• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Friday, September 29, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Playoffs for the Wolves? Forget about it!

by MSR News Online
March 26, 2014
48
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Fitzbeatsquare

The Timberwolves have already guaranteed themselves a better season than last year when they won just 31 games. Not many teams can say that in this town — not the Vikings, Twins, Gophers men’s basketball, Gophers women’ hockey. As for the Wild, we’ll see. The Timberwolves with 34 wins are hanging around the .500 mark. That is good for 10th place in the rugged NBA Western Conference.

Five, maybe six teams in the West — San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Houston, Portland — will win 50 or more regular-season games. Winning 50 games out of 82 is an outstanding NBA season.

Some teams take it for granted, like the Spurs, who have won 50 of their first 66 games again. In fact, the Spurs have won 50 or more games an NBA-record 16 years in a row and currently have won 13 straight games.

The Timberwolves are the fourth-highest scoring team in the league at 106.3 points per game. They are exciting to watch. All-Star forward Kevin Love is fourth in scoring 26 points and third in rebounding 12.8 a game. Guard Rick Rubio is third in assists at 8.6 per game. Guard Kevin Martin is scoring 19 points a game. The Wolves need culture change — they are last (.471), 30th in the league in opponent field goal percentage. Scoring is not the Timberwolves‘ problem; getting consistent defensive stops is.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Sunday in a must-win game at Target Center vs. Phoenix, the team ahead of them they had to beat. The Wolves led by 22 points and blew it, losing 127-120. Nearly 18,000 fans witnessed the second-half collapse.

With 14 games left, that all but kills the Wolves’ playoff chances. This is the 25th anniversary season of Timberwolves basketball, and they have not been a playoff team in eight years. Questions circle around Target Center over how long is too long before Love wants out like Kevin Garnett.

Or, will Coach Rick Adelman return next season as coach? When you miss the playoffs or have a losing season, everything is up for grabs. A return to the NBA lottery is inevitable for the Wolves. The NBA has 30 franchises, and more than half, 16, qualify for the playoffs.

Franchises that have qualified most for the NBA lottery? Golden State (18), Los Angeles Clippers (17), Timberwolves (16), as in years, as in heartache if the Wolves miss the playoffs again. It would mark nine straight seasons and 17 total, tying the LA Clippers for second place. Is that progress? When is enough enough?

Stay tuned, hoop fans — being in the lottery has no reward with the Wolves when, for example, two years ago they drafted forward Derrick Williams No.2 overall, the highest draft choice in franchise history, and traded him. What does it all mean? That it is not working in Minneapolis.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Girls’ basketball tournament one to remember

Next Post

Whistleblower persecuted for exposing UNC academic scandal

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Don’t forget to check your blood pressure
Health & Wellness

Don’t forget to check your blood pressure

Wanted: Younger workforce ready to learn about climate jobs
Go Green

Wanted: Younger workforce ready to learn about climate jobs

Gopher tennis coach rebuilds a competitive team
Sports

Gopher tennis coach rebuilds a competitive team

College athletes need help negotiating NIL deals
Sports

College athletes need help negotiating NIL deals

Southside group attempts to rebuild trust in police
Local

Southside group attempts to rebuild trust in police

Employment

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) is Hiring!

Next Post

Whistleblower persecuted for exposing UNC academic scandal

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 29
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: