Flip returns to Minnesota

[Riot]

Well, tonight Flip Saunders and his league-leading Detroit Pistons walk into Target Center for the first time (and only) this season. It will be Flip Saunders first time in Target Center since he was fired a little less than a year ago. It will be an emotional night for Kevin Garnett, because not only is his coach friend and mentor Flip Saunders returning but his good friend Chauncey Billups will also be there. We miss both of those guys very much here in Minnesota.

I, of course, will be there and I will give him a standing ovation. I hope the other fans at Target Center give him the appreciation he deserves and refrain from booing him. He did nothing wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few boo's and choice words for Kevin McHale, though.

That is really all this topic is about. Later tonight I will reply back with how the game went and what not. It should be fun.

btw, Wolves will win!

[Matt]

they lost.....107-83

[Riot]

Wolves played some of the best basketball they have played this season in the first half. In the second half, Chauncey Billups went crazy. He's a great player. I love Chauncey. We lost to a way, way better team. What can I say? The team gave it shot and Pistons just flipped the switch on in the 2nd half.

Flip got a standing ovation and he got a nice little hug from Garnett. Kevin McHale was no where to be seen when Flip got the standing ovation.

[Anthony15]

Good news for the Nuggets, that 3rd place in the Conference is just a half season away from us

[Riot]

I will have more to say tomorrow but Flip got a standing ovation (with Kevin McHale no where to be seen) and a hug from Garnett. Wally Szczerbiak did not go over to Flip Saunders, atleast from what I saw.

Call me stupid and call me a homer but I thought we had a chance to win this game. We played some of the best basketball of the season in the first half. They actually were leading at halftime tonight by one point. The whole team was just playing intense, phyiscal basketball. They were matching the Pistons everytime down the floor. In the second half, Chauncey Billups took over in the 3rd quarter and the Pistons showed why they will be the 2006 NBA Champions. They dominated the game. Dominated.

I don't know what to think about this team. I love this team. I can't get enough of Timberwolves basketball and I will always be a Timberwolve fan until the day I die. But this offense that Casey has this team running doesn't seem to be working. They were talking about this on KFAN's Wolves After Dark tonight. What is this offense? They throw it into the post with Garnett or Hassell and they wait for the defense to fall into his lap and they kick it out for the open jumper. That is our offense. There is no cutting or swinging it. How can you win if you are that predictable? How many times have we seen teams deny Garnett the ball in the post late in the game? Once Garnett is denied in the post our offense breaks down. Call me spoiled with having Flip Saunder's offense for 10 years but this offense just seems to be lacking movement and spunk. Do you agree?

Ugh...I'm just spent tonight. At the beginning of the game it was kind of like "Yay Flip is back!" but once the game started we were into it. We wanted this team to win. We were rooting for this team. We were behind this team. The team was making some silly mistakes like not finishing around the basket or throwing a pass at an open cutters foot. You have to make those plays. That is the difference between the great teams and the average teams.

I'll probably have more to write tomorrow but I really have to go do some homework. It's frustrating to see this team not have the talent to compete with teams like Detroit. We use to be able to atleast compete with them. Now we can't even keep pace for 48 minutes. It's depressing.

[Rip32]

Not to sound like a homer but Amir Johnson dunked over all of minny, and Chauncey can flat out play you silly T-Wolves GM.