2007-08 Game 41: Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves
Posted by GreekHouse on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
[SBG] I was late to the party tonight, but I made it. The Wolves close out the first half of the season looking to get their seventh win of the season against the team with the best record in the West, Phoenix (30-12). The Wolves have half a dozen wins this year, as pretty much everyone knows. What's odd is that they've got three really good wins (New Orleans, Phoenix, and Golden State). As GH points out below, the Wolves haven't won two straight yet, in fact, they've had at least a five game losing streak between each of their wins.
They aren't going to win tonight, either. They caught Phoenix on the five game of a seven day road trip when they beat them and Phoenix handled the Wolves last week with ease. Phoenix was so tired when they lost to the Wolves that two nights later they lost at home to Miami. Can you believe that they dropped those two stink bombs?
The emergence over the last several games of Mr. Ryan Gomes is something to be watched. If the KG trade nets two quality players and a draft pick, well, maybe it's not completely terrible. So, number 8 will be the guy to watch.
I happened to read John Hollinger's chat today and he's saying that he thinks the Wolves will buy out Theo Ratliff. When pressed on the issue, he said that Ratliff, at $11 million, has no trade value. Hello, he's $11 million coming off the books. The Wolves have already paid him $5.5. million of that -- why can't he be used as a trade chip? If he is bought out and is playing for the Celtics in the playoffs at the pro-rated minimum, I just might be a little pissed off. KnowwhatImean?
The spread is Phoenix -9 and the O/U is 215. I'm going to take Phoenix and the points. [/SBG]
<GreekHouse>The last two games the Wolves have played have almost certainly been the two best consecutive games they've played all season. In fact, the only other sequence of games that could compare would be back in early December when they lost to Atlanta on a buzzer beater and then came home and dominated the same Phoenix team they play tonight.
Hopefully the Wolves will make it 3 straight solid performance and their first winning streak of the year. The last time this team won back to back games was in February of last year when they beat Boston and Denver back to back. They've played 70 games since then and have failed to win 2 in a row even a single time.
Gomes was tremendous in the win against Golden State. The Wolves have been primarily using him as a role player and typically they hadn't been running plays through him. I was wondering if he would be able to perform under a heavier load and he definitely stepped up to the task. The Wolves were able to post him up against an undersized Warriors team and he pretty much had his way with them from all parts of the court. This Suns team isn't particularly large either, so look for him to get more touches in the low post tonight.</GreekHouse>
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Im predicting a Wolves win
Me too. By twenty points.
Have at it. It's early, but Amare is 5-5 and Phoenix leads 14-4.
Tied.
Nice comeback by the Wolves.
It's good to see them not giving up 5 minutes into the game.
BAJ with 4 offensive rebounds in the first 6 minutes!
5 point lead after Q1. Ship it!
Wolves totally dominant right now. This is fun!
The Wolves are looking good again tonight.
Wolves by 15!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!
Wolves have now gone from a 10 point defecit to a 15 point lead. That's a 25 point swing over about the span of a quarter. And you thought I was kidding when I said they would win by 20.
(Ok, I was)
Boy, BAJ is fantastic with his moves.
when Corey Brewer is hitting shots, you know things are going awesome
That's a mouthful right there.
As long as I'm predicting things that obviously have no chance of happening, I'm gonna say that this team runs the table and wins the NBA championship.
Pee in the cup, pal.
Woofs up 20?!?!
Phx cut it to 15 at the half. BAJ with 24/8.
Is this the NBA's way of handicapping the game?
BAJ is playing some inspired ball tonight.
30 points now and still 5 minutes left in the 3rd.
up after 3! excitment is in the air at Target Center!
Wolves still clinging to a 13-point lead after the 3rd quarter. C'mon boys, you can do it!
BASSY!!!!!!!!!! Have I ever mentioned that I am the founder, chief executive officer, and marketing director of the Bassy Fan Club? It's easy to forget that he's a 22 year old point with zero college experience. I just wish Witt would sucker punch him every time he shot a 3. He's got a good mid-range game and he's quick as all hell. Get in the lane and dish young man!!!
Have I ever mentioned that I am the founder, chief executive officer, and marketing director of the Bassy Fan Club?
I gotta believe your membership is low.
Very. However, as a fellow 6 nothing (former) PG I feel for the guy. He was considered an absolute left-over in the KG trade and he COMPLETELY bailed out the front office with the PG spot after Foye went down. If you go back to the wins against NO and Indiana, the Wolves couldn't have done it without Bassy. As much as the point play on this team has sucked this year, I'd seriously consider taking Beasley or Donte Green over Rose if given the chance in the draft. Bassy is 22 and improving.
PS: If any of you want to join the club, I have applications.
he COMPLETELY bailed out the front office with the PG spot after Foye went down
I refer you below to this comment
I know. But without him they don't win 3 of those 7 and we're talking about a team with a legit shot at the 9 win record.
If Tom Hannaman ever says "Jaric right on the Marko" again, I will throw my TV out the window.
Yeah, that was gag-worthy.
Channeling Top Jimmy, Hanneman tells us that Jefferson is "moving on up".
36 for BAJ. I demand a 40 point night!
Channeling Top Jimmy, Hanneman tells us that Jefferson is "moving on up".
...that's almost as bad as Mitt Romney asking "who let the dogs out".
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/21/politics/fromtheroad/entry3734680.shtml
Please make it stop.
Telfair with the dagger!
BASSY FOR 3!!!! (Witt should still slap him; for goodness sakes he's shooting under 30% from beyond the arc)
They're going to win this.
Nash with a weird looking shot there. It looked like he was intending to pass when he left the ground, but nobody was open and so he shot it instead and banked it off the glass.
I hate to say it, but that is the first win of the season where you can't possibly say it was a fluke. That was domination. I know you shouldn't say such things with a 7-win club, but they f'ing won that game...top to bottom, that was all them.
What I was thinking was this isn't a bad loss for Phoenix, this was a great win for the Wolves.
LOVE ME TWO TIMES BABY!!!
HELL YES!!!
Easy, fellas. We're 7-34.
Yaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhhh!!!! 2 in a row!!!! Randy Wittman is 19-64 in his first 83 games!!! Feel the magic!!!
Quote of the day from Gregg Popovich.
Interviewer: "Ginobli usually comes off the bench, what made you think of starting him in the 3rd quarter?"
GP: "He's Manu Ginobli."
Celts fall to Raptors. Me thinks the leprechaun has a giant target painted on it's back.
Jaric with back-to-back games with 10 assists. I found this funny in the game recap:
Well, when you get out-rebounded 48-26, commit 5 extra turnovers, and allow the other team to shoot 50%, you might just lose the game.
Rebounding was the real key for the Wolves tonight. BAJ was not to be denied on the boards. He ended up with 8 offensive rebounds. It just seemed like every time he missed a shot he was right there to grab it and put it back in.
My perception is that Jaric's play this year has been more intense than in previous seasons. He looks like he cares now -- which is something I didn't believe the first two years here. Yeah, still wildly overpaid, but at least he has a heart.