ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:54:04 -0600, Scott Smith
<scott.smith RemoveThis @iphouse.com> wrote:

>On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun RemoveThis @golfdom.com> wrote:
>
>>It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>>surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>>easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>>just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>>the heck out of Minnesota.
>
>
>Fox, is this all you do....going to the various Minnesota pro sports
>groups and talking about how lousy the teams all are?

Isn't that what everybody (except AnnE) does in all the Minnesota
sports newsgroups? Adrian Peterson set an NFL rushing record on
Sunday, and the only thing anybody could talk about in the Vikings
newsgroup was Cramartie's record-setting return. We're a negative
bunch, the trolls fit right in.

>Well, maybe you could do better than McHale....but so could a room full
>of chimps. ;-)

I got frustrated by McHale too, but in his case the road to hell was
paved with good intentions. Other than pulling the trigger on the
Gugliotta trade to the Lakers, no armchair GM ever points to what
specific things they would have made differently. The two times he
did get a couple more stars around KG, they decided not to play for
the Timberwolves: Marbury and Gugliotta both turned down max
contracts, and Sprewell and Cassell both lost interest in playing for
the Wolves. Maybe McHale should have given them everything they
wanted, at least $14m a year for 3+ years for Sprewell and a
point-guard-for-life contract for Cassell, and they would have stayed
motivated, who knows.
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.DeleteThis@golfdom.com>
wrote:

>It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>the heck out of Minnesota.

Boston's a huge media market, and their teams have always been very
fashionable. The last time I turned on ESPN, Steven A Smith was
raving about how it's Paul Pierce's team, everybody in Boston shows up
to see Pierce, the whole team is built around Pierce and the ball must
always go through him, and he's the guy who's been there "going to
all-star games and getting it done" and basically acting like KG was a
cocky rookie on Pierce's team, not a former MVP. So ESPN says a lot
of things...

Actually my favorite ESPN prediction was on Around the Horn when Jay
Mariotti made this grand pronouncement that Matt Leinart would be
drafted by the Titans and, once reunited with Norman Chad <sic>, he
would do great things in the NFL. Woody Paige's only counterargument
was, "What's Norman Chad going to do, teach him how to play poker?!"
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Nov 7, 6:01 am, Andy H <ahar....TakeThisOut@msn.com> wrote:
> Rebuilding has to start somewhere. At least as a Wolves fan we won't
> have to listen to how the rest of the basketball world feels sorry for
> KG, when the KG led team failed to make the playoffs. The Wolves have
> lost their first 3 games, but the more I hear from Al Jefferson, the
> better I feel about this team. He is a great kid, and in 3 years, pity
> the fools who match up against him, Brewer, Foye, and the Wolves.
>
> When the coach said he was asleep at the switch for 3 quarters, he
> agreed, had no problem with that. This Jefferson kid is a gem. Thanks
> Danny. Hope things work out for KG and the Celtics in the near term. I
> like the Wolves upside, in the not to distant future.
>
> Andy H

Yeah, I had the impression last year that people outside of Boston
didn't understand how good Jefferson is.

You could report back to us later in the season and let us know if
Gerald Green is going to be a player.
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

Scott Smith wrote:
> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.RemoveThis@golfdom.com> wrote:
>
>> It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>> surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>> easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>> just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>> the heck out of Minnesota.
>
>
> Fox, is this all you do....going to the various Minnesota pro sports
> groups and talking about how lousy the teams all are?
>
> Yes, you have reason to bitch a little with the Wolves this season,
> but keep in mind that rebuilding has to start somewhere.
>
> However, you've been bitching about the Wild as well, and they
> are currently holding on to the #1 spot in the division, even with
> the key injuries they suffered early (Gaborik, Demitra, Backstrom).
>
> You also complain a lot about the Twins all through their season. I'm
> starting to see the patterns.
>
> You ALWAYS seem to complain about the various teams
> management and/or owners. As though you could do much better
> (and remember, part of "doing better" includes keeping the teams
> profitable and under their salary caps).
>
> Well, maybe you could do better than McHale....but so could a room full
> of chimps. ;-)
>
>
>
>
> - Scott Smith: scott.RemoveThis@sludgereport.org
> Sludge Report: http://www.sludgereport.org
> Blue States Rising: http://www.bluestaterising.blogspot.com
Smith, I enjoy your outlook. I have a feeling that going halfway is the
way you do things. As I said, life sucks right now being a Minnesota
sports fan. It is possible, sans the Wild, that we will not have a
single team make the playoffs. And you can have McHale and
Childress..... enjoy the orgy.
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:23:21 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.TakeThisOut@golfdom.com>
wrote:

>Scott Smith wrote:
>> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.TakeThisOut@golfdom.com> wrote:
>>
>>> It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>>> surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>>> easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>>> just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>>> the heck out of Minnesota.
>>
>>
>> Fox, is this all you do....going to the various Minnesota pro sports
>> groups and talking about how lousy the teams all are?
>>
>> Yes, you have reason to bitch a little with the Wolves this season,
>> but keep in mind that rebuilding has to start somewhere.
>>
>> However, you've been bitching about the Wild as well, and they
>> are currently holding on to the #1 spot in the division, even with
>> the key injuries they suffered early (Gaborik, Demitra, Backstrom).
>>
>> You also complain a lot about the Twins all through their season. I'm
>> starting to see the patterns.
>>
>> You ALWAYS seem to complain about the various teams
>> management and/or owners. As though you could do much better
>> (and remember, part of "doing better" includes keeping the teams
>> profitable and under their salary caps).
>>
>> Well, maybe you could do better than McHale....but so could a room full
>> of chimps. ;-)
>>
>Smith, I enjoy your outlook. I have a feeling that going halfway is the
>way you do things.

The glass is half full, not half empty. LOL

I'm a realist and an optimist (somewhat of a dichotomy, I know). I
mainly enjoy the games for the sake of the game. There are often
silver linings in the clouds most of the time. For the Wolves right
now it's Al Jefferson...the kid is exciting to watch and has the
potential to be VERY good pretty soon.

I don't think anybody is expecting a lot from the Wolves in this
first year of post-KG rebuilding.

I'm not sure what you are, but I know it's niether an optimist or
a realist when it comes to pro sports. ;-)

>As I said, life sucks right now

Too bad for you. ;)

>being a Minnesota sports fan. It is possible, sans the Wild, that we will
> not have a single team make the playoffs.

Not exactly the end of the world. That's the way it goes sometimes.

And yes, I'm as jaded as the next MN sports fan....but endless
bitching does no good, and ruins the enjoyment of sports just
for the sake of the enjoyment of the game.

Right now I see glimmers of the future in the Wolves (Jefferson,
McCants, etc.)

>And you can have McHale and Childress..... enjoy the orgy.

Nope, there's no love for those guys in my house either. They
are on their own for their "orgy" needs.





- Scott Smith: liberal-bias.TakeThisOut@sludgereport.org
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:20:54 -0600, Rufus <absolut.rufus DeleteThis @gmail.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:54:04 -0600, Scott Smith
><scott.smith DeleteThis @iphouse.com> wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun DeleteThis @golfdom.com> wrote:
>>
>>>It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>>>surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>>>easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>>>just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>>>the heck out of Minnesota.
>>
>>
>>Fox, is this all you do....going to the various Minnesota pro sports
>>groups and talking about how lousy the teams all are?
>
>Isn't that what everybody (except AnnE) does in all the Minnesota
>sports newsgroups? Adrian Peterson set an NFL rushing record on
>Sunday, and the only thing anybody could talk about in the Vikings
>newsgroup was Cramartie's record-setting return. We're a negative
>bunch, the trolls fit right in.

Yep. Same old song and dance. And usually the same old cast of
characters in the groups.

Where is "ikrushlots" (aka. Paul) when we need him? ;-)

>>Well, maybe you could do better than McHale....but so could a room full
>>of chimps. ;-)
>
>I got frustrated by McHale too, but in his case the road to hell was
>paved with good intentions. Other than pulling the trigger on the
>Gugliotta trade to the Lakers, no armchair GM ever points to what
>specific things they would have made differently. The two times he
>did get a couple more stars around KG, they decided not to play for
>the Timberwolves: Marbury and Gugliotta both turned down max
>contracts, and Sprewell and Cassell both lost interest in playing for
>the Wolves. Maybe McHale should have given them everything they
>wanted, at least $14m a year for 3+ years for Sprewell and a
>point-guard-for-life contract for Cassell, and they would have stayed
>motivated, who knows.


I think going back to the Joe Smith debacle, McHale has done more
harm that good to the team with his trades and acquisitions. I really
think Flip was the wrong guy to get rid of in the Wolves front office.

The Wolves front office really tries to do their best at making
lemonade from the lemons they get dealt...and I do think the
time was right for rebuilding. Even though the Wolves are losing
games right now, they are a lot more interesting to watch this
season than they have been while floundering in mediocrity over
the last couple seasons. At least now they are trying some new
things and mixing things up a bit. In other words they are being
unpredictable, which is a refreshing change of pace, IMO.

I was honestly hoping they would sign a new head coach in the
off-season. Whitman is just not the guy to rebuild and develop
this young team, IMO.





- Scott Smith: liberal-bias DeleteThis @sludgereport.org
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

S. Smith wrote:
> On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:20:54 -0600, Rufus <absolut.rufus.DeleteThis@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:54:04 -0600, Scott Smith
>> <scott.smith.DeleteThis@iphouse.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.DeleteThis@golfdom.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>>>> surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>>>> easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>>>> just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>>>> the heck out of Minnesota.
>>>
>>> Fox, is this all you do....going to the various Minnesota pro sports
>>> groups and talking about how lousy the teams all are?
>> Isn't that what everybody (except AnnE) does in all the Minnesota
>> sports newsgroups? Adrian Peterson set an NFL rushing record on
>> Sunday, and the only thing anybody could talk about in the Vikings
>> newsgroup was Cramartie's record-setting return. We're a negative
>> bunch, the trolls fit right in.
>
> Yep. Same old song and dance. And usually the same old cast of
> characters in the groups.
>
> Where is "ikrushlots" (aka. Paul) when we need him? ;-)
>
>>> Well, maybe you could do better than McHale....but so could a room full
>>> of chimps. ;-)
>> I got frustrated by McHale too, but in his case the road to hell was
>> paved with good intentions. Other than pulling the trigger on the
>> Gugliotta trade to the Lakers, no armchair GM ever points to what
>> specific things they would have made differently. The two times he
>> did get a couple more stars around KG, they decided not to play for
>> the Timberwolves: Marbury and Gugliotta both turned down max
>> contracts, and Sprewell and Cassell both lost interest in playing for
>> the Wolves. Maybe McHale should have given them everything they
>> wanted, at least $14m a year for 3+ years for Sprewell and a
>> point-guard-for-life contract for Cassell, and they would have stayed
>> motivated, who knows.
>
>
> I think going back to the Joe Smith debacle, McHale has done more
> harm that good to the team with his trades and acquisitions. I really
> think Flip was the wrong guy to get rid of in the Wolves front office.
>
> The Wolves front office really tries to do their best at making
> lemonade from the lemons they get dealt...and I do think the
> time was right for rebuilding. Even though the Wolves are losing
> games right now, they are a lot more interesting to watch this
> season than they have been while floundering in mediocrity over
> the last couple seasons. At least now they are trying some new
> things and mixing things up a bit. In other words they are being
> unpredictable, which is a refreshing change of pace, IMO.
>
> I was honestly hoping they would sign a new head coach in the
> off-season. Whitman is just not the guy to rebuild and develop
> this young team, IMO.
>
I may be in the minority, but I liked Casey. Tough to be a head coach
these days with all of the prima donnas in the sports world.
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:18:41 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.TakeThisOut@golfdom.com>
wrote:

>S. Smith wrote:
>> On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:20:54 -0600, Rufus <absolut.rufus.TakeThisOut@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:54:04 -0600, Scott Smith
>>> <scott.smith.TakeThisOut@iphouse.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:41:35 -0600, Golfox <golfisfun.TakeThisOut@golfdom.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> It Figures......too bad the complete idiot McHale couldn't have
>>>>> surrounded KG with talent like Boston did. It would have been rather
>>>>> easy to do if McHale didn't break the law, trade draft choices and make
>>>>> just generally stupid decisions. Yes McHale, Boston loves you...now get
>>>>> the heck out of Minnesota.
>>>>
>>>> Fox, is this all you do....going to the various Minnesota pro sports
>>>> groups and talking about how lousy the teams all are?
>>> Isn't that what everybody (except AnnE) does in all the Minnesota
>>> sports newsgroups? Adrian Peterson set an NFL rushing record on
>>> Sunday, and the only thing anybody could talk about in the Vikings
>>> newsgroup was Cramartie's record-setting return. We're a negative
>>> bunch, the trolls fit right in.
>>
>> Yep. Same old song and dance. And usually the same old cast of
>> characters in the groups.
>>
>> Where is "ikrushlots" (aka. Paul) when we need him? ;-)
>>
>>>> Well, maybe you could do better than McHale....but so could a room full
>>>> of chimps. ;-)
>>> I got frustrated by McHale too, but in his case the road to hell was
>>> paved with good intentions. Other than pulling the trigger on the
>>> Gugliotta trade to the Lakers, no armchair GM ever points to what
>>> specific things they would have made differently. The two times he
>>> did get a couple more stars around KG, they decided not to play for
>>> the Timberwolves: Marbury and Gugliotta both turned down max
>>> contracts, and Sprewell and Cassell both lost interest in playing for
>>> the Wolves. Maybe McHale should have given them everything they
>>> wanted, at least $14m a year for 3+ years for Sprewell and a
>>> point-guard-for-life contract for Cassell, and they would have stayed
>>> motivated, who knows.
>>
>>
>> I think going back to the Joe Smith debacle, McHale has done more
>> harm that good to the team with his trades and acquisitions. I really
>> think Flip was the wrong guy to get rid of in the Wolves front office.
>>
>> The Wolves front office really tries to do their best at making
>> lemonade from the lemons they get dealt...and I do think the
>> time was right for rebuilding. Even though the Wolves are losing
>> games right now, they are a lot more interesting to watch this
>> season than they have been while floundering in mediocrity over
>> the last couple seasons. At least now they are trying some new
>> things and mixing things up a bit. In other words they are being
>> unpredictable, which is a refreshing change of pace, IMO.
>>
>> I was honestly hoping they would sign a new head coach in the
>> off-season. Whitman is just not the guy to rebuild and develop
>> this young team, IMO.
>>
>I may be in the minority, but I liked Casey. Tough to be a head coach
>these days with all of the prima donnas in the sports world.


Yes, and ironically Casey would be a very good coach for mentoring
and developing this young Wolves team. I think they pulled the trigger
too early on him, personally.

Casey's strengths are in developing and nurturing young talent, not
taking journeymen and cobbling together a capable team....that was
Flip's forte. I'm still not quite sure what Wittman is good at.





- Scott Smith: liberal-bias.TakeThisOut@sludgereport.org
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

Rebuilding has to start somewhere. At least as a Wolves fan we won't
have to listen to how the rest of the basketball world feels sorry for
KG, when the KG led team failed to make the playoffs. The Wolves have
lost their first 3 games, but the more I hear from Al Jefferson, the
better I feel about this team. He is a great kid, and in 3 years, pity
the fools who match up against him, Brewer, Foye, and the Wolves.

When the coach said he was asleep at the switch for 3 quarters, he
agreed, had no problem with that. This Jefferson kid is a gem. Thanks
Danny. Hope things work out for KG and the Celtics in the near term. I
like the Wolves upside, in the not to distant future.

Andy H
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

jefferson is great, but he'll never ever play D like Garnett, or pass. He
might be a great low post guy, but without those traits, no championship
ever, unless they get a Kobe.
"Andy H" <aharcus.RemoveThis@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1194433292.502042.276630@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> Rebuilding has to start somewhere. At least as a Wolves fan we won't
> have to listen to how the rest of the basketball world feels sorry for
> KG, when the KG led team failed to make the playoffs. The Wolves have
> lost their first 3 games, but the more I hear from Al Jefferson, the
> better I feel about this team. He is a great kid, and in 3 years, pity
> the fools who match up against him, Brewer, Foye, and the Wolves.
>
> When the coach said he was asleep at the switch for 3 quarters, he
> agreed, had no problem with that. This Jefferson kid is a gem. Thanks
> Danny. Hope things work out for KG and the Celtics in the near term. I
> like the Wolves upside, in the not to distant future.
>
> Andy H
>
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:01:32 -0000, Andy H <aharcus.TakeThisOut@msn.com> wrote:

>Rebuilding has to start somewhere. At least as a Wolves fan we won't
>have to listen to how the rest of the basketball world feels sorry for
>KG, when the KG led team failed to make the playoffs. The Wolves have
>lost their first 3 games, but the more I hear from Al Jefferson, the
>better I feel about this team. He is a great kid, and in 3 years, pity
>the fools who match up against him, Brewer, Foye, and the Wolves.

Agreed. Jefferson is already pretty damn good, and he still has a
lot of upside potential. So far, from the two games I've watched
this season, he is the real deal and possibly the future franchise
player for the Wolves to build around.

>When the coach said he was asleep at the switch for 3 quarters, he
>agreed, had no problem with that. This Jefferson kid is a gem.

Yes, a nice change of pace from seeing brooding players like
Cassell or Szczerbiak out there who can't be told anything critical
without getting bent out of shape.

>Thanks Danny. Hope things work out for KG and the Celtics in the
>near term. I like the Wolves upside, in the not to distant future.

Same here. I'm happy that KG seems happy and re-energized with
the Celtics....he deserves it, and I hope he does well there.

I also like the glimmers of what I'm seeing for the Wolves future
right now. I don't think any realist sports fan expects the Wolves
to make a playoff run this season....but as a fan I DO expect to
see them mix things up to find out what works, and WHO works,
for the Wolves future. Right now, Jefferson is the easy favorite
for that role.





- Scott Smith: liberal-bias.TakeThisOut@sludgereport.org
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 10:59:17 -0500, "rmrb" <no@no> wrote:

>jefferson is great, but he'll never ever play D like Garnett, or pass.

Of course not....but that's a mighty tall order. KG is one of the
best, if not THE best, all-around complete players in the NBA.

That's why he's called "The Big Ticket".

>He might be a great low post guy, but without those traits, no
>championship ever, unless they get a Kobe.

Nope, Jefferson can't do it alone....but then, KG couldn't either. ;)





- Scott Smith: liberal-bias.DeleteThis@sludgereport.org
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/choppersmith
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last 

On Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:44:36 -0600, S. Smith
<liberal-bias.DeleteThis@sludgereport.org> wrote:

>I think going back to the Joe Smith debacle, McHale has done more
>harm that good to the team with his trades and acquisitions. I really
>think Flip was the wrong guy to get rid of in the Wolves front office.

True, the Joe Smith debacle was a huge handcuff, and there's also
McHale's systematic disregard for the draft. They seem to have
drafted better in the last couple of years, with no "Do we take Paul
Grant or Gordon Malone in the first round?" draft day decisions.
 >> Stay informed about: ESPN Rankings..Boston #2, Minnesota 2nd to Last