comeback player of the year - Vin Baker

by **qhaz_mk** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:32 am

Just for showing on the T-Wolves roster in game form is a statement....
I though he was a Sh. Kemp type of guy but he has character.

btw....anybody saw his statline: he almost played 10 minutes!!

(3/4FT, 1 ass, 3PF and 3TO's.....no shots taken, no rebounds.....)

a quote from the twolves.com says:

"VIN BAKER
Baker manned the middle of the lane for the 3s, and held his own against Mark Blount and Eddie Griffin. How Baker would play was an unknown quantity coming into camp, but he has been a pleasant surprise. A savvy 13-year NBA veteran, Baker knows where to be on the floor, and is just as apt to draw a charge as he is to step out and knock down a 15-foot jumper. Should he continue to effectively eat up space in the lane, Baker could be a steady contributor."

You think they'll keep him?

by **Gundy** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:35 am

Who cares, he's garbage.

by **qhaz_mk** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:37 am

But do you think he'll make the team?

by **Jackal** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:49 am

Wasn't this a point of dicussion when NY signed him? He'd quit drinking and all after his stint with (Boston I think) and he was supposedly all good again...

I'll believe it when it happens, till then I'll be sceptical.

by **Gundy** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:12 am

I think as long as he works hard and doesn't do anything bad off the court, they'll keep him. But seriosly, he'd be lucky to average 2 points.

by **[Q]** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:31 am

well, the question is, is he better than Mark Blount? Possibly. Eddie Griffin? Griffin's got athleticism. Mark Madsen? Baker's a better scorer. KG? No way.
His competition in camp is Paul Shirley & Craig Smith. I know he's better than Shirley and I'm pretty sure he's better than Smith.

so I think he does have a chance, and it becomes a better chance if Mark Blount starts to play shitty.

by **Zoom** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:38 am

He could make a comeback but not a huge one... I think Dajuan Wagner would make more noise than Baker in that regard!

On the note of Paul Shirley, I love his blogs on ESPN! Playing on the ABA Chinese team :lol:

by **Its_asdf** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:45 am

The guy is beyond washed up. I'd rather use my roster spot for a younger player that could potentially develop into a better player if I were Minnesota.

by **maes** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:14 pm

Wow what a name from the past.

I'm surprised he's playing again...not his ability but desire. I remember reading a few years ago in a magazine he was mostly interested in his new restaurant than playing basketball.

by **Riot** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:52 pm

I was at the game yesterday and there are a few things to point out.

First off, Vin Baker is not better than Craig Smith. Smith has been extremely impressive in training camp and last night he was equally amazing. The guy hustles, gets tough rebounds in traffic and does the little things. He'll make the team.

As for Vin Baker himself, he looked sloppy out there but I think he will be given a fair shot to make the team. Him and Garnett get along and they know each other pretty well from playing against each other for years. Baker would be a great addition in terms of experience on a team that is pretty young. Plus, the team is simply lacking any kind of bulk in the middle. That is why I believe him and Smith will both make the roster on opening day. The big men we have (Garnett, Griffin, Blount) are more known for their range on offense than their ability to bang down low. Mark Madsen is not a reliable option because he can get into foul trouble and offensively he is incapable of doing anything.

In conclusion, I think Baker could have a big impact on this team for the fact that he is a veteran who can use his body in the paint. He looks like he is getting into playing shape and he has lost quite a few pounds. I see no reason why he couldn't make the team. It is a big time need for the team and he is the best option right now to fill it. My money is on him making the roster, to be honest.

by **Zoom** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:40 pm

Hey Riot, if he makes the team. How do you think he would be in the locker room. I don't know very much about what Vin Baker would be like on a personal basis. Would he be a good or a bad teammate off the court? What do you think?

I guess if all else fails, he can be a spokeperson against drinking in excess! (Y)

by **Riot** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:32 pm

I'm not sure what kind of impact he would have in the locker room. Obviously, his experience would be a huge help to the club but he has had drinking problems in the past few years. If he truely is over that problem and ready to contribute to a basketball team then he will be a great player and teammate for the Timberwolves to have.

This Timberwolves team right now is an extremely tight-nit club. They all got together a month before training camp started so they could all practice together and get to understand each other on and off the court. Garnett is taking a bigger leadership role and it looks like it is paying off.

by **cklitsie** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:09 pm

Riot wrote:First off, Vin Baker is not better than Craig Smith.

I was about to say the same. Smith was a standout player in the ACC, an old Vin Baker is not on that level.

by **Zoom** on Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:36 pm

If it's for real that Baker is over his acholism, I think he would be a great addition for the team. But I'm mostly thinknig of the court. Someone who's been through what he's been through would be a whole lot wiser and willing to share stories with the young ones.

Maybe, just maybe, he could be someone who could drive Garnett to stay and do even better with the Wolves

by **Indy** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:25 am

Riot beat me to it, but if Vin makes the team over Craig Smith that would be an outrage.

by **cyanide** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:27 am

Zoom_24 wrote:How do you think he would be in the locker room.

I'm not sure, but personally I hope the only alcoholic beverage he'll drink in the locker room is when he's drizzling himself with champagne after Minnesota wins it all.

by **BigKaboom2** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:36 am

The NBA doesn't have a Comeback Player of the Year award.....

by **Gundy** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:09 am

BigKaboom2 wrote:The NBA doesn't have a Comeback Player of the Year award.....

Most Improved Player is the same as Comeback Player of the Year I think.

by **BigKaboom2** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:25 am

Gundy wrote:
BigKaboom2 wrote:The NBA doesn't have a Comeback Player of the Year award.....

Most Improved Player is the same as Comeback Player of the Year I think.

That wouldn't really make sense. A Comeback Player of the Year by definition would have missed a good deal of last season, while the Most Improved would have been mediocre while playing in most of their team's games last season and excellent this season. If there were a Comeback Player of the Year award anymore, I would predict it would go to Amare Stoudemire, for obvious reasons.

by **Riot** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:31 am

How do you know Amare Stoudemire would get it? You have no idea what kind of contribution he is going to have this year. I've heard reports saying he isn't looking very good and I've some that say he is looking great. It really is a toss up right now.

by **Gundy** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:47 am

/\ He said " I predict". He didn't say he knew.

That wouldn't really make sense. A Comeback Player of the Year by definition would have missed a good deal of last season, while the Most Improved would have been mediocre while playing in most of their team's games last season and excellent this season. If there were a Comeback Player of the Year award anymore, I would predict it would go to Amare Stoudemire, for obvious reasons.

I understand now, thanks.

by **Riot** on Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:14 pm

Gundy wrote:/\ He said " I predict". He didn't say he knew.

My bad...I just read the "for obvious reasons" part of it and assumed he thought it was a lock. Poor reading on my part. Sorry.

by **qhaz_mk** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:12 am

Dudes.....Casey said that Baker did all the right things to be kept on the roster...
But I think he won't see much playing time.......like Elden Campbell or Dale Davis in Detroit..........

by **Zoom** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:23 am

He's probably being kept on because he's a vet and can help the young players out... and plus as Casey said, he has done the right things...

And maybe a lil off-topic, but I want Mark Madsen to play heaps!

I remember last TWolves game last season, madsen shot a ton of threes lol

by **dada** on Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:29 am

I dont think they will sign him. No logical reasoning behind my statement but I get the feeling this is just setting it up to let him go lightly. As someone stated before there is surely a younger more athletic guy out there that would make much more sense to sign.

comeback player of the year - Vin Baker

comeback player of the year - Vin Baker

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