Minnesota Timberwolves - 2011 Chronicles & Beyond

[bichettehappens]

Funny enough, I traded Mo Williams to the Wolves in my franchise as well, although you may have given up a little much for him.

[SKA]

Quote: Originally Posted by bichettehappens

Funny enough, I traded Mo Williams to the Wolves in my franchise as well, although you may have given up a little much for him.

The Cavs were hoein' themselves for Williams, but I was going to get rid of Moody and Ridnour at some point anyway, and 2nd-Rounders NEVER turn into a valuable player, something 2K sports needs to friggin fix cause its not realistic.

[Baysdell23]

Could u still tell me the overall of your players thoe please, and Mo Williams is very productive in this game for some reason I like it

[SKA]

JANUARY 2013

Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
Overall Record: 20-27
January Record: 7-7
Overall: 19th
Power Ranking: 23rd
Division Rank: 5th (--)
Conference Rank: 14th (+1)
Team Chemistry: 9% (-2%)

The month of January wouldn't be one of much improvement, or disparagement for that matter, as the team would play a tiny bit better than the month previous, but wouldn't be able to make any headway within the standings, at least, escaping last place. Things started with a win at home against the Houston Rockets, 102-114, thanks to Jonny Flynn's 35 point, 9 assist effort, while young Patrick Patterson stepped up for the Rockets, scoring 27 points with 8 rebounds. However, three straight losses would resume next for the Timberwolves, starting with a demoralizing defeat in San Antonio, 94-128. Manu Ginobli tore the team apart with 42 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals, while it was Mo Williams, the T'Wolves sixth man, who led them in scoring with 24 points in 24 minutes. The team would remain in Texas for a rematch in Houston, where the team didn't fare well, losing 94-105 as the Rockets pulled away completely in the second half. This time it was Yao Ming who had 27 points, with 6 rebounds, while Flynn led the way again with 23 and 8 rebounds. Afterwards, their contest with the Denver Nuggets in Colorado was never a competition to begin with, as the Nuggets controlled everything for the 96-127 victory. Three Nuggets players would have over 20 points, led by Raymond Felton who had 29 with 4 assists, while Anthony Randolph emerged with 27 points.

Their next battle with the Washington Wizards would boost some morale, after an 80-105 win at home against the young team. Not surprisingly, John Wall led the visitors with 24 points and 8 assists, while for the home team it would be Wesley Johnson scoring 24 with 11 rebounds, while Randolph played well again, scoring 22 with 11 rebounds of his own. Unfortunately the Boston Celtics would spoil the home stretch with a road win, 108-92, surprising the Timberwolves in their own Target Center. Rajon Rondo laid on the stats with 21 points, leading his team, and 7 rebounds and assists.

Thankfully the team would recover on the road with the first of soon-to-be three straight wins, in a clutch win against the Phoenix Suns in Arizona. The final result would be 111-110, as the visiting Timberwolves fought back in the fourth quarter, leading to a final buzzer-beating shot thanks to the sweet stroke of Jonny Flynn. But that wasn't the only reason this game would go down as one of the season's best, as it would be the Suns superstar Carmelo Anthony really proving why he earns his money, scoring an incredible 62 points against the Timberwolves, the highest all season, only for his team to lose in the final seconds. In the end, Anthony would receive a well-deserved standing ovation from the home crowd, while Flynn spoiled the fun with his 27 points and 15 assists. The very next day the T'Wolves were at home against the New York Knicks, who wouldn't put up much of a fight, losing 99-127. Both Flynn and Anthony Randolph led the day with 27 points, while they both had 10 in their respective categories. And two days later, the team would get a bit of revenge against the Denver Nuggets, who came into the Target Center with relaxed focus, leading to their defeat, 105-118. Six T'Wolves finished in double-digit scoring, broken in by Marvin Freeman who had 13 points, while Randolph and Wesley Johnson led the team in scoring with 19.

Too bad the Timberwolves couldn't keep the ball rolling against the West's best team thus far this season, the Sacramento Kings, who hosted the visiting Timberwolves to finish with an 87-117 affair. Tyreke Evans showed off his stuff for the home crowd, scoring 38 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while only three Timberwolves finished in double-digit scoring as the offense struggled all game. The team would then head back home for a game against the Clippers in the Target Center, which would end in a 112-108 tight win for the visiting team. Six Clippers reached double-digit points, led by Eric Gordon who soared with 22 points and 7 assists, while Jonny Flynn tried to save the day with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on the night.

At least the team would follow up with two more victories. First the Cleveland Cavaliers with their acquired free agent star Michael Beasley would visit Minneapolis only for an 98-122 loss. Not surprisingly Beasley led Cleveland with 24 points and 9 rebounds, but his effort wasn't enough as Jonny Flynn outshined him scoring 31 with 8 assists, while Landry Fields proved that he was a satisfying replacement for Beasley, scoring 20 of his own. And their next game against the great Kings team was even more fulfilling for the fans, who saw their lowly team take down the conference leaders with a 97-125 victory. Once again Flynn played great, scoring 34 with 12 assists, while Tyreke Evans struggled for his standards, scoring only 24 but with 7 rebounds and 6 assists as well.

Unfortunately the team would close out the month with a disappointing loss at home against the Philadelphia 76ers. The visitors from the East would come into town and steal with 117-110 victory, as their showing in the third quarter helped them establish the lead, and the 76ers were able to keep it throughout the fourth. It would be small forward Fields on top for the T'Wolves, scoring 24 with 8 rebounds, Jrue Holiday played great for the 76ers, scoring 19 with 5 rebounds and 8 assists.

Prospect Scouting

One shooting guard the scouts got a good chance to look at over January was Chuck Cage, an impressive 19-year old guard out of Washington State. His offensive skills are pretty great, while his defense also supports his bid for a Lottery pick in this year's upcoming draft. After another scouting report, the team marked his potential with an A+, truly revealing the value of Cage in this year's draft.

Charlie Price was scouted for a second time this season, but the team was not as impressed with Price as other teams have begun to praise him. The 6'9" small forward surely is unique, but our scouts did not feel his potential of a C- was worth the time and money.

Two looks were spent on another Top 5 player, in Jacob Woodson, whom the team got a good look at over the course of the month. The shooting guard is 21-years old and displays his talents out of Wyoming, certainly putting the team on the map this season with his breakout season. His potential has been marked with an A, while his range outside is impeccable, making him a highly touted player among scouting circles.

Another Top 5 shooting guard is Nick Porter, whom the team took time to look at in depth. The kid is a senior at UConn and certainly comes with incredible pedigree and experience. His raw talent isn't as celebrated as other players, but his pure knowledge and understanding of the game makes him a coach's dream, especially in a position filled with plenty of egomaniacs. Not to mention, the 22-year old has been marked with a potential of A+, comparable to that of Joe Johnson.

Finally one look was taken at Art McKenzie, whom the team has already scouted before. The small forward is edging the Top 5 overall players, with a potential of A+ and comparisons to Danny Granger in terms of his offensive ability. Certainly the Timberwolves scouts showed great interest in the talented 22-year old.

Player Statistics - For the Month of January
PG. Jonny Flynn (19.7 PPG; 7.9 RPG; 8.0 APG; .489 FG%; 35.4 MPG)
PF. Anthony Randolph (16.2 PPG; 7.4 RPG; 1.5 BPG; .465 FG%; 29.0 MPG)
PF. Tyrus Thomas (14.8 PPG; 7.4 RPG; 1.4 SPG; 2.0 BPG; .479 FG%; 31.3 MPG)
SG. Wesley Johnson (13.8 PPG; 7.0 RPG; 1.6 SPG; 1.4 BPG; .477 FG%; 35.1 MPG)
SG. Landry Fields (11.0 PPG; 6.3 RPG; 1.4 SPG; .508 FG%; 30.6 MPG)
PG. Mo Williams (8.6 PPG; 4.4 APG; .428 FG%; 24.9 MPG)
PF. Al Harrington (6.2 PPG; 2.3 RPG; .384 FG%; 11.4 MPG)
C. Will Cage (2.1 PPG; 3.6 RPG; .556 FG%; 9.9 MPG)
- Stats accumulated at a minimum of 8 minutes per game.

Western Conference Standings - For the Month of January
1. Sacramento Kings (32-14; .696%; -- GB)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (29-18; .617%; 3.5 GB)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (30-19; .612%; 3.5 GB)
4. Golden State Warriors (28-19; .596%; 4.5 GB)
5. New Orleans Hornets (29-21; .580%; 5.0 GB)
6. Los Angeles Clippers (26-21; .553%; 6.5 GB)
7. San Antonio Spurs (26-21; .553%; 6.5 GB)
8. Dallas Mavericks (27-22; .551%; 6.5 GB)
--
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-27; .438%; 12.0 GB)
*BOLD denotes Northwest Division

League News for the Month of January
-For the first time in awhile the Eastern Conference POTW had parity, as John Wall, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, and LeBron James each brought the award home once during January, while in the West, it would belong twice to Carmelo Anthony, now playing on the worst team in the West, and once to Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.
- As for the month, LeBron James won the award for the third month in a row dominating all season thus far, while Kevin Durant received the award for the first time this season.
- The Rookie awards would belong to Marvin Norton of the New York Knicks for the second time this season, and Andy Watts, a rookie point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies in the West.
- Teammates LeBron James and Dwayne Wade continue to lead discussions concerning the league's MVP, while Kobe Bryant remains close behind with some supporters of his own.
- January was an active month for the league, first with the Washington Wizards decision to fire coach Pat Duncan and hire a guy who has seen a fair share of team's recently, Benjamin Law.
- Another team would fire their coach during January, as the Cavaliers said goodbye to Lionel Hollins and instead gave the position to Larry Drew who seemed to fit the kind of team the front office was creating in Cleveland.
- The only trade of the month would come at the very end, as the Atlanta Hawks agreed to trade their big man Zaza Pachulia to the Orlando Magic, a conference rival, in exchange for veteran shooting guard Jason Richardson.

Coach's Rotation - For the Month of February
PG. Jonny Flynn (38 min.) -- [Star]
SG. Wesley Johnson (36 min.) -- [Starter]
SF. Landry Fields (36 min.) -- [Starter]
PF. Anthony Randolph (38 min.) -- [Starter]
C. Tyrus Thomas (35 min.) -- [Starter]
BENCH
PG. Mo Williams (22 min.) -- [Sixth Man]
C. Will Cage (11 min.) -- [Prospect]
PF. Al Harrington (10 min.) -- [Role Player]
PG. Marvin Freeman (R) (6 min.) -- [Prospect]
SF. Dee Fulton (R) (4 min.) -- [Prospect]
SF. Sam Young (2 min.) -- [Bench Warmer]
SF. Uwe Schroeder (R) (2 min.) -- [Bench Warmer]

[SKA]

FEBRUARY 2013

Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
Overall Record: 29-31
February Record: 9-4
Overall: 20th
Power Ranking: 14th
Division Rank: 4th (+1)
Conference Rank: 12th (+2)
Team Chemistry: 12% (+3%)

Finally the Timberwolves would start playing good basketball in February, but in the hotly contested Western Conference, their efforts may be too little too late as they ended the month of mid-way break in only 12th place in the conference standings. First the Memphis Grizzlies would play terrible in Minneapolis, dropping a game 78-103, as Jonny Flynn led the home team with 28 points and 5 assists, while Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo were the only Grizzlies to get double-digit points. The very next day a road game in Portland against the Trailblazers took a lot out of the Timberwolves, who couldn't secure the win, losing 100-118. Their star Brandon Roy took center stage with 37 points while Mo Williams was the leading scorer for Minny, putting up 20 off the bench.

Three Central Division games would come next, first on the road in Cleveland as the team took on Michael Beasley and his new team once again. The former Timberwolves small forward would play great, scoring 35 with 12 rebounds, but the rest of his team was ineffective, as Jonny Flynn played well scoring 26 with 6 assists, and Tyrus Thomas had 23 points with 9 rebounds. Too bad their next road game in Milwaukee wouldn't fare as well, losing to the Bucks 101-114. Their point guard Brandon Jennings led the way with 35 points and 9 assists, while it was Flynn for Minny with 21 points in a losing effort. Finally the team would host the Chicago Bulls for the 89-111 victory, as Flynn had 28 points with 8 assists, outperforming his counter-part Derrick Rose who had 25 points and 7 assists.

From them on the team would get on a roll, starting with a win in Toronto, 124-113. Both Flynn and Wesley Johnson led the box score, with 33 points each while Flynn had 6 assists to lead his team to victory. Two days later the Detroit Pistons would fall victim to the Timberwolves, 102-92 in the Palace. Their new franchise player, Mladen Jeremic led the team in the a losing effort with 22 points while it was Johnson once again leading the Timberwolves with 22 points of his own. The very next day a road game against the Denver Nuggets would take some wind out of the team, as the Nuggets would dominate all game for the 92-110 victory. They would be led by Wilson Chandler who had 20 points and 7 rebounds, with 4 blocks, while the Timberwolves featured Jonny Flynn as the only player who produced well, scoring 25 with 6 assists as the rest of the starting line-up was shut down.

As the first half of the season winded down before the All-Star break, the New Orleans Hornets were the final team to take on the Timberwolves, and would fall in Minneapolis by a large margin, 96-118. Flynn continued to play well, scoring 34 points with 9 assists, while Chris Paul only pulled out 16 points but with 6 rebounds and 14 assists. Once that game was finished, the team was ready to take the longest break of the year, as perhaps unfortunately, no Timberwolves were named for any events concerning the break itself, and came back in their first game against the Los Angeles Lakers with focus, winning at home 82-100 to a jubilant home crowd. Flynn continued to take over as the team's scoring leader, with 29 points on the night as well as 7 assists and 4 steals, while Kobe Bryant only shot 12-32 on the night leading his team with 29 points as well as 5 rebounds, assists, and steals.

As the month closed out, Portland was their next opponent, and they wouldn't get the job done in Minneapolis, losing 91-115. Tyrus Thomas played great, scoring 23 points with 8 rebounds while Brandon Roy was the only player producing for the Trailblazers, scoring 30 points. Next the Orlando Magic would get the best of Minnesota, fighting back throughout the game to secure the 88-82 victory, led by Gilbert Arenas who had 23 points with 10 assists, while Thomas once again led the team in scoring with 16 points as the rest of the team seriously struggled offensively. Finally, the month closed with a victory against the Houston Rockets, 94-115, as six T'Wolves finished in double-digits nearly led by Thomas once again, who had 21 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks.

Prospect Scouting

Four prospects were focused in on in the month of February. The first is a dominant big-man out of Nigeria named Nwankwo Akwuegbu, who comes in at 7'1" and a massive 288 lbs. At 21-years old, he dominates the boards while his defense is outstanding, although he could certainly improve to dominate the post offensively down the road. His potential has been marked with an A+, but hi huge size has resulted in an F+ rating in athleticism, something teams may be worried about if not desperate for a center.

Herb Sparks was the other scout checked out twice, a top Lottery pick from Florida State, at 6'6" playing the shooting guard position. He is highly touted as the best outside shooter in the draft, but his defense is questionable. His potential is only a B+, but still appears to be one of the top available players in this year's draft.

Another look was spent on two different players, first Tyson Parks, a small forward from Fresno State who has his potential rated with an A+ as he appears to be a late Lottery draft but one of the better small forwards in the draft. Specifically scouts are incredible impressed with his knack for the game and awareness on the court. The other player would be a small forward as well, Ernest Stone whom the team has seen already. Stone is the Top 5 pick out of North Carolina, with the incredible defensive ability, and but now only a B- rating when it comes to his potential to grow as a player.

Player Statistics - For the Month of February
PG. Jonny Flynn (20.6 PPG; 2.1 RPG; 7.8 APG; .498 FG%; 35.5 MPG)
PF. Anthony Randolph (15.6 PPG; 7.4 RPG; 1.5 BPG; .461 FG%; 28.5 MPG)
PF. Tyrus Thomas (15.0 PPG; 7.6 RPG; 1.5 SPG; 1.8 BPG; .481 FG%; 31.4 MPG)
SG. Wesley Johnson (14.1 PPG; 6.9 RPG; 1.6 SPG; 1.5 BPG; .498 FG%; 35.2 MPG)
SG. Landry Fields (10.6 PPG; 6.0 RPG; 1.0 SPG; .516 FG%; 30.6 MPG)
PG. Mo Williams (8.9 PPG; 4.2 APG; .437 FG%; 24.4 MPG)
PF. Al Harrington (6.2 PPG; 2.4 RPG; .373 FG%; 11.6 MPG)
C. Will Cage (1.9 PPG; 3.7 RPG; .532 FG%; 10.5 MPG)
- Stats accumulated at a minimum of 8 minutes per game.

Western Conference Standings - For the Month of February
1. Sacramento Kings (37-21; .638%; -- GB)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (36-22; .621%; 1.0 GB)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (38-24; .613%; 1.0 GB)
4. Golden State Warriors (36-23; .610%; 1.5 GB)
5. Dallas Mavericks (36-26; .581%; 3.0 GB)
6. New Orleans Hornets (34-28; .48%; 5.0 GB)
7. Denver Nuggets (33-28; .541%; 5.5 GB)
8. San Antonio Spurs (31-28; .517%; 7.0 GB)
--
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-31; .483%; 9.0 GB)
*BOLD denotes Northwest Division

League News for the Month of February
- This year's starting line-up for the Eastern Conference all-stars would feature Derrick Rose (CHI; 3rd), Dwyane Wade (MIA; 8th), LeBron James (MIA; 9th), Amar'e Stoudamire (NY; 8th), and Dwight Howard (ORL; 7th). In the Western Conference it would be Chris Paul (NO; 5th), Kobe Bryant (LAL; 15th), Kevin Durant (OKC; 4th), Dirk Nowitzki (DAL; 10th), and Andrew Bynum (LAL; 2nd).
- Unlike last season, this year's all-star game was much more thrilling and competitive, but featured plenty of great moments and fantastic basketball skills. The Western Conference All-Stars would edge out the Eastern Conference as the East missed the buzzer-beater in the end to lose 118-119. The West was led by Tony Parker's 26 point and 6 assist game, while in the East it would be Brandon Jennings who came out on top with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
- As for the Players of the Week, in the East both LeBron James and John Wall receiving the award two weeks in a row, while in the West, Kobe Bryant would earn the award twice, while both Monta Ellis and Carmelo Anthony earned the award once.
- John Wall was able to knock LeBron James off his high horse, earning his first Eastern Conference Player of the Month award, while in the West it would be Carmelo Anthony who re-earned the award for February.
- The Rookies of the Month would be Reggie Bowman out of Toronto and Andy Watts out of Memphis for a second-time in a row.
- When it comes to the Most Valuable Player award, voters now seem to be split on LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, as much of Dwyane Wade's increased success this season is being attributed to the presence and skills of his teammate James.

Coach's Rotation - For the Month of February
PG. Jonny Flynn (38 min.) -- [Star]
SG. Wesley Johnson (36 min.) -- [Starter]
SF. Landry Fields (36 min.) -- [Starter]
PF. Anthony Randolph (38 min.) -- [Starter]
C. Tyrus Thomas (35 min.) -- [Starter]
BENCH
PG. Mo Williams (22 min.) -- [Sixth Man]
C. Will Cage (11 min.) -- [Prospect]
PF. Al Harrington (10 min.) -- [Role Player]
PG. Marvin Freeman (R) (6 min.) -- [Prospect]
SF. Dee Fulton (R) (4 min.) -- [Prospect]
SF. Sam Young (2 min.) -- [Bench Warmer]
SF. Uwe Schroeder (R) (2 min.) -- [Bench Warmer]

[SKA]

MARCH 2013

Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
Overall Record: 36-39
March Record: 8-7
Overall: 20th
Power Ranking: 23rd
Division Rank: 4th (--)
Conference Rank: T-12th (--)
Team Chemistry: 2% (-10%)

March continued with the same success February had throughout, starting with a win against the Sacramento Kings, then number one team in the West, on the road. The T'Wolves walked out victorious with the 109-102, as the Kings showed why they are a great team, but the Timberwolves stepped their game up and played with the intensity the Kings were showing to secure the victory with a great fourth quarter. Marcus Thornton was their hot shot, scoring 32 points as he dominated the T'Wolves throughout the game, but Anthony Randolph fared well with 28 of his own points, along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, as well as a 21 point performance from Landry Fields. Next Tuesday was a big match-up on national television against the number one team in the league in the Miami Heat, and the hottest team in the past ten games, as the Timberwolves were 9-1 coming in. But the Heat just thrashed the Timberwolves as home, as their defense was brutal, as well as the performance by Dwyane Wade who had 29, leading his team to the 112-79 smashing.

This loss seemed to deflate the hopes of the Timberwolves for a bit, who were now nearly in contention for the final playoff spot in the West as they approached .500 on the year. They would recover from their Miami loss with a victory against the Charlotte Bobcats, another top East team, 104-96 on the road. D.J. Augustine had 32 while Kevin Love put up a 22-14 night, but the rest of their team was hapless while the Timberwolves entire roster contributed to the win, symbolically noted with Landry Fields leading the team in scoring with 20 and 8 rebounds. Too bad the team couldn't get the job done in their game the next day in the nation's capital, losing 97-105 to the Wizards. John Wall had 20 points with 8 assists, while Wesley Johnson had 20 of his own, in what was a tight game throughout as the Wizards pulled away slowly in the second half.

Somehow the Timberwolves would be able to steal a victory in Miami against the Heat, whom destroyed them on national television just a week before. This time LeBron James had 29 and tried to lead his team to victory, but besides Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, the rest of the roster was neutralized while Jonny Flynn had 26 and 7 assists; and Anthony Randolph had 23 points with 13 rebounds. This would all accumulate to the 111-107 victory, walking away from Florida with a much needed confidence booster. However, J.J. Redick would have something to say about the T'Wolves conquering all of Florida, as he had 32 points in a career-high game, helping his team overcome the hot Timberwolves, 97-102. Minnesota certainly didn't deserve the victory either, as only three players finished in double-digits led by Flynn who had 28 plus 6 assists.

Thankfully, the Timberwolves wouldn't stumble, winning their next three games. First they took down the San Antonio Spurs at the end of the week, 95-110 in the Target Center. Anthony Randolph had the hot hand with 32 points followed by 9 rebounds, while Wesley Johnson contributed scoring 27 with 8 rebounds. For the Spurs Tim Duncan showed a flash of his old self scoring 17 with 18 rebounds, but the rest of his team failed to get any flow going on the road. The home stand continued against the Milwaukee Bucks, who were easily out of the game by the end of the first quarter, scoring only 11 points to start the game off. They would lose 83-102, as Jonny Flynn put up 26 with 7 assists, while Randolph had 21 and Tyrus Thomas had 20. Two days later the Brooklyn Nets would fail to get the job done in Minneapolis, dropping the game 112-118 in a fast-paced offensive display. Once again Randolph and Flynn led the scoring with 24 and 20 respectively, while Deron Williams managed to led his team with 23 points but only 7 assists.

Minnesota's next game on the road in Los Angeles would seem to be the end of them for the month, losing to the Lakers 105-111 in a close match-up. Kobe Bryant went off with 37 points to the crowd's delight, while the Flynn-Randolph duo failed to get off all game, finishing with 18 points each as the Timberwolves made it a game with a rally in the fourth quarter. Everyone figured they would recover at home two days later against the Atlanta Hawks, but they were dominated in a 123-106 affair. Tyrus Thomas had a big day scoring with 24 and Jonny Flynn had 19 points with 14 assists, but the Hawks were just fluent in every shot as Joe Johnson finished with 30 points while sophomore small forward Jason Hardaway had 20 points. The team would recover against the Memphis Grizzlies at home after the weekend, 104-107, featuring a failed chance by the Grizzlies to come back at the end of the fourth quarter, as they were victims of Flynn's career highest night scoring, finishing with 40 points featuring 5 three-pointers, not to mention 10 assists.

Unfortunately the Timberwolves would drop the last three games of the month, starting with a loss on the road in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. They would dominated by the division leaders for the 95-118 result, as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 64 points and 17 rebounds, while it was a weak night for the T'Wolves as Anthony Randolph had only 18 points with 10 rebounds. Next the team flopped on the road against Memphis, 86-128, as O.J. Mayo led his team with 29 points, while no one on the Timberwolves was even worth mentioning in this game. At last the road trip would end with a loss in New Orleans, 95-107, as they continued to not get a grasp in games, even thought Jonny Flynn had 25 points and 9 assists.

Prospect Scouting

The scouts took the time to look at Cecil Manning, a small forward from Clemson, who had had his potential rated with a B, and has moved all the way up to some of the top Lottery picks despite having been rated as a mid-late 1st-Round draft pick before. His outside shot is quite impressive, while his defense is also top notch making him a good match for teams lacking forwards.

A look was also taken at Bradley Rivers, a small forward from Colorado, who is only a mid-late 1st-Round pick, a near Lottery pick that's 21-years old with good offensive skills and great defensive skills, but his potential is only rated with a C, with a game style comparable to Michael Beasley.

Lawrence Blackman was a big center the team wanted to check out because he is 7'3", 290 lbs., and 21-years old out of Georgia Tech. Blackman's defensive and rebounding abilities are all great and expected from a man of his size, but he still struggles slightly on offense and isn't expected to be selected until mid-late in the 1st-Round pending on how desperate teams are for a back-up center with great size.

Another center looked at was Gene Gray, a 20-year old 7'1" player who isn't as large as Blackman, playing out of Tulane, who has a unique style of play comparable to that of foreign center Andrea Bargnani, who's rebounding is great and defensive is par, but offense lacks compared to other centers in the draft.

Player Statistics - For the Month of March
PG. Jonny Flynn (20.7 PPG; 2.1 RPG; 7.9 APG; .497 FG%; 35.7 MPG)
PF. Anthony Randolph (15.9 PPG; 7.7 RPG; 1.6 BPG; .472 FG%; 29.2 MPG)
PF. Tyrus Thomas (14.5 PPG; 7.2 RPG; 1.3 SPG; 1.8 BPG; .489 FG%; 30.6 MPG)
SG. Wesley Johnson (14.3 PPG; 6.8 RPG; 1.6 SPG; 1.5 BPG; .501 FG%; 35.1 MPG)
SG. Landry Fields (10.8 PPG; 5.8 RPG; 1.0 SPG; .511 FG%; 30.3 MPG)
PG. Mo Williams (8.7 PPG; 4.2 APG; .445 FG%; 23.8 MPG)
PF. Al Harrington (5.9 PPG; 2.4 RPG; .372 FG%; 11.4 MPG)
C. Will Cage (2.1 PPG; 3.8 RPG; .543 FG%; 10.9 MPG)
- Stats accumulated at a minimum of 8 minutes per game.

Western Conference Standings - For the Month of March
1. Los Angeles Lakers (49-25; .662%; -- GB)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (47-27; .635%; 2.0 GB)
3. Golden State Warriors (44-32; .579%; 6.0 GB)
4. Dallas Mavericks (43-32; .573%; 6.5 GB)
5. Sacramento Kings (42-32; .568%; 7.0 GB)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (41-34; .547%; 8.5 GB)
7. New Orleans Hornets (40-35; .533%; 9.5 GB)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (39-36; .520%; 10.5 GB)
--
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-39; .480%; 13.5 GB)
*BOLD denotes Northwest Division

League News for the Month of March
- In the Eastern Conference, LeBron James took home the Player of the Week award three times, while Brook Lopez out of Brooklyn and Derrick Rose out of Chicago took the award home once each. In the West, two men would share the award throughout March, as Carmelo Anthony would win the award three times and Kobe Bryant would win the award two weeks in a row.
- And to no one's surprise, LeBron James would resecure the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award, while Carmelo Anthony took the award home in the Western Conference.
- The Rookie of the Month awards would go to Marvin Norton of the New York Knicks in the East, who is finishing the season averaging 16.1 PPG, while Dwayne Mills in the West of the Trailblazers is averaging 6.5 PPG and 5.0 APG.
- As for the Most Valuable Player award, LeBron James seems to have the award wrapped up.

Coach's Rotation - For the Month of April
PG. Jonny Flynn (38 min.) -- [Star]
SG. Wesley Johnson (36 min.) -- [Starter]
SF. Landry Fields (36 min.) -- [Starter]
PF. Anthony Randolph (38 min.) -- [Starter]
C. Tyrus Thomas (35 min.) -- [Starter]
BENCH
PG. Mo Williams (22 min.) -- [Sixth Man]
C. Will Cage (11 min.) -- [Prospect]
PF. Al Harrington (10 min.) -- [Role Player]
PG. Marvin Freeman (R) (6 min.) -- [Prospect]
SF. Dee Fulton (R) (4 min.) -- [Prospect]
SF. Sam Young (2 min.) -- [Bench Warmer]
SF. Uwe Schroeder (R) (2 min.) -- [Bench Warmer]

[SKA]

MARCH 2013

Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
Overall Record: 36-39
March Record: 8-7
Overall: 20th
Power Ranking: 23rd
Division Rank: 4th (--)
Conference Rank: T-12th (--)
Team Chemistry: 2% (-10%)

The Timberwolves would leave themselves with about two weeks to come up with an almost perfect streak of wins to leap into the playoff scene, and as expected, that leap would not happen. In fact, the team would play as well as they have been all year, which isn't playoff worthy. They would start with a win at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 89-107. As usual Jonny Flynn and Anthony Randolph led all scoring for Minnesota with 28 and 25 respectively. Their next game would go into overtime, and may have been the turning point for the month as the team would fall to the San Antonio Spurs in extra regulation, 122-118 at home. The fans were satisfied to see their team fight back in the fourth quarter to tie it up at the end, but the Spurs would play much better throughout the overtime, missing no shots scoring 16 points while holding the Timberwolves to 12 to secure the road win. Randolph was once again the man scoring 24 with 10 rebounds, while Tony Parker led the Spurs with 28 and 10 assists.

The team would recover against the Golden State Warriors in their next game at home for the 99-112 win, reviving some hopes for fans that the playoffs were obtainable this season. Tyrus Thomas had a big game scoring 23 with 12 rebounds, while Flynn led the team with 25 points. The defense would do a good job stopping Stephen Curry who only had 16 points but also 8 rebounds and 8 assists for a good complete game in a losing effort. Unfortunately the T'Wolves would drop a big game against the Utah Jazz, 99-112, in Salt Lake City. Al Jefferson defeated his former team with a 21 point and 8 rebound effort, while Anthony Randolph led his team with 18 points and 7 rebounds.

Somehow Minnesota would get a win against the Los Angeles Lakers, 95-118 at home. Jonny Flynn had a great game scoring 37 points with 5 assists, as his team's victory out overshadow the 43 point road performance from a still dominant Kobe Bryant. A couple days later the Timberwolves final home game of the year would result in a 100-123 feel-good win against the Dallas Mavericks, even though by this time the Timberwolves were out of contention for the eighth seed in the playoffs. Flynn once again played great scoring 34 points with 11 rebounds, while Wesley Johnson actually led the team with 35 points. But the team's final game of the season would come at a loss in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, 106-124, as the Warriors would walk away from their home court ready to prepare for the playoffs while the Timberwolves were once again done for the summer.

Prospect Scouting

For the second week in a row that scouts checked out both Lawrence Blackman and Gene Gray, two centers expected to go in the first round. Blackman's potential has been graded with a B- while most of his grades have fallen since he was first scouted. As for Gray, his potential has been graded with a with a B-, while his rebounding, defense, and intangibles are all marked with an A+, certainly showing greater upside than other centers.

Finally the team had a chance to look at another center, Damon Holt playing out of UCLA, who is a massive 7'3", but doesn't show much potential besides playing celebrated basketball on the defensive and rebounding sides of the ball.

Player Statistics - For the End of the Season
PG. Jonny Flynn (21.2 PPG; 2.1 RPG; 7.9 APG; .497 FG%; 35.7 MPG)
PF. Anthony Randolph (16.1 PPG; 7.6 RPG; 1.5 BPG; .472 FG%; 29.2 MPG)
SG. Wesley Johnson (14.5 PPG; 6.9 RPG; 1.7 SPG; 1.5 BPG; .501 FG%; 35.1 MPG)
PF. Tyrus Thomas (14.3 PPG; 7.3 RPG; 1.3 SPG; 1.7 BPG; .489 FG%; 30.6 MPG)
SG. Landry Fields (10.7 PPG; 5.7 RPG; 1.0 SPG; .511 FG%; 30.3 MPG)
PG. Mo Williams (8.7 PPG; 4.1 APG; .445 FG%; 23.8 MPG)
PF. Al Harrington (6.2 PPG; 2.4 RPG; .372 FG%; 11.4 MPG)
C. Will Cage (2.0 PPG; 3.9 RPG; .543 FG%; 10.9 MPG)
- Stats accumulated at a minimum of 8 minutes per game.

Western Conference Standings - For the End of the Season
1. Los Angeles Lakers (55-27; .671%; -- GB)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (53-29; .646%; 2.0 GB)
3. Golden State Warriors (48-34; .585%; 7.0 GB)
4. Dallas Mavericks (45-37; .549%; 10.0 GB)
5. Sacramento Kings (45-37; .549%; 10.0 GB)
6. New Orleans Hornets (45-37; .549%; 10.0 GB)
7. Memphis Grizzlies (43-39; .524%; 12.0 GB)
8. San Antonio Spurs (42-40; .512%; 13.0 GB)
--
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-42; .488%; 15.0 GB)
*BOLD denotes Northwest Division

League News for the End of the Season
- The two final Players of the Week in the East would be two of the conference's young point guard stars, Brandon Jennings and John Wall, while the West would feature great weeks from the usual, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant.
- The only player of the Timberwolves franchise who received a post-season award would be shooting guard Wesley Johnson, who honorably was named one of the two guards on the 2012-2013 NBA All-Defensive First Team, alongside other defensive stoppers in Dwyane Wade, Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith, and Dwight Howard; truly an award well-received as Johnson's defensive statistics for guards leads almost all in the NBA, adding to his value for the T'Wolves.

- Here is a list of this season's awards and each player's statistics for the 2011-2012 NBA regular season.
Most Valuable Player: LeBron James (MIA; 5th)
- 25.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 7.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG, .471 FG%, .774 FT%, .357 3P%
Rookie of the Year: Marvin Norton (NY)
- 16.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.9 BPG, .396 FG%, .763 FT%, .303 3P%
Sixth Man of the Year: Raymond Felton (DEN; 1st)
- 14.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, .465 FG%, .892 FT%, .363 3P%
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard (ORL; 4th)
-18.0 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 2.1 BPG, .533 FG%, .607 FT%
Most Improved Player of the Year: George Hill (DAL)
- 13.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, .490 FG%, .802 FT%, .382 3P%)
Coach of the Year: Byron Scott (LAL; 2nd)
- 55-27, 1st in West Conf., 1st in Pacific Div., 13th year coaching

- As well is a list of this year's All-NBA First Team.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL; 10th), John Wall (WAS; 1st)
Forwards: LeBron James (MIA; 7th), Carmelo Anthony (PHX; 2nd)
Center: Dwight Howards (ORL; 6th)

[SKA]

2013 NBA PLAYOFFS

By the end of the first round nearly every one of the top 4 seeds of each conference would advance to the next round, minus one team of Dallas Mavericks who couldn't defeat the Sacramento Kings in actually the shortest series of the first round, but more on that later. First came the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, who for a second year in a row where the number one seeds of their respective conferences. And both of their series' would go to seven games. The Lakers took on the respected San Antonio Spurs, champions two-years removed, who gave the Lakers certainly a run for their money. The series featured both teams winning every game on their home court, including a thrilling 91-92 win for the Lakers in Game 5, pivotal to the Lakers' victory in round one. Eventually it would come down to a 92-94 final in Los Angeles for Game 7, where Kobe Bryant would hit the final two-pointer to give his team the victory as the clock expired as the fans exploded. For Miami, the road was similar, but the games weren't as close, including three wins by the eighth seed Indiana Pacers. However, as both teams would win their games on their home courts, causing experts to worry about the defending champion Miami Heat, they would close the series in Game 7 with a 111-122 victory and the continued chance for a second championship.

The four-five match-ups were certainly as entertaining as the first-eighth seed match-ups, as the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics would advance in their conferences. First, as previously mentioned, the Kings would defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4-2, the only West series not to go seven games. The Kings would steal an important Game 2 in Dallas leading to their eventually victory and first appearance in the semi-finals in quite some time. The Celtics-Bobcats series was much closer, featuring a revamped Celtics starting line-up including two new young superstars drafted two-years ago, Andre Carroll, the team's third-overall pick in 2012; and John Hamilton their seventeenth overall pick in the same year who is the starting power forward. They would still have trouble against a Bobcats team led by Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, and Kevin Love, but the overall experience of the Celtics was apparent, although they struggled whenever in Charlotte. The Celtics would defeat the Bobcats in Game 7 by a margin seen often throughout their contests, 88-79, as they would take control in the second quarter and never relinquish it.

As for the two-seeds, the Brooklyn Nets dominated the seven-seed Atlanta Hawks, 4-1. The Nets would jump out to a 3-0 lead by stealing Game 3 in Atlanta with a score of 90-89, and would only drop Game 4 which gave the Hawks nothing but false hope as they would lose Game 5 in a ruckus Brooklyn arena, 100-105. In the West it was much closer as two of the best young teams in the league, let alone the West matched up with Oklahoma City in the two spot and Memphis in the seven spot. The series would go to seven games like many others, as the Grizzlies would make it a series very early on stealing Game 1 in OKC with a 91-83 result. Things would take a bad turn, however, when they dropped Game 4 at home 101-98 as Kevin Durant hit the buzzer-beater everybody has waited for him to start making at the end of important games. In the end the Grizzlies would be blown out in Oklahoma for Game 7, 82-105 as Memphis' bench was complete irrelevant.

Finally the three seeds taking on the six seeds would feature a Chicago-Philadelphia match-up and Golden State-New Orleans match-up. Both series were relatively entertaining, mainly in the West, but if you were a Bulls fan things were quite a show in the first round. As expected the Warriors/Hornets series featured some high-scores, mostly put up by the Warriors, as the Hornets would always reach the reasonable amount of points in their victories. Both teams would close out everything on their home courts, and home-court advantage worked out for Golden State who took the final game with the second-closest result of the series, 85-92, as the Warriors were able to hold on to the lead throughout the entire game, defeating the defending Western Conference champions. The Bulls/76ers match-up featured blowouts by Chicago whenever they pleased, and only close wins at home for the 76ers, as Chicago and their superstar Derrick Rose would easily close out their first round match-up 4-2, advancing to the next round to take on the highly touted Nets.



In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Miami Heat dealt with a slightly revamped but still aging Celtics team, and handled them with swagger of a defending champion, knocking off the Celtics in only five games. The team would dominate in Miami, and would take a demanding Game 3 with a 112-99 statement victory. The Celtics would fight back in their next game with a 90-106 win, but everyone knew the series was over by the time the Heat took Game 3, as they would win Game 5 at home 84-99 and would advance to the conference finals for the third season in a row. Chicago and Brooklyn was slightly closer, but after the Nets took Games 1 and 2 at their place, they would drop all momentum with a demoralizing 58-97 defeat in Chicago. The Nets would lose Game 4 to let the series reach a tie, and would drop the all-important Game 5 at home 105-89, as the Bulls clearly dominated a less talented Nets team, and Derrick Rose proved his superiority to that of Deron Williams. Game 6 in Chicago was a gimme for the Bulls, who took the 93-100 win to meet the Heat in the conference finals for a little re-match of last season's match-up.

In the Western Conference semi-finals, many felt the Golden State Warriors would give the Oklahoma City Thunder a run for their money, even though the Thunder came out to the 2-0 lead following their first two games at home. Game 3 was an overtime thriller in Oakland, as the Thunder would only score 2 points in five minutes, and the Warriors 6, leading to the 109-113 win for Golden State. However, that would prove how much better the Thunder really were, as they came into Game 4 and snatched the road victory 103-74, and Game 5 at home to take the series quickly, 4-1. Some analysts would give the Thunder the nod for the Western Conference championship, but they would first have to take on the winner of the Los Angeles/Sacramento series, bringing back many memories of their match-ups in the early 2000's. Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were the only players remaining from those days, but Shaquille O'Neal was an important part to that series as well, as he would take on the Lakers in an odd sight for both Kings and Lakers fans. It was a high-profile match-up, featuring the old guard against the new guard, but the Lakers would not surprisingly take both their first two games at home, featuring a 42-13 night by Andrew Bynum in Game 1. However, the Kings proved how tough it is to win at the ARCO Arena, taking Games 3 and 4 at home, but they would fail to make a statement in Game 5, losing 91-108. Thankfully, Game 6 would be a whole 'nother story, but the Lakers would take Game 7 with a decisive 86-116 final, as Bryant put his stamp on the series with a 41 point night. This would pit the Los Angeles Lakers against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a much anticipated Western Conference Finals match.



The Western Conference would finish one game before the Eastern Conference Finals, and would feature a turning point in Game 2 following an 84-91 Game 1 victory at home for the Lakers, as the Thunder were able to walk out of Staples Center with a 109-99 win. The entire Thunder roster outperformed the Lakers roster that night, and were very excited to return home in Oklahoma City to try to grab the two game lead. It would be just that as Kevin Durant had 35 exciting points for the 83-100 victory, but would lead the team with only 19 points in their next game. However, this was much more of a defensive match-up, as the Lakers brought the heat and the Thunder matched their intensity, and then some, for the 86-73 victory. Things weren't done yet, as the Lakers returned home and were cheered on towards the 98-118 response, led by Pau Gasol's 33 points and 10 rebounds. Unfortunately for Laker fans, the Thunder had the focus and maturity to close out the Lakers at home in Game 6, with a dominate 89-115 display, led by Durant who had 27 points and 11 rebounds. It was a jubilant clinic put on by the Thunder, restoring some hope in many experts that they would actually be able to contend with the Miami Heat, who themselves were involved in another seven game series.

For the Heat, Game 1 was an easy victory, putting on a superior athletic display winning 101-128 to the joy of the home crowd who were hoping for another ring. Both Game's 1 and 2 saw dominating performances by Heat's guard Dwyane Wade, finishing the first with 35 and 8 assists, and the second with 38 points and 8 rebounds. Game 2 was another win, 100-113, but as the team came into Chicago, Wade's game was completely polar to his performances two games before. The Bulls would take back Game 3 80-94, showing the world that they weren't done yet. Even more impressive, the team would come out in Game 4 and play even better basketball for the 69-89 win, as the Big Three was the only production of the Heat, while the Bulls were more spread out and able to shut down the rest of the Heat's team. Unfortunately a return to Miami wouldn't work out in their favor as the Heat came back to take a 3-2 lead on the series and a commanding 77-123 victory in Game 5, featuring a 38 point performance by Chris Bosh. Game 6 was much closer as the Bulls needed to take back a win in the series at home. They would do just that as Carlos Boozer continued to play hot, scoring 29 with 8 rebounds leading his team to the 100-110 victory. His leader Derrick Rose would finish with 24 points of his own, as well as 14 assists, while both Wade and LeBron James, who has had a quite series, led their teams in a losing effort. Finally Game 7 would come around in Miami, and Boozer would lead his team in scoring once again, but with only 17 points, it's obvious the Bulls were completely shut down during the entire game, specifically D-Rose who just couldn't get any shot to hit all game, further developing his reputation as a choker. As the Heat won 101-128, they would advance to the NBA Finals for the third time in a row, and for the first time as the defending champions against a franchise which was appearing for in the Finals for the first time since the days of the Seattle Supersonics.



The 2013 NBA Finals would certainly live up to its hype, featuring high profile match-ups, fast paced offense, high intensity defense, and a couple close finishes. Things started out on the champions' turf, as the entire Heat team played in complete harmony, with Bosh, Wade, and LeBron finishing with 26, 25, and 24 points in that respective order towards the 89-107 victory. Game 2, not surprisingly was a similar story led by LeBron James who had 31 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals in a winning effort, 73-92.

The Thunder would fight back, however, in Game 3, hosting the Heat for a 91-101 victory, as Kevin Durant was the story of the night with 32 points and 7 rebounds. Game 4 was certainly the closest game of the series, and much hinged on the ability to prevent the Heat would stealing a game on the road in Oklahoma City. The Heat would take a lead entering half time, sending some shivers down the nerves of fans, but the Thunder would come out with confidence, leading to a failed buzzer-beating shot by LeBron James , resulting in the 106-109 victory for OKC. The game would feature a 34 point night by Dwyane Wade, while James Harden continued to play well for OKC backing up KD with 25 points. Game 5 would remain in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder looked to take the important 3-2 lead at home, as experts knew they wouldn't beat the Heat if they allowed the Big Three to take a win in OKC. Thankfully they did so with a dynamite performance, restoring some hope in many doubters of the Thunder's ability to take the Finals and their first championship. Game 5 was a 77-94 finish, featuring finally a notable night from Russell Westbrook who had 24 points and 8 assists, following Durant under the umbrella of victory.

As the series turned back to Miami for the final two games, both teams would step their game up, as a high-powered offensive display would finish in a 103-115 victory for Miami, tying the series up. LeBron James led the night with 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Kevin Durant scored 30 in a losing effort, as he continued to lead his team each game. Things would all come down to Game 7 once again for Miami, as OKC was hoping and preparing for the covenant championship. Somehow, the Heat would take a 21-35 lead in the first quarter, and would score 35 more in the second quarter to take a major lead on the Thunder, which would finish in a final score of 106-126, and a second straight championship for the Miami Heat.

LeBron James would win his second NBA Finals MVP award, averaging 27.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, a .508 FG%, and 39.3 MPG.