Listen to me on WCCO radio tonight!

It's a late one...I'll be on after 11:00 tonight, but listen if you can. Station AM 830.

If you can't listen to the radio, here is the link where you can listen online.

http://www.wccoradio.com/

Want to take any guesses as to what we're going to talk about?

A Letter From Glen Taylor

For those who didn't receive this...


July 31, 2007

I write to you today with some momentous news. Earlier today, we decided to fundamentally change the direction of our team and trade Kevin Garnett. We acquired Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and two first-round draft picks from Boston. We're excited about the new players that we have acquired and the potential that the new draft picks represent.

As with any great change, I am filled with mixed emotions. Sadness in seeing our franchise player depart but also great excitement in what the future holds. Our team is definitely young, but also extremely talented. Our core group of Randy Foye, Craig Smith, Rashad McCants, 2007 NBA Draft picks Corey Brewer and Chris Richard and the newly acquired players plus two future first-round picks have me energized about our long-term future.

Yes, I'll miss Kevin Garnett. For 12 years Kevin has been the face of our franchise. We have all watched him grow and mature from "The Kid" into "The Big Ticket" right before our very eyes. I appreciate everything he has done for this franchise; the blood, the sweat and the tears that he has shed on our behalf. I wish only the best for Kevin and his family.

However, this move was made in the best interest of the Minnesota Timberwolves and regaining our place among the best teams in the NBA. During the past three years, we have struggled unsuccessfully to assemble a team around Kevin that could bring us back to the playoffs. These years have been hard on all of us. During this time it has become increasingly apparent to me that given the complicated formulas needed to move and acquire players, we needed greater flexibility. To move our team forward, we will need the flexibility this trade provides.

This past spring, I sat down with the team's top executives and drafted a plan on how we wanted to rebuild our team. We evaluated our successes and failures over the years and looked to other franchises on how they built winning teams. The result of this reflection was the "Blueprint for the Future" that I shared with many of you. This plan outlined how we planned to rebuild our team. It was our acknowledgment that we had strayed from building a team that didn't just speak of character, but rather lived it. A team more focused on working as a team than seeking individual recognition.

We took that first step today. We know it won't be easy - nothing that is worthwhile ever is. We know that we are embarking on a journey that will be measured in years, not months. We understand that every team in professional sports is in a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth. I wholly believe that it is our time to give birth to a new team that will return our Timberwolves franchise to the elite of the NBA.

I appreciate your continued support as we undergo this transformation and urge you to follow our progress. I am convinced that you will like what you see and believe that it will mean only better days ahead. Please feel free to contact any of my staff with additional questions.

Regards,

Glen Taylor

Thoughts on Garnett and The Mystery Player Revealed

As I am writing this, Kevin Garnett technically is still a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, however we all know that will more then likely not be the case soon. Although it is nearly impossible to separate Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in your mind, it has become a reality and the time has come to find out which fans are Kevin Garnett fans and which fans are Minnesota Timberwolves fans.

With the reported deal, the Timberwolves will certainly be in “rebuilding mode.” They are admitting that they failed and it is time to get young and try to establish a good core of players who could develop on the court together at this level, as well as develop chemistry together on the court. Certainly most fans are not thrilled with the idea of watching this team struggle as they grow and try to form an identity after Garnett was the identity of the franchise for over a decade, but it is time.

Certainly unscientific, here is a breakdown of the stats of the main players reported to be coming to Minnesota, compared to Kevin Garnett’s statistics from last season…

Al Jefferson
16.0 ppg / 11.0 rpg / 1.3 apg / 1.5 bpg / 0.7 spg

Gerald Green
10.4 ppg / 2.6 rpg / 1.0 apg / 0.3 bpg / 0.5 spg

Ryan Gomes
12.1 ppg / 5.6 rpg / 1.6 apg / 0.2 bpg / 0.7 spg

Sebastian Telfair
6.1 ppg / 1.4 rpg / 2.8 apg / 0.1 bpg / 0.6 spg

TOTALS
44.6 ppg / 20.6 rpg / 6.7 apg / 2.1 bpg / 2.5 spg

KG
22.4 ppg / 12.8 rpg / 4.1 apg / 1.7 bpg / 1.2 spg

With the influx of youth that apparently will now make up the roster of the Timberwolves, there are a few more moves that must be made. Ricky Davis and Mark Blount are not the veteran “leaders” you would want to influence the younger players. When I sat down with Davis in March, an answer he gave rubbed me the wrong way, seemingly showing a true glimpse of the player…

---

SL: There are many fans out there who believe that it may be in the best interest of the team to start Rashad McCants and have you come in as the sixth man, a role in which you've thrived in the past. Is that something that, if asked, you would be willing to do?

RD: I'm always willing to do something nice, but that was something that I was better at in my younger days. I'm going to be a starter and I'm going to stay a starter, so we'll just keep it like that. It's different when you go to another team where they have guys who have established themselves in the league already and maybe become like a (Jerry) Stackhouse. He comes off the bench and does what he does, but I'm here to play all the minutes. I'm going to play all of the minutes and make the team better.

---

Earlier in March, I had an interesting run-in with one of the Wolves players and wrote an article in which I left the player unnamed. That article is below…

---

I have a certain routine before each Timberwolves game. After making a visit to the visitor’s locker room to spend a few moments with, on this night, the Utah Jazz players, I then immediately spend the rest of the time allotted in Minnesota’s locker room. I do so to get some sense as to whether or not the team is focused, tired, loose and relaxed or whatever mindset they might be in before tip off.

It really is amazing the things you can predict will happen in the game by spending that small window of time with the players. By this incredibly unscientific method of watching body language and mood, this Minnesota team plays their best basketball when they have an edge to them, almost as if they have the mentality of “us vs. the world.” At the start of the 2006-07 season, that was the locker room attitude before nearly every game, but has disappeared the past few weeks.

This game was over before it started.

Upon entering the Minnesota locker room, I arrived to an empty room. Not one player was there watching film on the Jazz, stretching, reading scouting reports on Utah, etc. As I stood there completely alone, watching tape of Utah’s great game against Memphis the other night, one Wolves player finally made an appearance.

At this time I have decided to leave the player unnamed, but wanted to point out for my readers the level of immaturity that this team has and how “checked out,” looking forward to their long summer off as they do not seem interested in the slightest in making a playoff appearance.

This unnamed player bounced into the locker room with a spring in his step, singing and generally in a great mood. As I do have somewhat of a relationship with this player, I said “Man, you seem to be in a good mood.”

The response was jaw-dropping.

“Yeah, I’m loose and feeling good. I mean, what do I have to worry about? When’s the last time I had to work. I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

I just nodded my head, shocked at what was just stated. This player stood in front of me, who made more money by the time he was 25 then I will see in my entire life and, in essence, flaunted that fact. He had no gratitude for the situation he was blessed to be a part of by playing a game for a living and no respect for the game itself.

By showing the immaturity that he displayed, he spit in the face of his teammates, owner, fans and myself. This is the problem that pervades the Minnesota locker room. Most of the players do not show the commitment to winning that should be required of them, so why should we expect them to show any passion on the court?

The biggest problem I have with this is a simple question. Is the problem with the Minnesota Timberwolves that they have players such as this on their roster or is the problem that they have executives who bring these players to the Twin Cities?

The game, which was delayed by 30 minutes due to issues with the baskets, should have been forfeited at that time. The outcome was inevitable with attitudes like this coming from the home team.

---

After that article was published, I received numerous emails from readers stating their guesses as to who the unnamed player was in the piece. What was interesting to me was that every player on the team was someone’s choice, other then rookies Randy Foye and Craig Smith. So, what does that say about the team?

I always answered those emails or message board posts with the response that I would not reveal the identity of the player until he was no longer a member of the team. However, with Garnett’s departure all but complete, the most important thing that Kevin McHale and company can do is rid themselves of veterans such as Davis and that unnamed player…who was indeed Mark Blount.

I decided to name Blount now to show how badly he and Davis need to be gone. If fans did not have enough reasons to want them gone, there is another.

Kevin Garnett Waiving Goodbye?

Well, it sure seems like it, doesn't it?

Although nothing is "official," Garnett's Celtic green jersey is being stitched up right now.

When the trade is announced officially, I will comment.

Until then, I'll let you do so...sign up for Minnesota Basketball Talk and provide your favorite KG moments.

Update

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I will not be posting as much for the next few days. My family and I are in the process of moving and life has come up somewhat.

I will post when I'm able to, but please sign up for Minnesota Basketball Talk on the left side and join the community there. Feel free to post your own topics you'd like to discuss and I'll chime in when able.

Talk to you soon.

The Evaluations Continue...With Augustus

**Don't forget to sign up for Minnesota Basketball Talk**

The most important aspect from tonight’s game against the Phoenix Mercury is that Seimone Augustus is healthy after her scary injury Friday night. As I sat about five feet away from her while she sat on the bench, speaking with trainer Chuck Barta, before leaving for the locker room, I was very concerned that her injury may turn out to be very serious.

The reason I felt so much concern for Augustus was for the single fact that she was crying on the bench. As many believe, I find Augustus to be a warrior, who does not show emotion unless it is needed to motivate her team. Therefore, for Augustus to cry in front of her opponents and, more importantly, her teammates, brought me to believe that she may be done for the season.


Thankfully, I was wrong and Seimone Augustus returned to the team tonight to once again lead the Lynx in scoring. The outcome of the game with the Mercury was once again a loss for Minnesota, but the evaluations continue and what better way to judge player’s place on this team in the future then to continue to allow them court time with the team’s star. The Lynx are obviously built around Augustus and will be for years to come, so the evaluation as to whether someone is able to play with and off the double teams that she creates is one of the biggest factors.

Coach Zierden Speaks

***LYNX FANS...Don't forget to sign up for Minnesota Basketball Talk***

Lately, I’ve been hearing a few rumblings from fans that they are unimpressed with head coach Don Zierden this season. There have even been some who have already started calling for Zierden to be fired. Although I am more inclined to allow the new coaching staff the time to develop their young team, I do wonder at what point does the evaluation end and when do results begin?

Before the Lynx faced the Washington Mystics Friday night, I spoke with Coach Zierden for a few minutes…

SL: Throughout this season, you have uttered the phrases “this is an evaluation year” and “stay the course” countless times. At this point, what is the most important evaluation that has been made for the future success of this team?

DZ: Well, the verdict is still out, but only for this reason…we’re 5-17 right now. To me, that’s adversity. It’s not where you want to be and we’ve lost our starting point guard for the year. I want to see how these ladies handle adversity. That goes along with what we’ve talked about that this is an evaluation.

What I told the players after the Houston game was that when they came back from the All-Star break for the veterans who have been here the past three years, this will now be an audition--these last 13 games--to see if we want to go ahead and renew your contract and bring you back. Likewise, for the rookies, it’s a developmental period. We’re going to play all the rookies and we’ve done that, even Navonda Moore has played five minutes a game. We’re going to play the rookies and we’re going to find out where you fit into the future.

None of us are happy with being 5-17, but if you don’t take something out of that, you don’t get something out of that, then you’re going to be 5-17 again. So, it’s important for us to evaluate who can fight through adversity. Any player can handle good times…who can fight through the bad times? Now, in the Connecticut game, I do think we really fought from start to finish. Sometimes you don’t have the talent, sometimes you come up a little bit short and sometimes calls don’t go your way…those things are going to happen, but if you stop fighting these last 12, 13 games now, that helps us evaluate for down the road.

SL: So, it’s looking for who has a winner’s mentality vs. who does not.

DZ: Yes and we’ve put that on the coaching staff as well. I told the players, “If you think we are not prepared for one game, you let us know. We’re going to coach our tails off for you.” You’ve got to find out who is going to fight through things because, I think, one of the things in the past that I’ve seen is that when we get pushed, we kind of don’t fight back and we’re looking for players that when adversity comes, will you fight back? The one thing--we’ve told our players this over and over again--you cannot control how your shot is going, you cannot control the calls, but you can control your effort and that’s all we’re looking for these last games. What players are going to give us that?

SL: Before Lindsey Harding’s season-ending injury, how did you feel she was coming along as a leader on this team?

DZ: You know, it was up and down, but what was really the most disappointing is that I thought the last couple games right before she was injured and the game she was injured in, we thought she might have been turning the corner. She had done some nice things, so for us to not have her now for the last 14 or 15 games or whatever it was when she got hurt, that’s disappointing. That being said, it is what it is. Hopefully, she’ll come back here in a week or so and spend time with us, we can talk the game and she can hang with her teammates. She’ll be ready for training camp and just pick up where she left off. I think she was heading for Rookie of the Year, in my mind. She was still here for two-thirds of the season and, based on what she did, I feel like she is the Rookie of the Year. No disrespect to the other players.

SL: How much of the disappointment of this season can and should be attributed to the fact that you are a rookie head coach, still learning yourself?

DZ: The one thing that I’ve learned about the pro game is that all 17 losses are mine and all 5 wins are the players. That’s what the pro level is all about. Our job is to get them as prepared as we can and try to evaluate that talent, so you put all 17 losses right on the coaching staff. How much of it is me being a rookie? As far as learning the women’s game and learning the players in the league, there is no doubt that has been an educational process.

It’s also been an educational process for the players, trying to learn what I’m expecting of them. I think we’ve set some pretty high expectations of them. So, I don’t know if I would want to label it as being a rookie, but it’s certainly been a learning experience. Coaching is coaching…when you lose, it’s your fault and when you win, it’s the players winning.

SL: What are you most proud of to this point in the season?

DZ: We’ve played 22 games and two times, at halftime, I would have to talk about the fact that we weren’t playing hard enough. Two out of 22. I don’t think that has been true in the past. Looking at last year’s films, there were some 30 point losses and there were some 20 point losses. Only having to talk about effort two out of 22 times, I’m very proud of that. That says a lot about the players in the locker room.

SL: From this point to the end of the season, what will constitute a successful ending to a disappointing season? Is it winning X amount of games or just continuing the evaluations?

DZ: It’s both. You’re trying to win every one of these last 12 games, but along with that is you are evaluating everybody. No matter who you are, everybody is going to go through a little funk and we want to find out how people can handle that, so it’s a little bit of both.

Interview with Coach Zierden Coming Later Today

Before last night's simply amazing game against Washington, I had the opportunity to chat with head coach Don Zierden. I will be posting that interview asap, so keep an eye out.

I'm glad I was able to speak with him before the game...he sure wasn't all that chatty afterwards.

Introducing Minnesota Basketball Talk

The new addition of Minnesota Basketball Talk should be a lot of fun. Similar to both Facebook and Myspace, you can create a profile page with pictures, your own blog, etc. I felt that with the creation of a community such as this, conversation may flow more as we will have a better sense of the other fans who follow the Timberwolves and Lynx.

So, please, wherever you are from, sign up for Minnesota Basketball Talk, add a picture and let’s start chatting.

Same Story, Different Day.

Last night’s nationally televised game was a decent showing by the Lynx, even though it ended up in a loss. This was a fun game to watch, as the teams exchanged blows for three quarters until Connecticut landed the knock out punch in the fourth.

Upon looking at the box score, it is somewhat difficult to understand why the Lynx were not able to pull out a win against the Sun. Minnesota out-rebounded Connecticut by nine and dished out three more assists. They had three players in double figures scoring—with a fourth one point shy—to Connecticut’s two and shot over 50% from three-point land.

Yet, the answer as to why this ended up as another notch in the loss column for the Lynx can be summed up in one word: experience. Connecticut, although their season has also not gone as they would have hoped, is a veteran team who knows that those little things can add up to a loss if you allow them to happen.

The Lynx, on the other hand, still make the mistakes that youth brings. This one game can be summed up by three stats in the box score…

Turnovers
Minnesota – 15
Connecticut – 9

Personal Fouls
Minnesota – 19
Connecticut – 12

Free Throws Made and Attempted
Minnesota – 10 for 16
Connecticut – 16 for 20

Playing a solid game, without turning the ball over on the offensive end and defending without fouling, are trademarks of good basketball teams. Minnesota certainly has potential on their team and hope for the future, but these are some of the issues that need to be addressed. Whether that means bringing in more veterans in the off-season or if they truly believe the young players will mature quickly, who knows?

Either way, I will take Coach Zierden at his word that this is the evaluation year. At what point next season should the evaluation end and production—by winning games—begin?

Kevin Garnett Should Stop the Rumor Mill

The Minnesota Timberwolves have already had a very busy summer. They have traded away Mike James to the Houston Rockets for veteran post player Juwan Howard, they drafted Corey Brewer and Chris Richard from the two-time NCAA champion Florida Gators and the team just finished summer league play in Las Vegas.

More...

http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?publication=downtown§ion=51&page=65&story=8950&viewComments=viewComments

Lynx Chat Tonight!

Thanks to my friends over at http://www.mnsportsfans.com, there will be a chat open for anyone and everyone interested tonight as the Lynx face off against the Connecticut Sun on ESPN2.

What better way to watch the game then by chatting with friends—and, maybe fraternizing with the enemy—as the contest unfolds?

Lynx fans…Sun fans…WNBA fans…everyone is welcome and hope to see you all there.

Upon arriving at http://www.mnsportsfans.com, the chat room can be found on the left hand side.

Giving Out A Slice Of Credit

The Lynx have now played their first game without Lindsey Harding and the outcome was the same. Another Lynx loss, this time at the hands of the Houston Comets. Although the team’s record now drops to 5 wins and 16 losses on the season, the worst record in the WNBA, you have to be proud of the team for the fight that they gave today.

As I glanced at the box score to find out the outcome of the game, there were three numbers that really jumped out at me…

Noelle Quinn. 28:30 minutes. 9 assists. 2 turnovers.

Although I was not able to see this game, I imagine that this is the kind of performance the coaching staff was looking for from Quinn the entire season. One game does not make me forget that I do not believe that she will ultimately be a point guard in this league, but it does, at the least, shut me up until the next game.

As a person, I find Noelle Quinn to be quite delightful and charming. I honestly would love nothing more then for her to succeed in this league as a member of the Lynx. To this point, I have voiced my concerns from what I have witnessed with my own two eyes and now, with Lindsey Harding out for the remainder of the season, it is time for Quinn to prove her doubters—including myself—to be wrong.

Efforts such as she gave today do not go unnoticed and I give credit where it is due.

Good for her and keep it up, Noelle.

Ouch. Let The Auditions For Next Season Begin.

Well, by now you have heard that Rookie of the Year front-runner Lindsey Harding is out for the remainder of the season. As much as this is completely unfortunate, it will--if you believe that this is truly the “evaluation season”--speed up the evaluation process for the remainder of the team.

With Harding out, Amber Jacobs will have to play the point guard position more then Coach Zierden has allowed until now. This is a move that I have been screaming for in recent weeks, although under happier circumstances. Jacobs is more then capable of playing the position and, I believe, her teammates have faith in her leadership skills and ability to “run the show.”

If the season was not over before now, it has officially ended. This team, unfortunately, has nothing to play for in terms of this year’s success. From this point on, everyone on the Lynx not named Seimone Augustus is auditioning for their spot on the team next season. In my opinion, the only players who are guaranteed to be on the roster next season are Augustus, Harding, Kristen Mann and rookie Kathrin Ress.

That last one may surprise you, but Ress is loved by both her teammates and her coaches for the hustle and heart she has brought to the team from Day One of the season. She is that player who will do the “dirty work” and, more importantly, does so without complaint. She knows her role and does it well.

The main thing that I will be watching for the rest of the season is how Noelle Quinn will handle playing more minutes then she has to this point. She has looked to be under duress when handling the point guard duties against smaller and faster opponents. Hopefully, Coach Zierden and his staff can find a way to put her in a better position to succeed.

Enjoy the All-Star weekend. The rest of the season is going to be rough.

Let’s hope the team can stick together and not completely fall apart.

Get well, Lindsey. I look forward to continuing to watch your career next season.

Vanessa Hayden: Gone, But Not Forgotten

The Minnesota Lynx are missing a big part of their team this season, both literally and figuratively. Center Vanessa Hayden is lost for the team this season due to her pregnancy and the arrival of her daughter, Zyon Brianna, on June 3. Head Coach Don Zierden, who has been a basketball coach for over 20 years, said on Media Day, “This is the first time I’ve lost a player due to pregnancy…there is a big difference between the NBA and the WNBA.”

More… http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?amp;page=65&story=8887&page=65&category=57

Amber Jacobs Prior To A Disappointing Game

Sunday night’s game versus the Houston Comets was one of the most disappointing games of the season for this young Lynx team. After playing much better basketball recently, the expectations for this team began to rise slowly. Although a young team such as this will go through many ups and downs throughout the season, this 0-3 homestand was very disappointing.

And now, they head out on the road for six of their next eight games.

Before the game, I spoke with Amber Jacobs. For those of you who are regular readers of my work, I have lately been advocating for Jacobs to play the point guard position more, allowing rookie Noelle Quinn to slide over to the two or three position. Therefore, I sought out AJ for her opinions on the topic, as well as others.

SL: How difficult was it for you to not get much playing time, even though you were coming off your best statistical season?

AJ: It was frustrating, but Coach Z came in with a focus and a vision for this organization and how he started off the team was how he thought he needed to go. It took me a couple games to adjust, but I don’t think I ever doubted him and I’m definitely a team player. I’m still going to be there for my teammates and cheer them on and, hopefully, in the games that he puts me in, I’ll be ready and just prove to him that when I get that opportunity that I can help this team on the court. As of late, that’s happened and it’s been exciting.

SL: What do you think has changed recently, allowing for you to see more court time?

AJ: Man, it’s just a whole lot of things. Obviously, Coach Z coming in and wanting to move me to just playing the two with getting Lindsey and Noelle as point guards, he wanted to use my shooting ability. That took an adjustment, first of all. Then, just with my size, I know matchups were tough at first with defense--I’m definitely not the best defender--and I just think that I kept trying to work hard on my defense and that’s been coming along here as of late in practice. I’m shooting the ball much better in practice and I’ve been getting the opportunity to kind of be a spark off the bench.

SL: So, do you actually prefer to play the point guard or the two-guard position?

AJ: Oh, I’ve been asked that question so much! It just really depends on the team, the situation and how I’m playing. I do like the one because I like creating a tempo, distributing the ball to my teammates, but also being that point guard who can score. At the same time, playing the two is nice because you don’t have the burden of being the coach on the floor. You just basically get to run off everybody’s screens and look to shoot, so both have their advantages and disadvantages. I’m getting used to both and I don’t mind playing either.

SL: In what areas do you think the team has made the most improvement this season and what areas still need the most work?

AJ: Wow. That’s a deep question. I think from the beginning of the season until now, the biggest achievement has been the fact that we’re staying together even after the 0-7 start and now, we’re coming along a little better. We’re believing in each other and in this organization and that we can be a great team, we can be that championship team and I think that is huge. In any organization, to have that belief that we are good. There’s still so much improvement that needs to be made. I mean, we’re just so young, so getting that experience this year, I think will obviously contribute to next year. The other thing is continuing to know that every game we have to come ready to play and we have to, basically, outwork the other team. We’re not a type of team yet that can just stroll onto the court and win a game and turn our switch on and off. We have to come out and play a great 40 minute game as a team and put forth a whole lot of effort to make that happen. I think we’re understanding that and I think it shows in the games when we haven’t done that, obviously, because we’ve lost or dug ourselves into a deep hole and the next quarter we decide to work hard. Now, we just have to get the mindset that this has to happen for 40 minutes.

SL: In year’s past, it would be right about this time that the team would basically crash and burn. Why will it be different this season?

AJ: I hope it’s different. I think the team chemistry is just a lot better this year. We’re all on the same page and, even though losses are very frustrating for a team, frustrating for individuals depending on their performance, I think we’ve done a great job--and especially Coach Z and the coaching staff--of continuing to be positive and encouraging. They are continuing to teach us that a few little mistakes here and there in a game, if that wouldn’t have happened, how close we were to winning that game. I think that showing the learning curve, but at the same time saying ‘We’re right there.’ They just keep the fire lit inside of us.

SL: How hopeful are you that Svetlana is going to see enough improvement in the team this year that she’ll want to stick around for the future?

AJ: I mean, I’m very hopeful. Obviously, my contract is up this year to and I would love to be back here too, but Svet has been a huge part of this organization, not just as a player, but just a great woman. I love her to death and she’s just so much fun to be around. She gives us that presence of being that veteran, but she has really helped the younger players come along. I know she’s frustrated with these constant losing seasons, so we’ll see what happens with her. I don’t really know where her heart is right now, but, obviously, I would love to--as well as, I’m sure, the Minnesota fans--see her back.

SL: Last one for you. How proud were you of your Mom singing the national anthem at the Barn Friday night?

AJ: Oh, it’s always great that my Mom can come for a week and see some games and also be able to perform the national anthem. It’s just a little excitement that is nice for me and I hope it’s nice for the fans too.

A Special Treat In A Lynx Loss

Friday night’s Lynx game versus the Sacramento Monarchs at Williams Arena was a special treat for me. Although I was in attendance last season for the team’s preseason game at the Pavillion, this was my first game at “The Barn.” I had always heard of the history and character in the building and was able to experience it firsthand for the first time.

Upon arriving, I felt as if I was given the seat of honor, as I sat center court straight across from the Lynx PA announcer. With the media seating lowered and the court raised, the court was at about chest level for me, so this was definitely a new experience and one that I will enjoy for a long time…even though the game ended up in a loss for the Lynx.

In my article for Downtown Journal (www.downtown journal.com) this past Monday, I wrote the following…

“The biggest change that needs to be made is to shift rookie Noelle Quinn from the point guard position to the shooting guard. Quinn has looked lost for a majority of the season and you can almost see her thinking when she’s on the court, rather then just being, just playing. Having the benefit of a veteran such as Amber Jacobs on the bench--who has been getting more playing time--the Lynx can now afford to play around with defining what the role players roles will be.

Noelle Quinn does possess some amazing passing skills, but with her confusion on the court to this point in the season, it may be better to take some of the playmaking pressure off of her shoulders. Because Lindsey Harding is playing a lion’s share of the minutes at the point guard position, Amber Jacobs should be used as her primary backup. By sliding Quinn over to the two or three position--with fellow rookie Shay Murphy playing the other position--the Lynx would have a much more balanced attack or, to be accurate, Quinn’s passing from a position outside the point would change up the attack.”

For anyone in attendance last night, it was evident that Amber Jacobs was the main reason for the comeback after the Monarchs had stretched their lead coming out of halftime. She was making beautiful cuts, hitting open shots, distributing the ball in the open court, playing great defense and generally “running the show” with a veteran’s presence.

Although Noelle Quinn was able to dish out some beautiful assists in the game, she did so when she was on the wing, rather then from the lead guard position. Quinn struggles to keep up with smaller and faster point guards, even though her speed is adequate to stay with shooting guards and small forwards.

It may seem as if I do not have faith in Quinn, which is not true. I have seen enough from her this season to believe quite strongly that she will be a more then solid WNBA player. The problem is that, to this point, Coach Zierden and his staff are not placing Quinn in a situation in which she is able to succeed. As the coaches continue to play with substitutions and rotations, they continue to stubbornly try to turn Quinn into a point guard. For this, I do not blame Quinn as she is doing her best with the situation in which she has been placed.

Coach Zierden has spoken countless times about how this year is an evaluation for the future of the team. Fans can certainly accept that optimism as long as they are evaluating each player fairly. Amber Jacobs has more to offer this team then she has been allowed, while Noelle Quinn is not being used in the correct manner.

Both players are valuable and should be a part of the future of this team, if the coaches can give them the chance to succeed.

Svet Checks In

SL: In the past six games (prior to Tuesday night’s loss), the starting five has scored 85% of the team’s points.

SA: Did Seimone score 70%?

SL: Almost, but not quite. Anyway, is that an indication that the chemistry is growing between that lineup and you’re starting to understand each other on the court?

SA: Definitely chemistry. When the coach lets you play and we do play a lot of minutes--maybe not all at once all five players, but definitely four players. We’re all playing about 30 minutes a game. When you play that much, each game is a new situation. You’re winning games, you’re losing games, but, of course, we’re getting that experience together. I feel like we’re passing the ball better and we’re helping people a lot better. We still need a lot of work on a lot of things, but in terms of the starting lineup, it’s established now. We have one and I feel like we’re ready for every game. Before, people didn’t really know what was going to happen. I feel like we still need to work on the rotation because we’re trying to get more people involved, but I feel like the coaches are doing a great job. You can see it in the winning. You know, we’re winning games, so obviously, it’s working. I’m pretty happy about that right now.

SL: With the improved play as of late, does it help the team’s confidence to know that a majority of the wins that you do have are at the expense of some of the best teams in the league?

SA: In past years what would happen was that we would be playing good and then people would figure out how to play against us. Then, the whole thing would just go down. Mentally, that was very hard because we thought we did ok in the beginning, but then we started thinking that we couldn’t really win. This year, it was the opposite. We didn’t know what we were doing at the beginning and we were trying to figure it out, but now, we just need a little more time and we’re going to be ok. We’ve slowly been getting there. You know, we’re winning more then we’re losing lately and our record is good against the Western Conference. We lost to Chicago, we lost to New York, but against the Western Conference, we’re good. We’re right there. Getting a win in San Antonio, getting a win against Phoenix at their home, that was great. We need to win games on the road and that’s our biggest thing right now.

SL: In what areas do you think the team has made the most progress this year and what areas still need work?

SA: I feel like defensively we can get much better. We’re trying to not let people beat us one-on-one and help each other on defense. I feel that individually we can get better at that, but offensively, I feel we’ve improved a lot. There’s so many plays in our system, but I feel like right now, we actually know what the coach is going to run and we’re ok with that. There was a time when we weren’t comfortable with what he was calling, but now, we know the stuff and it has become natural, you know? I think that’s the biggest improvement. We just needed two training camps to be ready.

SL: I was looking at your stats today and your field goal and three-point percentage are both at career high levels.

SA: Oh really? I won’t take one shot again!

SL: No, you’ve got to shoot! Anyway, is that something that you were consciously trying to improve or did it just happen, since you weren’t even aware of it?

SA: One thing you can always improve is your shooting percentage. You take more shots, you work on your form and in this system it’s easier for me because I don’t get that many chance to shoot. When I do shoot, I’m usually wide open. Seimone attracts a lot of attention, so when she kicks it out, I’m open and they’re pretty easy shots to make. As long as I keep making them, I’m happy with that because they’re not high-difficulty shots, but I’ve still been working on that.

SL: I asked you this in the preseason, but feel the need to revisit this topic. Have you seen enough improvement from the team this season that you would like to stay here in Minnesota past this season?

SA: Well, the season is not over yet. I’m happy with the chemistry right now. The chemistry and how the coaching staff is working with us. It is definitely better then previous years because we’re all on the same page, but I can’t think about next year right now. I’m only going to think about this year.

SL: I looked at the standings today…

SA: …and we are still right there…

SL: Right. Are you confident that this team will be able to continue to fight and make a push for that final playoff berth?

SA: I don’t want to be in a situation where we still have 10 games left and we’re out of the playoffs. That’s the worst for players to play in that. That’s what we’re here for…you want to play for a championship. I feel like, at this point, we need to get even better right now. We need to start winning games. If we don’t do it before the All-Star break, right after the break it might be too late. Now is the time to start getting really urgent about it. We need to win home games, all home games. We need to win on the road, at least 50%. Now is the time.

Apologies For The Delay

********7:30 PM UPDATE---I AM WORKING ON THE

INTERVIEW RIGHT NOW. WILL BE UP SHORTLY.*********

I apologize that I will not be able to post the Svetlana Abrosimova article tonight. After celebrating the fourth with my wife and children, I am utterly exhausted. I am off to rest before returning to work tomorrow.

Article will be posted as soon as possible tomorrow.

Interview with Abrosimova Coming Soon

Hey all,

Just wanted to keep you updated that I will be posting on last night's game at some point today. Between working some OT and the holiday, I'm kind of out of the loop today.

Interviewed Svetlana before yesterday's game and she gave me some interesting answers. Check back later tonight for that interview.

Happy Fourth of July!

The Lynx Are Changing Their Culture

Lost in all the Timberwolves talk during their off-season is the fact that there’s another team in town playing some quality basketball as of late.

More…
http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?publication=downtown&story=8806&page=65&category=57