[6-13] GRRRRR. | @ Hornets (We Stung Them!)

November 9, 2009 | Minnesota Timberwolves (2-9) @ Memphis Grizzlies (3-7) | Season Series: Grizzlies lead 1-0 | Team Stats
Last Second Run Falls Short As Grizzlies Hand Wolves Fifth Straight Loss
Grizzlies 100, Timberwolves 98

Long story short: After being outscored 27-13 in a disastrous first quarter, the Wolves spent the rest of the game trying to close the gap. We came as close as five points on several occasions, we never got the job done. With a minute to go, Memphis led by 8. Wayne Ellington scored 10 points in the final minute, but failed to hit the game-winner as the Grizzlies held us off, 100-98.

The Rundown: The Memphis Grizzlies were missing recently acquired power forward Zach Randolph to a broken foot (expected to miss 6-8 weeks) and at 2-7 were nearly as bad as us. Looking for our first home win, we thought this would be a perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, Rudy Gay and company had a different idea.

The Grizzlies started the game on a 16-0 run. None of our guys could scored, and we kept turning the ball over. OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay were killing us on the fastbreak, and we couldn't get an answer. Finally, a Corey Brewer dunk ended the drought. Memphis would go on to win the quarter 27-13. We built up momentum in the second, cutting the lead to single digits, but Memphis seemed to answer all of our runs. The third quarter was more of the game, and the Grizzlies still led 71-63 going into the final period.

After a fairly slow paced first three quarters, the fourth was a shootout. The Grizzlies lead fluctuated between 5 and 15, and with a minute to go, the home team held a 96-88 lead. Then, amazing almost happened. Rookie Wayne Ellington sunk a three, Mike Conley split a pair of free throws, then Ellington sunk another trey to put us within striking distance. Unfortunately, we failed to get a stop, and Marc Gasol made it a 99-94 game with 17 seconds left. Kurt Rambis called our final timeout.

Ellington once again ended up in the rookie's hand. He drew contact and threw up a three that somehow went in. He sunk the freebie to trim the deficit to one. Rudy Gay split a pair at the line, and with five seconds to go, we were down just two. Jonny Flynn got it up the court and dished it to - you guessed it - Wayne Ellington. Ellington's potential game winner clanked off the front of the rim, and the Grizzlies were spared a gallant comeback from the Wolves.

Individual observations: After scoring our first points, Corey Brewer went cold, missing shots left and right, and committing a team-high 5 turnovers. More importantly, he let Rudy Gay score 28 points on him. The kid has potential, but is just way too inconsistent at this point. Our rookies played well, contributing 14 points apiece, and Al Jefferson and Kevin Love played to their averages. We actually dominated Memphis on the boards, and shot slightly better than them in the end, but we committed 10 more turnovers and fouls than them. If we can get more consistent, improve ball control and improve at drawing contact, we could have a fairly decent team here. As it stands, we are simply too young.

Final thoughts: We could have really used this win. The hustle and never-say-die attitude really impressed me here. Wayne was fantastic, and was earned the nickname "Beef Ellington". However, the Grizzlies are a bad team when healthy, and this game was very winnable. The team has heart, but its missing discipline, talent and skill. Rudy Gay was very impressive tonight. We're going to have an abundance of cap space this offseason, but will likely have difficulty getting an A-list free agent with our location. Perhaps we can outbid Memphis this offseason for him...

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Rookie Ellington hits the clutch trey and draws the foul.


DeMarre Carroll was utterly useless on D | Not an uncommon sight at Wolves games


How did Corey get his rep as a good defender, anyway? | This Live 08 pic brings back some good memories...
13 29 21 35 98 | Al Jefferson: 22/8/3 | Kevin Love: 14/10/1 | Corey Brewer: 14/0/2, 5-7 FG
27 22 22 29 100 | Rudy Gay 28/7/3 | OJ Mayo 19/2/7 | Marc Gasol: 10/15/3

JORDAN Player of the Game: Rudy Gay (Grizzlies) 28 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 11-16 FG
MCDWYANE Shitass of the Game: Corey Brewer (Timberwolves) 8 points, 4 rebounds, 5 turnovers, 3-11 FG

Wow... Ellington was great... 10 points in a minute!

Damn man you need some trades

Standing pat at least until February. Trying to learn to use the team as is. Might be looking at Salim Stoudamire since my team is last in three-point shooting, and Ramon Sessions has been playing more and more shooting guard.

Yeah I think your team needs some spark weather it be by a signing or a trade.

Standing pat at least until February. Trying to learn to use the team as is. Might be looking at Salim Stoudamire since my team is last in three-point shooting, and Ramon Sessions has been playing more and more shooting guard.

In my dynasty Ramon is better at the SG position too..

Oh man, you are loosing a lot. That's definitely hova-esque. I like it, the Wolves just are not good enough. Do you really think Gay is an attractive FA target? I mean you could definitely need a swingman, but Gay will def. want around 10M$ I guess, and that is just too much.
I really love this D. Just had my first of four exams, and I tell you what, Ds like yours make me keen on starting another one

You still losing man But Ellington 10 points in a minute, that's a good sign.

10 points in 1 minute? I am going to keep an eye out for him in free agency on my game.

Man, must have felt awesome to sink that 4 point play, had to be worse all the more to miss that game winner.
lol @ random Live pic

Wow, Ellington was on fire. Too bad you lost though in the end. If you had Korver, you would have won.

Only one simmed game this time. Losing streak finally ends against the Rockets, who have been downright awful sans Yao. Still looking for that elusive road win though. Next game is @ Portland. They've already beaten me twice in simmed games.

Wolves Come Out On Top In Battle Of Bottomfeeders

November 18, 2009 - Coming into the game, the Yao-less Rockets and struggling Timberwolves were tied for the worst record in the league at 2-9. Behind huge games by Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, the Wolves scored a season-high 117 points en route to an easy victory, ending a five-game skid. The game was fairly close throughout the first three quarters, but in the fourth, the Rockets couldn't buy a shot for much of the period, and the home team took advantage. The Rockets, led by Aaron Brooks's 24, fall to 2-10, while the Wolves improve to 3-9.

32 25 26 18 100 (2-10) | Brooks: 24/1/5 | Landry: 12/9/2 | Ariza: 14/5/2
28 33 25 31 117 (3-9) | Love: 24/10/1, 9-11 FG | Jefferson: 28/7/2 | Sessions: 15/3/7

That's something I guess.. Nice line by Love.

Nice... you got a win against a now 2-10 team.

Good to see you losing!

November 21, 2009 | Minnesota Timberwolves (3-10) @ Portland Trailblazers (13-2) | Season Series: Blazers lead 3-0 | Team Stats
#1 Blazers Beat Us Yet Again
Blazers 85, Timberwolves 78

Long story short: Despite a double-digit halftime deficit, we never gave up and gave the league-leading Portland Trailblazers a run for their money at the Rose Garden. While we didn't win, we held them to just 32 points in the second half, and came within 7 points. This marks our third loss to the Blazers this season, and should something ridiculous happen (like the majority of their team going down to injury - as if!), they would hold the tiebreaker should we finish with the game record.

The Rundown: The game started at Portland's trademark slow pace. We hung with them in the first, answering more of their baskets, and getting Greg Oden into foul trouble (a blessing in disguise - it was a rare injury-free game for the hung Center) Thanks to Brandon Roy's hot hand and Corey Brewer's overall lackluster play, we finished the first down 2 points. We opened the second quarter with an 8-2 run, but after a strategic timeout, it was all Blazers. Their high-efficiency offense resulted in a basket on nearly every possession, while we simply didn't get it done. At the half, we trailed 53-41.

In the third, something changed. Our team actually started playing defense. Our offense was as disjointed and ineffective as ever, but we managed to make up some ground, at one point getting within 5 points of the Blazers. A buzzer-beater three by LaMarcus Aldridge put the home side up nine going into the fourth. In the final period, both teams had difficulty scoring. The teams traded scoring droughts, but the Wolves could never pull ahead. With no last minute Wayne Ellington heroics, we succumbed to an 85-78 defeat in the Rose Garden. The fans were happy the team won, but disappointed that they fell short of the 100 point Chalupa threshold.

Individual observations: Corey Brewer has had some solid games, but looks too inconsistent to be part of the team's core moving forward. Twin towers Kevin Love and Al Jefferson combined for 33 points and 21 boards, with nearly identical stat lines. The Wolves are rumored to have declined a trade that would have sent Ramon Sessions to the Blazers for Jerryd Bayless. Not sure why they would decline such an offer, but both backup combo guards played well. On that note, Sessions and Jonny Flynn shared the floor for 16 minutes tonight. They played well offensively, but Sessions was destroyed by player of the game Brandon Roy. The Blazers received three times as many free throw attempts as us. Poor officiating? You decide.

Final thoughts: I thought we would lose this game by 10-20 points, and we ended up losing by single digits. While I would have loved to see us get a win here, I would categorize this as a good loss. It was a defeat that showed heart, potential and learning. However, we fell to 3-10, and we would now need to win our next 69 games to match the record set by the 1996 Bulls. C'mon Rambis! Sasha Pavlovic received his second straight DNP-CD today, and an impending buyout is rumored, as the swingman has garnered no interest on the trade market. Good riddance. The Wolves are rumored to be looking into free agents James White, Gerald Green, Salim Stoudamire and Von Wafer among others.

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Steve Blake alley-oop to Jerryd Bayless


I just can't choose between an old joke, an injury joke or a dick joke | BATUM SHAKA LAKA!!!


Portland reportedly offered Bayless for Sessions - new rivalry? | The caveat of the two point guard lineup
19 22 19 18 78 | Al Jefferson: 17/12/1 | Kevin Love: 16/9/2 | Ramon Sessions: 13/1/5
21 32 16 16 85 | Brandon Roy 23/6/5 | Andre Miller 24/0/6 | Jerryd Bayless: 16/2/4

JORDAN Player of the Game: Brandon Roy (Blazers) 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 8-11 FG
MCDWYANE Shitass of the Game: Corey Brewer (Timberwolves) 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 2-8 FG

Just look how Bayless walked through the defense for the alley-oop

That's 2k10 for you. Ryan Hollins is a cluck.

You lost again now you know what I feel, that was an easy alley-oop the team defense sucks.

you can sign Wafer or Green

Lol @ the defensive effort on that alley-oop. At least you had a decent rebounding game with both Jefferson and Love

You were happy you lost to the Blazers.

You were happy you lost to the Blazers.

I just can't choose between an old joke, an injury joke or a dick joke

Nicely done

Tough loss but it was against a very tough Blazers team so don't worry about it

Timberwolves Waive Sasha Pavlovic
November 22, 2009 - Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn announced today that the team has waived swingman Sasha Pavlovic. Pavlovic, 26, has averaged 1.3 points and .7 rebounds in 10 contests. The former Cavalier had not played in the last two games, and the Wolves are rumored to be signing another swingman soon. Pavlovic is owed $1.5 million for the rest of the season.

Wolves Edge Out Clippers For First Road Win

November 23, 2009 - The Wolves were one of three teams that had yet to win a game on the road this season. After visiting the Clippers, Minnesota was excused from that not-so-elite company. In a seesawing game, Kevin Love had a dominant 28 points and 15 boards, as the Wolves took control in the fourth quarter and never looked back. The win, Minnesota's second in three games, improved them to 4-10, while the Clippers fell to 5-10.
28 23 28 28 107 (4-10) | Love: 28/15/0 | Jefferson: 16/10/0 | Ellington: 13/1/1, 5-7 FG
21 29 28 23 101 (5-10) | Kaman: 16/14/0 | Davis: 17/2/5 | Gordon: 17/2/1

Wolves Sign Salim Stoudamire
November 24, 2009 - The Minnesota Timberwolves have announced today that they have signed sharpshooting combo guard Salim Stoudamire to a one year contract. Stoudamire, 27, led the NCAA in three-point percentage in the 2004-05 season, and is a career .366% shooter from behind the arc in the NBA. The Wolves were able to signed Stoudamire after clearing a roster spot by waiving Sasha Pavlovic. In three years in the NBA, Stoudamire averaged eight points a game. "I'm thrilled to be given another chance to make it in this league. I wont let coach [Rambis] down"

Nuggets Beat Wolves In OT Thriller

November 25, 2009 - In what was likely the best game of the year to date, the Nuggets edged out the Timberwolves in a high-scoring, overtime epic. Regulation saw the home team in control for the first three quarters, winning each, and taking a nine point lead going into the fourth. A 14-2 run by Denver gave them saw their first lead of the half, and later, courtesy of a Carmelo Anthony shot, forced overtime. Denver dominated more of overtime. However, a gallant last minute effort was made by the Wolves. It was ultimately too little too late, as the Nuggets won 135-134. Melo had a game-high 43 points, Chris "Birdman" Andersen had a career high 20 boards, and Kevin Love had a career high 31 points. Salim Stoudamire scored 12 in his Wolves debut.
27 35 24 34 15 135 (9-6) | Anthony: 43/5/1, 18-27 FG | Billups: 21/1/17 | Andersen: 11/20/3 blocks
29 36 30 25 14 134 (4-11) | Love: 31/7/2 | Jefferson: 22/11/3 | Sessions: 17/6/7/4 steals

Salim for you is like Korver for me. He's in every team I play with.

Definitely a better fit for you then Sasha.

Why do you waive Sasha his good, he can play 2 and 3