zebano
Apr 29, 2009 May 31, 2012 23 5137
MN fan since birth in '81.
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Around the League: Atlanta Hawks
by zebano on May 16, 2012 10:18 AM EDT
on Canis Hoopus
When I think Atlanta, I think absurd contracts. No, not Darko, not Wes Johnson but volume shooters getting paid big money. That said, their volume shooters have taken them to the playoffs for the past 5 years though never to an ECF. Not all is rosy in Atlanta however, the elephant in the room is that they have $60mil locked up for 2012-13 in just 8 players, the most egregious contract being the $19mil owed to Joe Johnson. The Trio of Johnson, Smith and Horford alone will make $45.9million next year. Per wikipedia they are already over next years cap of $58mil (same as this year) so everything will be looked at with respect to salary.
For reference, I've not watched much of the Hawks outside of the playoffs so this will be my initial impression followed by stats and salary implications.
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It's prediction time
by zebano on Feb 7, 2012 2:36 PM EST
on Canis Hoopus
So the Wolves are without our superstar Kevin Love for 2 games. We've hashed and rehashed such topics of whether or not it was avoidable, the definition of a stomp and if 2 games was too long of a suspension (cough Bynum cough). Now it's time to have some fun as two players the Wolves have gone out and acquired in the last year will play. Aaron Randolph courtesy of our part in the Melo deal, and number 2 draft pick Derick Williams. For posterity sake (and bragging rights) make your predictions below.
Please explain the Mayo situation to me
by zebano on Feb 6, 2012 12:14 PM EST
on Straight Outta Vancouver
O.J. Mayo has been rumored to be moved for Josh McRoberts of all people but seems to be a good shooting guard. Clearly he had his gambling indecent on the plane with Allen but why exactly are you guys trying to move him? From watching his defense seems acceptable (not Tony Allen levels but not he's certainly not Kevin Martin either ). He sports an acceptable .514 eFG%, gets some steals, defensive rebounds and assists while limiting turnovers and having a reasonable usage%. I've heard that you're even running him out there as your backup PG right now. Is he going to be too expensive to keep, is he a locker room cancer please let me know why he's (rumored to be) perpetually on the trading block.
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And you're likely to see call-ups at a faster rate starting Monday, when NBA teams are allowed to start handing out 10-day contracts.
Memphis needs backup PG
Mayo again logged minutes as the backup point guard while rookies Jeremy Pargo and Josh Selby remained glued to the bench until garbage time. Mayo has been solid but the question now is if the Griz are in worse shape than last season?
Greivis Vasquez was serviceable, and at times, clutch. Now he’s showing flashes of brilliance with New Orleans. Vasquez averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 assists while shooting 53 percent over his past five games. Last Wednesday, Vasquez became the first player in Hornets’ history to have at least 20 points and 10 assists off the bench in a game.
smells like it's time for a Ridnour + Memphis pick for Mayo trade to me.
NBA Geek takes shots at Kahn over Loves contract
Sheer Idiocy. This is how negotiations should have gone:
Love: I want 3 years, $45 million.
Minny: No, we know your options are limited as an RFA and we've got the leverage here, so it's 5 years, $80 million or we'll talk again in the summer.
4 months ago
zebano
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Even the NBA Geek thinks we should hire Bogans
Again, average would be a huge upgrade over Wes Johnson (and, incidentally, Rip Hamilton was a downgrade from Bogans). Chicago waiving Bogans was a huge stroke of luck for the Wolves. How the hell has no one in this organization suggested that we throw a minimum-contract at Keith Bogans!? Maybe they don't want to make the playoffs because they want to get another lottery....oh, wait.
When will Rubio get his first start?
by zebano on Jan 9, 2012 11:21 AM EST
on Canis Hoopus
I think it's pretty clear that Adelman has been easing Ricky into games against second units in order to keep his confidence up (and maybe to keep Ridnour happy). We've all seen with the Harden/Sefalosha bit in OKC that it's not always the better player that starts, though they still get their minutes if the coach is good. So when does Adelman bite the bullet and start Ricky Rubio?
Our Flotsam, their potential
by zebano on Jun 14, 2011 9:47 AM EDT
on Canis Hoopus
The draft being what it is, I tend to overvalue new potential as opposed to old potential (i.e. Biyombo excites me more than Randolph). Since Williams plays the same position as Love we cannot easily draft him and I have about 5 players who should be drafted between 5-15 that I really like:
Valanciunas, Vesely, Biyombo, Burks, Leonard, K. Thompson
and the ones I don't like: Knight, Walker, Kanter, Fredette, M. Morris.
The reason I bring this up is that we have a plethora of "potential" sitting on our bench, most of whom have had the first and second shots in the NBA without showing enough to make them indispensable. Sure I would like to trade for a Goerge, Iggy, Gortat, Monta, etc. but assuming it doesn't happen these are the guys I would happily move in some combination for a lottery pick (or a 2012 1st rounder).
prioritized least wanted to most wanted:
Darko, Flynn, Ellington, Johnson, Beasley, Pek, Tolliver, Webster (I'm irrational, I accept this), Randolph, Ridnour
So.. the point of this whole article is that I went to http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-draft-history/ to look at the historical cost of a lottery pick going back to 2004 (when I had to go to work).
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Houston to Interview Casey
In the continuing saga where the TimberWolves sit on their hands and the Rockets actively look for a coach, Houston will be interviewing one of CHs favorite past Twolf coaches Dwayne Casey.
Trade Candidates (now with Round1 losers)
by zebano on Apr 28, 2011 2:30 PM EDT
on Canis Hoopus
Currently the only teams that can make trades are the ones not in the playoffs. Thus, I've been perusing the other lottery team's rosters to see who we could potentially target.
Premise: Love is only potentially traded for a superstar +, everyone else is trade-able, especially Darko, Flynn, Pekovic and the pieces that might actually net us something A.R., Tolliver, Beasley, Ridnour and Rubio. Since I don't think a deal for a superstar will happen I'm looking for more average players that we could more realistically land.
Premise #2: Between Love, A.R, Tolliver and Bealey we are set at the 4 and should not trade for any PFs.
Premise #3: Between Wes, Webster and Beasley we are set at the #3 and trading for SFs is not a priority.
Premise #4: Who knows if Rubio will be here next year; he has had a couple of rough years so dealing him might be possible but is not a high priority unless we land Irving.
Premise #5: My general rule for inclusion is WP48 >= 0.100 and MP >= 1000 though this is not a hard and fast rule.
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Shaq > Darko
Kudos to whomever I stole this from in a comments to some fanshot. I remember this bet from the start of the season that Darko would be worth more than Shaq this year due to Shaq's injuries and inability to move on defense. In short Shaq is still better than Darko.
Galleti Breaks down the West's rosters
Galleti breaks down all the rosters in the west by WP. As always the Twolves are Love, Ridnour, Tolliver and some scrubs (Beasley & Webster) and some D-Leaguers (everyone else has a negative WP).
Counterpoint: Not just our PGs
by zebano on Dec 20, 2010 3:28 PM EST
on Canis Hoopus
In particular, everybody but KLove is costing this team wins. This is primarily based off of Arturo Galleti's analysis Most important players of the season so far.
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Interview with Darko
There may not have been a more unlikely candidate to post this season's top single-game plus-minus than Darko Milicic. But as he helped the Timberwolves demolish Cleveland by 34 points last Saturday, the man drafted one spot behind LeBron James in 2003 recorded a plus-41, along with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. (For those unaccustomed to hoops metrics, that means the Wolves outscored the Cavaliers by 41 when he was on the floor.)
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/paul_forrester/12/08/darko.milicic.qa/index.html#ixzz17coZqZQp
"Darko talks about getting a chance" with the TWolves.
Babbit to the D-League
The Portland Trail Blazers rookie taken 16th overall by Minnesota out of the University of Nevada-Reno in June is, according to the sources, expected to be in uniform when the Stampede host Dakota on Wednesday night. He will join three-time All-Star Antoine Walker in his debut, as the 34-year-old who last played in the NBA in the 2007-08 season with Minnesota signed with the club on Friday and is looking to take the long road back to the NBA. Former NBA draft picks Luke Jackson (10th overall in 2004) and Salim Stoudamire (31st overall in 2005) already play for the Stampede.
- That Webster trade isn't looking to hot for Portland, though it's a bit early to judge.
The B-Easy Show
Beastly runs a quick Twolves promo and gets KLove to say the Twolves are the team to beat.
What Really Matters
by zebano on Dec 22, 2009 11:29 AM EST
on Daily Norseman
So all I see in the news are talk of Favre/Chilly, the tail wagging the dog, big egos and stream of consciousness. However what really matters are these things: The running game, the pass D, the run D and the O-line in general.
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Ross Tucker Blasts McCarthy
by zebano on Nov 4, 2009 2:27 PM EST
on Daily Norseman
I just wanted to point out this story by Ross Tucker on SI where he basically says MM blew the game for the Pack. he end with this quote:
What is indisputable, at least based upon this season, is the Vikings coaches have the upper hand against their counterparts in Green Bay.
Drinking Games
by zebano on Oct 2, 2009 11:46 AM EDT
on Daily Norseman
I've got a bet on a 24 case of MGD with my neighbor over the coming battle, but how should we celebrate while the game is going on?
I'm thinking that every time the Vikes get a sack, int or first down he drinks and I drink when the Pack does one of the above. Chug it all if the enemy scores (TD, FG or Saftey). Anyone have a better suggestion?
SI:Peter King Picks Lions over Vikings
by zebano on Sep 17, 2009 2:07 PM EDT
on Daily Norseman
Continuing his disapproval of Favre to the Vikings, Peter King has gone out on a limb and picked the Lions to upset the Viking.
http://www.fannation.com/peter_king_challenge/peter_king?eref=sihpT1
In 2007 at Ford Field, Detroit beat the Vikes on a Jason Hanson field goal in OT, 20-17. In 2008 at Ford Field, the Vikes overcame a 13-10 fourth-quarter deficit to win 20-16; at the Metrodome last year, the Vikes survived 12-10, thanks largely to Lions QB Dan Orlovsky running blindly out of the back of the end zone. This is going to be an emotional game, the Lions returning home and starting yet another new era. Jim Schwartz is going to send the house at Brett Favre, and I think the Lions will get there a few times and force him into some mistakes.
Prediction: Detroit Lions 23, Minnesota Vikings 21
Around the NFC North
by zebano on Aug 24, 2009 10:02 AM EDT
on Daily Norseman
Being a football starved fan that barely pays attention to baseball, I've been resorting to watching MXC and Ninja warrior as quality TV... So needless to say even pre-season football has me giddy. Besides the Viking I also watched Giants-Bears. While the Bears D did better against Eli (overrated) than I expected, what really impressed me was how well Cutler threw down the field. I hate to say it but this guy is the real QB the Bears have been lacking these past 20 years. Did anyone see the GB or Detriot games? I'm curios how the Pack's 3-4 and Stafford are doing.
Vikings Release first depth chart
by zebano on Aug 12, 2009 11:39 AM EDT
on Daily Norseman
No answers at the QB position but notable is that McCauley and Sapp are the backup LCB and RCB respectively with Allen the third right corner back so he's probably losing the nickleback battle right now. Jaymar Johnson is solidly listed as Berrian's backups, ahead of Reynaud Holt and Williams.
From the Star Tribibune
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