Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 12:01 am  |  84 responses

Post Up: T-Wolves Falling

While the Young (Money) Buck was stopped in SA.

by Holly MacKenzie/@stackmack

Before I even jump into anything that happened yesterday or last night, I’d like to apologize to Knicks fans everywhere for being misinformed about the Al Harrington free throw situation in yesterday’s Post Up. I don’t know, I swear the highlight showed him missing the first. Anyway, I was wrong and I’m sorry.

Congrats to Harrington for making both free throws. Congrats to the C’s for getting the W.

I noticed we had a piece on Vince Carter posted here on the site yesterday. When the Magic were practicing in town, I had a chance to talk with Vince in depth about his time in Toronto, and then followed up with a couple of q’s postgame, including asking him about the John Thompson interview. Here’s my piece for The Score. VC, My take, five years later.

Anyone else feel for Tracy McGrady right now? His team is playing well and gelling without him, he wants to come back, he’s getting paid a whole lot of money to play basketball this season and it appears as though his team would rather him be in a suit watching from the sidelines. I get that they want to ensure he’s healthy, but it seems like there’s something odd going on in Houston.

Logic would have told me that the Bucks would have a tough game against the Spurs and that Brandon Jennings would have a tough night of his own, going up against Tony Parker. My brain doesn’t always work logically, though, and I was hoping for a shock win on the road in SA for Milwaukee. As you can probably guess, I didn’t get it with SA taking the 112-98 victory. Jennings also had more than a rough game, shooting just 6-for-21 from the floor.

Michael Redd was back for the Bucks and rusty would be the grade I’d give him on his performance. Hakim Warrick was solid for Milwaukee off of the bench, while Redd played just 11 minutes but was still 1-for-3 from the floor and just 1-for-6 from the free throw line. Tim Duncan was the TD we know and love, scoring 24 points to go with 12 rebounds, while Matt Bonner found another team besides the Raptors that allows him to go wild, scoring 23 points off of the bench on 7-for-10 shooting, including a 6-for-8 performance from downtown as the Bucks tried collapsing inside. Didn’t really work for them last night.

Another big night for Tyreke Evans with 28 points, but his team took the L to Memphis, dropping 116-105. Jason Thompson was just 3-for-10 from the floor and he definitely killed my fantasy team as I forgot to change the lineups and he was my sole contributor on the night. Ouch. OJ Maaaaayo with 10-for-10 from the line and 2-for-3 from downtown as he scored 20 points on just eight shots. Rudy Gay added 24 and eight while Marc Gasol swatted four shots and also scored 18 points. Anyone else checking out the Grizz as much to see Tinsley as to see the young guys?

Portland dismantled the Bulls, 122-98, as they shot 57% from the floor in the game and pulled away late, outscoring Chicago 32-18 in the final period. LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden were huge for the Blazers, as Aldridge scored 24 points to go with 12 rebounds and Oden finished with 24 points and 12 boards. Brandon Roy scored 18 to go along with seven assists as Andre Miller came off of the bench and scored 16, while adding five helpers. The Blazers had a good flow going in the fourth as the Bulls simply could not keep up.

With all of this talk about the Nets, I’ve been avoiding Minny’s troubles. Oh, J. Flynn, I believe in you, just not your team right now. Yikes. 1-13 on the season after a 91-87 loss to the Clippers. Flynn had 17 and five in the loss while Marcus Camby was a beast, gobbling up 18 rebounds for the Clippers to go with his 12 points, four assists, three steals and blocked shot. Al Thornton (who will always have a special place in my heart, as my first print piece in SLAM the mag) had a great night, scoring 31 and grabbing 10 boards and our point guard Bassy scored 17 off of the bench.

Does Bassy still get love from the SLAM crew? He def still gets love from me.

ps What has happened to Ramon Sessions? Remember the numbers the guy was putting up not long ago? Feels like that was a different era, right?

pps Thoughts go out to Don Nelson, who was diagnosed with pneumonia. Get well soon, Nellie.

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  • riggs Posted: Nov.24 at 9:17 am
    Oden was a beast last night, man if he can make those numbers while staying out of foul trouble the blazers can be a problem to opposing teams.

  • 360vue Posted: Nov.24 at 9:25 am
    Lol riggs.I was literally going to emphasise the same point. Good to see old man Oden playing some quality ball! Hope he keeps it up.

  • 360vue Posted: Nov.24 at 9:36 am
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGsRnfSZ_7w DRose on Oden

  • Michael Posted: Nov.24 at 9:37 am
    Al did have 8 to’s as well

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 9:46 am
    I’ve been saying all year oden is beasting right now. 11 points 8 board 2.5 blocks and 65% from the field and 80% from the line or something is outrageous. Especially in 24 mpg.

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Nov.24 at 9:54 am
    Ya Brian those number are cool, just not for a number one pick. 11 and 8 are Kurt Thomas numbers.

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Nov.24 at 9:55 am
    Bryan*

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 9:57 am
    Kurt thomas didn’t have microfracture surgery and those were the kind of numbers he put up in 40 minutes. If oden played 40 minutes you’re looking at 16 14 and 4.

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Nov.24 at 10:05 am
    16,14,4 and 6 fouls.

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Nov.24 at 10:07 am
    Also, peep the slamatheday, its one of 2 that could have been picked over Oden yesterday. The Noah one was probably nastier too.

  • Atrain Posted: Nov.24 at 10:24 am
    Oden still a walking foul

  • DP Posted: Nov.24 at 10:24 am
    I just have to get my college bball info out there right now…..Avery Bradley got next. I think the kid is better than John wall but that’s just me. Texas looked pretty sick last night. play wit it.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.24 at 10:29 am
    I must admit I haven’t been watching or paying much attention to Portland so far this season. It appears I may have to.

  • DP Posted: Nov.24 at 10:30 am
    Blame BETCATS for the faulty assumption of Ramon sessions. He made me into a believer for a little while too. play wit it.

  • A-Money Posted: Nov.24 at 10:30 am
    McGrady was the one that chose to sit out more than a few games when he was healthy. KARMA is a bi*ch

  • DP Posted: Nov.24 at 10:31 am
    Yeah TAD, that might be smart. I’ve been paying attention to your boys because of my fantasy team and I just don’t know where to go with you guys. Might be another long year in D-town. play wit it.

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 10:40 am
    Oden will eventually learn how to limit his fouls and last night was a glimpse of what could happen when he does. I don’t know that he will ever be a dominant offensive force but ill go out on a limb and say he will be better than Dwight of that side of the ball.

  • DP Posted: Nov.24 at 10:53 am
    Oden will get buckets as long as he stays out of foul trouble. Portland is pretty damn good when both of their low post presences are dominating both sides of the ball. It opens up more for rudy, roy, and miller. blazers will be a problem this postseason. play wit it.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.24 at 11:10 am
    I’m not sure where to go with the Pistons either but I didn’t expect to know anything for certain until we played at least 20 games. We just have had too much change to know anything right away. Unfortunately, the injuries to Rip and Tay have pushed that back a bit.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.24 at 11:25 am
    Don’t underestimate the fact that Oden was going against Noah, and he may have felt more comfortable battling a cat he used to see in college. His offense is still rusty, but he can definitely be what they need on defense and on the glass.

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.24 at 11:36 am
    Oden and Noah are very friendly, too.

  • OneSun Posted: Nov.24 at 11:38 am
    Sessions IS good. Go back and watch him on the Bucks. It just seems that everything that goes on or through Minnesota these days turns into a fraction of what it should be.
    P.S The headline should read “Timberwolves failing…everyone”
    P.P.S Are ‘p.s” still used?

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 11:41 am
    Noah is also known strictly for his defense. But oden is still only 21 too by the time he’s 24 I expect he’ll be around 19 and 13 with a bunch of blocks. Barring injury of course.

  • OneSun Posted: Nov.24 at 11:44 am
    Oden’s biggest problem is who was drafted number 2 in his draft. He can’t do anything about it but he’s forever going to be compared to KD. And if that’s the case, it’s only fair to compare them on both ends of the court – both are excelling at one end but not the other.

  • Brad Long Posted: Nov.24 at 11:47 am
    Noah banged one on Oden too. But Rose’s was better.

  • niQ Posted: Nov.24 at 11:49 am
    Noah probably screams more.
    Oh and Holly, I think Aldridge had 13 rebounds. As well, Ramon Sessions is not the same player he was in previous years cause the coach is simply not playing him as much. The coach wants to utilize Flynn as much as he can and all that talk about playing 2 PG’s at once was BS. Milwaukee on the other hand “was” doing it just fine with Brandon Jennings and Ridnour. Ridnour was putting up some good numbers for a minute. But I guess with Redd back, you won’t be seeing 2 point guards at once anymore.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.24 at 12:01 pm
    The Bucks are still playing the two point guards. It works for them and Skiles has been a fan of that since Chicago. I actually like when teams relax the idea of point guard and shooting guard. Back in the day, things were less rigid.

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 12:06 pm
    Ridnour looked very good his second year in seattle his regression is very disapointing.

  • niQ Posted: Nov.24 at 12:08 pm
    I have Oden is both of my fantasy leagues. Clearly I am expecting big things. All he needs now is the minutes.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.24 at 12:27 pm
    Why was Ron Artest half-naked on television?

  • 360vue Posted: Nov.24 at 12:44 pm
    @AllenP you got a link for that? Was it a Starbury kinda vibe? Any tears and music involved? And yes, definitely good to see less pedantism on the issue of positions, most guards/forwards are ballers, therefore should and could be trusted in a variety positions

  • Holly MacKenzie Posted: Nov.24 at 12:51 pm
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5O3g4bgjVI part two is linked in there as well. Ron is a unique one, that guy.

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 12:57 pm
    Why has it been so dead lately.

  • Anton Posted: Nov.24 at 1:04 pm
    Can’t believe no one is reporting the biggest story in basketball: Former Atlanta Hawks cheerleader Brandy Blair is doing p0rn!
    YES! With the facial! **Marv Albert voice**

  • Brad Long Posted: Nov.24 at 1:06 pm
    If that’s the worst thing Ron does all season, we’re good.

  • karma Posted: Nov.24 at 1:19 pm
    Love the VC article Holly. My feelings exactly. I still love that dude, he was a childhood hero.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.24 at 1:21 pm
    Ridnour didn’t really regress. He was never as good as the hype implied. He played zero defense, was a nice, but not lights out shooter, and could be rattled by pressure. There is no way he should have been invited to try out for USA basketball.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.24 at 3:01 pm
    I still don’t know why Z dislikes swingmen like Rudy and Thornton.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.24 at 3:03 pm
    Yeah… Where was Derrick Rose ranked on SLAM’s list again? Where?

  • niQ Posted: Nov.24 at 3:11 pm
    Brandon Jennings > Derrick Rose. Just saying..

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.24 at 3:20 pm
    Opportunistic chucking and worse than a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio are not the makings of a franchise point guard. But Ill give Flynn time. However much time it takes for Rubio to get here.

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers Posted: Nov.24 at 3:29 pm
    Sorry Holly but I bealive the story yesterday was not Minny strugles!! how is that news?!dont get it…maybe G-Oden having a complete game, hope he can keep it up…show some love for the big fella!

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers Posted: Nov.24 at 3:42 pm
    also, yeah, GREAT SLAM RANKING ON D-ROSE!!LMFAO…look, hes a great young player but HES NOT THE 17 OR EVEN THE 30 BEST PLAYER YET!!he will be but how can this great mag make such a mistake when all of us saw what was obvious!

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.24 at 4:04 pm
    I remember arguing with people on here telling me how much better Flynn is than Rubio and Jennings. Ah, how I love being right.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.24 at 4:23 pm
    I liked him because he was stronger and more agile than Bassy, which allows him to get to the rack and score with contact. A tough and uncontainable point would allow us to have a more dynamic offense and make things easier for Al along with our less talented players. Problem is, hes not a pure point and Bassy is. His shot selection is terrible, he has sporadic awareness of timing/spacing and half of the passes he does bother to make go sailing out of bounds as he stares the intended recipient as though they shouldve known he was goign to attempt such madness. He averages like 3 APG in about 30 minutes and even more turnovers. Maybe its the fact that AL isnt at full strength, Love is out and theyre learning a new system (which they hardly ever run, by the way) but the Wolves are 10th in league pace, yet around 30th in offense. Hes certainly had his contributions to that problem. All I can hope for at this point is that he becomes worthwhile trade bait, Rubio reconsiders and we land a worthwhile free agent this summer. Otherwise, shoot me. RIght here. Please.

  • HangTime Hec Posted: Nov.24 at 4:23 pm
    niQ beat me to it…….So ill type it again for good measure. Jennings > Rose. Just saying…again.

  • 360vue Posted: Nov.24 at 4:31 pm
    @SportingLisbon. shut up, I really don’t like the arrogance of the ‘all of us saw what was obvious’… I really dont get why hindsight makes people think they’re fcuking experts, any redneck moron could make a solid point using hindsight. Anyway you haven’t even really grasped what the rankings were about so please stfu.

  • TADOne Posted: Nov.24 at 4:35 pm
    I’ve never saw Flyyn as a PG anyway. He never really was one in college either; I saw Devendorf setting up the offense as much as Flynn did. He just has that PG height but doesn’t have the overall awareness that a PG should have.
    However, I think he could get there because he works hard.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Nov.24 at 4:48 pm
    Hey, at least Jonny Flynn had a better game than Baron Davis.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.24 at 4:50 pm
    Shutup, you.

  • niQ Posted: Nov.24 at 5:24 pm
    High five HangTime Hec!

  • Dacre Posted: Nov.24 at 5:55 pm
    Who is this Baron Davis you speak of?

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers Posted: Nov.24 at 6:10 pm
    @360vue: dude, take a f#ckin chill pill, youre like a nervous litle girl…I stated facts, Im not sayin this cuz Rose is off to a slow start, I said it while the rankings were being disclosed..also Rose´s better than Jennings defensivly! Jonny Flynm is having the bad luck of being in Minny, if he was like in Denver instead of Lawson coming of the bench he would be ver usefull i think

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.24 at 6:17 pm
    Whoa, cool down 360. He was making a very valid point. It was pretty obvious that Derrick Rose was ranked WAY too high by SLAM. He wasn’t being arrogant, that’s just the way it is. I don’t know about “we all,” but many of the commenters complained about it since day 1.

  • Z Posted: Nov.24 at 6:22 pm
    We’re giving up on Flynn after 10 games? We won’t even give him the full year to grasp the hardest position to learn at the NBA level? We’ve been too spoiled with Brandon Jennings and D-Rose killing from the jump. Rookie point guards go through growing pains. He’s a hard worker, he’ll learn. What are we going to say when Rubio gets there and shoots for 30% after 10 games and posts 5 and 5? (could very well happen and would not be the end of the world) Breathe.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.24 at 6:28 pm
    Whats this ‘we’ sh*t? You speak French? From what Ive seen so far, hes not who I thought he was and from my observation, one either possesses those instincts or they dont. They usually arent honed (Paul, Williams, Rose, Jennings, etc. Besides Nash, I cant think of one point guards that didnt immediately display flashes of brilliance). He was professed to be one of the best pure point guards in the draft. Hes clearly not. Time will make him a better player, but not the elite player that is needed here.

  • Sarah Posted: Nov.24 at 6:36 pm
    The tough night for Jennings had a lot to do with George Hill. That kid is scary.

  • nbk Posted: Nov.24 at 7:21 pm
    Cosign Myles, although Nash pretty much showed how good he was in the fast break his 2nd season. He just never really ran until he came back. Dallas was like half running, but that team was more about ball movement then creating. And (IMO) picking Flynn above Curry, and Jennings was a trendy idea, it wasn’t really very logical, dude hasnt been consistently better then them at any level. Everyone picked in the lottery has the potential for big games, maybe not 6 overtime games, but big games nonetheless… Curry dominated the nation on a consistent basis, and Jennings proved capable of conforming in Europe…and his potential was obvious, he was a proven prospect coming out of high school.

  • Z Posted: Nov.24 at 7:38 pm
    Je parle très bien français, en effet. / A pure point? Uhh… I don’t know what to tell you then. Did you even watch him at Cuse? He’s not a pure point but he doesn’t have to be either. A really good player will do. Carefully glossed over the fact that it took Chauncey at least 3-4 years to figure things out. Flynn will be fine, he’ll be a tremendous player and a great leader. nbk, I really don’t know how you can make the argument that Curry should have been selected ahead of Flynn. EVERYBODY missed Jennings, everybody.

  • nbk Posted: Nov.24 at 7:53 pm
    i value consistency more then big performances…I see flynn as a Nate Robinson type player not a star pg. Curry could find his niche and really dominate imo

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.24 at 8:48 pm
    Johnny Flynn is more of a point guard than Stephen Curry, is he not?

  • Bryan Posted: Nov.24 at 8:49 pm
    Yeah a great leader of a 1 and 13 team. Gtfoh.

  • Z Posted: Nov.24 at 9:10 pm
    They would have totally won 2 or 3 games with Rubio in that line up, I can tell you that.

  • Shem Posted: Nov.24 at 9:58 pm
    Ricky Rubio shouldn’t have been drafted in the top 15. Hes not athletic, he can’t shoot the only thing he can do is pass and manage the offense. Your looking at a white chauncey billups with no post up game, no jump shot no athleticism. By the way Greg Oden isn’t a bust. If he played as many minutes as Durant it wouldnt be as bad as people make it especially when Durant is the best player (by far) on the team. But then again woulda this woulda that Durant is amazing and Oden is.. meh

  • Hangtime Hec Posted: Nov.24 at 10:25 pm
    (High Five Connected!) I know its early, and premature, but Jennings for All star game? Or am I milking this a little to much?

  • Brad Long Posted: Nov.25 at 9:44 am
    So, no new post up?

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers Posted: Nov.25 at 10:12 am
    NO POST UP FOR THE WARRIORS????????

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.25 at 11:29 am
    Myles
    You forgot about Chauncey. Chauncey sucked early, but grew into a great point guard.

  • Myles Brown Posted: Nov.25 at 2:08 pm
    I did forget about Chauncey. Didnt think that hard. BUt those are the only two instances, right? Nash and Billups? So are we saying that Flynn will turn into two time league MVP or just a Finals MVP? Cause Im probably the only person in this room who watches the Wolves and I just dont see it. Point guards are born, not made. All the hard work in the world isnt gonna make this kid grow either.

  • nbk Posted: Nov.25 at 2:13 pm
    ive watched 5 wolves games this year. I really see him as a spark dude. Right between Nate Robinson and Louis Williams

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.25 at 3:08 pm
    Myles
    Oh, I have no idea about Flynn. I have no desire to watch the T-Wolves on League Pass.
    Now, the Bucks and Thunder? Hell yeah.
    On that note, man the Thunder were serving the Jazz last night. I can see why so many of y’all are enamored with Durant. Most of the games I’ve caught his jumpers was off or something, but last night he had the entire aresnal working and they were just destroying the Jazz. The Thunder have a good shot at making the playoffs this year in my opinion.

  • nbk Posted: Nov.25 at 3:22 pm
    i had the Thunder as the 9th team in the west. But I didn’t see NO falling off THIS much. As well as Utah.

  • rainman10 Posted: Nov.25 at 3:32 pm
    Whoever says Chauncey sucked early clearly did not watch or really understand what was happening early in his career. Come on guys.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.25 at 4:08 pm
    Rainman
    I don’t know about that. Chauncey has admitted that he really struggled finding the balance between running the team and getting his shot. Kind of like what Arenas is still struggling with, only Chauncey wasn’t close to the scorer Arenas is right now. So, I guess it’s not fair to say he sucked, but I don’t think Myles meant that Flynn sucked. Just that he doesn’t look elite right now. My point was that Chauncey and Nash probably didn’t look elite back then, but sometimes things change. And sometimes they don’t. I really haven’t watched enough of the kid’s games.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.25 at 7:54 pm
    I like Johnny Flynn, but I haven’t really watched him enough to gauge certain aspects of his game. How is his court vision?

  • BETCATS Posted: Nov.25 at 9:27 pm
    Bobcats just whooped the Raptors a$$e$

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Nov.26 at 12:12 am
    Shut up, BETCATS!

  • BETCATS Posted: Nov.26 at 9:46 am
    Teddy, we made your boys find their 3rd butthole last night, get over yourself and respect greatness.

  • Jukai Posted: Nov.26 at 10:00 am
    As I’ve been saying since day one, Flynn would be a great spark-plug off the bench, in the mold of a superior Pargo, or a smarter Nate Robinson. Dude is mint at times, but his seeming inability to be effective without the ball (I swear, didn’t he have a spot up jumper in college?) and his apparent lack of court vision, he isn’t the starter-on-a-championship-team so many people were making him out to be.
    And yes, this is my analysis after three Wolves games. So sue me.
    Ramon Sessions also has been as bad (sorry CATS)

  • BETCATS Posted: Nov.26 at 10:46 am
    Yeah Jukai he has. No need to apologize for telling the truth. But he is still my dude.

  • BETCATS Posted: Nov.26 at 11:22 am
    Why is their no new post up today? Holly, you are in Canada, November the 26th is just another day their! Step to it. I want to see a recap of my Bobcats killing your Raptors.

  • Anton Posted: Nov.26 at 3:19 pm
    Holly e-mailed me saying she had a street ball game tournament for the next few days.

  • niQ Posted: Nov.26 at 3:56 pm
    Holly plays street ball? We need a vid.

  • RocketsRed94 Posted: Nov.26 at 11:28 pm
    Feel sorry for Tracy McDiva? I feel sorry for the Rockets.

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