NBA Must Watch List

I posted my NBA must watch list over at the TWolves Blog.

Here's the link

Wolves and NBA Predictions

I put up my season predictions on the TWolves Blog:

Click here.

Timberwolves Stuff

I wrote a game review and some other stuff over at the TWolves Blog, please check it out.

I would have more on the Vikings right now, but the game was so boring I thought I was in a coma.

More On Peterson Taking Over the Twin Cities

I want to dive back into my thoughts on Adrian Peterson from yesterday because I think I lost my broader point by revisiting my Brady Bunch analogy for the Vikings and the other teams in this state. I think I got into my hopes for Adrian Peterson a little bit, but I also don't think I did a good enough job of trying to convey what I think he can be relative to the Twin Cities' sports scene to justify yesterday's post; a post that basically said the exact same thing that two local papers, several national writers and, what I imagine is hundreds of bloggers, had already written and talked about regarding Peterson's potential.

In order to extrapolate on what I can only categorize as hope (I think expectation is the wrong word) for All Day's future here, I have to provide what I know. First, the Vikings are the alpha dog in this state over the other two major national sports teams and the hockey team. Second, until last season, I had never watched an NFL game in a stadium other than the HHH Metrodome. Third, despite being the most popular team in the state over the years, the two most beloved athletes in this state in my sports watching lifetime (1986) from an objective viewpoint, Kirby Puckett and Kevin Garnett, were not on the Vikings. Fourth, the best, and probably only, argument for most popular Viking in my sports watching lifetime is Randy Moss, although popularity and adoration are seperate in Moss' case whereas Kirby and KG enjoyed adoration with their popularity. On a national level, Kirby, Moss and Garnett definitely brought attention to this state's teams due to their abilities, successes and personalities.

If an unbiased Vikings observer approached a Vikings fan during the Moss era to praise him for a good game, I would assume that there was, at the very least, a 1 in 2 chance that the Vikings fan would say something to the effect of, "Yeah, he's really good, but [fill in fan's gripe(s) about Moss' quotes/attitudes/troubles/etc.]" Moss was loved by some Vikings fans but loathed to the point of shame by others. Due to his coverage here, I had no idea what I was in store for last November when I attended the Vikings-Dolphins game in Miami.

If you ever have the chance to see a game in Miami, especially when it's freezing cold in Minnesota, go. I know they have an older stadium, but I enjoyed my Dolphin Stadium experience so much that I told myself I would never watch sports inside of the Metrodome ever again. I broke that promise for one Twins game this season when a friend of mine who flies copters for the Army had a two week leave from Korea and wanted to go to a Twins game, so I think that's a valid reason. Anyways, if you go to Dolphin Stadium, you will notice the word "Taylor" and the number "99" on a lot of apparel. Jason Taylor's jersey is everywhere in orange, green and white. You may see the occasional Ronnie Brown jersey or faded Marino jersey, but I'm telling you from seeing it, that city loves Jason Taylor. If Jason Taylor had Shawn Kemp's mentality (or ability?), I think every child birth in Miami-Dade County would have to be accompanied by a mandatory Jason Taylor paternity test. However, I don't remember ever noticing anything negative about Jason Taylor from a national standpoint. The Dolphins were not good last year, but Jason Taylor still played like a stud and the nearly packed house for the 4-5 Vikings (can you believe they started 4-2 last yea?) and the 3-6 Dolphins went ballistic for him. He backed it up with a sack, two forced fumbles (one returned for a TD) and an interception returned for a TD. Basically, Jason Taylor puts up results, seems like a good guy AND (this is key) is very marketable.

I can tell you from one night in South Beach and one Dolphins game that Jason Taylor enjoys the same popularity with adoration as Kirby and KG had here. I really think that Adrian Peterson has the chance for that, and more, here. Like I said yesterday, I think he has the tools to put up the numbers necessary for that level of popularity. Next, Adrian Peterson plays a position that gets more attention and notoriety than Jason Taylor's position (that's also a compliment to what Taylor has been able to do, as much as it is a complement to my argument). He's going to be the subject of fantasy drafts, video games and media highlights for years to come. Finally, in the short time he has been in the NFL spotlight, and combined with the college spotlight, he knows how to carry himself, he seems like a good guy, AND he definitely seems marketable enough to be a household name.

If you put this all together and combine it with results and longevity (which Peterson will have to provide), I think the sky is the limit for his popularity in this state. If his numbers become all-time franchise rushing numbers or if (big if) the Vikings ever hoist the Lombardi Trophy with Peterson, I could foresee Peterson easily joining the discussion of most popular and favorite athletes of all time in this city...

But let's win some games first.

WOLVES STUFF:

- I posted a new Wolves article today over that the TWolves Blog.

- We traded Mark Blount and I couldn't be happier. You can get all the links, etc. on TWolves Blog.

It's Still All About Marsha Brady

With the exodus of Kevin Garnett and what seems like the inevitable departure of Torii Hunter, the Twin Cities needs a new major sports star to be its "face athlete." As good as Johan Santana is and even with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau's remarkable seasons in 2006, I still think Hunter was the face of the Twins. With those two athletes gone, the cities needed a guy like Adrian Peterson. (This is where I write about stuff that's already considered old news.)

<-- All day poses with Mario Mario of the Super Mario Brothers. Luigi Mario had no comment.

In a blog I used to have a few years ago, I addressed Brady Bunch situation in the Twin Cities. To summarize, as far as the MN sports scene is concerned, the Twins are Jan and Vikings are Marsha. The first year the Twins made the playoffs in their recent run, almost all front-page media coverage in the local papers went to the Vikings training camp over the Twins. This is just the way it is. Jan is all fine and well when you're talking to her, but Marsha walks in the room and it doesn't matter if Jan is dancing naked, you're going to pay attention to Marsha. Thus, having a "face athlete" like this on the Vikings is huge. When Moss was on the Vikings, his face was plastered on the front page whether it was his on-field performances, hitting street cops, whatever.

Now, Adrian Peterson has the golden opportunity to make this his city/state. I remember walking out the door last Thursday morning, quickly looking on my kitchen counter, and noticing the Pioneer Press Sports page. The front story was Tom Powers' article on Adrian Peterson being "The Kid Who Saved the Vikings" complete with a large picture showing a bronzed Adrian Peterson illustration (click the link to see the image). I never read the article and I typically approach rookie performances with skepticism, but I don't think I can disagree with the headline. Adrian Peterson has made games exciting. During the Brad Childress Era, I've averaged about 4 naps a game. With Peterson, I at least ask to be awaken when we're on offense, and we have an awful offense. There's something about him that just gives you the feeling that he's going to be an uber star. He's got size, he carries himself with a swagger, he doesn't complain about touches, he had a great college career at a premiere program and he seems hungry in general.

Just keep him away from EA sports and off that damn Madden cover.

- I wrote this Wolves article over on the TWolves Blog.

Moving Day

I am moving all Timberwolves and NBA content over to the TWolves Blog. I posted my first thing there. Come on over.

I will probably start putting other stuff up here, but I'm about as committed to that as Henry VIII to his wives.

Again - http://www.TWolvesblog.com

Week 7 Picks

New developments coming Monday or Tuesday.

For now, just picks.

NFL Week 7:

Lines based on MGM-Mirage Sports Book as of October 19, 2007 at 4:38 PM (home team in CAPS):

Arizona (+8) over WASHINGTON

NEW ORLEANS (-7.5) over Atlanta

Baltimore (-3) over BUFFALO

Minnesota (+9.5) over DALLAS

MIAMI (+17) over New England

NEW YORK GIANTS (-9.5) over San Fransisco

Tampa Bay (+2) over DETROIT

HOUSTON (pick) over Tennessee

OAKLAND (-2.5) over Kansas City

New York Jets (+6) over Cincinnati

PHILADELPHIA (-6) over Chicago

St. Louis (+8.5) over SEATTLE

Pittsburgh (-3.5) over DENVER

Indianapolis (-3) over JACKSONVILLE

Last week: 3-8-2 (ouch)

Season: 42-45-2

Relativity Applied to Basketball

"Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein." - Former Washington Redskins QB, Joe Theisman

Besides the obvious mathematical implications of relativity, Albert Einstein's theory has paved the way for pop culture and sports arguments. The word "Relativity" and all of its derivatives has been the fulcrum allowing me to use my arguments as a lever for years. Relativity always applies. I went to an all-male high school and there was a semi-attractive teacher. Compared to all members relevant to the criteria we judged on (namely the possession of female genetalia) this teacher ranked as high as Aphrodite. It's the same reasoning as to why Neve Campbell would probably look hot if you saw her in Rosedale, but why she was insanely overrated when targeted as a sex-symbol by magazines back when she was popular (relative to some of the Vixens of her day - see: Wild Things). I'm just not buying what they're selling.

The importance of relativity in sports arguments cannot be underscored. What's the greatest team ever? Who is the greatest player ever? All of these arguments require points comparing relative players, statistics, intangibles, time periods, trends, etc. This brings me to Mark Blount.

Blount came in the Wally Trade, which I was all for except for the 1st round pick. First off, there's no questions Blount is an upgrade from Olowakandi. Unfortunately, being better than Olowakandi is an accomplishment on par with getting a triple bogey on a mini golf hole. I had not watched any Boston Celtics games since they lost game 7 of their 1st-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers in 04-05. The only relevant Boston Celtics information I read was from the Sports Guy's columns and those columns definitely did nothing to promote my confidence in Blount. Since I had never seen Mark Blount play, all I had to work with were his statistics. From his stats, I noticed that in the past three years, Blount was giving his team roughly 11 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. This destroyed Kandi's statistics, and I actually had an optimistic view of Blount watching the tail end of the disappointing 2005-2006 season.

Enter the 2006-2007 season, my first as a Wolves season ticket holder. What little faith I had in Blount was destroyed in the sixth game of the season against the Orlando Magic. The stats cannot even convey the level of destruction that Dwight Howard levied on Blount. I know Dwight Howard is the next coming, but this is just the most visual difference in Blounts attitudes versus other post players in this league. Blount looked weaker than Screech in that game. Feel free to check the game stats for 2006-2007 and you will notice a trend of rebound and point domination by the opposing centers. The exception is games 29-36.

Game 29 was on New Year's Day. I joked with my buddy Ryan, who bought season tickets with me, that I hoped Mark Blount had a New Year's resolution to play tougher. Well, I think he really made the resolution. He rebounded more, played with some attitude, and I think I even saw him yell once. In that stretch, the Wolves won 7 of 8 and were back in the contention in the division. That's when the resolution was broken and any form of swagger on Blount's part was gone. The Wolves went 12-34 to end the season.

What does this have to do with Relativity? I still hear listeners calling into KFAN arguing people are too tough on Blount and that his stats are this and that. I think these are the same people that don't watch the games. Blount might score you 14, but he's probably going to be responsible for giving up 20-25 a night between the guy he's guarding and the second chance rebounds he's allowing. Relative to his opponent, Blount is in the red. It's like going into a fantasy football game last year with Larry Johnson and realizing the opponent has LT. However you want to skew the math, you're going to lose.

MORE WOLVES REACTIONS:

- Not much to say from the game the other night against the Hawks. They got killed. I wasn't a fan of how little they played Brewer. It's tough to add anything relevant when the projected starting and back up point guards are injured. Al Jefferson continued to do what I expect him to be doing on a nightly basis.

Team Tryouts Continue

The Wolves weren't on TV or the radio last night, so the only thing to gauge their performance against the Grizzlies is the box score and what's written on various media outlets. Injuries to Foye and Telfair required Marko Jaric to play 35 minutes at point guard, a situation I hope does not repeat itself in the regular season.

<-- If you're going to shoot these, you might as well bang down low, slash or get to the line.

Taking a look at this box score, I see one statistic that continues to haunt this team: free throw disparity. The Wolves got to the line 19 times while the Grizzlies accumulated 33 attempts. This team has had an identity as a jump-shooting team every season since the Stephon Marbury trade. The jump-shooting strategy is not necessarily a bad one, but I cannot recall a jumpshooting team winning the championship, or even getting to the finals, since I have been following basketball. The farthest a jump-shooting team has gotten is each conference's respective finals with the 2003-2004 Timberwolves and the 2000-2001 Milwaukee Bucks that got jobbed by the refs in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, ultimately losing to Iverson's Sixers in 7. However, the jump shooting strategy fails when you lack a key ingredient, namely consistently making jump shots.

I have stated several times that the only player on this roster historically capable of consistently hitting an open jumper unfortunately doubles as a center, a position coaches generally favor to be played by someone near the basket. One of the misfortunes our coach has is his experience assisting in jump shooting offenses. With no consistent jump shooting, I would prefer a game played closer to the basket through the likes of Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith, with drives and CONTROLLED finishes at the rim. I see too many of our "slashers" (and I use that term very liberally when applies to this team) driving to the lane and throwing up high-angled shots at the backboard with the prayer that it bounces off with the correct trajectory required to get into the rim. J.R., Isaiah, Isaiah JR, whatever he liked to be called, perfected the requisite move to jump stop and get a shot off in the lane (although I really thought the liberal travelling rules in the NBA allowed him to do this), but I don't see Foye and McCants getting down into the paint and drawing the big men into the air with a fake. They often drive down and, at full speed, execute the aforementioned backboard-prayer layup.

I don't think its ever fair to fans to call a season a rebuilding one, and you always want to strive for wins and exceed expectations, but I think this is truly a franchise that has to look past this season. With that said, I think Rashad McCants has to get a lot of minutes. I am unconvicnced that he has the game to play shooting guard on a night-to-night basis in the NBA, but then again, he hasn't really had a fair shot. I want to see if any of McCants' college explosiveness has returned and if he has improved his jumper. I think from an organization standing, you have to determine if he's worth exercising the team option next year.

More on the possible identity of this team later this week.

Some other notes based on the Box Score:

- Al Jefferson had 17 and 15. This is what I want to see night after night. 6 for 9 shooting (maybe double the attemps and makes - 12 for 18, that would be ideal; perhaps a little too optimistic) and he made 5 of 7 at the line.

- I would prefer Ratliff at starting center to begin the season. The poll to the right wasn't "who should start" , it was "who do you think will start." As to who should start, clearly Tecmo Bo is the right asnwer. I had expected Witt to use Blount more, but I'm happy to see that's not the case. One thing I do not want is Jefferson as the center. I think he has the skill and size to be a dominating power forward and I would prefer he stays there.

- I like the Brewer start. 3-11 is not good, but I'm glad he chucked them up. I guess I don't know what manner of shots he took, but if he was open and he was taking open shots, I'm all for it. Also encouraging: only one three point attempt by him. As they say, you have to crawl before you walk.

Another game tonight, we'll see who plays, who does what, etc.

OTHER NEWS:

- Finally a decent Vikings game. I think between the first four games of the season, I fell asleep approximately 20 times. That's a 5 nap per game average. Additionally, for a town that lost it's "face" athletes, Kevin Garnett and soon-to-be-gone Torii Hunter, this state needed that performance out of All Day. I can't believe how fast he can reaccelerate after making that cut.

NFL Picks - Week 6

WOLVES NEWS AND REACTIONS TO:

<-- Radio or Television, Double-T should get the call.

- Nothing really caught my interest today. For daily news, please check the TWolves Blog linked to the right, I'm too lazy to link it right now in the text. The only thing worth mentioning is that the Wolves hired a new radio analyst, Alan Horton. I did not like the play-by-play guy last year, so I hope this guy is better. Notwithstanding his mediocre radio show, Hartman was a good play-by-play guy that used decent inflections when necessary and involved whatever colorman he was assigned for the given season.

- Now that I typed the above, I miss Trent Tucker calling the games. The Harlan/Tucker team kicked copious amounts of ass. If I ever win the lottery, I want to hire Trent Tucker to come to my house and announce the Wolves games on TV.

NFL WEEK 6:

Lines based on MGM-Mirage Sports Book as of October 12, 2007 @ 5:04 PM (Home teams in CAPS):

Cincinatti (-3) over KANSAS CITY

Houston (+7) over JACKSONVILLE

CLEVELAND (-4.5) over Miami

MINNESOTA (+5) over Chicago (yes, this is a homer pick)

NEW YORK JETS (+3.5) over Philidelphia

St. Louis (+9) over BALTIMORE

TAMPA BAY (-3) over Tennessee

Washigton (+3) over GREEN BAY

ARIZONA (-4.5) over Caroline (David Carr at QB)

DALLAS (+6) over New England

Oakland (+9.5) over SAN DIEGO

SEATTLE (-7) over New Orleans

NEW YORK GIANTS over Atlanta

Last week: 8-6

Season: 39-37