Sunday, May 8, 2005, 11:21pm ET ----- Round 2 predictions

Round one of the 2005 Playoffs ended last night, with two boring Game 7's. There were some exciting series for me -- Bulls-Wizards and Rocktes-Mavericks, but it just isn't the same without the Timberwolves in the Playoffs. You wonder what KG is doing right now. Probably vacationing with his wife, Brandi. Because after all, life is a lot more than just basketball.

But if KG managed to tune in to some of these first round matchups, he would've seen Tracy McGrady, who is going through some serious first round hurdles just like KG did. Last night marked the fifth consecutive time in Tracy McGrady's career where his got bounced in the first round (excluding last year, of course, where the Magic didn't even sniff the Playoffs).

You sorta feel bad for T-Mac, as five straight is pretty depressing (especially when his team blows a two-game series lead for the second straight time). But then you think back to what Kevin Garnett went through: seven consecutive first round exits before last year's breakthrough. And needless to say, the Timberwolves had a garbage of a year this season, not even making the Playoffs this year. So really, for KG, this is worse than another first-round exit.

Last year's thrilling Playoff run is still very fresh in my mind. All the great memories are still with me. Beating Denver in Game 5 of the first round for our first-ever Playoff series win. Losing to the Kings in Game 1 of round two, but bouncing back in a Game 2 miracle win and in a Game 3 gutsy overtime road win. Losing Game 4 but taking Game 5. And dropping Game 6 in that infamous KG-Peeler elbow exchange. And of course, there was the character-defining Game 7, which will always be vividly remembered and talked about amongst Kevin Garnett fans -- a game for the ages.

...Has it been a year already?

Today is May 8th. On this day last year, we played Game 2 in the series against Sacramento. It was a game where we were down by 10 points with four minutes left. And then we went on a furious 16-1 run to win the game. Go back and read what I wrote for that game. I wrote that on pure adrenaline, and I wrote that entry completely inspired by and proud of Timberwolves basketball. Reading that again brought back the memories of the joy and excitment of watching Kevin Garnett battle in the Playoffs.

I have an urge to pop in my video tapes and watch last year's Playoff run again. But I don't know if I want to do that. It might just make me more sad, as it hits really hard to realize that this year's Playoffs is just utter emptiness for the Timberwolves. Will I pop in a tape? Maybe. But only to enjoy the games and appreciate how KG plays basketball. I'm not one to live in the past. I'm one who learns from the past, holds on to the memories, deals with the present, and hopes for the future.

And speaking of the future and the unknown, I was pretty good with predictions for round one in this year's Playoffs. And now onto my predictions for round two, which starts in three hours with the Heat-Wizards series:

Heat-Wizards: Heat in 4
Pistons-Pacers: Pistons in 6 (I hope the NBA really ups the security in this one)
Suns-Mavericks: Suns in 6
Spurs-Sonics: Spurs in 5

Saturday, April 23, 2005, 10:07pm ET ----- Predictions. Exams. Marion Jones

Quick, who scored the first points of the 2004-2005 Playoffs?

The answer is ... well, The Answer.

With the Timberwolves not being one of the 16 teams playing this weekend, I'm just watching the Playoffs with a sense of calm, not really having a team to cheer for. I'm a huge Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady fan, so I'm definitely pulling for the Sixers and the Rockets. Interestingly, AI and T-Mac were the two superstars in their prime who missed the Playoffs last year. This year, it's KG and Kobe. Now, Kobe has no one but himself to blame for his predicament. But KG doesn't deserve this.

So yeah, I like the Sixers and the Rockets in these Playoffs. But I also like the Pistons, as I love how they dismantled the Lakers last year in the Finals. Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess -- it's a great group of guys to watch. I also like how Phoenix plays. Steve Nash, Matrix, STAT -- they're exciting to watch. Shaq, Wade and the Heat are also great. I like Ben Gordon and company, too -- the Bulls are up and coming. And then there's Reggie and the Pacers. You really appreciate what Reggie has done over the years. And even though the chances are slim, wouldn't it be a great story if he wins a ring on his last Playoff run?

So lots of teams I enjoy watching, and don't really have any in particular to root for. But I DO know whom I'm rooting against: The Nets and the Nuggets (sorry Melo, I'm a fan and everything, but I don't like your team). I hope the Heat and the Spurs whoop 'em good.

Even though there are some teams I'm casually cheering for, and some teams I'm cheering against ... it's just not the same as having the Timberwolves in the fray. So for me, this year's Playoffs will be a little bland, a little uneventful, and even a little (a lot) depressing. But I'm hoping that the games will be close and exciting. I think the most thrilling first round series is the Rockets-Mavericks one. T-Mac put on a show today.

Right now, Game One between the Pacers and Celtics is going on. Pacers are getting spanked, so I've stepped away from the TV to do some other things (checking out how Marion Jones fared today in the Kansas Relays 4x200, studying for exams [booo], and writing this little piece).

So y'all want my predictions for the first round? Not that you care, but here it is anyway :)

Heat-Nets: Heat in 5
Pistons-Sixers: Pistons in 6
Celtics-Pacers: Pacers in 7
Bulls-Wizards: Wizards in 6

Suns-Grizzlies: Suns in 4
Spurs-Nuggets: Spurs in 7
Sonics-Kings: Sonics in 6
Mavericks-Rockets: Rockets in 7

Yo, Sonics-Kings Game One has just started. I'm going back to the tv. Peace y'all.

Thursday, April 21, 2005, 06:32pm ET ----- The lost season

So our season concludes. We beat San Antonio last night 95-73 to finish the season 44-38, our worst record in an 82-game season since 1996-1997. Ebi played well again, and registered yet a new career high with 18 points. Kevin Garnett had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in merely 29 minutes.

Garnett left Target Center after the game without taking to the media, which had gathered around his locker and were waiting with cameras and microphones. KG, who is usually accessible and accommodating after games, slipped out and walked down a hallway nestled in the Target Center. A few reporters tried to approach him, but Garnett dismissed them with his hand.

"I got nothing to say," he barked. "Nothing to say."

KG went straight for his silver Range Rover, ducked inside, tooted his horn twice and drive off. It seems like frustration has finally boiled over. Reality has set in. Kevin Garnett doesn't want to want talk about it anymore. It wouldn't do any good anyway.

This is the bed we made, right? And we gotta sleep in it.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have truly wasted this season. KG is in the prime of his career. What a shame we can't watch him play Playoff basketball. What a waste of supreme talent. Nowhere should this season have been in the Kevin Garnett storybook. It is, in every sense of the phrase, a lost season.

I'm disappointed that we won't be playing in the Playoffs. I'm mad. I'm sad. I'm stunned. Every year for the past eight seasons I have looked forward to watching the Timberwolves battle in the Playoffs. And although for seven of those seasons, it was one round and out, I still soaked up the experiences with glee. And after last year's glorious run ... I just had so much hope and excitment for this season. Go back and read what I wrote when the season began -- I wrote it with such enthusiasm and hope.

But you still can't take anything away from what Kevin Garnett did individually this season. His brilliance continues. 20-10-5 for the sixth consecutive season. No player in the history of the NBA had ever done that. Separating himself from Larry Bird, who managed 20-10-5 for five straight season, Kevin Garnett is now in a league of his own.

Had the team fared better this season, KG's 2004-2005 stats would have once again made him a contender for the MVP award: 22.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.37 blocks, 1.48 steals, shooting 50.2% from the field and 81.1% from the freethrow line. Stellar all around.

What's going to happen to us in the offseason? Well we're going to need to find a new coach, as Mac doesn't want to keep coaching. We're going to need to re-sign some of our free agents (Mark Madsen I really hope). We're going to need do our best and draft players who will immediately impact this team in a positive way. We're going to need to do something about Sam Casell, who said yesterday he wants to come back and try again. Sprewell will be a free agent, and he's probably kicking himself for not taking the contract Glen Taylor offered him before the season began.

As fans, all we can do is watch thing unfold. And hope that come next season, we'll make things right again.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 02:38pm ET ----- Last game

Tonight we play our final game of the 2004-2005 season. When the NBA schedule makers created this year's schedule, they probably figured tonight's Timberwolves game against the Spurs would be a huge matchup with Playoff seeding implications. But no. The Timberwolves, at ninth place in the West, are not going anywhere. And the Spurs, locked into that second seed, will play the Nuggets in the first round.

Tonight's game really serves as a tune-up game for San Antonio. How embarrassing for us. KG had struggled this year in the two games against the Spurs, and I wanted to see him punk Duncan tonight. But I'm sure McHale will once again test the bench players, giving them more minutes than the starters. It really doesn't matter at this point. I'm glad that Ebi is getting some action.

Lots of games on taps tonight, with most teams either 1) just finishing up the season so they can go enjoy their summer, or 2) gearing up for the Playoffs. I'm keeping a close eye on the Cleveland-Toronto game and the New Jersey-Boston game. As some of you know, I don't like New Jersey (even less than before, now that they got Half-Man-Half-Effort, or Half-Man-Half-Season, or Half-Man-- ... oh I'll stop), and I really want to see Lebron James in the Playoffs. So you know who I'm rooting for tonight.

Darius Miles scored 47 points last night. Whoa. (That was random...)

Monday, April 18, 2005, 11:01am ET ----- The aftermath

Two more games remain on our schedule -- two meaningless games in the final hours of the dreadful 2004-2005 season. But two meaningful games because you guys are athletes who get paid big money to play basketball. So suck it up and finish this season the right way.

The media is going to have a field day with us, now that we're eliminated. Rumors will fly, fingers will be pointed, and feelings will be hurt. But Kevin Garnett is having none of it. Very careful in his choice of words after yesterday's game against Seattle, Garnett said, "I'm kind of frustrated right now, so I don't like to answer from the heart at this point. It's been a hard year."

Garnett not answering from the heart? That's unusual. But sometimes you just have to bite your tongue. After all, there are still two more games to be played. We've got a game in New Orleans tonight. All the players on this squad are still teammates for the time being. We don't know what off-season moves will be made. We don't know who will be back next season.

Better not burn any bridges.

For now, some soul-searching is in order.

"We started off [the season] very individual," Garnett said. "I think a lot of it came from the presence we had last year and the things that we accomplished last year. We're a victim of our own success. We all individually have to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, 'What didn't I do right?' You always have to ask yourself, 'What did I do or what could I have done to make this a better season?' and I'm no different from anybody else. Last year was last year. I'll take these losses home. It's hard to cope. I haven't been sleeping better than anybody else in here."

It's still hard to figure out exactly what went wrong this season. Our wretched season has left all Timberwolves fans scratching their heads.

"I think everybody should be frustrated -- I wouldn't say frustrated, more like disappointed," Garnett said. "We had a good chance to do a lot of good things this year. If you don't come to play, things happen. It's just unfortunate the year went like it went, but it's the bed we made. Our positions have changed. Our mentality has changed. A lot of things have changed. This is not the same team from last year. You have a different core. You have a different sense of who scores and who plays 'D.' A different mentality from last year. The two don't even add up. Personnel is the same, but the subbing and the people who start and the way we started off and the mentalities, agendas, that's all different."

So how does Kevin Garnett feel about Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell?

"I would love them back. I don't understand why everybody's turning negative on those two because it's a 13-man roster, a five-man game, and to just put the onus on two guys is not even fair. A lot is different [from last season]. Not just with the players but with management and upstairs. A lot of things are different."

Very diplomatic. How about Flip's firing?

"I don't think it was a good decision, but I'm not the boss around here. I think he's not only a good coach but a great coach for another program. He'll help out a young superstar and teach him the game like he did me."

That's less PC. Do you still consider yourself a Timberwolf for life?

[And here is where Garnett snaps. You can ask KG pretty much anything about the game, about the season, and he'll happily accommodate you. But if you question his integrity, his loyalty, and his heart...]

"Who would ask a dumb question like that? It ain't the time to be pointing fingers. It ain't the time to be assessing who did what wrong. I think everybody from [management] to down here in the locker room has to assess themselves. It's easy to point fingers. It's easy to jump the fence and go in somebody else's yard. Real people stand up tall and deal with what's in front of them."

"Y'all have known me for 10 years. I'm a warrior. That's never going to change until the day that I die."

EDIT: Oooh, it's 10:30pm and we just won a close game in New Orleans. McHale gave the bench more minutes than he gave the starters. KG only played 24 minutes but shot 7-10 for 14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. And hey! Ndudi Ebi -- who hadn't played a minute this season -- played a career-high 26 minutes and finished with a career-high 9 points, career-high 8 rebounds, (tied) career-high 1 assist, career-high 1 steal, and hit two CLUTCH freethrows to seal the win! Oh my.

Sunday, April 17, 2005, 06:02pm ET ----- No, we're done

Stick a fork in us.

Because we're done.

In a season marked by bad losses, sloppy execution, mental lapses, questionable effort, crappy defense, and selfish play, -- it is only appropriate that we get end our Playoff dreams on yet another bad loss. A blow-out loss. A blow-out home loss.

The Timberwolves could've ended the season on a positive note. Suppose we won these remaining games. Suppose Memphis managed to squeeze a win in there and eliminated us. At least in that scenario, we could've held some semblance of pride. We could've at least held our head up.

But no. We can't even do that. The Supersonics came in the Target Center and skinned us today. We let them shoot 52.8% and allowed them to score 58 points in the paint. Someone explain to me how we could let that happen in a game of this magnitude. Someone explain to me how we could lose by 15 points in a game we couldn't afford to lose. Kevin Garnett had a poor performance, scoring only 17 points on 5-14 shooting, and pulled down only 8 rebounds. Yes, Kevin had a bad game. But to blame Kevin Garnett for the Timberwolves' predicament is to completely miss the point.

Garnett has been the only bright spot of this otherwise miserable season. In fact, other than the steady brilliance of KG's individual play -- today's underwhelming performance notwithstanding -- the 2004-2005 edition of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a complete letdown, a group of hapless, sorry underachievers who don't deserve to even sniff the Playoffs.

That's right. We don't deserve to be in the Playoffs. Not with the kind of (non)effort and (dis)interest we displayed for most of this season. You don't make the Playoffs by playing like garbage for 3/4 of the season and expect to turn it on at the end. What arrogance. What apathy.

And so, the Minnesoa Timberwolves will miss the Playoffs for the first time since 1995-1996, Kevin Garnett's rookie season. Last season, we took a giant leap by making the Conference Finals. But this year we took a giant leap back. Oh no, I stand corrected -- it's NOT a giant backward leap. It's that we turned around and started waltzing and dancing in the opposite direction. Fell down like a lump of sack. Broke our legs. And don't have the goddamn heart to brave the pain and get back on our friggin' feet.

Other teams, meanwhile, have sprinted past us. Laughing. Pointing.

Championship? What's that. Elite? Not even close. Playoffs? Get outta here. Lottery. That's more like it.

But, Timberwolves fans deserved better. The ticket-paying customers deserved better. Jimmy Jam deserved better. Jesse Ventura deserved better. Glen Taylor deserved better. Kevin McHale deserved better. Flip Saunders deserved better. I deserved better.

And Kevin Garnett deserved better.

Because in the end, it's all about KG, isn't it? Ask yourself, why are you a Timberwolves fan?
...Because Kevin Garnett wears that uniform.

Why do you root for this team year after year?
...Because Kevin Garnett pours his heart and soul into every game he plays.

Why do you watch Timberwolves basketball?
...Because it's pure joy and inspiration to watch Kevin Garnett play ball.

Why are you so sad that the Timberwolves will miss this year's Playoffs?
...Because you know this is tearing Kevin Garnett apart.

Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett.

He deserves better.

And now I have that pen. And here's my shoe.

"R.I.P. Wolves"

Saturday, April 16, 2005, 11:54pm ET ----- Not dead yet

So, apparently we're still alive.

And to think a few days ago I was about to pick up a pen and write "R.I.P. Wolves" on my shoe.

But make no mistake, we're still as close to death as we can possibly get without actually dying. Just barely hanging on. Just barely breathing. Memphis lost last night in Denver for their third defeat in a row. We won in Utah last night for our second victory in a row. Memphis has a current record of 44-35. We're at at 42-37.

Both teams have three more games remaining on their schedule. As y'all probably know by now, the following has to happen for us to make the Playoffs: Memphis needs to lose all three of their games. We need to win all three of ours. Still a long shot, but better than being dead. "We've got three games left," Garnett said. "There's nothing to talk about; we've gotta win, period."

I've been coming home the last couple of nights, flipping the channel to a score ticker, almost reluctant to check the scores -- scared even. Your mind sorta races really fast, and you almost can't bear to look. It's like you don't really want to know, but you need to. You just need confirmation. Oh we won? Okay okay, what about Memphis -- did they lose? Did they lose? Stupid score ticker -- tick faster. Oh man they lost! We're still alive (How are we still alive?)

See? It's tough being a fan sometimes.

Memphis plays in San Antonio tonight. We idle. Can anybody bear to watch the Memphis-San Antonio game?

"I'm going to take my niece and nephew shopping," Garnett said last night. "I'm very aware that we made our own bed and we've got to sleep in it. I'm not going to worry and lose what rest of the hair I do have. ... I'm sure, if I'm flipping channels and I see it, I'll stop in to see a score."

So while KG shops and keeps his non-existent hair, let us all root for San Antonio tonight.

Ooh I hope Duncan plays.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005, 03:13pm ET ----- Who done it?

Okay, I need to know who did this for me:

http://garnett-tribute.cjb.net

Who set this up for me and had [email protected] e-mail me about it? You'd think the person who did it would let me know. I'm very appreciative, but I want to know who it was.

Edit: Resolved. It's all good.

Monday, April 11, 2005, 01:59pm ET ----- Almost over now

Well folks, the curtain is about to close on our miserable season. We have five more games. Memphis has six. For us to make the Playoffs, we need to win all five, and Memphis needs to lose all six. An even longer shot is if Denver loses all six of its remain games, and we win all five of ours.

So unless a miracle happens, we're not going to the Playoffs this year.

The loss to the Hawks -- the worst team in the NBA -- was simply disgusting. It's games like that that makes me think the Timberwolves don't deserve to be in the Playoffs this year. Certainly, we played like crap pretty much the whole year, and it's our own fault that we're in this situation. Playoff teams don't play like this.

Kevin Garnett, needless to say, is absoutely furious. The way he walked off the court after the Atlanta game, in a clear display of rage, showed just frustrated he was. But he's been trying very hard to not criticize the personnel on this team. He has not singled out any teammate for criticism. After the Atlanta game, he said, "I don't like talking when I'm frustrated. Because it's not a clear mind."

Denver can wrap up a Playoff berth with a win tonight in Golden State. Denver has been burning hot for the past two months (21-2 since February 23, both losses were to Phoenix) -- they're not losing tonight. Memphis plays in Dallas tonight. Dallas is a good team, and may very well beat Memphis tonight. But do you think Memphis is going to just lay down? Memphis knows they can clinch tonight. One more win for them will eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves.

One more Memphis win will put us out of our misery.

Again, it's tough for me to find the proper words to describe how I'm feeling as a Timberwo--... as a Kevin Garnett fan. So I'll just quote KG, as I always do when the going gets tough:

Who isn't upset in here? There shouldn't be a happy face in this locker room except for you [media] guys, and that's for your own personal reasons. Who cares what people say? That's our fucking problem, we shouldn't give a shit what people say anyway. We control our own destiny. We can't fault nobody but ourselves at this point. This is a perfect example to understand and learn a lesson from. If you don't learn it from this year, then you probably don't really care. ... I'm at a loss for words. I don't like 'frustrated' because it's not a clear mind. But it's been all year, man, it's been all year. It cost Flip his job. [The] inconsistency cost us a lot. ... Basketball is my love. It's what flows through me. When it's out of balance like this, it frustrates me.

Saturday, April 9, 2005, 09:35pm ET ----- I have no words

Atlanta?

Atlanta??!

Saturday, April 9, 2005, 12:26am ET ----- A major blow

Just moments ago, the Timberwolves lost a big, big game to the Denver Nuggets, 107-104. I don't get ESPN here, so I didn't see the game. But I followed the progress on nba.com ... and it's just as frustrating to see the final score as it would be had I watched the game. Kevin Garnett did just about all he could, registering 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. Sammy had a helluva game, with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists. Wally had 15 points. Spree had 16. We got the the foul line 34 times, which was good. It was a strong effort. But I'm looking at the stats sheet, and I see that we got outscored in the paint 48-20 (!). And we got killed in fastbreak points, 30-10 (!). We forced only eight turnovers, and let them shoot 49% while shooting 39% ourselves. It looks to me we did not control the tempo, and we let Denver run too much -- our defense was not good enough tonight. All of this meant a defeat on a night that we absolutely needed a victory. The loss has severe implications on our Playoff hopes.

First of all, Memphis won tonight against a Shaq-less Miami team, so this means the Timberwolves needed to win tonight just to keep pace.

Second, winning tonight would have given the Timberwolves the 3-1 tie-breaker over Denver.

And third, this loss drops us to 3.5 games behind Memphis, and 4.5 games behind Denver. We do not have the tie-breaker over Memphis, and need a better record than Memphis to overtake them. We do have the tie-breaker over Denver (better Conference record), but we're too far behind from Denver to pull even.

What does this all mean? It means that we're in big trouble.

We may not make it this year. Of course, mathematically, we're still in it. If Memphis loses five more games (out of their final seven), and we win out -- we'll make it. Or if Denver loses five more games (out of their final seven), and we win out -- we'll make it.

Do I see either scenario happening? Well, Denver sure as hell won't go 2-5 to finish the season. But Memphis still faces Dallas (twice), Houston, Denver, San Antonio (twice). There's also a Charlotte thrown in there, whom Memphis will surely beat, but that's a tough overall schedule. Memphis might lose five of those -- though I still wouldn't bet on it.

Okay, but let's assume for the sake of argument that Memphis does lose five of their last seven. For the Timberwolves to make the Playoffs, we need to win ALL of our remaining games. This includes a game against Seattle and San Antonio. Do I see us winning all of our final six games? I can see it, but I certainly have my doubts.

The odds are seriously against us. But still we fight.

Because would you expect any less from Kevin Garnett?

Friday, April 1, 2005, 02:50pm ET ----- Phoenix tonight

Last night's win in LA aginst the Lakers was great, improving our record to 38-34. We've now won five straight, equally our best streak this season. If we want that sixth win -- and of course we want it -- we must bring it tonight in Phoenix against the team with the best record in the NBA. This is the Phoenix team that beat us convincingly twice this year.

At 2.0 games behind Memphis and Denver (who are both 39-31), we have no room for error in these final ten games of the season. "At this point, we're just thinking about one game at a time," KG said. "That's the way we have to think. That has to be our focus." So Phoenix it is, as we fight for our Playoff lives. Memphis plays at Milwaukee tonight. Denver plays San Antonio. Go Bucks. Go Spurs.

KG had a nice game last night in LA, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists. No blocks or steals, though. But a win is a win. With the way we've struggled this year, stringing together five wins in a row means a lot. "This has been a terrible year," KG said. "It's no fun winning a couple, then losing a couple and going back and forth all year. When you weigh this [winning streak] against the way we've played all year, this has to be our best stretch."

Keep the stretch going.

Edit: I just found out KG has been named the Western Conference's March Player of the Month. For the month, he averaged 23.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.53 blocks, 1.33 steals, shooting 50.2% and leading the Timberwolves to a 10-5 record -- the team's best month this season.

Sunday, March 27, 2005, 10:51am ET ----- Momentum

We've won three in a row. Yesterday afternoon's blowout win in New Jersey was awesome. KG didn't play well offensively, but Sam Cassell came off the bench and played his most efficient game all season. He scored 23 points on 10-13 shooting, had 4 rebounds and 3 assists -- all in just 22 minutes. Shot after shot he nailed. He sure is making a strong case for Mac to put him back in the starting lineup.

KG struggled with his shot all first half. One thing about KG you never worry is whether he will impact the game. Even when he can't hit a shot, he still has his prints all over the court. He rebounds, he passes, he gets in the passing lanes, he draws double-teams, he hustles, he blocks shots, he alters shots, and on and on. That's what happened yesterday.

So we have a nice mini-win streak goin' here. The sad part is, Denver (38-30) doesn't seem to be backing down one bit. Geez this sucks. I'm looking at the standings, and hell, maybe Memphis will drop. Or even Sacto. The Timberwolves have got to keep winning. Remember how last year we won our final nine regular season games to capture the first seed -- needing every single win to do so? We might have to top that this year -- needing every single win to grab the last Playoff seed.

So, um, here's a note to Denver, Memphis, and Sacramento: Y'all feel free to freefall any time now.

Edit: We just beat the Clippers about 40 minutes ago for our fourth straight win. KG struggled again with his shot in the first three quarters, but came alive in the fourth quarter with 13 points. He finished the game with 20 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block (HUGE block on Livingston to preserve our lead), and 3 steals. We literally had to sweat for this one, and Big Game Sam hit a crucial three-pointer with 2:03 left in the game to break an 80-80 tie. KG followed 30 seconds later with a nifty basket to put us up 85-80. It's good to see the Timberwolves bringing the kind of effort needed to play the second of a back-to-back matinees. Now we can rest for a bit before a big game Thursday against the Lakers on TNT.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005, 02:25pm ET ----- It ain't a toy, dammit!

Yesterday, I went to buy the McFarlane Toys NBA Basketball series: Kevin Garnett 2, released in November 2004. I'd been meaning to pick it up, but didn't get around to it until yesterday. I wrote a little piece about it, y'all can read up on it here.

The Timberwolves' next game is tomorrow night. Fourteen games left, and only five against teams .500 or better. Denver has 17 games left, with nine against teams .500 or better. In other words, we need to capitalize on our more favourable schedule. Plus, we hold the tie-breaker right now (2-1 season series against Denver) over the Nuggets, with one more game to be played against them. We have a decent shot at making the Playoffs if we play our cards right.

Monday, March 21, 2005, 02:32pm ET ----- The H word

It's one of the best words in life. One of my favourite words.

Hope.

It guarantees nothing. But it offers everything. We still have a chance at making the Playoffs. We still have a chance of overtaking Denver. Having four more losses than Denver really hurts our chances, but we still have hope.

But merely hoping is not enough. We need to do our part and put ourselves in a position where we have a shot at leapfrogging the Nuggets, who have won nine of their last Ten. The Lakers have thankfully lost five straight, slipping to 10th place. We now need to not only catch the Nuggets, but also hold off the Lakers. Last night's win against the Rockets was a step in the right direction. Although, I must once again lament at our inability to play good basketball for a full 48 minutes. How can we let a 23 point lead shrink to seven in the fourth quarter? Geez.

"You get it to 20, you try to push it to 30. You get to 30, you try to push it to 40. The higher it goes, the longer I can sit," said KG. "I'm just being funny here, but I feel like we were a little passive with the lead. We didn't get the lead [playing] like that. We got it by being aggressive and playing defense."

Kevin Garnett, sitting on the bench at the start of the fourth quarter, probably could have stayed there had the Timberwolves not let the Rockets back into the game. But that didn't happen, and KG was forced to return. Throughout the game, KG was his usual brilliant self, registering 30 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. Ohh it's just Kevin, stuffing the stats sheet again. Nothing special ... you know, just the typical KG stuff :p

Near the end of the third quarter, KG took some time and played the point for a couple of possessions, with Dikembe Mutombo trying to guard him. KG, 28 years old, pounding the dribble at the 3-point line. Mutombo, 38 years old, looking awfully uncomfortable at the top of the key. It was so hilarious. I cracked a big, big smile when KG jab-stepped, pumpfaked, and nailed a long range two at the expense of the twitching, stiff-armed Mutombo. Again, hilarious.

KG also hit a three pointer in this game. I mention this because this year he really hasn't attempted too many treys. He usually only launches them at desperation times, such as in fourth quarters, half a minute left, Wolves down by six -- or something like that. But last night, midway through the first quarter, he caught a pass from T-Hud and just let it fly. He didn't even hesitate. I guess he knew he was open, and was probably like, "Why not?" My reaction was first of surprise ("Huh?"). Then of approval ("Oh yeah, let it fly, boy"). Then of exhilaration ("Yesss, it went in!"). All in two seconds.

Sam Cassell was a big help off the bench, scoring 18 points on 7-9 shooting. Wally chipped in with 20 points. In the past, it was easy to criticize Wally and blame him for the Timberwolves' woes. But this year, you can't say anything bad about his play. Look elsewhere for the source of our troubles.

34-34 is one ugly record for a team as talented as we are. But it is what it is, and we can't dwell on that. With 14 games left in our season, we need to win as many of them as we can, and hope Denver loses their share of games. We just gotta keep fightin' to keep hope alive.

Thursday, March 17, 2005, 10:30pm ET ----- One step forward, one step back

Take one step forward. Then take one step back. Where are you now?

Same place you started. Not moving. Not going anywhere.

Which is what the Timberwolves are doing. And considering we are in tenth place in the West, not going anywhere means we're doomed. Last night's game against the Spurs was just depressing to watch. Despite a nice 10-point first quarter, KG scored two points the rest of the game and got thoroughly outplayed by Duncan. The Spurs basically shut us down with their defence, and we had nothing in the tank.

The Spurs came out in the first quarter freakin' red hot, and completely demoralized us. Having played the night before, we couldn't match the Spurs' energy. "That's the thing about energy," KG said. "One night you could just come out scorching, and other nights a little over-hyped. Sometimes your energy is right. You just can't make shots. The Spurs, at some point in the first, were shooting like 80 percent. That's scorching. You could tell they were ready for this one."

Yeeeah, scorchin'.

According to Steve Aschburner's report today, if the Timberwolves miss the Playoffs this year, KG will be the first player in 30 years to not qualify for the Playoffs after winning the MVP award the year before with the same team. The last cat was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won the 1974 MVP award with the Bucks, and missed Playoffs the next season. And ahem, by 1975-1976, he forced a trade to the Lakers.

Please ... don't let KG miss the Playoffs. It's gonna be depressing as hell for a player of KG's caliber -- in his prime, at the peak of his powers -- to sit at home in late April, May, June and twiddle his thumbs.

C'mon Woofies ... play some good basketball.

(P.S. The Coyote gets on my nerves. And Tim Legler gets on my nerves.)

Wednesday, March 16, 2005, 04:23pm ET ----- Three Wolves Back

Great win last night in Dallas. We welcomed back Sam, Kandi, and Eddie -- all three contributing to our victory. Cavalry's here. "Cavalry? Heh heh," said Garnett. Of course, having Kandi in the paint helps out KG tremendously. "It's a lot more simplified when Kandi's in there because he clogs up the middle," KG said. "Him and I communicate really well ... The Kandi Man makes a presence in the middle on our team like no other."

KG had an 11-point fourth quarter, carrying us to the win. His outburst was probably the result of a little shoving match with Dirk Nowitzki, as he went on to score six straight points after the minor altercation. Both players downplayed the double-technical: "We just got tangled up a little bit. When I play a 40-minute game, I don't bookmark little incidents," KG said. "I get into incidents without it being called. It's not like it stands out in my mind." Well he sure used it to fire himself up. KG finished the night with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. He didn't shoot well (8-23), but we won the game, dammit.

We are now 33-32. The Lakers lost last night in Philly -- dropping to 32-31 -- so we're only trailing them by one in the loss column. We trail the Nuggets (32-30) by one game. Needless to say, we must hurdle these two teams in order to make the Playoffs. And we have about one month to do it. "I don't feel like we have a lot of time," KG said. "But we have some time. Every win's going to have to count and every game is like a desperate game. That has to be our mind-set."

Desperation and urgency is the mindset needed. We are up against a tough challenge tonight in San Antonio against the Spurs. If we can beat the Spurs tonight, it'll do wonders for our confidence.

Friday, March 11, 2005, 01:00pm ET ----- Wolves in Trouble

I think we went to the Hack-a-Shaq at a bad time yesterday. With 3:10 to go, Wally just scored a basket to decrease our deficit to eight points, 88-96. I really don't think that's the time to foul Shaq on the trip down court. It's only an eight-point Miami lead with three minutes to go -- why put Shaq at the line? Given, it's Shaq ... but there was plenty of time to get stops. And yes, I know the Hack-a-Shaq strategy can only be used off the ball with more than 2:00 on the clock, but why not just play good defence?

We played decent for most of the game, but the Lakers pulled away in the fourth quarter after we traded baskets with them for a while. KG had another well-rounded game with 22 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. Troy and Trenton played well, but it wasn't enough.

With the 107-90 loss, we slipped back to .500 again (31-31). Not good, since the Lakers beat the Mavericks last night. It's really sad to see us as a merely .500 team. We were supposed to be an elite team this year, even better than we were last season. But instead, we're fighting the likes of the Lakers and the Nuggets for that last Playoff berth. It's so damn frustrating.

This season has been a disaster. We've got 20 games left. Twenty games to make something happen. Twenty games to make a push. Twenty games to salvage our season. I am a Minnesota Timberwolves fan. I'd be so sad if we miss the Playoffs.

Wednesday, March 9, 2005, 02:04pm ET ----- Better

With our win last night against the expansion Bobcats, we stand 31-30. We've won three straight, though obviously we still can't play well for a full 48 minutes. Sometimes we blow leads. Sometimes we start way too slow and end up playing catch-up. But the last three games are wins ... I'll take them any day. Spree's gamewinner in Boston was something to cheer about.

Last night's game against the Bobcats didn't start well. Down by 11 at the half, McHale basically gave the team a good ol' tongue-lashing. Good thing, too, because we came out of the lockeroom all fired up. KG had a monster third quarter last night, scoring 16 points pm 7-8 shooting, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished 2 assists, blocked 2 shots, and had one steal. "You answer it in different ways," said KG. "Sometimes I get challenged and I might spit fire back. Nothing more, nothing less. It ain't nothing that's negative. I think Mac likes to see me hyped up like that."

Right now we're tied with the Lakers (who are 30-29 after losing last night to the Clippers, mwahahaha) for the ninth spot in the conference. The pesky Denver Nuggets (31-29) have won seven straight and hold the eighth seed at the moment. So basically, we're really close. The thing is, we've got a tough stretch coming up, with five of our next six games on the road. And they're all against quality opponents -- starting with Miami tomorrow night on TNT.

No time to rest now. Better come out swinging.

Sunday, February 27, 2005, 04:18pm ET ----- The Struggle Contines

We lost our previous two games (Clippers and Sonics), falling to 27-29. Both were road games, both winnable. Both losses. Sam is back. Mad Dog is forced to return quickly because Eddie and Kandi are hurt. KG's is now shouldering more load than he's ever had this season. He's got a bum knee, and he played 42 minutes on Friday.

After the Sonics game on Friday, KG iced his knees, took his usual long post-game shower, and dressed slowly. He was tired, and banged up. But then he then sat down for a good minute with reporters and was the last man sitting in the empty visitors' dressing room. He messed around with his iPod, he talked about the team, about the health of the team's big men. "We're undersized right now," he said. "We've got World playing the four, Trenton Hassell playing [there too]. I'm doing whatever I can to give us a little edge."

Things are falling apart for the Timberwovles, if they haven't already. Due to his sore knee, KG's production has been subpar in February. He's doing his best, though, despite the pounding, the double-teams, the punishing defense, and having to carry the load on both ends of the court. On Friday, there was no Kandi or Eddie to help him inside offensively or defensively. The rest of the team, other than Wally, hasn't really stepped up.

Good thing the Raptors beat the Lakers this afternoon. We need to the catch and overtake the Lakers soon if we want that Playoff spot. Portland tonight. Nothing I can do except to hope for the best.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005, 02:18pm ET ----- Back to work

It wasn't the most exciting All-Star game. Kind of tame. But wasn't too bad. The East probably wouldn't have won had Garnett and Duncan played in the fourth quarter. KG, Duncan, and Nash, didn't play at all in the fourth quarter, with the understanding that Popovich wanted to rest these stars. I believe Kevin McHale phoned Pop beforehand, asking him to not play Garnett too much since KG was nursing a sore knee. KG played just 16 minutes, but scored 10 points. My only gripe was that he missed a freethrow (0-1), and is no longer the leader of freethrow percentage All-Star game history. Entering the game, he was a perfect 11-11. Oh well.

With the All-Star weekend over, and with the trade deadline coming up Thursday, NBA teams are now scrambling full force to prepare for the rest of the season. It's possible that the Timberwolves may make some deals, but no one knows what's going on at the moment. Not even KG. "As of late I haven't been in the loop of anything," he said on Sunday before the All-Star game. "So I don't know what we're doing, what kind of transactions we're making. As for as the loop, I don't know where it's at. I was told, what, two minutes before the whole team was told about Flip."

When asked if he would like to see a move made, Garnett didn't want to discuss it: "I don't really like talking about it when you're talking about shifting players. Chemistry is something that's hard. I love all the guys on my team. The guys I play with are very good guys, guys that really care about each other, guys that have real, real, real, real work ethic. And as a unit, we know we can come together and turn this thing around. Whether they're going to make moves or not, it's not going to be dependent on what Kevin Garnett thinks."

Thursday is right around the corner. Stay tuned.

Sunday, February 20, 2005, 05:02pm ET ----- Tears of Pain, Tears of Pride

It was shocking. Stunning. Something you never thought you'd see. Almost impossible to watch. You wanted to look away, but you couldn't. You wouldn't.

Kevin Garnett in tears.

But when you really think about it, it really wasn't all that shocking. This is the Kevin Garnett that we know. In what was undoubtedly his most candid interview ever -- if not the most introspective interview I've ever seen from anyone -- Kevin Garnett poured his heart out in front of John Thompson, in front of the TNT camera, in front of the world. He talked about Flip Saunders. He revealed how he hadn't slept well in two months. He acknowledged how physically beat up he was. He talked about he has no choice to take responsibility for the Timberwolves' failure. He talked about the fact that he hates to lose, and it motivates him. He talked about how his individual brilliance means nothing, because it wasn't about him.

"It's about us," he said, clasping his large hands together and looking desperately at Thompson, almost whispering now.

And then the tears came.

Kevin Garnett is a strong man. Tears don't mean that you're weak. They mean that you care. KG said to Thompson that he didn't want Thompson to see him like this. Tears "exposes you." I agree. Tears do expose you. But so what? Kevin Garnett has nothing to be ashamed about.

Many professional athletes don't care if they lose. As long as they get paid, they don't worry about anything else. They don't give their best effort. Sometimes they don't even play hard. Vince Carter comes to mind. Kevin Garnett is a man with lots of heart and pride. He desperately wants to win. "I see the Spurs," he said. "I see Shaq with his new team. I talk to Chauncey a lot. We got a lot of talent on our team, just like those other teams I just named, and we're in this situation here. ... This is killing me."

From day one, Kevin Garnett oozes emotion. This was the high school prodigy who would scream in your ear when he dunked on you, making faces and shaking his head. Nothing personal, just a kid having the time of his life. This was the young phenom who pounded his head with the basketball in frustration after missing a freethrow. This is the rising star who smiled his megawatt smile, scowled his menacing scowl, and screamed his primal scream. He curseed himself out for making mistakes, and demanded nothing but the best of out himself.

"This is how I'm built. I'm built like this." We already know.

It was the damn best interview I've ever seen Kevin Garnett given. Kevin Garnett is as real as it gets. In many ways, the interview was inspirational. It takes a man to do what he did. You look at him, you hear his words, you feel him. It was like he removed his armor, and showed the world what was underneath.

And what did we see underneath? A strong, fiery, and intense 28-year-old man. Behind the MVP was a blue-collar worker, whose biggest problem is the fact that he "can't accept losing."

No Kevin. You're wrong.

That's not your biggest problem. That's your biggest strength. Don't you ever change.

This is how he's built. If you're a fan of Kevin Garnett, you already know. You understand.

. . . . .

This interview was taped less than a week ago. The Timberwolves have shown signs of life after winning their last two games to return to .500. The All-Star weekend has given everyone some time off, and has given Garnett a chance to enjoy himself in Denver. He's been smiling a bit more the last two days. He's been more playful -- mock tackling 7-3 Ilgauskas, showing off his new Adidas shoes, giving people pound. You know, KG stuff. And there seems to be a a clearer outlook. On Saturday, he said that he can shoulder the burden, and that his mood had brightened considerably.

"Some guys can brush it off, go to dinner, and it's over," he said. "I come home, and it sticks with me -- knowing that responsibility lies on my back, understanding if things are going to turn around, I've got to do something. Just feeling like I'm totally responsible for it. Most people might go home and just be like, 'Well, I did my part. I don't work like that.'

"... That's probably my biggest flaw -- I do care, I do give two cents, and it's hard to just brush it off. As of late, I've just been able to focus on what's ahead of me. ... The hard part is coming to that understanding of what's dragging you, and then dealing with it."

Sunday, February 20, 2005, 03:14pm ET ----- 'Nique

All-Star Saturday was fun. I'm sure everyone liked Josh Smith's performace last night in the dunk contest. He had everybody trippin' when he put on 'Nique's jersey and windmilled his way to a perfect 50. And that lob dunk over K-Mart was pure gold. He really showed thought and planning. Terrific showmanship and flair. The same can't be said about the Birdman. Wow that was embarrassing -- he kept everyone waiting with, what, like 15 attempts? You kind of felt bad for him though.

Amare didn't disappoint on his promise of having something special up his sleeves. But then again, it showed once again just how valuable Steve Nash is. Kenny Smith (or was it Magic?) hit the nail on the head when he said Amare had no hang time. None. Amare is a one-dimensional power dunker. He's sick in traffic, but he can't compare to other dunkers like Shawn Kemp and Dominique, who had both power and hang time. Hell, Kevin Garnett is a better dunker than Amare.

One thing about All-Star Saturday ... way too many commercial breaks. That sucked. Tonight's the All-Star game. It's gonna be a lot of fun, with great subplots. Lebron James's first. Grant Hill's return. Kobe vs. Shaq. Kobe will be booed in Denver. Vince will play 10 times harder in an All-Star game than he ever did in his final year for the Raptors. I'm hoping for a competitive game, at least with some defense played.

Saturday, February 19, 2005, 06:17pm ET ----- All-Star Saturday

Just about set to sit down and enjoy All-Star Saturday. Yesterday's Rookie Challenge was much more competitive than last year's. Melo took the MVP in front of the home crowd. Good game.

NBATV and RaptorsTV have a lot of All-Star weekend coverage and programming. I had the chance to watch the All-Stars practice this afternoon. It looked like fun. Popovich is taking this seriously, even if he only had 'em running basic plays.

For the most part, KG still seems to be in a serious mood. He's got a lot on his mind. But hopefully, he'll brighten up a bit and rejuvenate himself.

Friday, February 18, 2005, 11:15am ET ----- Back at .500

Good win tonight. Timberwolves just beat the Cavaliers 94-88, improving to 2-1 under McHale, and 27-27 overall. Kevin Garnett filled up the stat sheet with 20 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. Wally had a great game with 26 points off the bench, shooting 9-15. Freddie had 13 points, hitting big freethrows. Sprewell had a key putback off a KG miss, along with a key block on Snow. Eddie Griffin chipped in with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in another terrific defensive effort. Overall, it was a great team effort. Hustle plays ... energy ... scrappiness ... and intensity -- all of which were lacking in the past two months.

KG made a great no-look pass to Eddie near the end of the game, and Eddie made the shot. "I bobbled the ball a little bit," KG said. "I just looked down and saw his Nikes and I flicked it to him. He made the play. He's my man."

Also, better defence says it all. "This was a big win," KG said. "Having some momentum going into the break is important. A big part of this win was our interior defense. We're being all lot more aggressive in the paint. If anybody comes in there, we're coming at them like wild dogs." Or Wolves.

Interestingly enough, Garnett himself wants to bring some of the joy back in his game. "I got a phone call from a friend a little while ago," KG said. "He said that I didn't look like I was having any fun. That bothered me, so I wanted to come out tonight and have fun and play with passion even though I'm banged up a little bit.

For those of y'all who tuned in to TNT's (or RaptorsTV) telecast tonight, you know what I'm taking about when I say that I'm itching to see the entire KG interview with John Thompson. The interview -- part of the program TNT All-Star 1 On 1 -- will be on TNT (and RaptorsTV) Saturday. Tonight, TNT previewed a little bit of the interview, and it showed a very emotional Kevin Garnett, sick of losing, yet still refusing to use injury as an excuse. John Thompson asked Garnett how beat up he was, and demanded a non-political correct answer -- to which Garnett replied, "I don't give too many political correct answers, John." He acknowledged that he's beat up, but that it didn't matter what his health was. It didn't matter if he was "30 percent or 100 percent," we can't question his heart and the effort his gives every night.

Kevin Garnett fans should not miss this interview. Set your VCRs.

And the All-Star Weekend is upon us. The West starting lineup is so big: Yao, KG, Duncan, Kobe, and T-Mac. Oh my. Predictions:

Got Milk Rookie Challenge: Sophomores (MVP Lebron James -- or Dwayne Wade if Lebron can't play)
RadioShack Shooting Stars: Phoenix
Playstation Skills Challenge: Steve Nash
Footlocker 3-Point Shootout: Ray Allen
Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk: Josh Smith
All-Star Game: West (MVP Tracy McGrady -- though I'm rooting for KG of course)

Thursday, February 17, 2005, 12:46pm ET ----- Cavs tonight

While 26 teams have tonight off, we've got a game to play at 8pm against Cleveland. Needless to say, it's a must win for us. We can't afford to lose anymore. Winning tonight will put us back at .500.

Funny how the league is barely promoting this year's Slam Dunk Contest. They've only got four participants, and one recognizable name: Amare. It's sad. Where's J-Rich? You think they would at least invite back last year's winner Fred Jones. But no. And where's Desmond Mason, arguably one of the top three dunkers in the league. Lebron James is still undecided on whether or not he wants to participate in the dunk contest. He said he'll let everyone know on Friday. Surely the league would love for Lebron to participate. So would the rest of us. For now we'll have to settle for Amare Stoudemire, Josh Smith, J.R. Smith, and Chris Andersen. Hell, I don't even think Amare's gonna win. I would bet on Atlant's Josh Smith -- that guy's got some serious hops and wicked facials this year. Don't get me wrong, Amare's a great dunker. But he's more of a power dunker -- emphasis on power -- and not too much creativity.

As always, I'm looking forward to the All-Star weekend. I think the time off will do the Timberwolves some good, though KG still has a full weekend ahead of him.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005, 11:16am ET ----- McHale's first

After yet another sloppy, lackadasical start, the Timberwolves pulled it together and gave Kevin McHale his first win as an NBA coach. As much as I disagree with the firing of Flip, I'm more than happy to get a win.

It was a much needed victory. Morale had been low, confidence sapped, and spirit drained. Everyone on the Timberwolves squad seems lost, searching for words, searching to rediscover their old form. You observe Kevin Garnett's face and body language lately, and he looks so pissed. He looks mad enough to rip somebody's head off -- of course he wouldn't. As I watched him arrive at the arena yesterday before playing the Nets, his smile is gone. His eyes are devoid of joy, but still piercing and focused nonetheless. (Come to think of it, when have you ever seen KG smile before games in recent years?) On the court, of course, he plays like he always has: hard. Hell, this is Kevin Garnett we're talking about. The man who never takes a night off. The man who possesses so much heart and fire. The man who never lets ticket-paying fans go home disappointed. The man who'll never let you down.

If Garnett no longer smiles in games, it's because he's been on a mission. The mission.

This is not the Kevin-Garnett-high-school-phenom of 1995. This is not the "Da Kid" of 1996. This is not The Big Ticket of 1998. This is not Mr. Twenty-Ten-And-Five-For-Five-Straight-Years of 2004.

He's all of that now. You are what you were -- everything that you were. Kevin Garnett has come a long way. The 2005 version is a 28-year-old man who wants to win, and cannot stand to lose. Don't be surprised.

Monday, February 14, 2005, 01:07pm ET ----- Still bleeding

In our first game in the post-Flip era, with Kevin McHale at the coaching helm, we lost to the Chicago Bulls. Granted, these are not the pushover Bulls ... but a loss is nonetheless a loss, and it puts us at 25-27. Flip was never the problem. I can't say that I agree with the firing, but I guess McHale and Taylor felt that they had to do something.

Kevin Garnett's numbers have declined somewhat in the last month. Most people don't know this, as Garnett is never one to use injury as an excuse, but KG's knee is banged up -- right knee I think. Flip, before he was fired, had wanted to rest KG more and play him fewer minutes. Flip said on Sunday, "Kevin needed to sit down a little bit and give his knee some rest because, in watching film, I could see that his rebounding range, getting the rebounds, he's not there. He hasn't been able to do the things that make him such a great player. And it's not because he doesn't want to do it mentally, because right now physically he is just really, really worn down. His legs have really taken a pounding."

Still, KG refuses to talk about the knee. "Next question," he said when probed after Sunday's loss to the Bulls. Hopefully, with the All-Star break coming up, KG can get some rest ... though he would still have to play the Sunday game.

KG was not consulted about Flip's firing -- he was told on Saturday morning at practice, before any other player, by McHale personally. It's probably not unfair to say that most Timberwolves players were caught off guard by the decision to fire Flip. Trenton Hassell even said that the players felt guilty that Flip was let go. KG, after hearing the news, called Flip on Saturday to wish him well. "I called him to see how he was doing," Garnett said. "We just talked." And we finally get to hear about what KG has to say about it all:

"I was told when I came in for practice. Kevin [McHale] pulled me to the side and let me know that Glen had made the decision to let him go. ... No one wants to see a grown man lose his job, especially someone you've been with for 10 years, the majority of your career. It wasn't good."

Does he agree with the move?

"It doesn't matter if I agree with it or not. The boss made a move. That's what the boss man wanted; that's what the boss man did. It had nothing to do with Kevin Garnett; it had nothing to do with Kevin McHale, nothing to do with Latrell Sprewell. Glen Taylor wanted to make a decision on his own, so he did it. Doesn't matter what I think."

KG said everyone is responsible for the Timberwolves' struggles: "As a player, you have to look at yourself in the mirror and take some responsibility. Players get traded, coaches get fired and somewhere in between you try to figure it out. But this is not on one person. It's on everybody here to check themselves and look at themselves in the mirror and try to figure out what they can do to turn this thing around."

KG also made some assessments of what's wrong with the Timberwolves. "Our focus, our presence aren't the same as they were last season," he said. "Last year we weren't full-throttle like we are, so roles were a little easier to be simplified, and now you've got a lot more weapons, a lot more weapons than we usually do, and sometimes it's hard to consolidate it. Everybody's getting old, not just those two, but Freddie, myself and Ervin. But we still have a lot of fight in us, and that's what we do: We come out, we're a veteran team, we know that. But that's no excuse for losing or winning."

As for the high expectation of this team before the season? "We're not meeting those," he said. "And when we don't meet those, obviously management, fans, everybody starts to get a little itchy and feels like, you know, what's the problem?

"But I just want everybody to understand that chemistry, it's not like you go in the kitchen, put some butter, put some salt in the pot, heat it up and it's gourmet. It takes time. You have to actually take your time with it, the ingredients have to go, everything has to be right.

"We're just a product of our own success. We did well last year, but everyone's talking about last year vs. talking about this year. Since we had a long, prosperous year last year, now everybody wants to keep on leaning on that.

"It's important to focus on '04-05 because that's where we're at. I think once we focus on that as a whole, as fans, as an organization ... obviously media, you're all out to do what you have to do and sort of get your analysis on things.

"But it's very important to focus on where we're at. We all want us to win through the Western Conference final, we all want to set the tone for ourselves, but as players we have to take some responsibility. I'm first. I have to be the first to say, 'Hey, I've got to do more, I've got to pick it up somewhere.' But that's part of it. It goes back and forth.

"It's a long season. We've still got 30-plus games to go, and right now anything's possible. No question at all. Anything can happen; you know how it goes. But right now we're a little banged-up ... the grind, and we've been through some difficult times as of late. But as bad as it can go, it can turn around just like that."