable, so the Utah pick will remain conditional for 2010.
The T-Wolves remain open for business on proposals for Rashad McCants, and there is plenty of interest in Mike Miller despite his season-long shooting slump. The Knicks would love to add Miller, a rival executive said, because he could shoot them into the playoffs and validate the plan being pursued by Walsh and D’Antoni. Could Walsh be enticed by an offer that includes Miller and one of Minnesota’s three future protected first-round picks for, say, Lee? Miller’s $9.8 million deal expires in time for the magical summer of 2010.
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