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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
I like the Taj move. I approve of almost any Taj move. He's the type of guy that fits on just about any team in any situation and still plays his heart out. Also makes for a great veteran and mentor to the younger guys which Minnesota seem to have a decent collection of.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
I completely agree. He's the type of player that I wanted to fit next to Towns. I think it's a short-term fix, but it might be a really successful fix for a while. That's what I need while I figure out what players are part of the future core. I can rely on Taj in the interim.
Yes, it should be a nice compliment. I think KAT works better at the center spot. He's a tough match-up for most teams in that spot. It definitely makes the playoffs a possibility.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
Summer League Starts: Greer & Posey Join the Staff
July 10, 2016
The NBA Las Vegas Summer League starts today and many insiders were quick to point out some noticeable additions for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sitting next to the team's Summer League Coach Mike Longabardi were Andy Greer and James Posey. Both are reportedly joining the Timberwolves coaching staff and will be on-hand for the team's Summer League games.
Andy Greer returns to the bench next to Tom Thibodeau after a season in Toronto. When Thibodeau was fired from Chicago, Greer thought about a year away from coaching himself.
The 53-year-old Greer was then approached by Dwane Casey about joining the Raptors' staff. Greer is another disciple of Jeff Van Gundy, who got his NBA coaching career started under JVG in New York. Greer moved with Van Gundy to Houston, where he was on staff with Thibodeau.
When Thibodeau would get his first head job in the NBA, he was quick to reach out to Greer. Upon his return to the NBA, Thibs has done the same. Greer worked primarily with the backcourt and the offense. That is expected to continue in Minnesota.
James Posey was recommended to join the staff by Associate Head Coach Mike Longabardi. They both worked in Cleveland this past season. Longabardi joined the staff a year after David Blatt originally hired Posey. That was after a successful stint with the Cavalier's D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge.
Posey, a 12-year NBA veteran, appeared in 864 career games with averages of 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals with the Nuggets, Houston, Memphis, Miami, Boston, New Orleans and Indiana. The Twinsburg, Ohio native also won two NBA Championships as a player with Miami (2005-06) and Boston (2007-08, with Coach Thibodeau).
His recent playing career and on-court accolades still fresh in everyone’s minds, Posey provides relatablity in his teachings that players immediately respond to. Posey will be a "Player Development Coach" in Minnesota, a position Thibodeau added to the staff when he was hired.
The coaching staff is now full, except for the adding one more Player Development Coach. Thibodeau has made it clear he prefers former players to help aide in the team's leadership and experience.
The Timberwolves only sent three players under contract to their Vegas Summer League squad: First round pick Jaylen Brown, second year point guard Tyus Jones and Euro prospect Bojan Dubljevic. The entire staff is using it as a chance to evaluate and start working together. They brought in two men in Greer and Posey to do exactly that.Last edited by Maize08; 03-20-2016, 06:05 PM.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
July 11, 2016
Qualifying Tournaments Send Three More Nations to Olympics
Between July 3rd and July 10, FIBA hosted Olympic qualifying tournaments in three unique locations. The tournament field consisted of the top nations in the world rankings that had yet to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
The first tournament took place in Belgrade, Serbia with the hosting nation coming out on top. Serbia, led by Nemanja Bjelica, were the favorite and won every game by a margin of 12 points per contest.
The most competitive QT took place in the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Philippines. Turkey and France met in the finals, as expected, and Turkey survived with a terrific effort in the finals by Cedi Osman. France held the higher world ranking, and will be the highest ranked nation to not compete in the 2016 Olympics.
Finally, the Qualifying Tournaments concluded in Turin, Italy. Host country Italy was quick to exit, while Croatia and Greece coasted to the Finals. Croatia took an early lead, led by the hot shooting of Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja. Greece would contain the shooting barrage in the second half, winning by five.
Serbia, Turkey and Greece complete the 12 nation field. While the United States is the clear favorite for the Gold Medal, it's a wide open field for what country will compete with the United States at the top.
USA Basketball Names 12-Man Roster for Rio
The US men's National basketball team just completed their round of exhibition games and practices. Those practices were attended by many of the top players in the NBA, fighting for one of twelve spots on the final roster.
Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, coaching the USA team for the final time in Rio, was quick to put to bed roster rumors. Announcing the final roster earlier than anticipated, the press release started by exclaiming that LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony will indeed be competing for their third straight Gold Medal.
Joining James and Anthony, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry joins the mix for the first time. He is joined by teammate Klay Thompson, along with other guards Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard and James Harden.
Many of these players competed in the FIBA World Cup in 2014, including big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. One surprise on the roster came in the front court, when LaMarcus Aldridge was picked over Kevin Love and Andre Drummond (who both competed in the FIBA World Cup).
Completing the roster is 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant and 2015 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard. Durant and Leonard round out a versatile, star-studded and exciting roster for Team USA.
The men's Olympic basketball tournament starts on August 6th, concluding on August 21st. The draw is expected to be announced later this week.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
Wolves Bring Back Mbah a Moute
July 13, 2016
Free Agency has calmed down, with few moves being announced now in the second week of July. The Timberwolves have signed their 13th player under contract for the 2016-17 season. Luc Mbah a Moute signed a one year deal worth $2,898,000, likely the last player to get a guaranteed deal with the Timberwolves for next season.
The team signed Mbah a Moute using their under cap mid-level exception. Mbah a Moute was expected to return to the Clippers, after missing part of last season to an injury. Head Coach Doc Rivers valued the UCLA product, especially when Blake Griffin was sidelined last season. Instead, Mbah a Moute signed to play with Rivers' friend and former assistsant, Tom Thibodeau.
Mbah a Moute, who turns 30 in September, had been a member of the Timberwolves for the second half of the 2013-14 season. That was after the team traded Derrick Williams to Sacramento; Mbah a Moute appeared in 55 games in Minnesota.
Last year, he became a key role player for the Clippers. A talented defender that can play both forward positions, Mbah a Moute had found a new life in the NBA recently.
Described by General Manager Milt Newton, Mbah a Moute fits what teams are looking for in today's game. "(Mbah a Moute) is the perfect role player, forward, he's the type of guy you can rely on for good minutes off the bench. He has that veteran savvy and he is a nice complimentary player on this roster."
Praised by the front office, Mbah a Moute returns to Minnesota and will again have to fight for minutes. Likely to see time at Power Forward, that means playing behind Taj Gibson and Nemanja Bjelica.
His signing does mean the Timberwolves are now finished with free agency. Not likely to make any changes before training camp, the team could be quiet until after the Olympic break. That's when Thibodeau will return to the team and start preparing for the 2016-17 season.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
Timberwolves Summer League Review
July 25, 2016
The Monday after Las Vegas Summer League; Head Coach Tom Thibodeau was back in Minneapolis to break down tape and evaluate the Vegas results with some members of the front office. Ryan Saunders was on-hand, as he was for most of the team's activity in Las Vegas. Both Saunders and Thibodeau were happy with the team's performance. Now they're using the next few days to consider which players might have earned an invite to the team's training camp.
While training camp doesn't open until the end of September, Thibodeau believed it was a good time. Especially with the team's roster at 13, he did mention in Las Vegas that the team might add another player for the season opener.
Some of those candidates for the last spot potentially played under Mike Longabardi on the Summer League squad. Coach Longabardi, the team's Associate Head Coach, adds Summer League Head Coach to his responsibilities. He was joined on the bench by Andy Greer and James Posey. In his closing comments, he was surprised by the play of the team as a whole.
"From where we started, to where we ended, it was impressive." said Coach Longabardi, regarding the team's Summer League performance.
The Timberwolves would go 3-3 in Summer League play, starting with two losses and ending the exhibition round at 1-2. That put the team in the #22 spot in the Summer League Bracket. From that spot, Minnesota would win two straight games to play their way into the Quarterfinals.
In the Quarterfinal round, Minnesota would play the #3 seed Denver. The Nuggets would go on to win 89-80 with big performances from big men Ivan Rabb and Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets would finish runner-up in Vegas.
Minnesota's run to the Quarterfinals was unexpected and led by two players in particular. Tyus Jones, second year point guard out of Duke, shot 40% from 3PT range and scored 15+ points in the team's three wins.
Rakeem Christmas, a Syracuse product, spent last season in the D-League and was using the Summer League to showcase himself for a potential roster spot in the NBA. That spot might come with the T'Wolves, who were impressed with the 6'9" forward's play.
Christmas ended with a team-high 8 rebounds per game, including a 14 rebounds effort against the D-League Showcase team. Christmas, now 24, was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015. His rights were traded to Cleveland and he then jumped around the D-League. The former All-ACC player and a D-League All Star in 2016, Christmas believes he is ready for the NBA.
Christmas wasn't the only big man to succeed with the T'Wolves in Vegas. Bojan Dubljevic was signed just weeks ago, and looked rusty in the team's first three games. After getting his legs under him, Bojan would run up 10 points against Denver and show his outstanding athleticism for a player of his size.
The other player under contract and playing in the Summer League was rookie Jaylen Brown. Brown was the player everyone had their eye on, after being selected sixth by Minnesota in June's draft. Brown was struggling mightily on the offensive end, but already showed his potential on the defensive end. Then came the game against Denver. Brown would score a game-high 17 points, shooting 6/13 from the field and notching three steals and two blocks.
Bojan, Brown and Tyus Jones started every game during the team's bracket play. They were joined in the starting lineup by Rakeem Christmas and Vander Blue. Blue, a standout D-League player, has been twice selected to the D-League All-Star Game. The sharpshooting Marquette product is expected to be invited to Minnesota's training camp for a possible roster spot.
Overall, Las Vegas is always the NBA's first taste at the future. It's where many first saw Stephen Curry, where Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns formerly dominated the competition. Heading into a new NBA season, Minnesota will be one of the intriguing teams to follow in the Association. The team's Summer League performance shows there is still work to do.Last edited by Maize08; 03-24-2016, 05:55 PM.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
NBA Power Rankings - Teams #26-30
26. Milwaukee Bucks
Starting Five: Michael Carter-Williams/Khris Middleton/Giannis Antetokounmpo/Jabari Parker/Greg Monroe
Additions: PF/C Thomas Robinson, PG Wade Baldwin
Big Question: Can the team find some chemistry, defense, & shooting at the same time?
27. Phoenix Suns
Starting Five: Eric Bledsoe/Brandon Knight/T.J. Warren/Nerlens Noel/Alex Len
Additions: Head Coach Scott Brooks, PF/C Nerlens Noel, C/PF Amare Stoudemire, SG Rodney Stuckey,
SF Mo Harkless
Big Question: Can the backcourt stay healthy? Can a NerLen frontcourt work?
28. Denver Nuggets
Starting Five: Emmanuel Mudiay/Gary Harris/Danilo Gallinari/Kenneth Faried/Nikola Jokic
Additions: PG Shane Larkin, PF Ivan Rabb
Big Question: How do the Nuggets clear the logjam at the forward spots?
29. Philadelphia 76ers
Starting Five: Ish Smith/Archie Goodwin/Brandon Ingram/Joel Embiid/Jahlil Okafor
Additions: PF/SF Dario Saric, PF Jon Leuer, PG Kris Dunn, SG Archie Goodwin
Big Question: First year “competing”; Does Embiid/Okafor frontcourt work?
30. Brooklyn Nets
Starting Five: Cory Joseph/Eric Gordon/Rondae Hollis-Jefferson/Patrick Patterson/Meyers Leonard
Additions: Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, PG Cory Joseph, SG Eric Gordon, PF Patrick Patterson,
PF/C Andrew Nicholson, C Meyers Leonard, SG Denzel Valentine
Big Question: Year Zero?Last edited by Maize08; 03-25-2016, 01:27 PM.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
NBA Power Rankings - Teams #21-25
21. New York Knicks
Starting Five: Jerian Grant/Arron Afflalo/Carmelo Anthony/Kristaps Porzingis/Robin Lopez
Additions: Head Coach Brian Shaw, PG Shaun Livingston, SG/SF Andre Roberson, SG/PG Marcus Thornton
Big Question: What will it take to get ‘Melo and Zinger to the playoffs?
22. L.A. Lakers
Starting Five: D’Angelo Russell/Lou Williams/Evan Fournier/Julius Randle/Festus Ezeli
Additions: Head Coach Luke Walton, C Festus Ezeli, SF/PF Matt Barnes, PG Tyler Ennis
Big Question: Younger Lakers take steps to rebuild, who steps up to take the lead after Kobe?
23. Sacramento Kings
Starting Five: Rajon Rondo/Buddy Hield/P.J. Tucker/DeMarcus Cousins/Willie Cauley-Stein
Additions: Head Coach Mark Jackson, PF/C Henry Ellenson, SF P.J. Tucker, C/PF Tiago Splitter
Big Question: Do the pieces fit together? Can Rondo repeat his ‘15-’16 performance?
24. Orlando Magic
Starting Five: Elfrid Payton/Victor Oladipo/Jared Dudley/Aaron Gordon/Nikola Vucevic
Additions: PF/C Terrence Jones, SF/PF Jared Dudley, SF/SG Timothe Luwawu
Big Question: Adding vets, is this the year the young Magic turn the corner post-Dwight?
25. Minnesota Timberwolves
Starting Five: Ricky Rubio/Andrew Wiggins/Shabazz Muhammad/Taj Gibson/Karl-Anthony Towns
Additions: Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, PF Taj Gibson, PG/SG Jerryd Bayless
Big Question: What difference can Coach Thibs make in his first year?Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
Can you post full power rankings. Dont want to wait a week to see the power rankings.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
2016-17 Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview
September 12, 2016
Headline: Minnesota Welcomes Tom Thibodeau. Or should we say, member of the Team USA Gold Medal team. Coach Thibodeau comes to Minnesota, highly respected and ready to work. His five seasons in Chicago included some incredible accomplishments: A 60-win season, Coach of the Year in 2011, five straight playoff appearances, coaching the league MVP (Derrick Rose) and coaching a top five defensive team in each season.
His NBA coaching career started long before then, as a top assistant under Doc Rivers and Jeff Van Gundy. His defensive tactics, focus on player development and legendary game preparation make him a perfect fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season will be a test, as he learns the roster and tries to figure out the team’s future core.
New Faces: Minnesota did not make any big splashes this off-season. They did fill their roster to 13 players, highlighted by their first round pick Jaylen Brown. Brown is the ultra-athletic wing player out of Cal., taken 6th in the NBA Draft. He is still raw on the offensive end, and tends to foul too much defensively. Overall, the 19-year-old is a player that might play his way into the rotation right away.
In free agency, the Timberwolves targeted veterans that could make an immediate impact. They traded Gorgui Dieng for Taj Gibson, a move that was met with some criticism. Dieng is still young, only just finishing his third season in the NBA. However, the team did not view him as part of the core moving forward. They opted for a player that was familiar with Coach Thibs. Gibson is a consistent veteran that will provide solid defense next to any big man he is paired with. While he is coming off an injury plagued season, he is reportedly in top shape and ready to compete for the starting spot at the four.
The team signed Jerryd Bayless and Luc Mbah a Moute, two capable and versatile veterans. Bayless gives the bench unit a strong shooter and another ball handler. Mbah a Moute and guard 2 through 4, and was a favorite of Doc Rivers.
Minnesota also continued their recent stretch of bringing over Euro prospects. They owned the rights to Bojan Dubljevic, a big man that plays like a “stretch five.” His big frame and great footwork allow him to score easily inside-and-out. There’s no telling how he will translate to the NBA, although his performance in Summer League left many questioning his defense and pointing out that he’s turnover prone.
Frontcourt: Karl-Anthony Towns is entering into his second year in the NBA, but is arguably the best player on the T-Wolves. Towns knows he is starting, and Thibodeau has preferred to use him at the center spot. Expectations are high for year two, with All Star consideration possible if he can continue his ‘15-’16 production. After being snubbed for Rookie of the Year (that honor going to Jahlil Okafor), Towns seems determined to prove his doubters wrong this season.
An Achilles injury sidelined Nikola Pekovic for 70 games last year. He will come into training camp healthy and looking to earn a starting spot with the Wolves. He will be competing with Nemanja Bjelica and Gibson to start next to Towns. Pek doesn’t have many minutes logged with Towns, so there’s no advantage any player seems to have in terms of ‘chemistry.’ Pekovic has dealt with injuries for two years now, and is hoping to return to his production in the two previous seasons (averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds Per36).
Bjelica, affectionately known as “Belly,” was a surprise to many last season. His rookie season seemed to peak around Christmas; he saw his minutes and shooting percentages all drop after Jan. 1. He just led Serbia to the Bronze medal in Rio, and his legend grew with a spotlight performance against Argentina in the Third-place game. Only playing just 70 minutes next to Towns, it will be up to the coaching staff to evaluate if he deserves a starting nod or even a bulk of the minutes at the four-spot.
Shabazz Muhammad is listed as a forward on the team’s website, but he is still expected to be a wing player this season. While Coach Longabardi mentioned some possible stretch-4 looks for Muhammad, he seems locked in to the wing rotation this season. A flashy and streaky scorer, Muhammad is another player that’s fighting for a starting job. Coach Thibodeau has questioned what else Shabazz offers besides his scoring. Many are wondering if that’s enough with the defensive-minded Thibs in charge.
Backcourt: Last year’s team-leading scorer and former Rookie of the Year, Andrew Wiggins has already proven so much in just two seasons. He is a capable defender, usually tasked with guarding the opponent’s best player one through three. His scoring is up, although it was less efficient last year. Wiggins may have been surpassed last year as the team’s best player. Although he showed flashes of the ability that made him a phenom back in high school.
What is Wiggins’ next step? The question looms before training camp. Can he lead the team in scoring, improve with the ball in his hand, facilitate more of the offense and continue to give top effort on the defensive end? Can he challenge for an All-Star roster spot? Or even challenge to be considered the best player on the team? Wiggins has been a humble and quiet player, already following the lead of Towns. It was Towns who motivated Wiggins to watch more film. So the next step for Wiggins might be accelerated by a coaching staff that will demand more effort in practice from him.
“Time will tell” might be a theme this season. Towns and Wiggins seem destined for more, but they’re both not even old enough to drink legally. So the catalyst this season may be point guard Ricky Rubio. Rubio is a polarizing figure in today’s NBA. He can do everything but shoot, and that makes it difficult for Rubio to produce offensively.
The big story this offseason was Rubio showing more touch around the basket, often going to an arsenal of moves that were reminiscent of Tony Parker. A crafty Rubio that can improve his chances to score could alter this team’s future. The team is already better when he’s on the floor. He survived the trade talks and earned the coach’s approval. This is still a make-or-break season for Rubio in Minnesota.
Elsewhere in the backcourt, Zach LaVine is pushing for a starting spot. Believed to be a deserved spot after his final 15 games last season; LaVine seems a perfect fit at the two-guard spot. After experimenting with him at point guard, Head Coach Sam Mitchell finally allowed LaVine to play off-the-ball, primarily with Rubio.
This season, it remains to be seen if Thibodeau prefers LaVine or Muhammad in the starting lineup. LaVine has definitely carved out a chunk of minutes, possibly already a larger role than Muhammad (no matter who starts). The two-time dunk champ shot almost 40% from deep, showing he can do more the just dunk. His defense and ball-handling remains a concern, but that could be off-set if he plays with Rubio and Wiggins.
Tyus Jones went from highly touted high school prospect in Minnesota, to Duke, back to Minnesota when he was selected by the Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA Draft. After helping Duke win the National Championship, Jones slipped in the draft when scouts worried about his size and shooting. When he got his shot in the pros, after being activated from the D-League, Jones started to show why he was a steal at pick #24.
Jones shot 36% from 3-point range, had a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and proved he wouldn’t be a pushover on the defensive end. He continued to make a positive impression in Vegas just last month, leading the Timberwolves team in scoring, assists and steals. Only a few months removed from turning 20, Jones has a chance to push for more playing time this season. He could replace Rubio when the team is looking for more outside shooting. If his positive play continues, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Jones could be starting by the end of the season (over Rubio).
Prediction: 35-47, 4th in Northwest Division. A three-win improvement doesn’t seem like a big step in Thibodeau’s first year. However, people need to keep in mind that Minnesota will be sporting one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Beyond that, it’s a budding roster that is working with a new Head Coach and entirely new system. Thibodeau will make an impact that will be felt immediately. It just might not result in wins for another season. Players like Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns will now be groomed by one of the most respected coaches in the NBA.
Keep in mind, the Northwest Division is improving and may feature three playoff teams in the upcoming season. Utah is young and quickly improved, behind a defense that is expected to be one of the five best in the league. Portland has rebuilt nicely and just missed the playoffs last year. Then there’s Oklahoma City, looking to make a title run after Kevin Durant re-upped and signed a one year deal with the Thunder. Minnesota is likely to compete with Denver as two up-and-coming teams that aren’t quite ready for a playoff run.Comment
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Re: Maize's Timberwolves (NBA 2K16)
NBA Power Rankings - Teams #16-20
16. Indiana Pacers
Starting Five: George Hill/Monta Ellis/Paul George/Myles Turner/Tyson Chandler
Additions: PF/C David Lee, C Tyson Chandler, PG Demetrius Jackson
Big Question: Added depth and experience helps the defense, what’s the team’s identity?
17. Portland Trail Blazers
Starting Five: Damian Lillard/C.J. McCollum/Allen Crabbe/Jared Sullinger/Jakob Poeltl
Additions: PG Jeff Teague, PF/C Jared Sullinger, SF/PF James Johnson, PF Ersan Ilyasova
Big Question: What’s the next step, or is this just year two of a rebuilding project?
18. Dallas Mavericks
Starting Five: Deron Williams/Jamal Murray/Chandler Parsons/Dirk Nowitzki/Zaza Pachulia
Additions: SG/PG Jamal Murray, PG/SG Tony Wroten, SG O.J. Mayo, C/PF Spencer Hawes, PF Brice Johnson
Big Question: Mavs got younger around Dirk, are they still a playoff team?
19. Charlotte Hornets
Starting Five: Kemba Walker/Wes Matthews/Michael Kidd-Gilchrist/Nic Batum/Frank Kaminsky
Additions: SG/SF Wes Matthews, PF/C Nene, PF/C Andrea Bargnani, SF/SG Corey Brewer
Big Question: Lots of changes, can this team still defend/handle big men?
20. Houston Rockets
Starting Five: Patrick Beverley/James Harden/Trevor Ariza/Ryan Anderson/Clint Capela
Additions: PF/SF Ryan Anderson, SG J.R Smith, SF/SG Gerald Green, PF Adreian Payne
Big Question: Rockets have stalled, are they in the market to make a move?Comment
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