OT: How 'Bout Them Wolves!

[Cyclical]

McHale may have just completely redeemed himself in a matter of a few short weeks.

10-2 in 2009 makes for the best record in the league. Yes, some of the wins came against non-playoff teams but not all of them. This is the Wolves we're talking about. They have now followed a 13 game losing streak with a 12-4 record and McHale can take all the credit. He's obviously tweaked something in the guys' attitude and approach to the game. Al is beasting more consistently; Kevin Love is proving to be a great pick after all the heat McHale took for the Mayo switch; the role players are contributing and even lowly Bassy is starting to play like an NBA point guard.

I'm happy for McHale, Al, Gomes and especially for the Minnesota fans who finally can start enjoying some of the post-KG era. If the Wolves continue this way they may just sniff the 8th seed this year. A very, very, long shot but anything's possibaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuul.

[klemen4]

It is interesting that from 29.11. to 23.12. Minnesota lost 13 in a row before wining in NY on 26.12.

Since that win they are 12-4 losing only to Orl(H), Dal(Away), Mia(H), Uta(A)

I watched last 3 games and they are really playing well and Al Jefferson in probbaly the best post up player in NBA. In game against Chi in last quarter and overtime 8/10 times they went to Al in the post. Also Love is great rebounding, Foye has improved and Carney is deadly shooter. Interesting team.

[Mahoney_jr]

I thought about their team recently. How they might go forward and so on.

They are setting themselves up for a great FA period this summer. The expirings of Miller and Gomes are very valuable, because both are decent rotation players. Additionally they have Cardinal as an expiring to fill out the end of the bench.

Because of picks from us and Miami they can compensate the loss of their own pick to the Clippers, if they finish above the 10th draft spot. Additionally they have two 2nd rounders from Miami.

Those are a lot assets to get veteran help.

If there aren't good offers for Miller + x on the table during the FA signing period of 2009, I would keep him as starting SF until the trading deadline. But I would try to get a PG with defense and length first. Rounding out the roster with a capable, defensive backup Center and an above average starting SF can take place via trades during the season.

I really like how they are set up for the next season.

[cisco]

Gomes is a free agent after this season? I thought he signed a new deal with Minny.

[billfromBoston]

Gomes signed a 5 year deal that is rather complicated as its filled with incentives and options - he isn't a FA though...

"lowly Bassy" put in a very solid season last year and had a 3 month stretch where he as extremely productive, then he got injured toward the end of the year.

Since McHale took over Telfair has been excellent - and he committed himself to playing defense last season, so rumors of his demise or lack of ability have been greatly overstated by many a Celtics fan who only pay cursory attention to the rest of the league.

I'd go so far as to say that Minny is an above .500 team if McHale had been coaching all year and they should have a great season next year. then they'll be able to sign a real FA or two to help bolster the core.

Minny can play and McHale should be credited for making SMART moves personnel-wise...now that he's coaching his own players we are seeing the results...

[Mahoney_jr]

Actually I thought Gomes expires 2010. Therefore I said the Wolves have good expirings to work with _next season_.

But it might be that the information I have on Gomes is not right and that he expires later.

Cardinal and Miller will be FA in 2010 though.

[Athanacropolis]

Agreed with everything. Minny became my favorite non-Celtic team after the KG trade. It's so nice to see Big Al having some success. Hopefully he has a winning season next year!

[Egregious Blunder]

yeah, remember he traded OJ Mayo. he still sucks.

[tombattor]

yeah, remember he traded OJ Mayo. he still sucks.

I'm sure they are pretty happy with Kevin Love though. With Big Al, Love and Foye, they have a pretty nice foundation to build a team around.

[lojowo]

http://www.dougstats.com/08-09/MinnesotaT-wolvesLF.html

Most interesting thing is, in the last 10 games, T-wolves have 7 guys averaging in double figures and Mike Miller isnt one of them.

[Dave_From_NB]

It's nice that they're having a short stretch of good games, but I remember Portland stinking it up at the start of last year, then going on a 12 game winning streak, then settling back to being a below .500 team for the rest of the season.

Other than pounding the Thunder, there were a lot of close wins in that stretch for the Wolves, including 3 of 2 points or less. Once teams have started paying attention and make some adjustments, we'll need to see how they stand up.

[Banks2Pierce]

But how is any of this possible? McHale had sooo many other, better offers out there for Garnett and decided to help his good buddy Ainge. This team could've had Lamar ODOM or maybe even Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. McHale is clueless, huh.

And I'm sorry, but I stand on Love's side of the Love/Mayo debate. Mayo looks to me like he will be a borderline all star for many years to come. The problem is I never really see him being a team's number one horse. Solid wings are a dime a dozen, but a solid rebounding big man with a nice little offensive arsenal is not at easy to come by. See what Millsap will get on the market this summer.

Love is 20, and is already one of the best rebounders in the league. We know he has range, but will need to figure out where his offensive game fits in. He is a great passer too, both in the halfcourt and his outlet. Kid's also got a good head on those shoulders and has a great bbiq, which I don't know if I can say the same about OJ. Kid chucks the ball up nonstop.

[threrf23]

http://www.dougstats.com/08-09/MinnesotaT-wolvesLF.html

Most interesting thing is, in the last 10 games, T-wolves have 7 guys averaging in double figures and Mike Miller isnt one of them.

Yeah I don't think Mike Miller is healthy. And of all the players averaging minutes per game, McCants isn't one of them either. He's been one of their best players over the past few seasons. Not that that says much, but I feel they'd be better off with him taking some minutes from Telfair & Carney.

Kevin Love seems pretty solid for a 19 year old rookie (ETA 20 year old).

[Bad-Thoma]

Considering Al Jefferson is now their franchise player I'd have to say Kevin Love was a good move, he's the ideal offensive big next Al, he's got great range and vision for a young big, he'll really help free up the post for Al when his game comes together fully. OJ Mayo looks great and all, but I'd rather be building a young team from the front court any day, and when you've got a talent like Al you've got to get players that compliment him. It's also good to see the Wolves getting some payoff from the Garnett deal, I'm tired of the assinine outside perspective that McHale did us a "favor". Hopefully they can finish the year off strong and build on it next season.

[Mahoney_jr]

I'm not sold on Mayo as well. But I'm often hypercritical regarding scoring guards which have problems going to the line, so maybe I'm just blindsided about Mayo.

[return2glory]

I'm happy for McHale and his team. I like Jefferson and Gomes a lot. I also really like Kevin Love and watched him play when he was at UCLA last season. He is going to be a very good player in this league. Craig Smith is also a good player. Foye is up and down.

I'm not a Mike Miller fan. It would be good for Minnesota to move him and get someone decent in return. McHale is doing a very good good as a coach with limited talent.

[ParticleMan]

McHale the coach >>>>>>> McHale the GM

[Rocky5000]

It really shows you that coaching can in certain cases have a bigger impact than the players themselves. Going from a 13 game losing streak, to the best team in 2009 is a pretty good turnaround for McHale and the Wolves.

It may be that McHale is the only one able to understand what he was trying to make. Kinda like a beater car that nobody else can figure out how to drive.

The missing element on the Wolves to make them a contender is an elite SF, IMO. They need a player in the mold of Caron Butler, or Paul Pierce. Brewer is decent, but his offense won't ever be anything more than adequate. I think the bench and 4/5 are pretty well set. The back-court isn't the best, but Foye and Telfair can grow into a decent back court, and I think McHale will wait to see how both guys develop. With the post players Minnesota has, PG isn't as big of a problem, as it can be on teams like the Hawks and Magic who rely upon perimeter play. As a GM, I'd make my priority finding that 3. If Mike Miller could play like he did in Orlando, he'd be almost perfect, but thus far his shooting has been Antoinesque.

[threrf23]

I don't necessarily think that they need a great scorer @ SF, just a real good scorer at either SG or SF. Or just a good scorer and a real good PG. And a good defender at SF - Brewer at least gives them that.

I also think they need a third big man to create a solid 3 man rotation in the front court, preferably a defensive center. Joel Pryzbilla is an example of a guy who would fit perfectly (Perk too).

With so much in the way of expiring contracts next season, Minny is in line to be a very consistently solid team sooner than people expect.

[UGA Hayes]

I have league pass and man do I miss Jefferson. He is just an awesome post player, i think hands down the most underrated player in the league. He might end up having the highest PER of someone who doesn't make the allstar game.

As for the improved play of Minny, it has less to do with Al who has been consistently awesome, and more to do with Foye playing much better. Also getting Brewer (offense) and Mcacants (defense) out of the rotation and Love into it and playing well kind of helped. But mainly it wass the backcourt issue where they were flat out horrible.