The voice of RZA booms...

...You best to run before I count to ten
Blood drippin' from my canine, like a fountain pen
It seems I've been asleep for a thousand years
The way my world has change, it bring me a thousand tears
Prince of darkness, they walk through the rays of light
To this beat of empire, I'm the prototype
The shape shifting, mirror image, flash phototype
To everlast, an original red blood O type
...

Sunday, July 22, 2007, 10:05pm ET ----- Still Timberwolf

Trade wind came and went. Draft long over ('sup, Corey Brewer!), rumors died, dust settled.

And Kevin Garnett is still a Timberwolf.

According to recent reports, it is KG's preference not to be traded. Given the choice, he wants to remain a Timberwolf, and continue the fight here in the blue/black/white. Glen Taylor, who spent a three-week honeymoon in China, returned and said that he had never seriously sought to trade KG -- the only difference this year was that the team listened to the potential offers.

"In the past, teams had asked me, and I just said, 'No, we're not interested,'" Taylor said. "But this time, I was going to be more involved and said we probably should just see if something makes sense for us.

"I talked to KG about it; I said, 'You're going to hear a lot of (rumors) stuff, but I'll call you if something really happens.' I just asked him (about a trade), and he'd say, 'No, I haven't changed my mind.'

"I said, 'We're probably going to bring in Brewer with one more young guy, so you've got young guys, and you're going to have a younger team.' And he said, 'I don't think I mind playing with those guys.' In the end, nothing really happened."

And now, Kevin Garnett is off the trading blocks.

I know a lot of people are probably upset, thinking that KG has a better chance at a championship elsewhere (maybe in Phoenix, maybe in L.A.), and Minnesota keeping him means the odds are stacked against him. But for me, as much as I want to see KG win a championship or two, I'm actually glad that he will continue the fight as a Timberwolf. Not giving up. Not taking the easy way out. Wanting to stay and continuing to try his best.

Loyal to the bone.

To me, Kevin Garnett's legacy is not defined by "championships" or "trophies." As great as those things are to have, Kevin Garnett is more than that.

Monday, June 25, 2007, 6:15pm ET ----- Every which way

Trade wind blowing every which way.

And it's only going to pick up, as Draft night fast approaches (Thursday evening). Today ESPN is reporting on the supposed ongoing talks between the Timberwolves and the Lakers, in a potential move that could send Garnett to L.A.

I try not to get rattled by it all. But it surprises me that there are actually fans in Minnesota advocating trading KG. I suppose it's true... you don't know what you got till you lose it. It's always easier to abandon something instead of fixing it (and by "something" and "it," I mean the team's current course, NOT Garnett).

But true franchise players and Hall-of-Famers like Kevin Garnett don't come along very often. And they don't come with his unique skillset and versatility package -- arguably unsurpassed and unequalled in the history of the NBA. And they certinaly don't come as loyal, competitive, and passionate as Kevin Garnett.

Recently, I've wondered this: People in Minnesota... are they "Timberwolves fans" or "Kevin Garnett fans?"

Because there's a difference. A difference magnified in the last three years. There used to be a time when being a "Timberwolves fan" and being a "Kevin Garnett fan" were the same thing. But not so much anymore. There's a divide.

"Timberwolves fans" want to see the franchise win -- with or without Garnett. They view him as much a franchise player as trade asset. If it's not working, get rid of him and bring in other pieces.

On the flip side, "Kevin Garnett fans" want to see KG win, on or off the Timberwolves. They view him as a franchise cornerstone and perhaps the most unique player of his generation, and as the only reason why the Timberwolves are worth watching.

Y'all already know which side of the divide I stand on. I'm a Kevin Garnett fan, first and foremost. The day Minnesota trades Kevin Garnett is the day Timberwolves basketball becomes irrelevant to me. Of course, the tremendous history and wonderful memories will always remain -- and the Timberwolves #21 jersey will always be legendary -- but my loyalty is to Kevin Garnett. Whatever team he plays for is the one I root for. If he gets traded to the Lakers, that would make me a Laker fan. I'll even cheer for Kobe Bryant.

I'm curious, though: Are these fans that cold? I'm not talking about all the fans in Minnesota, but just the particular bunch who want to see KG traded. After all, this is not a headache player with a bad streak. This is not a player with attitude problems or is a media relations nightmare. This is not a player who has ever demanded to be traded like a damn baby or publicly criticized the organization like a spoiled brat. This is not a player who goes from being accused of raping girls in hotel rooms one day, to being filmed ripping teammates in parking lots the next.

This is not that guy.

This is Kevin Garnett. All-around good guy. Loyal, decent, and likeable.

To get rid of a player who is the heart and soul of the team? A megastar who has put Minnesota basketball on the map? An individual who has done so much for the community and for the game itself? Are these fans actually rationalizing the fact that Garnett is already 31 years old, and that since they believe the team is not contending with him onboard, they should get rid of him quickly because his trade value will only diminish from here on out?

Is that all Kevin Garnett is to them -- trade asset?

That's pretty cold.

Friday, June 22, 2007, 1:37am ET ----- Beginning of the End?

Trade talk is in the air.

The trade wind is blowing.

How long will Kevin Garnett remain a Timberwolf?

A day after McHale claimed that the team is not "actively" shopping Kevin Garnett, we get reports from ESPN of Garnett's agent Andy Miller saying NO to a potential deal with the Celtics. So allegedly, McHale and Danny Ainge had been proposing a potential trade.

"The Boston trade isn't happening," Miller told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan. "If a trade were to happen, that's not a destination that we're interested in pursuing."

Unlike Kobe (who's been acting like a damn baby and spoiled child), KG doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract. However, he can opt out of his contract at the end of the next season (i.e., summer 2008) and forfeiting his $23 million salary in 2008-09 -- meaning, he has leverage in whatever trade ideas the Timberwolves want to pursue. If he says he doesn't want to play for a basement team like Boston, such a team won't let the deal fly because they know Garnett will just opt out after one season. Reports and rumours note that, according to sources close to the situation, if the Timberwolves really want to deal him, Garnett prefers they deal him to Phoenix.

But if there is substance to KG's nixing of the Boston trade, it's then clear that the Timberwolves are already discussing deals that may trade their franchise player, after previously holding their ground and maintaining that they would continue to build around him.

If this thing gathers momentum, or someone lights a spark, the end of the the Kevin Garnett era in Minnesota may be near.

What does that mean for me? It's tough, because there's a tremendous amount of history there. I grew up watching Kevin Garnett in that Timberwolves jersey. Every year, my basketball perspective is channeled through Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves. That's the team I follow, because he's the player I admire.

And ultimately -- as I've said dozens of times on this site: I am not a Timberwolves fan... I am a Kevin Garnett fan. I am only a Timberwolves fan because I am a Kevin Garnett fan. Y'all feel me? A Timberwolves team without Kevin Garnett is meaningless to me. Whatever team he plays for instantly becomes the team I root for.

No lie.

Monday, May 28, 2007, 12:24pm ET ----- No such luck

So much for the holy water.

Well, the Draft Lottery ended with the Trailblazers and Sonics -- two of our Northwest Division rivals -- landing the number one and two picks. That's their ticket to Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, two lauded draftees who could very well change the landscape of the NBA in the years to come. It doesn't bode well for us that both Portland and Seattle are now suddenly looking very ready to leapfrog us in the standings next year. And it certainly doesn't help that the other two teams in our division -- Denver and Utah -- are already Playoff teams. If we don't make some significant changes, we may very well end up dead last in our division next season.

Timberwolves -- with a 5.3% chance of getting the first pick (same as Portland's odds), 6% chance of getting the second, 7% of getting the third, 18.3% of staying where they were -- didn't move from their most likely position, and will draft at the seventh spot. Hey, at least we didn't move down, which we had a 24.5% chance of doing.

It's not that we were unlucky. It's just that we didn't get lucky. Hey, it could be worse -- just ask Boston and Memphis. And be glad it's supposedly a deep draft, and we can still draft a very good player at seven.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007, 4:04pm ET ----- Randy Foye and Holy Water

Tonight is the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery.

The Timberwolves have sent Randy Foye to Secaucus, New Jersey, as their rep. For good luck, he is reportedly bringing a bottle of holy water that Rob Babcock brought back from a scouting trip in Lourdes, France.

Well, considering our history in these lotteries -- of the 11 times we've been in the lottery, not once did we improve our position -- we might need more than that to beat the odds.

This time around, we have a 5.3% chance of landing the top pick, and 18.3% of getting in the top three.

Let's see what happens.

In other news, the WNBA tipped off its new season on Saturday. We had a Kevin Garnett sighting at the Target Center on Sunday (fresh off his birthday a day earlier), showin' love on at the Lynx's home opener.

Saturday, May 19, 2007, 12:51pm ET ----- 31

A big Happy Birthday to Kevin Garnett, who turns 31 today.

1997 seemed so long ago -- it's amazing to think that it's been 10 years since an about-to-turn-21-years-old Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to their first ever Playoff appearance, and almost 10 years since he signed a record-breaking $126 million deal with the Timberwolves.

He's not a young man anymore. A lot of mileage on those legs. A lot of sweat poured into some 1000+ games (counting preseason, regular season, Playoffs, and All-Star games). A lot of joy and pain. A lot of hope and dreams. A lot of disappointments and frustrations. A lot of heart and soul.

You never know what the future will bring.

Happy Birthday, KG dogg.

Sunday, May 6, 2007, 8:13pm ET ----- KG knows

Which is worse, getting blown out in a Game 7 by 40 points, or losing a Game 7 by four points?

Ask Tracy McGrady. He knows.

I am a big Tracy McGrady fan, dating back to his Raptor days. He was always my favourite Raptor. It was tough to see him leave in 2000, but I still rooted for him in Orlando, and then in Houston.

I remember his first round eliminations in 2003, where his Magic led the number one seeded Pistons 3-1 -- and with T-Mac already licking his chops at the next series -- but then proceeded to lose the next three games.

Then there was the 2005 series against Dallas, where his Rockets began the series 2-0, grabbing both games on Dallas' homecourt, with T-Mac hitting the gamewinner in Game 2. Then the Rockets dropped the next three games, but won Game 6 to force Game 7. And what a horrendous Game 7 that was -- getting blownout by a record-setting 40 points.

So it's been hard watching him go through all these first round exits, without ever tasting round two and beyond. Last night's Game 7 loss was T-Mac's sixth first round exit in eight years. It was particularly heartbreaking because the Rockets were playing at home, as a squad that was expected to win going into the series. Before the Playoffs began, T-Mac himself placed the burden on squarely on himself, saying that it was on him if they lost this time around.

After the four-point loss, in which the Rockets inexplicably waited WAY too long to intentionally foul a Jazz player to stop the clock and get the ball back, T-Mac looked absolutely dejected. He fielded four questions in the post-game press conference before breaking down, shedding a tear, and walking out of the room. It was a look of frustration, disappointment, shock, sadness, anger. It was a look of someone who wanted to win so badly, and was so sick of losing.

It was a look that every Timberwolves fan knows far too well, and seen too many times.

Because before Tracy McGrady, there was Kevin Garnett.

Garnett went through seven first round exits in as many years. Seven consecutive. I still remember every single year, going through it as a fan. I can instantly recite the opponents in order (Houston, Seattle, San Antonio, Portland, San Antonio, Dallas, Los Angeles Lakers). I can still recall images of Kevin Garnett in those post-game press conferences after elimination games, as he sat long-faced, speaking slowly in a deep and subdued voice, trying to explain what went wrong yet again.

The Timberwolves' 2004 Playoff run almost made all the pain go away, as the Timberwolves not only got past the first round, but blitzed their way to Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.

Think about how much, and how long it took to get there.

So when it comes to superstars and elite players not getting past the first round, Tracy McGrady is not alone. He's not the first to go through it, and he certainly won't be the last. I'm looking at Carmelo Anthony (his count is at four).

And in so many ways, what Kevin Garnett is going through now is much MUCH worse. To go from the Western Conference Finals to not even making the Playoffs for three straight seasons is extremely frustrating. Though the Rockets seem to have pieces missing, at least T-Mac has Yao and the team has an identity, and is competitive. The Timberwolves have not had or been any of those things in the past three seasons.

Poor T-Mac.

Poor KG.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 2:33pm ET ----- Games and More Games

Is it bad that I plan my daily schedule and activities around Playoff games.

Naw.

Not having to deal with school for the time being, this is the first time in my life I'm able to watch as much of the Playoffs as I want. Not only do I watch the games, I tune in to the post-game interviews and pre/post game shows (of course, TNT's EJ, Kenny, and Chuck are a blast to watch), download highlights and clips and photos, and read articles. I am literally soaking up every little bit, or as much as I could without wearing myself out. I don't get TSN or TheScore, so I get most of my games on RaptorsTV, which shows all the games on a few hours' tape-delay. So I often end up going to bed at 3am or 4am.

I just wished the Timberwolves could've made the Playoffs. I miss those days where I would watch KG and the Timberwolves battle whomever, with me in front of the TV wound up so tight, feeling as involved as you could possibly get. I have a hierarchy of teams that I root for -- and without the Timberwolves in the Playoffs, I got love for the Nuggets (AI and Melo), Rocktes (T-Mac), and the Raptors (the whole damn team).

Speaking of the Raptors, I was fortunate enough to get tickets to go see last Tuesday's Game 2 between the Raptors-Nets. I had so much fun, wearing red, booing Vince, and coming home in a Anthony Parker jersey. Raptors won that night to tie the series 1-1, so it was a great night.

Overall, however, I must say that it hasn't been the most exciting Playoff year so far -- especially compared to last year's. As of now, there hasn't been an overtime game, nor have there been any games that came down to the very last shot. Three first round series in the East are sweeps (Detroit over Orlando, Cleveland over Washington, Chicago over Miami). Hardly nailbiters.

There are some surprises, though. The Dallas-Golden State series is simply incredible. I don't think anyone outside of Oakland would've predicted that the Warriors would go up 3-1, in a prime position to eliminate the Dallas team that won 67 games in the regular season. I mean, before the series began, I predicted that Dallas would take it in five or six, taking into account that the Warriors matched up well with them. But 3-1? That's crazy. I'm rooting for the Warriors to bounce the Mavericks, simply because I'm not particularly fond of Dallas. Besides, Dirk Notwizki has pretty much choked (not just in this round, but during the regular season in crunchtimes of marquee games), and I think Nash should win MVP again.

Dallas getting bounced in Round 1 would seriously mess up my bracket, though. But I don't care.

And the Chicago-Miami series. Wow. The defending champs looked so old and vulnerable. Before the series, I predicted the Heat in seven. I thought that since the Bulls had no real inside offensive threat, Shaq didn't have to expend much energy on defence and thus was due to have a big series. But the Heat looked horrible in the series, especially down the stretch in every game where they couldn't execute or make any freethrows. In fact, it was Ben Wallace -- the worst freethrow shooter (percentage-wise) in league history -- who made foul shot after foul shot late in Game 4 to clinch the series and sweep Miami.

I like how Shaq always said that he would make freethrows when they counted.

Sorry Shaq -- they count in the first quarter.

Down 1-3, I hope the Raptors stay alive and win in Toronto tonight. It's sad that Games 3 and 4 in New Jersey were horrible. Vince Carter and Jason Kidd torched them, while the Raptors didn't look like themselves -- I baredly recognized them.

Other teams down 1-3 -- Denver, Lakers, and the aforementioned Mavericks. The Nuggets lost a heartbreaker at home last night, with Robert Horry doing his thang yet again. The Lakers don't have a chance, especially not with Amare in the paint for Phoenix this year. And the Mavericks -- wow, from 67-15 to this?

The most evenly matched series, Rockets-Jazz, sits at 3-2 for Houston. T-Mac just needs one more win to finally get out of the first round for the first time in his career. He's the only scoring champ in NBA history who's never tasted Round 2 and beyond. Before this year, he had been bounced in the first round five times in seven seasons (twice not making the Playoffs). That's pretty bad, but every Kevin Garnett fan knows that KG went through an even more extreme struggle: seven first round exits in seven seasons.

I hope T-Mac makes it past.

Friday, April 13, 2007, 4:02pm ET ----- Shutting It Down

Kevin Garnett will likely not play another game this season.

It was announced by the organization, an hour and a half before tipoff against the Mavericks on Wednesday, that KG will be out indefinitely due to pain in his right quadriceps that had allegedly worsened in recent weeks. Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations, Kevin McHale, fielded media questions in front of the Timberwolves lockerroom before the game, saying that he had spoken with KG after morning shootaround. And it was decided that KG would shut it down and seek a second opionion for the quad pain.

Very odd timing -- Hmm, didn't they shut Garnett down for the final six games last season, citing right knee tendinitis? -- and this will only fuel speculation that the Timberwolves are trying to lose as many games as possible, so they would get as high a pick in the upcoming draft as they can. Any pick after 10 would automatically go to the Clippers, since the Timberwolves still owe the Clippers after that turd of a Cassell-Jaric trade. Any pick from 1-10 Minnesota would get to keep.

So speculate away. Are the Timberwolves losing on purpose?

After all, Randy Wittman sure is playing the young guys a lot. And prior to being shut down, KG was sure playing a lot less minutes. And during the fourth quarter in the loss against the Raptors on Monday (KG's last appearance this season), the trailing Timberwolves continued to play zone despite clearly not working. Raptors kept attacking the zone and swinging the ball and nailing threes.

With all these teams -- Boston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, etc -- sitting their stars in fourth quarters (or not playing them altogether) and stringing losing streaks together, it's easy to see why the media might be onto something.

What's next, Mark Madsen chucking threes?

Oh wait.

Now, as a fan, I can't accept tanking. I believe in winning every game possible, even if you're not making the Playoffs. But maybe I'm naive. Or maybe I'm just thinking as a player. I'm guessing GMs, owners, and team officials might think differently? I honestly have no idea what the Timberwolves are doing, as Kevin McHale's words are essentially meaningless to me. But Kevin Garnett's are a whole different matter.

Here's what Kevin said in a statement: "After talking with Mac and our medical staff, I realized that it's in my best interest to put my body first. I want to make sure I correct this for the future, so that it is not an ongoing problem."

If Kevin Garnett says he's hurt, then he's hurt. I believe that.

I don't think it's because KG went along with whatever garbage McHale might have advocated or whatever story McHale might have fabricated. Knowing Kevin Garnett, I doubt he would ever accept or go along with lying to the fans. Or lying to himself.

This is a man who doesn't talk much about how banged up he is playing year after year, minutes piling on season after season, hardly ever missing games due to health reasons. Kevin Garnett just goes out and plays. Never complains.

So if he's genuinely injured and the quadricep pain he's been experienceing has worsened, he really needs to get it checked out. As a Kevin Garnett fan, it's frightening to think that this could turn into something serious. So I'm all for KG playing it safe, shutting it down for the season and not playing these remaining five meaningless games.

For health reasons. Not so the Timberwolves can lose as many games as possible to secure a high(er) pick.

KG's agent Andy Miller had this to say: "This has nothing to do with the draft pick. It's important to us to make sure KG gets well. It's a nagging thing. He does everything he can, he gives 110 percent, he runs through brick walls for his teammates. At this stage, it's something he needs to take care of."

I just feel bad for the fans who purchased a Timberwolves-Mavericks ticket, hoping to watch an exciting match-up between Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki. Unfortunately for them, Garnett was not at the arena, and Nowitzki was not even in the city (with the Mavericks having already secured the top seed and homecourt throughout the Playoffs).

Saturday, April 7, 2007, 10:43pm ET ----- Cold

It's supposedly spring. But as the Timberwolves broadcasters noted, it's a cold night in Minnesota. It's cold in Toronto as well, with snow in the forecast for the weekend.

Maybe that explains the Timberwolves' rigid play. Maybe that explains Kevin Garnett's poor shooting night.

The Hornets, decimated by injuries -- without Tyson Chandler, without Desmond Mason, without Peja -- came into the Target Center with still a slim chance of catching the Clippers for that final Playoff spot. The Timberwolves, though not officially (i.e. mathematically) eliminated from the Playoff chase, are heading toward the lottery for the third straight season. And since our record (32-43 going into tonight) indicates that we are not a basement team, the probability of us landing a high draft pick -- ahem, Oden, Durant -- is extremely low.

So another night of Timberwolves basketball began. I watched the game with an unusual sense of sadness and emptiness. It's a team going nowhere. It's a team that doesn't look right. It's a team that can't sustain the same energy and focus for 48 minutes. It's a team that will give up leads -- I even expected it to happen as I watched tonight. The Timberwolves had a nine-point lead over the Hornets at one point, and I thought to myself: This lead may as well not exist, because we're just going to blow it later anyway.

And indeed, we did.

But as the Hornets took the lead in the fourth quarter, I found myself no longer really caring about the outcome of the game. Rather, I was only concerned about Kevin Garnett.

You see, Kevin Garnett had only 6 points midway through the fourth quarter. His streak of 396 consecutive games of double-digit scoring -- a streak that began on October 31st of 2002, and is the eighth longest in league history -- was in jeopardy. And knowing the fact that Kevin Garnett has never been one to play for personal stats, I realized that the streak was in serious danger.

Now this is new. For me to place personal player achievement over the team. For me to place a meaningless statline over a team victory.

But maybe it's not so surprising. And maybe it's not so meaningless.

In yet another season of disappointment and frustration, you find yourself wishing for Kevin Garnett to get his. You find yourself pulling for KG, and KG alone. Because Kevin Garnett is the only true good thing about the Minnesota Timberwolves. Because the only real reason you even care about Timberwolves basketball is because of the man wearing #21 -- the man who pours all his blood, sweat, tears into every game, every possession, every practice.

The man who is a hero through and through.

So when KG sank two freethrows to boost his total to eight points with 4:09 left in the game and the Timberwolves trailing by four, I cheered. And when his teammates failed to get him the ball on offense, I seethed. And when KG missed his next two shots, I panicked.

As if all that mattered was KG securing that double-digit mark. To hit 397 and keep the streak alive.

So when KG dug for deep post position with 20 seconds left -- Timberwolves trailing by six -- and received the pass to rise up and hit a turnaround shot, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not because the bucket had cut the Hornets lead to four. Not because maybe the Timberwolves still had a chance to force overtime.

But because Kevin Garnett now has 397.

Whew.

The Timberwolves would go on to make the conclusion more interesting by hitting some threes and capitalizing on some Hornets freethrow misses; and Kevin Garnett himself would drain a long 3-pointer with about 1.2 seconds left to make it a one-point game, a game we would still ultimately lose. But none of that really matters.

Because you appreciate and hold on to whatever warmth you can get.

Especially on those cold nights.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 5:56pm ET ----- The Good Ol' Days

Another game, another loss.

You know, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually miss those days when the Timberwolves would make the Playoffs and get bounced in the first round.

Sunday, April 1, 2007, 9:10pm ET ----- April Foolishness

First of all, damn, why didn't y'all tell me that for the past three months I had forgotten to change the year to 2007 in all of my entries. I feel like a fool. I bet some first-time visitors came, saw the dates, and thought I hadn't updated in a year. Well the dates are fixed now.

The Timberwolves have been crap lately, taking beating after beating. Playoffs don't seem to be a realistic chase. Kevin Garnett deserves better than this. And if I counted right, KG got dunked on in three straight games -- by Chris Wilcox, Carlos Boozer, and Shaq. Yuck.

Minnesota finally won tonight, beating the Magic in Orlando just minutes ago in yet another overtime affair. Ricky Davis was terrific, going off for 36 points. KG struggled from the field (shooting 6-22), but still finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. KG also went 10-11 from the foul line.

What a crazy month of basketball March was. We saw some incredible games and performances. Kobe went off and averaged 40+ for the month. Phoenix and Dallas went off in that thrilling double-OT game -- which I stupidly MISSED because I was playing NBA Street V3. Rasheed and Mo Pete hit two insane shots to force OT -- within the same week -- for their respective teams. March Madness in College Basketball.

April promises to be great as well, with the Playoffs looming. I must take my hat off to the Toronto Raptors, who clinched a Playoff berth tonight at home against the Bobcats. The Raptors have been playing terrific basketball, and are a blast to watch. I really enjoy watching this team play, and I'm very happy for their success.

April also brings the WNBA Draft, which I will definiely be tuning in on Wednesday afternoon. The Chicago Sky has two picks within the top 10. I'm anxious to see them build the team around Candice Dupree. Man, I love Candice Dupree's game -- she's so smooth and poised, not to mention so athletic and skilled. Her game is reminiscent of Tim Duncan's, but she has a better shooting touch, more range, and is also very comfortable bringing the ball up the court. So in that sense, she's got some Kevin Garnett in her game. Candice is also a great person, down to earth and straight-up mad cool -- believe me.

And speaking of College Basketball, tomorrow's game between Ohio State and Florida will be an exciting one. I'm sure everyone -- including the entire NBA, as there are no games scheduled Monday -- will be tuning in. Greg Oden has got to stay out of foul trouble. But then again, Ohio State seems to be equipped well enough that they can hold it down with Oden sitting on the bench.

If Oden does declare for June's draft, I'm eager to see how he would fare against NBA post players. Right now he's taking full advantage of his sheer size and athleticism over opponents, and thus hasn't really had to develop reliable and refined low-post moves. Just wait till he has to deal with centers the likes of Shaq, Yao Ming, and Dwight Howard who are beasts down low -- or even power forwards like Garnett, Duncan, and Nowitzki who are just as big as he is and has tons more range and weapons. He's NBA-ready, though -- no question about that. He looks like he's 42 years old.

Right now, I'm following the Women's tournament. Candace Parker and the Lady Vols are about to play North Carolina. That's a big semi-finals game. I'm pretty disappointed that it's not televised on network TV (and neither is the Women's Final on Tuesday night). I believe it's on ESPN2 in the US, and TheScore in Canada. I don't have neither channel, so I gotta follow the game online through live stats.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 11:59pm ET ----- Home is where the hurt is

Wow. Just wow.

The biggest blown lead in franchise history. 25 point advantage... into an eight point loss.

Can someone tell mw how a real NBA team can blow a 25-point second half lead against a team you had just blown a 14-point lead to four days prior. And to let it happen at home, on your home floor, in front of your home crowd -- it's absolutely disgusting.

Again, I note that I have an issue with Randy Wittman, his coaching abilities or lack thereof, and everything that's happened since he took over from Casey.

I am a very disappointed Minnesota Timberwolves fan.

Oh wait, I'm not really a Minnesota Timberwolves fan.

I am a Kevin Garnett fan. Take Garnett off this team, and I couldn't care less about the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sunday, March 25, 2007, 6:48pm ET ----- Home Cooking

Returning home after a 1-5 road-trip -- including the embarrassing finale in Seattle where we blew a 14-point second half lead -- the Timberwolves faced the Blazers this afternoon. With Playoff hopes slipping away after each loss, everything looked dismal and discouraging. Our record going into today's game was 29-39. The 34-36 Clippers are holding that eighth seed, with several other teams bunched up fighting for that spot.

I got to watched three of those road games, starting with the Lakers game where Kobe (who's been scoring out of his mind as of late) dropped 50 on us. Then I sat through the Suns dismantling of us two nights later, despite Kevin Garnett's 30 point effort. And then I watched the Sonics game, where the Timberwolves for some reason didn't seem to realize Kevin Garnett was on the team, as KG saw very little of the ball. Lesser T-Wolves players jacked up ill-advised shots and everyone turned the ball at crucial points late in the fourth quarter. KG scored a season-low 10 points in that game, but had a season high 22 rebounds -- which is a bizarre 20-10.

I don't really think Randy Wittman has a handle on everything -- (and did he actually take a jab at Garnett's leadership abilities in the locker room?). His track record sucks, and everything that's happened since he took over from Casey has been disappointing. I'm not pleased with the job that he's doing.

What a horrible westcoast road-trip. Maybe a little home cooking would do us some good.

That almost didn't happen.

Kevin Garnett saved the day by hitting his second gamewinner at the buzzer this year (and fourth of his career), lifting the Timberwolves to a 94-93 win. It was a win or lose shot, and KG hit it thank goodness.

Foye had a great fourth quarter as well, scoring 13 of his 17 points. Ricky was big for us as well.

KG on Foye: "I think when he comes in off the bench, he has more leeway to come in and be more aggressive than when he's in with [all the starters]. When he's out there with me [late in games], I let him off the chain. In Sacramento I let him off the chain. I like to put him in position to be totally aggressive in the pick-and-roll, take advantage of his quickness. He loves to get let off the leash."

Saturday, March 3, 2007, 2:54pm ET ----- Meltdown

I don't even know what to say anymore. I think the fact that we lost consecutive home games by more than 20 points for the first time in franchise history pretty much says it all.

It's March for cryin' out loud. If we want a Playoff spot, we had better start playing basketball. Right now, that spot is slipping farther and farther from us with each passing day.

Saturday, February 24, 2007, 4:26pm ET ----- Wake-up

So I heard that the All-Star Weekend is over, and that teams are playing real games again.

Did the Timberwolves not get the memo.

Sunday, February 18, 2007, 1:48pm ET ----- The Sticker Oop

Dwight Howard got robbed.

The Sticker Oop was my favourite dunk from last night. The judges were stingy (what's up with Mike? Birthday boy not feeling generous...). I think judges should be allowed -- or forced -- to view replays of each dunk before handing out scores.

Dwight did two separate things on that dunk -- catch an alley-oop with his right hand, and slap a sticker on near the top of the backboard with his left hand at the peak of his jump. To have the timing and presence of mind to do both -- on the first attempt -- is very impressive. It doesn't matter if he's essentially a 7-footer with mammoth reach -- that is still an amazing dunk.

It is worth at least a 48, or 49 -- if not a 50.

At first I didn't even see what he did. It wasn't until he landed and pointed at it for everyone to see, and the TNT replays showed it, that it fully registered.

Gerald Green was good last night, but there is still something about his dunking that I'm not amazed with. Don't get me wrong, the windmill over the table was sweet (and deserving of the 50), and so was the Dee Brown tribute over the defending champion Nate. He definitely had showmanship, and showed thought and resourefulness. But there's still something about his dunking motion that looks, well, amateurish to me -- reminscent of a teenage kid dunking.

Maybe it's just me, I dunno.

Overall, All-Star Saturday was a delight. I like the Shooting Stars event, I think it's a great idea to put a current NBA player, a current WNBA player, and a retired NBA player on a team, and compete with other teams in a shooting game. I wish they would have a little more than just four teams going at it, though ... but I guess they don't want to drag it out. Man, I had Chicago pegged to win it -- and they almost did had they not been disqualified -- Ben Gordon owes Candice Dupree and Scottie Pippen an apology. He shot out of turn and messed it up for Candice.

The Skills Challenge was a good one too -- with a final round showdown between Kobe and defending champ Dwyane, who successfully defended his title. In this event, I think you're pretty much screwed if you miss a pass or a shot.

The Charles Barkley vs. Dick Bavetta lived up to its hype and was just about the funniest thing all week. I loved Ernie's intro of Chuck -- "Sircumference."

(Wait no, the funniest thing all week was the dance-off at the end of the East practice with Shaq, Lebron, and Dwight. Ohh man, Shaq's a riot. Brilliant.)

The 3-Point Shootout was awesome -- Jason Kapono shot the lights out and destroyed defending champ Notwizki and the the rest of the field. He did it with such quiet cold-bloodedness, going for 19 in his first ever runthrough, and tying the event final-round record (Mark Price) with 24.

The Legends Brunch is on right now, everything leading up to tonight's big game, featuring our boy KG.

Holla.

Friday, February 16, 2007, 6:38pm ET ----- Mid-season Classic

So, here we are again. The annual mid-season signature weekend.

The Timberwolves won an important game against the Nuggets on Wednesday to head into the weekend. We are now once again the 8th seed in the West, winning our past two games, so it's easier to enjoy the All-Star festivities.

I spent the afternoon watching all the coverage on RaptorsTV, including the Rookies-Sophomores practices and the Friday media availability. NBA-TV interviewed a lot of the All-Stars -- off the top of my head, T-Mac, Lebron, Amare, Nash, Matrix, Dirk, Kidd, Dwight, Wade, Bosh, Melo, Yao, Josh Howard, Tyrus Thomas, Boozer and Okur.

KG and Iverson were interviewed by NBA-TV, and it was the best one, with KG being his usual joyous self. You see the contrast between him and other players, who are boring and stiff. When KG comes in, it's like everything lights up. He answers questions personably, with his own flavor and flair.

For some reason, Sportsnet isn't televising any event this year -- everything's on TheScore or TSN -- so I'll have to watch/record everything on tape-delay on RaptorsTV. It's not the way I want it, since I would end up watching the postgame shows before the actual events, but it is what it is.

Predictions for these things are usually not accurate, but I post mine every year, so here:

T-Mobile Rookie Challenge: Rookies (MVP, Randy Foye)
Haier Shooting Stars: Chicago
Playstation Skills Challenge: Kobe Bryant
Footlocker 3-Point Shootout: Dirk Nowitzki
Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk: Dwight Howard (I know, the favorite is Gerald Green, but Green's dunks don't really look good to me. Besides, I'm looking forward to seeing Howard's Kiss-The-Rim dunk)
Barkley vs. Bavetta: Bavetta!
All-Star Game: West (MVP, Tracy McGrady -- but I'm rooting for KG all the way)

Enjoy the weekend, everyone.

Thursday, February 8, 2007, 12:04pm ET ----- Flawless Victoly

Well, it was as flawless a performance from us this season as you'll probably see. To beat the Warriors by 28 points right after being whooped by the same amount by the Rockets -- that's quite the contrast. It was also a must-win game because Golden State was right above us in the standings. We needed to bring them back down while simultaneously gaining on the Nuggets and Clippers, both of whom lost last night.

Kevin Garnett led the charge with his 16th career (regular season) triple-double of 17 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 1 block -- his first since April 13, 2005 (also against the Warriors). But it wasn't just Garnett;the entire team played very well.

Season high 121 points. Season high 38 assists. Season high 61 rebounds. 50%+ from the field. 80%+ from the line. 50% from downtown.

So why don't we play like this every night.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007, 4:02pm ET ----- Picture Worth A Thosand Words

If you saw last night's game against the Rockets -- or realize that we've lost four straight games to drop to tenth place at 22-26 -- this is how you would look as well.

Monday, January 29, 2007, 10:28pm ET ----- Fire

No, not fire on our ship -- although Kevin Garnett is on absolute fire.

But our ship is just fine. In fact, we blew up somebody else's deck. Phoenix's to be precise.

The loud pop you're about to hear is the sound of Phoenix's 17-game winning streak snapping.

As I type this, the Timberwolves and Suns game is in its waning seconds. Timberwolves are about to win, and Kevin Garnett has 44 points and 10 rebounds. This is the league-leading 36-8 Phoenix Suns that had won 17 straight (and a prior 15 straight) games coming into tonight.

17 straight. Seventeeeeeen. Please don't pose.

When you beat a team that's not only red hot, but is burning up the rest of the league with their sizzling style and crisp play, you can celebrate (but just a little because you have another game on Wednesday).

So break out the champagne and apple juice for the non-drinkers.

Timberwolves actually ran with the Suns and put up 121 points. Usually when you play the Suns, you want to slow the game down because they'll outrun and outscore you. You want to use more clock, avoid taking quick shots, lessen the number of possessions, and you must limit your turnovers.

Well, the Timberwolves put up 83 shots and hit 49 (59%) to beat the Suns at their own game. Yet we only had 8 turnovers, and handed out 24 assists. Kevin Garnett scored a season high 44 points (his previous was 32), to go along with 11 rebounds, 2 assist, 3 steals and 0 turnovers. And with the win, we manage to keep pace with the Clippers who won last night in Seattle, and we regain the 8th seed.

The NBA is tough.

Sunday, January 28, 2007, 1:15am ET ----- We Found Holes

So I hung around for a bit, following the game on NBA.com ... can't go to sleep before knowing the final result of the Timberwolves-Clippers game.

And I'm also sticking with this ship/holes/water metaphor. Kevin Garnett has also used the I'm-not-jumping-ship metaphor in the past, so it's only appropriate.

So yeah, the Timberwolves managed to stage a run of their own, beating the Clippers 101-87 to retake eighth place in the West standings (both teams are 21-22, but the Timberwolves now have the head-to-head 2-1 tiebreaker over the Clippers -- and since the two teams won't meet again in the regular season, this tiebreaker is set). We outscored LA 29-18 in the fourth quarter.

KG finished with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 7 steals. The 7 steals tie his career high. He also got to the foul line 13 times and made 12.

So we found somes of the holes in our ship. Water is still seeping in right now, and we're still in danger, but at least we're able to identify the problem and do something about it. Hopefully we can quickly plug them up, and continue to set sail on our course.

With KG as our captain, of course. Aye.

I like how this metaphor is so good.

Saturday, January 27, 2007, 11:57pm ET ----- Water's Coming In

The Timberwolves are playing the Clippers as I type this. It's a must-win game for us and you'll see why.

Lots of things have happened since my last entry.

At the time, the Timberwolves had lost big-time to Atlanta and overtime to Detroit. That's two straight losses after winning seven of our past eight to go 7-1 in the New Year.

Then KG (and Ricky) faced suspension for the next game, in which the Timberwolves were spanked by the red-hot Suns. Then KG (and Ricky) came back to play the Jazz, but the Timberwolves still lost.

Four straight losses now.

Then Dwane Casey was fired on Tuesday by Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale, and assistant coach Randy Wittman took over as head coach. Some people in the media were suprised, noting that despite dropping four straight -- three to strong treams, and one with Garnett and Davis absent -- the Timberwolves were 20-20 and held the eighth seed. The Timberwolves played Portland the next day, but lost in yet another overtime game.

Five straight.

Then Thursday night -- the night when the 2007 All-Star Game starters were announced, with KG leading all Western Conference fowards with 1,616,575 votes received -- more drama unfolded. TNT's Inside the NBA aired a recent John Thompson interview with Garnett -- this one more upbeat than their sit-down two years ago, when KG broke down and cried. In the interview, Thompson asked Garnett if he regreted staying in Minnesota. Garnett replied: "I don't regret anything. I feel like if you're gonna do anything you have to do it wholeheartedly. ... It's not my character to leave something just because it's a little beat-up. Management is trying to get better. People are going to make their assessments on what they think is best for you -- but it's not their career, it's mine."

And yet, that whole night, the TNT crew -- Reggie Miller, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and even Doug Collins -- openly lobbied for Minnesota to trade Kevin Garnett, saying Minnesota isn't going to be competitive and that they should make a trade. Doug Collins went as far as saying that he hoped the Timberwolves would continue to lose so that trading Garnett would be the only option.

Then last night in Seattle, the Timberwolves lost another close game, blowing a five point lead with just over a minute to go. The loss dropped the Timberwolves to 20-22, as the 21-21 Clippers jumped over them in the standings for that eighth seed. There are so many holes in our ship, and we haven't found a way to plug them up.

Six straight and sinking fast.

Which brings us to tonight. Right now. Against those Clippers.

As I type this, the Timberwolves lead 64-55 in the third quarter.

And let me say this as well: I just wish everyone would shut up and stop talking about trading Kevin Garnett. He's not leaving, ok.

"They ought to have a drug test before they let some of these people on TV, man," KG said Friday morning of the Sonics game, clearly referring to the TNT crew. "Alcohol tests, see their levels. Everybody has to blow in a Breathalyzer test before you can get on TV."

And his response to Doug Collins' comment: "Why would somebody say some ... stuff like that, when you're supposed to be the insight to millions of people watching basketball and you're supposed to be teaching? And you're talking about publicly tanking? C'mon, man. People say some unbelievably stupid stuff on TV. That's how I know I can get a job after I'm done with this. Y'know what I'm talking about?"

Word.

[Edit: And as I finish typing this entry, the Clippers have gone on a 14-0 run. Timberwolves now trail 69-64. What the hell.]

Sunday, January 21, 2007, 4:00pm ET ----- But You're Not a Fool

I feel like I should say something about what happened Friday night. I don't really want to, but I suppose I need to.

The Garnett-McDyess scuffle.

Wasn't even a fight. Just two grown men caught in a dilemma. Garnett more so than McDyess -- since Garnett was the initial aggressor of the confrontation, and since he had more to lose.

In case you missed it: Rip Hamilton had just put up a shot to tie the game with 5:18 left in the fourth quarter, while Antonio McDyess and Mark Madsen were jockeying for rebounding position underneath. McDyess had an elbow to Madsen's head and followed through after Hamilton's made basket. Garnett, with the ball landing in his hands after the basket, saw Madsen -- who may or may not have flopped, depending on who you talk to of course -- plow to the ground. Angrily, Garnett gave the back-turned McDyess a little push with both hands.

McDyess, surprised, spun around and saw it was Garnett and pushed him back. Garnett screamed "That's bullshit!" and fired the ball point-blank at McDyess's chest and stepped back. McDyess, now furious, took steps with clenched fists toward Garnett, who started to retreat while throwing a mini punch-poke that didn't connect. Referees, teammates and coaches from both teams rushed in to separate the two, with McDyess charging and Garnett backpedaling.

Within seconds, the two were separated, and things cooled down a bit with Garnett telling Chauncey Billups what he thought of McDyess' elbow to Madsen: "That's fucking bullshit." After the referees sorted through the mess, both Garnett and McDyess were then ejected. Timberwolves went on to lose in double overtime.

So I read some blog entries of the incident by other people, and saw some posts on message boards. Garnett critics talk about how he pulled a Carmelo, attacking then retreating like there's no tomorrow -- from a charging McDyess. Garnett supporters talk about how smart and mature he was, sticking up for his teammate but not punching out McDyess.

What do I think?

What do you think.

Have you ever tried to hit someone, only during the middle of the motion you realized it wasn't such a good idea? Have you ever tried to hit someone, when you didn't really want to? Maybe the principal's watching, and you don't want to be expelled from school -- not when you're a straight-A student and in the running for awards and scholarships. Or maybe the guy you're about to hit is really your friend, and you don't actually want to hurt him.

What happens to such a punch? It gets aborted, that's what.

But not completely, since you've already swung. So you subconciously try to miss or try to lessen the blow. So maybe you pull it back slightly, so it doesn't really connect. Maybe you aim lower -- chest level instead of the face. Maybe you loosen your clenched fist, and it suddenly looks like a slap. Or maybe you bend your wrist, to decrease the range and impact even more.

Looks like a catfight now. Doesn't look very good.

I am not condoning this type of behavior -- but we all know Kevin Garnett can throw a punch. Just ask Wally Szczerbiak. Or Rick Rickert.

So why didn't he cold-clock Antonio McDyess? Or Anthony Peeler?

[insert Garnett-only-punches-White-teammates joke here]

In all seriousness, the difference between Szczerbiak/Rickert and Peeler/McDyess is that the first two were done in private, during practice, pick-up game, or in locker rooms. The league can't suspend, fine, or take disciplinary actions over the participants for it. Behind closed-door, away from the watchful eyes of children. Away from the eyes of thousands of fans who only care about the game of basketball on the court.

It's wrong either way, but if you really have to punch someone, don't do it in an NBA game.

So far, Kevin Garnett has shown great restraint when altercations break out during actual NBA games, and doesn't seem to want to fight hand-to-hand with anybody. Sure, he looks menacing, he gets in people's faces and curses up a storm, and he may even pop a Tim Duncan in the head -- but he will not actually fight with his fists.

Why not?

Because this ain't the playground. This ain't the streets.

This is basketball at the highest level, at an expensive vanilla arena with lots of warm, bright lights. With 10 guys who, trying to put an orange ball in a hole, gets paid more money than you even knew existed. With some dude dressed in a turd of a mascot costume (read: Orlando Magic) running wild between the aisles. With cheerleaders in skimpy outfits smiling that rehearsed frozen smile at patrons. With suits and fat guys sitting courtside paying thousands of dollars for season tickets, but hoping you don't spill their beer when you leap out-of-bounds saving a ball. With old ladies squinting at a program so they could know who the player are. With little kids wearing finger gloves, facepaint, and rattling noisemakers because that's so not annoying.

So then what the hell are you fighting for? For rep? For street cred? For bragging rights? To hurt someone who also makes a ton of money?

Nah, you just a fool.

Sure, if you throw a punch that connects and knocks somebody down, nerds on the internet armed with keyboards love you, worship you, and blindly call you "gangsta."

And if you excercise restraint and try to do the right thing, the same nerds then diss you, ridicule you, and blindly call you "pussy."

But how is that even relevant. First of all, you make millions of dollars playing a game you love. You make even more millions of dollars in endorsements and those commercials in which you say, "But you're not a fool, are you?" The guy you have beef with makes millions as well. He's even your friend.

Why would you, in Kevin Garnett's position as a rational person, jeopardize all that.

Second of all, you have so many good-hearted kids (and adults) looking up to you -- for guidance, and for you to be a beacon of positive influence.

Why would you, in Kevin Garnett's position as a role model, jeopardize all that.

Thirdly, a punch that connects tend to escalate into something much more fierce than a scuffle of sissy swings. Not only do people actually get hurt, the almighty hand that is David Stern wil come down. Hard. Can someone tell me what Carmelo Anthony was doing over the past month. Lengthy suspensions and massive fines -- especially for a superstar and centerpiece of a team -- completely destroys your and your team's efforts. Garnett punching out Peeler in Game 6 would've meant suspension and doom for Game 7. Kevin Garnett getting suspended for 15 games for fighting McDyess would be death to the Timberwolves' Playoff hopes this season.

Why would you, in Kevin Garnett's position as a competitor, jeopardize all that.

And lastly, no one on Earth cares what forum-posturing, testerone-filled 13-year-olds have to say about what it takes to be a man. Ask Kermit Washington if he felt like a man after he punched Rudy Tomjanovich in 1977, a punch that shattered Tomjanovich's face and nearly killed him. Over what? A basketball dispute? Because it takes a real man (or woman, of course) to do the right thing under stressful situations.

Why would you, in Kevin Garnett's position as a human being, jeopardize all that.

EPILOGUE:

Just over a few hours ago, the league announced that Kevin Garnett is suspended for only one game -- tonight's game in Phoenix. One game sounds about right, since he did poke McDyess a little while backing off. The Suns are red-hot, and because Ricky Davis won't be in the line-up either -- I don't even want to talk about that -- the Timberwolves are in poor shape for tonight.

Doesn't mean we just give up. Look for others like Randy Foye and Craig Smith to step up and take Phoenix by surprise.

Thursday, January 11, 2007, 3:14pm ET ----- Lost and Found

It's amazing what Life brings.

Sometimes you lose something. You had to move on because it was impossible to hold on to in the first place.

Only to find it again, years later, smiling back at you.

Something you had always wanted. You had dreamed of it because deep down you knew you could never have it.

Only to rediscovered, years later, how much it had meant to you.

And in between the two time periods, you realize you had grown up. Sometimes a full circle is the best when it's a big, big circle. Because you've seen more, because you've been through more.

Basketball has taught me a lot about Life. All the little things in basketball that go into working for something that you love -- the game, the dream, the lessons -- parallel those in Life.

You will win some, and you will most certainly lose some. There will be ups and downs. Highs and lows. You will smile. You will hurt.

The Timberwolves, after winning three consecutive overtime victories (against San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Houston) -- the first team to accomplish such a feat since Mutombo's Hawks did it a decade ago during January of the 1996-1997 season -- lost last night on a game-winner by Corey Maggette.

It was heartbreaking to lose by one point, and to have our four game winning streak snapped. But you have to understand that it doesn't matter if you lose one or by 20 -- a loss is a loss. It hurts very much, but you have to realize that sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can't always hold on to something. There are things you can't control.

A winning streak is never safe. Often it's gone tomorrow, and you just have to start a new one. A losing streak is always looming. Often it's shadowing you, and you just have to fight it away.

Even the mighty 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls, in their record book-shattering 72-10 season, lost two games in a row.

The Timberwolves are hardly a mighty team. But they are 17-16, good enough currently for 7th in the West. If the Playoffs started today, the Timberwolves would be in it.

Ups and downs. Highs and lows. But no matter what, it's good to just be on the ride -- some people are not fortunate enough to even get on. You take the climbs and the plunges, because roller coasters are lack character when they are flat, and you throw up for a totally different reason.

You can only do your best and make the most of the opportunities that come your way. You never truly know what is around the corner. It may be horrifying. Or it may be beautiful. It may be a path to the Championships. Or it may be a plummet to the Lotteries.

It may be something Lost. Or it may be something Regained.

Saturday, January 6, 2007, 2:20am ET ----- Clutch

Garnett money at the buzzer.

Thank you, and drive through.

Friday, January 5, 2007, 2:27pm ET ----- Battle of the Titans

Duncan vs. Garnett. Garnett vs. Duncan.

21 vs. 21.

Superstar vs. Superstar.

Quiet Assassin vs. Intense Pitbull.

Future Hall of Famer vs. Future Hall of Famer.

Born less than a month part in 1976, the two titans have battled each other in the NBA for almost 10 years. They met twice in the Playoffs, with Duncan's Spurs getting the best of KG's Timberwolves both times. They've gone head-to-head multiple times per season, each bringing his tremendous game to outdo the other. Trying to lift his team to wins over the other.

Individually, the two juggernauts have battled each other to a standstill, with very smilar head-to-head stats. But Duncan's team has won more. You can say Duncan is luckier because while he had David Robinson, Garnett had Rasho Nesterovic. And when Duncan got Rasho Nesterovic, KG got Olowokandi.

Enjoy these Duncan-Garnett match-ups while you still can, because they're both 30 years old, with a lot of mileage on their legs. There's no telling how many more years they can battle each other at an elite level. This makes Wednesday night's game all the more beautiful -- especially because the Timberwolves won.

Kevin Garnett (27 points, 17 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks) and Tim Duncan (24 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, 1 steal) essentially cancelled each other out with their excellent performances. The Timberwolves had the a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but let the Spurs come back.

The Timberwolves trailed by one point with about 40 seconds to go, when KG had the ball on the left wing, isolated with Duncan guarding him. KG attacked Duncan face-up, hit the ball between the legs from right to left, then performed a hesitation dribble and crossed Duncan over, driving hard to the basket.

(That's a seven-footer performing an AND1 crossover against an elite defender, folks.)

Seeing that Duncan got beat, Ginobili slid in to double, but he was too late as KG was already in full stride. Duncan fouled Garnett from behind, but KG made the basket anyway. And ensuing freethrow gave the Timberwolves a two-point lead, but Ginobili scored a layup on the next possession to tie the game.

Then, Foye missed for the Timberwolves and Bonner missed for the Spurs, and we headed into Overtime. We managed to pull it out, after KG's two freethrows gave us a five-point cushion, and Hassell ended the game by grabbing the crucial offensive rebound and dribble out the clock.

KO. Timberwolves victory, 103-101.

Though hardly a David Robinson, Mark Blount was by KG's side Wednesday night. Blount scored 28 points on 12-14 shooting, the kind of production that perfectly complements KG's game. Blount's been on a tear recently, averaging 18.4 points in the past five games (64.1% shooting), and 15.7 in the past ten games (59.5% shooting).

As a result, KG's assists have shot up as of late. Last season, we saw the end of the six-year 20-10-5 streak. His 4.1 assists average in 2005-2006 was the lowest since his 1996-1997 season. It wasn't that he stopped being a great passer, it was because his (new) teammates either played differently or couldn't finish. Ricky Davis, for instance, played differently from Wally. Wally would catch and shoot. Ricky would catch and drive. With the lack of Wally (traded), Fred Hoiberg (retired), Troy Hudson (injured), and Eddie Griffin (turd), the Timberwolves lacked reliable long-ranged shooters.

Thus assists were harder to come by for Kevin Garnett.

The past couple of games, we see an jump in KG's assist numbers. He's been spoon-feeding Mark Bount, he's been kicking out to Mike James, and he's been to hitting Randy Foye (who was named December's Rookie of the Month) on cuts. After averaging 5.2 assists in the past five gams, and 5.4 in the past ten games, KG now averages 4.3 assists for the season.

With the win, the Timberwolves are back to .500 at 15-15. So far so good in 2007: Two wins and no losses. Next up, the 76ers tonight at the Target Center.