All Things 2021-2022 Minnesota Timberwolves In-Season Thread

[Nax5]

I see they went on a streak to return to .500. And then proceeded to drop a game. Allergic to a winning record. It's almost impressive how they keep bouncing back and forth.

 

[Iceland12]

Long time fan or just started paying attention?

As a long time fan, you're probably aware how allergic to winning the Wolves have been.

Their present record is 22-23. At this time in the last 15 seasons, they've been above .500 twice

'21 3-11
'20 15-28
'19 22-24
'18 30-18 They year they had Butler and got back to the playoffs
'17 15-28
'16 13-30
'15 7-34
'14 20-21
'13 17-21
'12 7-9 NBA Lockout season
'11 10-33
'10 9-34
'09 13-27
'08 6-34
'07 20-19

 

[BleedGopher]

Per Shooter:

There’s buzz now that proposed Timberwolves owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore want ex-Wolves star Kevin Garnett to join the pair for a $100 million investment and for his player input. If that happens, a Garnett statue outside Target Center would be erected as well as retirement of his No. 21 jersey.

Charley Walters: Vikings’ Kirk Cousins likely will be traded in coming weeks

It will be surprising if the Vikings don’t trade Cousins and his 2022 $35 million guaranteed salary.

www.twincities.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Great win tonight. But this is no good:


Howl Wolves!!

 

[Iceland12]

 

[Iceland12]

The Timberwolves kept their composure and their minds on Sunday at Target Center and delivered a 136-125 victory over Brooklyn that coach Chris Finch called a sign of growth..

They did so against Kyrie Irving, James Harden and a Brooklyn team missing injured superstar Kevin Durant for the next month.

Irving's 30-point night wasn't enough for a Nets team, not on a night that Harden went 4-for-13 from the field for 13 points and the Wolves received some perfection from their bench.

Reserve forward Taurean Prince didn't miss a shot. He went 6-for-6 from the field — including 2-for-2 on threes — for a Wolves group of reserves that outscored the Nets bench 42-38.

"We all knew he could do this," Towns said. "It's not a surprise."
Prince scored 15 of those 42 points and Jaylen Nowell 16 for a bench that kept the lead until Towns finally found himself midway through the fourth quarter. His 15-point fourth quarter included 3-for-3 three-point shooting and repelled a Nets team that knocked a 15-point deficit down to only six points before Towns and Prince made consecutive threes midway through the fourth.

Afterward, Finch called the result a sign of growth for a Wolves team that survived its COVID-19 crisis around the holidays and developed from it..

While Towns labored, starting point guard D'Angelo Russell delivered a 23-point, 10-assist game and Anthony Edwards scored 25 points before he knocked knees with a Nets player and came up limping late in the game.

"We showed everything," Russell said. "Rebounded solid. Made our free throws. Made shots. We could have rebounded better. We followed the game plan and saw the result. This was a great win for us. We did everything we were supposed to do."

Afterward, Finch said he expects Edwards and his knee will be fine.

Karl-Anthony Towns' big finish pushes Timberwolves over Nets; Anthony Edwards has injury scare

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter; Anthony Edwards scored 25 before leaving the game with a limp in the final minute.

www.startribune.com

 

[kg21]

One of their better games of the season. They were awesome.

Now beat Portland, get over .500..........and try to split the Phoenix and Golden State game.

 

[LakevilleBro]

Per Shooter:

There’s buzz now that proposed Timberwolves owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore want ex-Wolves star Kevin Garnett to join the pair for a $100 million investment and for his player input. If that happens, a Garnett statue outside Target Center would be erected as well as retirement of his No. 21 jersey.

Charley Walters: Vikings’ Kirk Cousins likely will be traded in coming weeks

It will be surprising if the Vikings don’t trade Cousins and his 2022 $35 million guaranteed salary.

www.twincities.com

Howl Wolves!!

I am always confused why the Wolves want KG to come back here. He left here on really bad terms.

Also, his current net worth is reported to be $120,000,000, no way can get put in 80% of his net worth into the wolves. JMO

 

[TruthSeeker]

I am always confused why the Wolves want KG to come back here. He left here on really bad terms.

Also, his current net worth is reported to be $120,000,000, no way can get put in 80% of his net worth into the wolves. JMO

Yep. That'd be incredibly dumb. He wouldn't have much money left if there's a cash call.

He needs to be worth double his current worth to put up that much dough.

 

[Iceland12]

One of their better games of the season. They were awesome.

Now beat Portland, get over .500..........and try to split the Phoenix and Golden State game.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 record: 23-23
Previous ranking: 18

Minnesota will be tested this week with three games against teams sitting around the top of the standings in the West. Following their matchup with the Blazers on Tuesday, the Timberwolves will face the Warriors, Suns and Jazz to close out the week. -- Collier

NBA Power Rankings: The Eastern Conference race is getting good

With six teams within 2.5 games of the conference lead, things are getting wild in the East.

www.espn.com

 

[BleedGopher]

Howl Wolves!!

 

[Nax5]

Long time fan or just started paying attention?

As a long time fan, you're probably aware how allergic to winning the Wolves have been.

Their present record is 22-23. At this time in the last 15 seasons, they've been above .500 twice

'21 3-11
'20 15-28
'19 22-24
'18 30-18 They year they had Butler and got back to the playoffs
'17 15-28
'16 13-30
'15 7-34
'14 20-21
'13 17-21
'12 7-9 NBA Lockout season
'11 10-33
'10 9-34
'09 13-27
'08 6-34
'07 20-19

Paying more attention now. But maybe that's a good thing. Looks like it's been a tough tenure as a fan

 

[BleedGopher]

Despite bad FT shooting in final minute, Wolves win back to back games in Portland for first time in 16 years, ANT with 40.

We are above .500

Howl Wolves!!

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

I'm very excited for the next game. Not because I expect a win, but because it's only a TNT game, so I don't have to listen to Dave Benz force us feed Ant puns for 2.5 hours.

 

[Iceland12]

PORTLAND – However you could score in a basketball game, whatever combinations of points you could get and from different spots on the floor, Anthony Edwards did that in the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves' 109-107 win over Portland on Tuesday.

A three-point play? Tradition three? A four-point play? Easy layup? Mid-range jumper? Edwards hit them all as he helped drag a sluggish Wolves team across the finish line for its fourth victory in its last five games.

Edwards scored 40 points, the fourth time he has done that in his young career, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter..

"Once you see everybody struggling, it's like something's got to give," Edwards said. "I don't even think we were struggling. We were just missing shots and our defense just wasn't there in the beginning of the game."

The Wolves trailed most of the first half and third quarter before making a run to take an 84-82 lead going into the fourth. The Wolves got Jusuf Nurkic (20 points) in foul trouble and chipped away at Portland's lead until Edwards helped them zoom by. While Edwards was putting on a show, Towns was doing more of the dirty work with a season-high 17 rebounds and defense that drew praise from coach Chris Finch..

Anthony Edwards scores 40, leads late Timberwolves rally to beat Trail Blazers

Second-year star Anthony Edwards poured in 40 points on a night the Wolves needed that strong effort, plus a little more at the end.

www.startribune.com

 

[tikited]

Vando was the man last night!

 

[kg21]

I'm very excited for the next game. Not because I expect a win, but because it's only a TNT game, so I don't have to listen to Dave Benz force us feed Ant puns for 2.5 hours.

Awesome. Have fun listening to Steph Curry drool, and Klay Thompson is back for 2.5 hours. They aren't featuring the wolves in this game, sir!

When we ran Golden State out a few weeks back, if you watched the hi-lites on GameTime with Nbatv, it was mostly Warrior hi-lites.

I'll stick with Benz.

Let me know what Shaq and Barkley say at halftime, because it will all be about Golden State.

 

[BleedGopher]

Per Jon K: He got game: The audacity of Anthony Edwards, self-proclaimed ‘Black Jesus’

“I feel like Black Jesus,” Edwards said after shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah.”

Sitting right next to Edwards in the postgame news conference, Russell couldn’t help but smile as he listened to Edwards describe what it felt like to put the team on his shoulders and deliver the way he did in Portland.

“I’m gonna sit back for this one,” Russell said.

But he didn’t argue. That is what Edwards has brought to the table in his short time in Minnesota, a personality as bright as the aurora green jerseys the Timberwolves wear on Saturdays, a belief in himself purer than the waters of Lake Minnetonka and stubborn refusal to succumb to the same old excuses that so many players, coaches and executives have used over the last 15-plus seasons as to why you supposedly can’t win in Minnesota.

Edwards is too young to care about how things fell apart late in Kevin Garnett’s first tour with the Wolves. He has too much swag to buy into the belief that players get held back in a market like the Twin Cities. He doesn’t give a damn that Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Jimmy Butler, Tom Thibodeau and so many others have come through this franchise and failed to turn it around.

Edwards lost his mother and grandmother to cancer when he was 14 years old, drove more than an hour each way through Atlanta gridlock every day to attend high school and eschewed more traditional college basketball powers to play at Georgia. Do you think a little thing like going to work at a place with more than 1,500 losses and only one trip past the first round of the playoffs is going to scare him?

He named his pit bull Ant Jr. Does that sound like someone with a shortage of confidence?

“He’s got such a great spirit about him,” coach Chris Finch said. “He’s pretty much indomitable in that way. His teammates love him, and they love him for not only how he plays but who he is as a player because he’s genuine.”

It would be hard to find a franchise that needed it more, a player with a northern lights smile who won’t take no for an answer. Since Garnett departed in 2007, many have tried to assume that mantle. Love put up the numbers but couldn’t deliver the wins. Rubio brought the charisma and the enthusiasm, but injuries and limitations as a shooter prevented him from breaking through. Wiggins had the physical tools but not the desire to be great. Butler had the toughness and the skill but tapped out after one year. Towns has come the closest, putting up huge numbers and professing his love for the city and the team, but the instability around him has prevented him from delivering on the promise he made to Flip Saunders to turn this team into a consistent winner.

In Edwards, Towns has finally found a teammate he can connect with, one who combines the impossible-to-hate youthful exuberance with a lion’s taste for the jugular and a showman’s sense for the moment. It was all on display against the Trail Blazers, who may have been missing franchise player Damian Lillard but had won six of their previous eight games.

He got game: The audacity of Anthony Edwards, self-proclaimed ‘Black Jesus’

"He believes that he can win any battle, any game, any matchup," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.

theathletic.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I can't wait for the 2 hour long video of hilarious Ant quotes by the time he retires.

 

[Iceland12]

Injury report for tonight's Timberwolves/Warriors game;

Golden State Warriors

NAME	POS	DATE	STATUS	COMMENT
Draymond Green	PF	Jan 27	Out	Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Tuesday that Green (back) is "doing a lot of different stuff" in his rehab, and another update on the veteran forward will be available Sunday, 95.7 The Game San Francisco reports.
Andre Iguodala	F	Jan 26	Out	Iguodala (hip) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Timberwolves, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reports.
James Wiseman	C	Jan 13	Out	Wiseman underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in December that pushed back his recovery timeline, and he's expected to begin three-on-three work in the near future, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reports.

Minnesota Timberwolves

NAME	POS	DATE	STATUS	COMMENT
Patrick Beverley	PG	Jan 27	Out	Beverley (ankle) is unlikely to play Thursday against the Warriors, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Jaylen Nowell	SG	Jan 27	Day-To-Day	Powell (lower body) is likely to play Thursday against the Warriors, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports

 

[Iceland12]

Cant wait for wigs to make all star game

Your wait, and his, are over.

"forward Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors in the frontcourt.

Wiggins' selection as a starter was somewhat of a surprise, even though he's averaging 18.1 points per game.

The selections for the starters was based on the following: fan ballots made up 50% of the vote, with a media panel and current players each making up 25%.

Wiggins was able to edge teammate Draymond Green for the third West frontcourt spot. Wiggins received fewer player and media votes, but he ranked third among the fans' voting while Green was sixth. As a result, Wiggins ended up with a weighted score of 4.25 points; Green came in at 4.75.

Per Elias Sports Bureau research, Wiggins is the third first-time All-Star to be named a starter in his eighth season or later (Bob Boozer in his eighth season in 1967-68; Kyle Lowry in his ninth season in 2014-15). He is the 40th different No. 1 overall pick in the modern draft era (since 1966) to make an All-Star team in his career -- but the first of those not to make it until his eighth season or later."

1st-time All-Stars Morant, Wiggins picked to start

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Andrew Wiggins, Steph Curry and Ja Morant were picked as All-Star Game starters from the West. Starters from the East player pool are Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, DeMar DeRozan and Trae Young.

www.espn.com

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

Your wait, and he's, are over.

"forward Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors in the frontcourt.

Wiggins' selection as a starter was somewhat of a surprise, even though he's averaging 18.1 points per game.

The selections for the starters was based on the following: fan ballots made up 50% of the vote, with a media panel and current players each making up 25%.

Wiggins was able to edge teammate Draymond Green for the third West frontcourt spot. Wiggins received fewer player and media votes, but he ranked third among the fans' voting while Green was sixth. As a result, Wiggins ended up with a weighted score of 4.25 points; Green came in at 4.75.

Per Elias Sports Bureau research, Wiggins is the third first-time All-Star to be named a starter in his eighth season or later (Bob Boozer in his eighth season in 1967-68; Kyle Lowry in his ninth season in 2014-15). He is the 40th different No. 1 overall pick in the modern draft era (since 1966) to make an All-Star team in his career -- but the first of those not to make it until his eighth season or later."

1st-time All-Stars Morant, Wiggins picked to start

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Andrew Wiggins, Steph Curry and Ja Morant were picked as All-Star Game starters from the West. Starters from the East player pool are Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, DeMar DeRozan and Trae Young.

www.espn.com

My guy

 

[7Gopher7]

Your wait, and he's, are over.

"forward Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors in the frontcourt.

Wiggins' selection as a starter was somewhat of a surprise, even though he's averaging 18.1 points per game.

The selections for the starters was based on the following: fan ballots made up 50% of the vote, with a media panel and current players each making up 25%.

Wiggins was able to edge teammate Draymond Green for the third West frontcourt spot. Wiggins received fewer player and media votes, but he ranked third among the fans' voting while Green was sixth. As a result, Wiggins ended up with a weighted score of 4.25 points; Green came in at 4.75.

Per Elias Sports Bureau research, Wiggins is the third first-time All-Star to be named a starter in his eighth season or later (Bob Boozer in his eighth season in 1967-68; Kyle Lowry in his ninth season in 2014-15). He is the 40th different No. 1 overall pick in the modern draft era (since 1966) to make an All-Star team in his career -- but the first of those not to make it until his eighth season or later."

1st-time All-Stars Morant, Wiggins picked to start

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Andrew Wiggins, Steph Curry and Ja Morant were picked as All-Star Game starters from the West. Starters from the East player pool are Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, DeMar DeRozan and Trae Young.

www.espn.com

Hilarious!!! Proves what a joke the all star game is.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

Hilarious!!! Proves what a joke the all star game is.

No kidding. Wiggins even making the All Star game, let alone starting, is a sham.

 

[Iceland12]

Wolves were up 61-57 at the half. Wolves were down 68-64 when Russell got hurt and was done for the night.

Golden State (36-13)won 124-115.

Minnesota (24-24) plays in Phoenix (38-9) tonight at 8:00.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry found his sweet shooting stroke again after a rough stretch and Klay Thompson kept the pressure on from the perimeter and with drives through the paint, healthy again at last.

First-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins complemented them both..

Wiggins added 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocked shots facing his former team again in Golden State’s 11th straight home win against the Wolves — still relishing in his All-Star nod from earlier in the day..

Karl-Anthony Towns had 31 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which trailed 97-81 going into the fourth before beginning the final period on a 10-0 run to get back in it. Anthony Edwards added 27 points, six rebounds and six assists..

D’Angelo Russell sustained a bruised left shin in the third quarter and didn't return for Minnesota, which had won two in a row and four of five..

Curry, Thompson shoot Warriors past Wolves, 124-115

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry found his sweet shooting stroke again after a rough...

www.sfgate.com

 

[MUgopher32]

Beasly is complete shit and needs to go ASAP

 

[TruthSeeker]

Beasly is complete shit and needs to go ASAP

He's a cap destroyer. Big contact and poor play. If they replaced him with a the best big man money can buy for the same amount of money Beasley makes, then the Wolves would probably be 4-6 games above .500 right now.

They're really just 2 good role players away from contending in the West. One good big man, and one more good shooter who can play defense.

 

[Iceland12]

No Beverly or Russell tonight against Phoenix, the NBA's leading team. Though the Suns are also missing some players.

Phoenix Suns

NAME	POS	DATE	STATUS	COMMENT
Jae Crowder	PF	Jan 27	Out	Crowder (wrist) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Timberwolves, Kellan Olson of ArizonaSports.com reports.
JaVale McGee	C	Jan 27	Out	McGee (knee) will remain out for Friday's game against Minnesota, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports reports.
Deandre Ayton	C	Jan 27	Out	Ayton (ankle) remains out Friday against the Timberwolves, Kellan Olson of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Cameron Payne	PG	Jan 24	Out	Payne (wrist) will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Kellan Olson of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Abdel Nader	SF	Jan 24	Out	Nader (knee) is listed as out for Monday's game against the Jazz.
Frank Kaminsky	PF	Jan 7	Out	Kaminsky underwent successful knee surgery Friday and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks, David Aldridge of The Athletic reports.
Dario Saric	PF	Jul 7	Out	Saric suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

 

[Frink]

Beasly is complete shit and needs to go ASAP

Yeah I thought he had some potential. Then they overpaid him and his game collapsed.

 

[kg21]

I don't know if it's effort or lack of talent, but the wide open threes are ridiculous. Whoever catches it could eat a sandwich before shooting it. We just don't have the length to stop anyone. Interior or on the perimeter.

No DLO against Golden State and Phoenix. We can score, we just can't defend. Ben Simmons, come on over. Talk about perimeter defense.