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Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:40 am
by 60WinTim
Those numbers are a bit misleading -- the number of season ticket sales are still behind their number last year at this time... But it shows how much sales had dropped off, only to be re-invigorated by the TRADE.
Of course, I still find myself giggling with delight at odd times when I think about our new look Timberwovles!!! :)
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:45 am
by Monster
longstrangetrip wrote:http://www.nba.com/2014/news/08/30/timberwolves-set-record-after-moving-love.ap/
The Wolves sold 300 season ticket packages last week...that is a record for this franchise, breaking the previous record set in 2011 when Rubio announced he was coming over from Spain. Talk about opTIMism!
As the article says, the Wolves have missed the playoffs for ten consecutive years, and they just traded the face of the franchise. The confluence of those two factors should have fans rushing for the exits, not clamoring to buy more tickets. I would argue that this scenario is unprecedented. I can't think of another example of a losing team trading away their star for hope, and the fans jumping on the bandwagon. Why? Two reasons:
1) Wolves' fans have really bought into Flip's plan. They don't necessarily think it is going to happen overnight, but they want to be there when it happens and are willing to be patient.
2) Wolves' fans never bought into the Kevin Love thing. While they appreciated his toughness and ability to put up unbelievable numbers, they never embraced him like fans normally embrace the face of a franchise, and never really believed he was the answer.
This is a truly unique situation we are watching unfold...
LST I agree I don't think Love was ever truely the face of the franchise. That makes it easier to move on for fans.
Anytime a team gets a #1 overall pick I think there is some pretty good buzz. The Wolves added a Wiggins and plenty of other young guys this offseason to some talent on the team already. Heck the Bucks have some excitement now and they have been selling tickets although they have been doing promotional deals. I think the Wolves season ticket sales seem to be coming without any gimmicks like they did years before and what it sounds like the Bucks are doing which make it more impressive.
Tim yeah a bunch of people dropped their tickets after the season so the recovery is pretty good and I believe last year after FA there was some good buzz about the team after the offseason additions that helped ticket sales so I think the numbers look pretty good considering all that. :)
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:59 am
by Camden [enjin:6601484]
Would be really nice if Milwaukee and Minnesota finally hit on their high potential prospects. Lot of tough luck for those two franchises over the years. Could be a fun rivalry between Wiggins and Parker as well.
Rubio
LaVine
Wiggins
Young (Bennett for the believers)
Dieng
Knight
Antetokounmpo
Parker
Henson
Sanders
Who has the better prospects?
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:20 pm
by Coolbreeze44
60WinTim wrote:Those numbers are a bit misleading -- the number of season ticket sales are still behind their number last year at this time... But it shows how much sales had dropped off, only to be re-invigorated by the TRADE.
Of course, I still find myself giggling with delight at odd times when I think about our new look Timberwovles!!! :)[/quote]
I can see you doing this Tim. And I like it.
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:58 pm
by MikeAz [enjin:6636981]
18 points, 13 rebounds for Dieng against Puerto Rico.
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 4:57 pm
by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
Camden wrote:Would be really nice if Milwaukee and Minnesota finally hit on their high potential prospects. Lot of tough luck for those two franchises over the years. Could be a fun rivalry between Wiggins and Parker as well.
Rubio
LaVine
Wiggins
Young (Bennett for the believers)
Dieng
Knight
Antetokounmpo
Parker
Henson
Sanders
Who has the better prospects?
Yeah, I'd like to see a little border state rivalry if the young talent pans out for both teams. I admit I'm a homer, but I like our young talent better...especially if you include Bennett and GR3. LaVine and Antetokounmpo will be an interesting pair to watch...two athletic freaks with enormous upside.
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:05 pm
by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
60WinTim wrote:Those numbers are a bit misleading -- the number of season ticket sales are still behind their number last year at this time... But it shows how much sales had dropped off, only to be re-invigorated by the TRADE.
Of course, I still find myself giggling with delight at odd times when I think about our new look Timberwovles!!! :)
Tim, thanks for the additional season ticket information. I actually think it makes even a stronger argument for the turnaround in Wolves' fans' attitudes. Fans were deflated at the end of the season and didn't see much hope on the horizon, so a lot of season ticket holders didn't renew. But the Love for Wiggins/Bennett/Young trade has really generated a lot of enthusiasm!
Monster, I'm thinking about your comment that Love has never been the face of the franchise, and going back and forth on it. The media often describes him as such (for instance, in the article I posted), but you may be correct that the fans have never seen him as the face of the franchise. Local fans probably have always seen this as Ricky's team, even as Love put up incredible numbers. It leads to an interesting question. Have there been other top 5 players in the league who were not considered to be the face of their franchise? I can't think of any.
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:04 pm
by Monster
longstrangetrip wrote:60WinTim wrote:Those numbers are a bit misleading -- the number of season ticket sales are still behind their number last year at this time... But it shows how much sales had dropped off, only to be re-invigorated by the TRADE.
Of course, I still find myself giggling with delight at odd times when I think about our new look Timberwovles!!! :)
Tim, thanks for the additional season ticket information. I actually think it makes even a stronger argument for the turnaround in Wolves' fans' attitudes. Fans were deflated at the end of the season and didn't see much hope on the horizon, so a lot of season ticket holders didn't renew. But the Love for Wiggins/Bennett/Young trade has really generated a lot of enthusiasm!
Monster, I'm thinking about your comment that Love has never been the face of the franchise, and going back and forth on it. The media often describes him as such (for instance, in the article I posted), but you may be correct that the fans have never seen him as the face of the franchise. Local fans probably have always seen this as Ricky's team, even as Love put up incredible numbers. It leads to an interesting question. Have there been other top 5 players in the league who were not considered to be the face of their franchise? I can't think of any.
I asked my friend who is a casual NBA fan (he is a Bucks fan lol) and he said he didn't think Love was looked at as the Wolves franchise guy by people on the outside. I really don't think he was considered the face of the franchise across the board and even the franchise didn't really buy into him as a franchise guy. his hand injury season kinda ruined the momentum or maybe he would have become thought of more that way.
Bucks or the Wolves better prospects?
I think its pretty easy yo make a case that the Wolves have the upper hand in every way. Why?
Rubio is both established and a young player I'd take him over every player on the Bucks except Giannis and Parker.
The Wolves also have better established players too. Like Cam said it would be nice to see both teams have big success with Parker and Giannis turning into good players and the Wolves have a bunch of young guys come into their own with Wiggins and at least one other young guy becoming good. I'm sort of pulling for the Bucks to do well.
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:12 pm
by Camden [enjin:6601484]
From RealGM. Thought it was a good post.
"Lastly, Wiggins. How many #1 picks don't contribute right away? I know that he was an "Arguable" #1 pick since Embiid was injured and Parker supposedly tanked the Cavs workout, but there haven't been too many #1 picks that were absolute projects in their rookie seasons. Take a look at the last 6 #1 picks rookie years:
Bennett: 4.2pts / 3.0rebs / 0.3 asts in 12.7 MPG
Ant Davis: 13.5pts / 8.2rebs/ 1.0ast / 1.0stl / 1.8blk in 28.8 MPG
Kyrie Irving: 18.5pts / 3.7rebs / 5.4 asts / 1.1 stsl in 30.5 MPG
John Wall: 16.4 pts / 4.6 rebs / 8.3 ast / 1.8 stl in 37.8 MPG
Blake Girffin (Missed rookie year) : 22.5 pts / 12.1rebs / 3.8 ast in 38.0 MPG
Derrick Rose: 16.8 pts/ 3.9rebs / 6.3 ast in 37.0 MPG"
Re: Optimistic Thread...NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ALLOWED!!!!!
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:23 pm
by longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]
Thanks for posting, cam...very interesting information. I certainly have bought into the premise that rookies don't contribute much right away, but your information shows that is not true generally for #1's. Wiggins has been a more highly regarded prospect than anyone else on that list, so my expectations for him this season are higher now. Great addition to the opTIMism thread!