Minnesota Sports Forum

Q12543 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

longstrangetrip wrote:

I don't know...he's rebounding well, but if he only makes 32% of his shots when they get to the finals like he did against Atlanta, LeBron isn't going to pass the rock to him anymore. 32% is good enough to get it done against a banged-up, weaker Hawks team, but it ain't gonna cut it against the Warriors or Thunder,

That said, there are some indicators that Kevin might actually be maturing and making an attempt to interact with his teammates. While nobody on the Wolves hung with him when he was here (except the equipment guy), he has posted photos on Instagram of socializing with his teammates. Maybe he's growing up.

What an odd series for Kevin Love. It's fair to mention he shot only 32% over 4 games... but it's incredible how he got to that percentage.

He shot 19 - 40 on three pointers. (48%)
He shot 4 - 31 on two pointers. (13%)

Has that ever happened before? That's crazy. For the record, I don't know how a guy that height (not named Mark Madsen) can be that bad inside the arc.
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As for hanging out with teammates... are these rumors. Rumors with billows of smoke around them... or a raging inferno? I don't know. I don't know if Kevin Love is an arrogant loner prick. Or, if he's alienated by teammates. Or something in-between. But I remember reading a book by Paul Shirley (NBA 12th man) about how he talked to the coaches and equipment managers more than teammates. Here he was, a Midwestern kid from a stable family armed with an Engineering degree... trying to have a conversation with guys that were... for lack of better terms... very very different than him in almost every way. Granted, when you're a star player in the NBA, you have to find SOME way to interact with teammates in some way. Maybe Love has finally figured out how?

Yeah, what matters most is on-the-court chemistry. These guys don't need to be buds outside of the workplace. Wasn't Ray Allen a bit of a loner with that Celtics squad?

I think this translates to other small work group situations as well, whether it be great bands or great executive teams in successful companies.

Yes Battier said Ray was a great guy but did his own thing rarely did anything with the guys outside of the game. He said Ray would ask guys to show up for his candler all camps and some guys would and then you would ask Raynto do something similar and sometimes wound agree and then just not show up. Battier said Ray was a great teammate though and people respected him and his work ethic and discipline were off the charts. Remember Ray Allen was doing the super healthy eating thing before it was cool not having eaten a burger since sometime in college or whatever.

I always go back to Love's time with the Wolves. Who was he supposed to get close too? It was a revolving door there. Love is a unique guy there is no doubt about that and it obviously has been a negative for him. I think Abe brings up a good point that we forget all these guys are different dudes some aren't just gonna click with whoever. It's gonna be interesting to see how that German receiver with an engineering degree works out for the Vikings just figuring out the whole locker room thing etc. He seems terrifically likeable.

Im just curious to see how Love does when it really matters in the playoffs. I always thought he could step it up and so far he has delivered this playoffs with the Cavs.

Casey definitely got a raw deal here. His firing epitomizes the "County Club" mentality that's haunted this franchise.

Quick tidbit about Casey which I think shows what kind of human being he is. I had the fortune of being a very close friend of a gentleman named Michael Stephenson. You guys may know him from KFan, specifically PA's show, he was also at every Wolves home game. Michael passed away a few years ago from complications of Cerebral Palsy.

The Timberwolves organization was so good to Mike that words can't explain it, from Flip, McHale, Munneke, Taylor, the players, training staff, it goes on and on. They gave Mike season tickets, access to all the practices and training camp. I often had the fortune of going with Mile to many games and practices so I saw it first hand. So to get to my point about Casey, out of all the above mention people I thought Casey treated Mike better than anyone. He would stop whenever he saw Mike and have a conversation with him, there was just a genuineness about him that set him apart, not Dwane but his wife was the same way with Mike.

Even after Casey left the organization he would often email Mike to check in on him, especially when he would be coming in town with an opposing team. He would email Mike to make sure he was gonna be at the game. Those are the things we don't get to see has fans. Great human being.

Duke13 wrote:Casey definitely got a raw deal here. His firing epitomizes the "County Club" mentality that's haunted this franchise.

Quick tidbit about Casey which I think shows what kind of human being he is. I had the fortune of being a very close friend of a gentleman named Michael Stephenson. You guys may know him from KFan, specifically PA's show, he was also at every Wolves home game. Michael passed away a few years ago from complications of Cerebral Palsy.

The Timberwolves organization was so good to Mike that words can't explain it, from Flip, McHale, Munneke, Taylor, the players, training staff, it goes on and on. They gave Mike season tickets, access to all the practices and training camp. I often had the fortune of going with Mile to many games and practices so I saw it first hand. So to get to my point about Casey, out of all the above mention people I thought Casey treated Mike better than anyone. He would stop whenever he saw Mike and have a conversation with him, there was just a genuineness about him that set him apart, not Dwane but his wife was the same way with Mike.

Even after Casey left the organization he would often email Mike to check in on him, especially when he would be coming in town with an opposing team. He would email Mike to make sure he was gonna be at the game. Those are the things we don't get to see has fans. Great human being.

Thanks for sharing that Duke I wasn't really aware of his story before.

monsterpile wrote:

Duke13 wrote:Casey definitely got a raw deal here. His firing epitomizes the "County Club" mentality that's haunted this franchise.

Quick tidbit about Casey which I think shows what kind of human being he is. I had the fortune of being a very close friend of a gentleman named Michael Stephenson. You guys may know him from KFan, specifically PA's show, he was also at every Wolves home game. Michael passed away a few years ago from complications of Cerebral Palsy.

The Timberwolves organization was so good to Mike that words can't explain it, from Flip, McHale, Munneke, Taylor, the players, training staff, it goes on and on. They gave Mike season tickets, access to all the practices and training camp. I often had the fortune of going with Mile to many games and practices so I saw it first hand. So to get to my point about Casey, out of all the above mention people I thought Casey treated Mike better than anyone. He would stop whenever he saw Mike and have a conversation with him, there was just a genuineness about him that set him apart, not Dwane but his wife was the same way with Mike.

Even after Casey left the organization he would often email Mike to check in on him, especially when he would be coming in town with an opposing team. He would email Mike to make sure he was gonna be at the game. Those are the things we don't get to see has fans. Great human being.

Thanks for sharing that Duke I wasn't really aware of his story before.

I remember Michael Stephenson. Thanks for jogging my memory. It's a shame you lost your friend.

Thanks for the kind words guys, much appreciated.

Good story, Duke. I always enjoyed it when Michael would call in to KFAN, and it's good to know Casey (and the Wolves) did so much to enrich his too short life. He was a knowledgeable and passionate local sports fan.

Here is a good article on Michael written by Jon K

http://m.startribune.com/timberwolves-mourn-passing-of-biggest-fan/184444001/

I have to add this story hits close to home for me who works closely with people with various disabilities. It sounds cliche but I've been rewarded many times over by the relationships I have had.

Also I may as well use this time to add the PSA to not use the R word.

Monster, thanks for posting that article. Johnny K did a great job with that. At the time I believe it was picked up by some major newpapers around the county.

Duke13 wrote:Monster, thanks for posting that article. Johnny K did a great job with that. At the time I believe it was picked up by some major newpapers around the county.

Yes it was a lot of other results of various media that came up before the star tribune one I linked.

Great article. monster...I love that Flip banned Michael from practice for a week for leaking the Wally news!