Q-was-here wrote:Dammit. Effing Clippers.....I guess the silver lining is that this puts even more distance between the Wolves and the teams competing for that 10th play in spot.
They get really scary if PG and Kawhi come back
Exactly. Just the fact they've managed to hold it together at 27-27 without those two makes me want to puke. Now they do this and put themselves in a great position for the playoffs if their two stars get healthy.
I read somewhere that it was improbable for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to return this season, which means that this deal was made more with 2022-23 season in mind. They definitely got better this season too, but I think they targeted Norman Powell to be a weapon alongside their stars next year.
Yeah, Lue said today he didn't see Kawhi coming back this season. But then oddly Serge Ibaka who has been working out with Kawhi says he looks good and could be back. And George is going to have an MRI which will determine his return. So a lot of uncertainty. But I agree with everyone that this deal makes the Clippers a team you don't want to see post-season if somehow their stars came back, but more likely this is a move to help next year. And it does help...a lot.
And with this move, Portland becomes the 6th team in the west who either isn't good enough or isn't interested in making the playoffs...unless Lillard comes back. If he doesn't and also Zion doesn't, there is going to be one really bad team making the play-in tournament in the west this season. It's a weird year for sure with all the huge stars out.
I'm watching their Charlotte-Cleveland game tonight on NBA TV. Great game. The Cavs have impressed me with a gutty performance playing on the road without their best player and starting PG, Garland. And they were already without Ricky Rubio. To top it off, the officials seem to be on the Charlotte payroll tonight. I find myself cheering for the Cavs even though I have no connection to Cleveland and nothing against Charlotte.
Wow. The Hornets have just taken a three-point lead with some tremendous defense and shooting in the last few minutes of the game. Only 46 seconds left. Looks like the Hornets will win this game. They can thank the officials who awarded the Hornets three points as a penalty for Ed Davis touching an opposing player from the bench while shooting a three pointer. The call was ridiculous because the shot clock had already expired before the shot was up. Now the officials are determining whether Kevin Love was fouled in the act of shooting. If so, Love will go to the line for two and could win the game for the the Cavs who are behind by 1. He needs to hit both. Charlotte doesn't deserve to win this game.
Jarret Allen was tremendous tonight. He and Mobley will be an incredible tandem of bigs for years to come. Cleveland has a true twin tower situation. And Kevin Love was fantastic tonight. Great to see him do well.
Just watched an interview of Jarrett Allen. He talked about what a great veteran leader and mentor Kevin Love has been. He also said that the team is close and that everyone roots for one another - something he said he's heard is rare in the League. Sounds a lot like the Wolves. And I'll note that watching the Cavs play tonight reminded me of the Wolves. Sometimes we dismiss team chemistry as an oversold factor in winning. Of course, talent is the most important factor. But this season's Wolves and Cavs remind us that chemistry matters a lot.
Wow. Denver lost their third consecutive game, including the ass-whooping Minnesota handed them, with an unexpected loss against New Orleans. The Nuggets have just a 1.0 game lead ahead of the Wolves for the sixth seed. Denver's next four games are against Brooklyn and New York at home, and then on the road against Boston and Toronto. There might be some more losses ahead of them.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are playing the Sixers currently. A loss for Dallas would mean that the Wolves would be 1.5 games back of them for the fifth seed. They've got one against Atlanta and two against Los Angeles (Clippers) next week. Not exactly smooth sailing there.
Our Wolves play one at home against Detroit before starting a road trip that includes two against Sacramento, one against Chicago, and one against Indiana.
All things considered, the Western Conference standings could (and should) look a bit different after next week if everything goes accordingly.
lipoli390 wrote:Just watched an interview of Jarrett Allen. He talked about what a great veteran leader and mentor Kevin Love has been. He also said that the team is close and that everyone roots for one another - something he said he's heard is rare in the League. Sounds a lot like the Wolves. And I'll note that watching the Cavs play tonight reminded me of the Wolves. Sometimes we dismiss team chemistry as an oversold factor in winning. Of course, talent is the most important factor. But this season's Wolves and Cavs remind us that chemistry matters a lot.
I wanted to nab Jarrett Allen so bad. I am unsure what Houston was thinking in that Harden trade. They got jackshit.
lipoli390 wrote:Jarret Allen was tremendous tonight. He and Mobley will be an incredible tandem of bigs for years to come. Cleveland has a true twin tower situation. And Kevin Love was fantastic tonight. Great to see him do well.
I watched a little bit of this game tonight. Kevin Love looked like he had plenty of gas left in the tank. Turned back the clock even! 25 points and nine rebounds with six threes made off the bench. Sheesh.
