Kurt Rambis was originally drafted by the Knicks and ended up playing for several teams, but is best known for his stints with the Lakers in L.A.

Rambis is the man with the goggles. That is how we will always remember him. Kurt averaged around 5 points and 5 rebounds for his career, but that is not what his career was all about. Rambis epitomized hustle and would make himself a pest to the other team. He was like a mad dog that the Lakers kept penned up and released whenever they felt it would cause the other team problems.

NBA Kurt Rambis factoid: Kurt Rambis had his jersey retired by Santa Clara University for being the all time leading scorer with 1,736 points.

Kevin Love brings the emotion!

NBA Legendary Coaches

Kurt had the opportunity to play for legendary Coach Pat Riley and Super Star Coach Phil Jackson. Today with the Timberwolves Kurt attempts to apply the triangle offense in the T’wolves offensive sets. It worked a whole lot better before Kevin Love was injured.

It is all new and all youth with Rambis and the T’wolves. Even his coaches are learning.

“There are no holdover players from my system,” Rambis says. “They’re all learning. Even my assistant coaches are learning,” including former head coaches Bill Laimbeer (the WNBA’s Detroit Shock), Reggie Theus (Sacramento Kings) and Dave Wohl (New Jersey Nets).

source

Besides Kevin Love, the Timberwolves have speedy Jonny Flynn and big Al Jefferson. All young and all learning and as much as Rambis would want to take them to the playoffs, it won’t be this year. In the meantime Kurt is making his mark as a teacher and patient coach. Maybe he needs to find someone wearing goggles to really start winning!

Image: Zuma Press

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One shining night Kevin McHale put up 56 points on my beloved Detroit Pistons. Well, it was one shining moment for Kevin and the Celtics. The man was unstoppable. He had a step under move that was brilliant and a turn and fade that could not be blocked and with Big Chief Parrish and Bird surrounding him up front, you could not double him.

The Pistons know this to be true, because on that night they tripled him. Did not matter. 56 big ones.

Kevin McHale was one of the greatest power forwards to play in the NBA

Kevin went from success on the hard court as a player to not much success as a General Manager of the T-Wolves. He just never could get the players he wanted and could never get a major superstar to move to Minnesota. Finally the T-Wolves have had enough.

McHale said the two in their meetings discussed the team’s roster, which McHale had re-assembled after he traded superstar Kevin Garnett away two summers ago, and began making calls to former NBA head coaches to find McHale a No. 1 assistant coach, but never received a job offer.

“We were talking about me coming back and at some point you’d think a contract (offer) would be made,” McHale said. “It was very noncommittal on everything.”
source

Kevin leaves a team with minor star Al Jefferson and not much else. Good Luck, Timberwolves!

Photo source Newscom

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Kevin McHale long ago traded in the short shorts for the suit and tie. He was better in short shorts.

Kevin McHale fired Coach Randy Wittman and hired Kevin McHale. My, it is good to be the boss.

Why was Randy Wittman fired? Kevin says the team was off to a slow start and the team was not delivering on defense, as was pledged.

Uhh, what? Are you kidding me?

The young team is 4-15 and has not responded to Wittman’s demands for tough defense and consistent effort. The Timberwolves are in the midst of a five-game losing streak in which the average margin of defeat has been nearly 17 points.

“There were certain goals and expectations that we had for this team at the start of the season, and we have not lived up to them,” Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in a statement.

“I am disappointed in our record and believe that we have more talent than our record indicates. A change had to be made and with three-fourths of the season remaining, there is still time to make substantial progress this year,” he added.

source

Ok, ok, just let me stop laughing here and make a comment.

Here is the starting lineup: Foye, Miller, Gomes, Jefferson, and Collins

Now let’s remove Al Jefferson, whom most people don’t know anyway and what do you have? Maybe a top flight CBA team?

So if Kevin McHale was in charge of getting the players and he did not get any beside big Al, shouldn’t Kevin be fired?

Photo source Newscom

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Tony Parker is unstoppable

With no Manu and the San Antonio Spurs slumping, somebody had to do something. Well, Tony Parker did more than just something. Tony did everything.

The San Antonio Spurs needed every last layup and feathery jumper from the fast-moving Frenchman, whose unstoppable performance was just enough to fuel their first win.

Parker scored a career-high 55 points, including a 20-footer at the buzzer to force a second overtime, in San Antonio’s 129-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

source

It was only the Timberwolves, but the Spurs needed this win!

Photo source Newscom

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O.J. Mayo was traded for big Kevin Love

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Hold on to your hats. There has been a trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ok, wake up, there may be some important stuff happening here.

O.J. Mayo was traded in an 8 person deal.

That’s good because Mayo didn’t come cheap. In addition to parting with the draft rights to forward Kevin Love, the No. 5 pick, Memphis gave up Mike Miller, a sharp-shooting guard who is extremely valued around the league. The Grizzlies were able to dump the remaining two years and $13 million on Brian Cardinal’s contract while also sending center Jason Collins, whose contract expires after the upcoming season, to Minnesota. In return, the Timberwolves unloaded Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner.

The contracts of Walker and Buckner aren’t guaranteed past the upcoming season, but Jaric has three years and $21.3 million left. Getting rid of Jaric gives Minnesota the potential to be a significant player in the bountiful free-agent summer of 2010.

source

Ok, what just happened here?

Opinions were divided. Love has the potential to be a long time starter and solid player. Mayo has the potential to be a star.

Minnesota wanted Mike Miller for his shooting and wanted to get under the cap for the 2010 free agents. They got that.

Memphis wanted some star power.

Both teams have a history of mucking up the trade wars. One needs only to look at the two NBA finals teams. Pau Gasol came from Memphis to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kevin Garnett came from the Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics. This left what? Memphis – 0 Minnesota – young Al Jefferson. Of course, don’t forget the Brandon Roy for Foye Minnesota trade. Who is Foye? Who knows, but Minnesota wanted him.

So O.J. Mayo ends up playing for the Memphis Grizzlies for now and Kevin Love plays for Minnesota for now. For now being the key words.

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While perusing the USA Today over my mid afternoon, really my morning, but your mid afternoon coffee, some surprising stats popped up.

Scoring Average: While no surprise that LeBron James leads with 30 and Kobe Bryant is second with 28.4, there are some surprises. Did you know that Denver has the next two with Iverson and Carmelo don’t smell my breath Anthony? Did you know Al Jefferson is averaging a pretty heady 23 points a game for Minnesota? He is the forgotten man in the Kevin Garnett trade. Kevin Garnett is not on the list.

Kevin Garnett not in the NBA stats for scoring average and Al Jefferson is

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Field Goal Percentage: Beidrins of Golden State is the leader at .623. Who? That is what came out of my mouth too. He is the Center for the Golden State Warriors and averages 10 points and almost 10 rebounds per game. This is Andris Beidrins 4th year and he really upped his stats.

Three Point field goal percentage: This one took me really by surprise. Toronto has the leader and two others on a list of the top ten. The leader is Kapono. Oh, not that deadly “Who?” again? It is Jason Kopono from UCLA. Oh, that Kapono. Like we know a whole bunch of Kapono’s.

Toronto also checks in with Jose Calderon and Parker. Not Tony Parker, but Anthony Parker. Which is kind of like Tony Parker, isn’t it? But not the one from the San Antonio Spurs with the cute girlfriend. Not that Anthony Parker may not have a cute girlfriend, but…arrrgghh. The Toronto Parker, leave it at that.

Better end this now, it is getting too confusing.

NBA Basketball special comment Don’t you love the NBA stats?

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Kevin asks: Al Who?

A friend of mine asked me the other day what the Celtics gave up for Kevin Garnett? Yes, your intrepid author has friends.

Before my friend could hear my answer, he exclaimed that Boston got Garnett for nothing. They just gave up a bunch of junk.

He asked me again, so who did Boston give up?

My reply was Al Jefferson.

Who?

Al Jefferson, he is a young player and is going to be a great player in this league for years. Believe me, Boston did not want to give him up.

The original trade reads like this:

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have acquired 10-time All-Star and 2004 MVP Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a 2009 first round draft pick (top three protected) and a return of Minnesota’s conditional first round draft pick previously obtained in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade. Minnesota also receives cash considerations in the deal. source

Who?

The conversation kind of ended right there, but now Al Jefferson has a chance to get voted on to the All Star team and deserves it.

Al Jefferson, Minnesota
Averages: 20.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.5 APG; Total PRA: 34.1
Breakdown: Replacing Kevin Garnett is no easy task, but Big Al is working hard in Minnesota. Taking advantage of a post-centric offense, Jefferson’s averaging more than 20 points per game for the first time in his career, and rebounding at a rate that proves he’s hungry like a (Timber)wolf. source

Only one problem for Al Jefferson. He has to beat out Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, and Dirk Nowitzki.

There is no Who with any of those guys.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will you be casting a sympathy vote for Al Jefferson?

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And he shall come from the East and lead them…

Denver is all set up to win the Northwest.

Think about this division. Greg Oden is out for the season at Portland and they let their other big man, Zach Randolph, go to the Knicks.

Seattle is playing for the future with young Rookie of the Year front runner Kevin Durant. They are young and inexperienced.

The Timberwolves are starting the Al Jefferson show and have yet to move up town with their supporting cast of castaways.

This leaves only Utah. Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur present a solid core, but an unhappy Kirilenko really hurts them.

Carmelo is set to lead the Nuggets out of the Northwest.

He’s not the all-around threat James is, but he does exude greatness, able to put the ball in the basket as well as anyone in the game. All that has been missing are key ingredients like maturity and help. He feels he has both now. Excuses are out the window.

CBSSports.com believes in Anthony and the Nuggets, predicting they’ll overcome Utah in the Northwest Division. If they fail, it had better be a result of the scenario Karl believes possible, where Utah simply outperforms them and wins more than 60 games. That’s unlikely, but if it happens, Denver has every right to shake off the disappointment and feel good about its season. source

Introducing the Champions of the Northwest to be, the Denver Nuggets with an aging but still hungry Allen Iverson, a shoot happy Carmelo, a block happy Camby, and perhaps the key in Kenyon Martin.

Kenyon is coming off microfracture surgery and a lot depends on his recovery. Without Kenyon Martin they are not a very tough team on the offensive blocks.

Camby is counted on more for defense. Did you know he was the defensive player of the year? Came as a shock to me.

It appears any kind of chemistry on offense between The Truth and Melo should produce close to 50 victories and be good enough to win the division.

Hard to believe they have the horses to march through the playoffs, but we believed that about Cleveland and LeBron last year.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Who do you pick in the Northwest Division?

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Ben Gordon shooting the lights out!

The NBA draft class of 2004 has their contracts coming up for renewal.

In the NBA, this is the first of the great Promises, like a strong spring breeze after a long cold winter; it brings with it many new riches.

This time period, 3 years after your initial contract, is the reason that so many undernourished, undereducated, immature lanky, talented basketball players leave College early to go to the Pros.

You see, it is not the NBA come calling, it is the after 3 years free agent or renegotiate that they hear so loudly.

The class of 2004, including Ben Gordon, may face the harsh reality of being drafted at the wrong time.

With only a few teams expected to be under the salary cap next summer, there probably won’t be a big market for free agents. Most teams are going to drive a hard bargain with their ‘04 rookies right now. Because any contract they sign would be guaranteed, those players are going to be asked to give up some money in return for the security of a longer-term deal. source

The teams have until Oct 31st and only 3 players have signed on the dotted line; Dwight Howard, Devin Harris and Kevin Martin.

If they don’t sign before Oct 31, then next year they can test the Free Agent waters.

Here are some of the players from the class of 2004:

Emeka Okafor, Bobcats, No. 2 pick
Bobcats co-owner Michael Jordan has said he wants to re-sign the 6-10 forward/center, the 2005 Rookie of the Year, but so far no deal has been reached. Will the Bobcats be willing to go into the $70 to $75 million range for a player with Okafor’s history of injuries?

Ben Gordon, Bulls, No. 3
The 6-2 guard and former Sixth Man Award winner has blossomed into a 20-point scorer, meaning he probably wants a deal better than the five-year, $47.5 million package Kirk Hinrich signed a year ago. More likely, it will take something similar to that of Sacramento’s Martin. But with teammate Luol Deng (see below) also due for a hefty extension, can the Bulls afford both?

Al Jefferson, Timberwolves, No. 15
He could be in for a near max deal after averaging 16 points and 11 boards last season. Plus, as the main piece in the Kevin Garnett trade, Wolves vice president Kevin McHale can’t afford to let the 6-10 power forward get away.

Others include:

Shaun Livingston, Clippers – injured

Josh Childress, Hawks – probably headed for free agency

Luol Deng, Bulls – looking at a huge payday, but will it be the Bulls?

Andrew Iquodala, 76ers – possible free agent

Josh Smith, Hawks – maybe free agent

Jameer Nelson, Magic – undecided by the Magic

Yes, Ben Gordon and the class of 2004 may have to live on only 7 or 8 million a year a piece. How will they manage?

NBA Basketball Fan Question Which of these free agents would you want the most?

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