"Ain't gonna let nobody write it, but me" | NBA 2K14 PS4 MyCAREER | Year 6

[Andrew]

It's just the way it goes, unfortunately. We've been around a long time, people come and go, interests change. If everyone's waiting around for someone else to get the ball rolling, then nothing happens.

[Andrew]

January 2019 Recap



Key Events

• 76ers went 17-0 to remain undefeated in 2019; enter February with 47-game winning streak
• Thunder also went 12-0 in January; enter February with 13-game winning streak
• Closed month with a 73-point game to take lead in scoring race
• Also leading league in assists and steals, tied first in blocks, fourth in rebounds
• Averaged 34.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg, and 14.0 apg through January; averaging 30.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 14.9 apg on the year
• Terry Hanson starting in place of injured Carmelo Anthony; averaged 26.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.9 apg through January

Standings

















League Leaders











Players of the Month



Rookie Report

[Andrew]

Ball In 76ers' court, But Thunder Making Noise


Stiff competition may await A-Train and the 76ers in their quest to win their sixth title

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2019 season with two goals: to finally become the first team to go undefeated in the regular season, and to win their sixth-consecutive championship. So far, their bid to do both is looking good, but if they make their way to the NBA Finals once again, they could be facing some tough competition.

Few teams have looked as dominant as Philadelphia has this decade, and to be fair, they're still in a class of their own. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder are shaping up to be a strong competitor for the crown if they make it out of the West. Although they can't match the 76ers' incredible 47-game winning streak, they remain one of the hottest teams in the league right now, winning their last 13 games to enter February with a 33-13 record. Unsurprisingly, Kevin Durant is leading the charge, and the star forward even sat atop the league in scoring before a 73-point game by Andrew Begley pushed the 76ers' guard ahead as January drew to a close.

"We've definitely got our eye on them," said A-Train of the Thunder, who will play host to the defending champions on February 12th. This potential NBA Finals preview right before the All-Star break is generating a ton of buzz, as fans and pundits alike have been wondering if the combination of Durant's dominant scoring, the defensive prowess of Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka, and an unorthodox backcourt of Isaiah Thomas and D.J. Augustin, can actually challenge the might of Philadelphia's dynasty.

Believers have been quick to point out to sceptics that many had written the Thunder off when Russell Westbrook left for Miami in 2017, suggesting that it was only a matter of time before Durant demanded a trade, sending the team into a tailspin towards the lottery for the foreseeable future. Despite going 26-56 last year, Durant's loyalty has remain unshaken however, and now the team appears poised to make a serious run. If they remain healthy and end up facing the 76ers, they may be the defending champions' toughest NBA Finals opponent to date.

A-Train certainly seems to agree. "Obviously, the last five years have given us plenty of confidence, tested our resolve. You can't take anything for granted, though. Kevin's a superstar, he's a threat to drop 40 or 50 on anyone on any given night. We don't take anyone lightly, and they're looking really good this year. Mind you, we're feeling pretty good about where we're at, too."

Philadelphia has every right to be confident, though this year has been challenging despite their record. Terry Hanson is healthy, but his status as a bench player - only stepping into the starting lineup when Carmelo Anthony is unavailable - remains a point of contention between A-Train and head coach Johnny Davis. Although A-Train's numbers are still amazing and he's turned in some incredible performances, he's also looked tired at times, often taking on a more passive role that we haven't seen him in since his rookie season. Melo's injuries are adding up, and Thaddeus Young has been hobbled as well. It undoubtedly sounds strange to say given their winning streak, but they may not be as invincible as they first appear.

It's still been an impressive season for them though, and they remain the favourites to win a sixth-consecutive championship; a feat that only Bill Russell's Boston Celtics have previously achieved. That alone was an intriguing tale entering the 2019 season, but with the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, we may be in for an epic showdown come June.

[Andrew]

76ers Complete Incredible Comeback to Remain Undefeated in 2019


A-Train and the 76ers earned their 52nd consecutive win after a furious fourth quarter rally

PHOENIX, AZ -- For three and a half quarters, it appeared as though the Phoenix Suns would put an end to the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers' quest to complete the first ever undefeated regular season, with just over 30 games remaining. However, an incredible fourth quarter performance, led by reigning MVP Andrew Begley, saw the 76ers escape with an unlikely 126-120 victory.

A-Train, who topped the 70-point mark for the second time in as many weeks, scored 55 of his 76 points in the second half as the 76ers rallied to erase a double digit deficit. However, after racing out to a 29-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Suns seemingly had an answer for every 76ers run, maintaining a 14-point lead at the half. After a spirited push by the 76ers cut the lead to 7 at 59-52 early in the third, the Suns pulled away once again, entering the fourth quarter with a comfortable 95-73 lead. As the Suns went up by as many as 26 early in the final stanza, the hometown crowd began to celebrate, believing that their team were about to snap the 76ers' streak in impressive fashion. Indeed, it seems safe to say that everyone in the building saw it as an inevitability at that point.

Well, almost everyone. The Philadelphia 76ers never gave up hope, drawing upon the resolve that has allowed them to become a dominating dynasty these past five years. Led by their MVP, Philadelphia outscored Phoenix 53-25 in the fourth quarter to eke out the win. Terry Hanson finished with nine points in an unusually quiet game, but five of those points came in crunch time as A-Train found his running mate for a three-pointer and a dunk on consecutive plays for a 122-117 lead, all but sealing the comeback for Philly.

In tallying his season-high 76 points, A-Train knocked down 12 three-pointers on an efficient 18 attempts, and was 29-for-39 from the field overall. Known for his assists as much as his scoring outbursts, Begley dished out a modest six assists in the win, as the team leaned heavily on him to carry the scoring load with Hanson and Carmelo Anthony struggling to find their rhythm. Melo finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, and was the only other 76er to score in double digits. Christos Papadopoulous led the way for Phoenix with 25 points, while Jerry Henry scored 18 points and had 13 assists, also knocking down four three-pointers. Eric Bledsoe also added 16 points for the Suns, while Abe Benjamin had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

After the game, an exhausted A-Train gave credit to the Suns for pushing the 76ers to the limit. "They had us on the ropes, it felt like we couldn't stop them. Jerry (Henry) and Eric (Bledsoe) were relentless. When I was too aggressive, they suckered me into the foul. When I slacked off, they took advantage. I won't lie, it felt dire heading into the fourth. But we're a proud team, we're the defending champions, we go out there with the goal of winning every game. It's like the great Bill Russell said. You don't look at it as losing, but time running out on you. There was still time on the clock, so we knew we had to make a run. It's not the way we want to win games night in and night out, but we're riding high right now, no doubt."

On the other side, a more subdued Eric Bledsoe clearly struggled to make sense of the loss. "We thought we had them," he said. "They're the champs and they showed why tonight, but...damn. That final run they made, I've never been in a game like that." Jerry Henry echoed his veteran teammate's sentiments. "This one stings, even if they are the five-time champs. I don't know how we lost this game, except to say they're that damn good. I want to say I'm glad we gave them everything they could handle, but it doesn't mean as much with the loss, not after being up big like that. This one's going to haunt me for a while."

For his part, A-Train made a point of singling out Henry for praise. "He's developing into a real star for them. I really like his game, pushing the ball, finding his teammates, knocking down threes. It was a worry when I got sloppy and picked up my fifth foul and couldn't guard him as tightly. You can't give a guy like that room to operate. They're going to keep getting better as he does."

The 76ers won't have too long to savour their impressive victory, as they travel to Los Angeles to take on LeBron James and the Lakers tomorrow, and then to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday. With A-Train, Melo, and Nerlens Noel all playing for the East in this years All-Star Game, there won't be much rest over the All-Star break. Still, A-Train and company are not about to make excuses. "Wins, championships...they don't get handed to you. We're on a mission, and that's what keeps driving us forward, driving us to wins like the one tonight. We can't rest until June." As the Suns discovered tonight, if anyone is going to challenge the 76ers this year, they better not take their foot off the pedal, either.







Around the League

[Andrew]

Highlights from Games 41-50!

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[Andrew]

Lob City East vs. Lob City West!

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[Andrew]

Highlights from the fourth quarter of the aforementioned comeback victory over the Suns.

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[Andrew]

2019 All-Star Weekend Results

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[Andrew]

February 2019 Recap



Key Events

• 76ers went 11-0 to remain undefeated in 2019; enter March with 58-game winning streak
• Scored a season-high 76 points (12/18 from downtown) in a 126-120 comeback victory over the Suns on February 9th
• Tallied a triple-double with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists in the All-Star Game

Standings





















League Leaders











Players of the Month



Rookie Report

[Andrew]

Highlights from Games 51-60.

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[Andrew]

Grizzlies End 76ers' Streak at 65, Prevent Perfect Season


The Grizzlies picked up the biggest win of the 2019 regular season

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- To quote professional wrestling announcer Michael Cole, the streak...is over. Beware the Ides of March, indeed.

With a stunning 111-107 victory, the Memphis Grizzlies ended the Philadelphia 76ers' winning streak at 65, along with their chances of going undefeated in 2019. Mike Conley had 21 points and nine assists, Rob McKenzie added 20 points and nine rebounds, and Ed Davis tallied 18 points and six boards in what may be the biggest victory this year outside of the eventual championship-clinching game.

Of course, at 65-1, the 76ers still remain the favourites to win the ultimate game of the campaign come June, and win their sixth-consecutive title. Nevertheless, the Philadelphia crowd sat in stunned silence as their team floundered in the wake of a late push by the Grizzlies. Reigning MVP Andrew Begley led all scorers with 37 points and had 11 assists and eight steals, but also committed seven turnovers, including a rare three second lane violation late in the fourth quarter. In fact, the entire team looked sluggish throughout the final period, failing to find the extra gear that has helped them dominate once again this season.

At 28-38, the Grizzlies are likely not headed to the postseason. However, for Conley, Davis, McKenzie, and DeMar DeRozan - back in action following a terrible knee injury - the win is a tremendous accomplishment. "Look, they might go undefeated the rest of the way," DeRozan said. "They're that good. But if they only have one blemish on their record this year...well, we gave it to them. We're proud of that." A few teams have come close to defeating Philadelphia this season, including the Phoenix Suns who only fell after a furious rally in which A-Train scored 76 points. By the time the 76ers had their head in this game though, the final buzzer had sounded, sealing a Memphis win.

"No excuses," A-Train insisted after the game. "We had enough time, we had a late lead, and we let it slip. This is the NBA; anyone can beat anyone on any given night. We lost sight of that, and they made us pay, outplayed us down the stretch." Asked if the loss would haunt the team, A-Train shrugged. "Yes, and no. Look, it's no secret that after coming so close the last few years, we wanted that 82-0 record. Once we got rolling this year, it was a goal, for sure. But our ultimate goal is getting back to the Finals and winning another championship. A loss after 65 wins isn't going to make us doubt ourselves. At the same time, it's a wake-up call. Don't ever take anything for granted."

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for the 76ers and Thaddeus Young added 18 of his own, but the team's offense was completely out of sync during the fourth quarter. Philadelphia was also outrebounded by Memphis, with A-Train and Nerlens Noel being surprisingly ineffective on the boards. Terry Hanson scored just three points on 1-for-6 shooting, while playing just 13 minutes. Hanson's inconsistent playing time continues to puzzle league insiders and fuel speculation about his future with the team, as well as the job safety of Johnny Davis despite the 76ers' success. A-Train has made it clear that he wants Hanson on the floor more and to play the rest of his career alongside him, perhaps hinting at an eventual ultimatum behind the scenes.

For now, the 76ers will look to avoid beginning a more dubious streak when they face Jackson Ellis and the Detroit Pistons in two days. Speaking about his rival, A-Train mused "This loss stings, but at least it wasn't to Jack. When they broke our big winning streak last year, I didn't hear the end of that for weeks!"

[Andrew]

Highlights from Games 61-71!

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[Andrew]

March 2019 Recap



Key Events

• Went 13-1 during March
• Philadelphia 76ers' 65-game winning streak ended by Memphis Grizzlies
• Terry Hanson received more minutes due with Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter-Williams suffering minor injuries
• Scored 58 points against Portland and 51 against Detroit
• Tallied two 20+ assist games

Standings

















League Leaders











Players of the Month



Rookie Report





Recent News

[Andrew]

April 2019 Recap



Key Events

• Went 8-0 during April
• Finished with a 16-game winning streak to end the season with an 81-1 record for the third-consecutive year
• Scored 52 points against the Boston Celtics on April 9th
• Narrowly escaped a second loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on April 11th

Standings

















League Leaders











Players of the Month



Rookie Report

[Andrew]

2019 Award Winners: A-Train Captures Sixth MVP



NEW YORK, NY -- The NBA has announced their award winners for the 2019 season. Reigning Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year Andrew Begley of the Philadelphia 76ers has taken home both honours for the sixth time. A-Train also received his sixth-consecutive All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team nods. Joining A-Train on the All-NBA First Team are two-time champion LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, along with All-Stars Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets.

In a surprising turn of events, Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Bobcats was named Sixth Man of the Year for the third time, edging out Philadelphia's Terry Hanson. Walker was named the league's top reserve back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. This year's top rookie was Lance Owens of the Indiana Pacers, who averaged 17.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 4.2 apg in 64 games, before his season ended on a sour note with a torn hamstring. The Boston Celtics' Dick King is 2019's Most Improved Player after stepping into the starting five to average 15 ppg, 4 rpg, and 3.2 apg.

Other players who received All-NBA and All-Defensive nods include Russell Westbrook, Jackson Ellis, DeMarcus Cousins, James Harden, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, and Kurt Sherman. Chicago's Nikola Vucevic, who led the league in rebounds this season, was named to the All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career. Grizzlies big man Russ McKenzie was also a first-time All-NBA honouree, being selected as a member of the Third Team.

Most Valuable Player: Andrew Begley, Philadelphia 76ers
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Begley, Philadelphia 76ers
Sixth Man of the Year: Kemba Walker, Charlotte Bobcats
Rookie of the Year: Lance Owens, Indiana Pacers
Most Improved Player: Dick King, Boston Celtics

All-NBA First Team

G: Andrew Begley, Philadelphia 76ers
G: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
F: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
F: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
C: Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

All-NBA Second Team

G: Russell Westbrook, Miami Heat
G: Jackson Ellis, Detroit Pistons
F: Kurt Sherman, Dallas Mavericks
F: Mark Everett, Boston Celtics
C: DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings

All-NBA Third Team

G: Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
G: James Harden, San Antonio Spurs
F: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
F: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
C: Russ McKenzie, Memphis Grizzlies

All-Defensive First Team

G: Andrew Begley, Philadelphia 76ers
G: Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
F: Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz
F: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
C: Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls

All-Defensive Second Team

G: John Wall, Washington Wizards
G: James Harden, San Antonio Spurs
F: Mark Everett, Boston Celtics
F: Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets
C: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

All-Rookie First Team

G: Lance Owens, Indiana Pacers
G: Joseph Quinn, Minnesota Timberwolves
G: Cory Galloway, Memphis Grizzlies
C: Devin Vaughn, Charlotte Bobcats
C: Vince Montgomery, Los Angeles Lakers

All-Rookie Second Team

G: Darryl Copeland, Houston Rockets
F: Fredrick Humphries, Utah Jazz
F: Tom Mason, Atlanta Hawks
F: Al-Farouq Oliver, Atlanta Hawks
F: Dorell Gadson, Miami Heat


2019 Playoffs Underway



PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The 2019 NBA Playoffs are underway, and once again, the favourites to win it all are the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers. The champs once again fell just short of an undefeated regular season, but nevertheless head into this year's postseason with plenty of momentum. Most importantly, they're healthy, and MVP Andrew Begley appears to be hitting his stride.

Although A-Train didn't lead the league in rebounds or blocks for the first time since 2014, he still topped the NBA in scoring, assists, and steals. Even with rumours swirling that Begley is unhappy with Coach Johnny Davis' decision to continue bringing Terry Hanson off the bench, there were no signs of dysfunction on the court as he led the 76ers to another dominant campaign, which they hope will be a prelude to their sixth-consecutive championship.

The 76ers seem unlikely to face stiff competition in the East, as no other team in the Conference managed more than 43 wins. They also won't have to worry about facing Memphis - the team that handed them their only loss of the year, and almost stole a second victory from them in late April - as the Grizzlies are lottery-bound. However, there are a couple of teams in the West that may well stand in the way of another 76ers title.

Leading the way are the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who went 57-25. Although they dropped both games to the 76ers during the regular season, All-Star Kevin Durant gave Philadelphia's defense a ton of trouble. The marquee matchup would undoubtedly test Philly's mettle. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves - 55-27 on the year - are looking to return to the NBA Finals. The 76ers made short work of the Timberwolves when they made an unexpected Finals appearance in 2016, so Kevin Love and company are unsurprisingly keen to prove that that run wasn't a fluke, hopefully with a better result this time around.

At 48-34, the Los Angeles Lakers didn't have an imposing regular season record. However, they're not to be counted out; especially with all of the underdog runs that have resulted in some surprising Western Conference Champions in recent years. While the pairing of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant didn't yield the results the Lakers were hoping for in the twilight of the Mamba's career, the team from Tinseltown is still in the mix as long as The King is leading the way.

The Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans - all of whom have made unlikely Finals appearances and lost to the 76ers - can't be counted out from making another run. In the East, the 76ers may be on another collision course with the Detroit Pistons, a matchup which would see A-Train and Jackson Ellis renew their long-standing, but recently more friendly rivalry. While the 76ers remain the favourites, the champs aren't taking their competition lightly. "If we get ahead of ourselves, if we don't show up and play our best, we could be on the ropes in a flash," A-Train said on the eve of the 2019 Playoffs. "We're here to defend our crown, but we're not taking anything for granted."

[Andrew]

Highlights from Games 72-82. The Playoffs are underway, further results and recaps coming soon!

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[Andrew]

2019 NBA Playoffs First Round Recap



EAST

Philadelphia 76ers (1) defeat Cleveland Cavaliers (8) 4-0

To their credit, the underdog Cleveland Cavaliers put up an admirable fight against the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers. Led by Kyrie Irving, who averaged 31.3 ppg through the first three games, the Cavs at times had the Sixers on the ropes and scrambling to erase a deficit as late as the third quarter. Unsurprisingly though, A-Train, Melo, Noel, and Hanson were too much for Irving, Bennett, Lee, and Bynum to handle, sweeping them to swiftly move on to the second round and get one step closer to their sixth-consecutive championship.

Charlotte Bobcats (5) defeat Detroit Pistons (4) 4-2

While many fans were anticipating a new chapter in the A-Train/Jackson Ellis rivalry, the Charlotte Bobcats had other ideas! The Detroit Pistons were not about to go down without a fight, winning Game 5 on the road to stave off elimination before falling in Game 6 with a two-point loss. With Rajon Rondo injured, Sixth Man of the Year Kemba Walker stepped back into the starting lineup to run the offense superbly, while also getting buckets. The always brash and outspoken Ellis was unusually quiet in the series, failing to hit the 20-point mark in all six games, and scoring in single digits twice.

Orlando Magic (6) defeat Miami Heat (3) 4-2

Dwyane Wade's surprising departure from South Beach to central Florida in 2017 made this first round series between the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic extremely personal. The three-time NBA champion, now in the twilight of his career and playing point guard for the Magic alongside Victor Oladipo, ably battled Russell Westbrook as they edged the Heat 104-103 in Game 6 to advance to the second round. With the East being so evenly-matched beyond the defending champion 76ers, Wade - now sporting #23 in honour of Michael Jordan - is hoping to lead the Magic on a Cinderella run.

Chicago Bulls (2) defeat Indiana Pacers (7) 4-0

Although the Chicago Bulls are technically the #2 team in the East this year, they finished tied with Detroit and Miami, and were only four games ahead of their first round opponents, the Indiana Pacers. Nevertheless, Derrick Rose and company brought their A game to tip off the postseason, riding big fourth quarter performances to complete a sweep of their Division rivals. Rose was spectacular throughout the series, while Paul George struggled to put up points for the Pacers, averaging just 14.8 ppg on 40.9% shooting.

WEST

Golden State Warriors (8) defeat Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 4-2

Channeling the "We Believe" Warriors of twelve years ago, eighth-seeded Golden State shocked the heavily-favoured Oklahoma City Thunder in six games. Kevin Durant, the league's second-leading scorer during the regular season with 28.8 ppg, put up a surprisingly quiet 23.7 ppg for the Thunder, who lost three games in a row after winning Game 1. With Steph Curry leading the way and Klay Thompson providing a boost off the bench after settling into his new Sixth Man role behind last season's Rookie of the Year Lonny Fowlkes, these Warriors certainly believe they can go all the way from the eighth seed!

Denver Nuggets (5) defeat New Orleans Pelicans (4) 4-1

This first round series featured a battle between a couple of recent NBA Finalists, both of whom were eager to get back to the championship round and potentially avenge a loss to the five-time defending champion 76ers. The Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans traded blowout victories, with the only close contest being the pivotal Game 3 in which the Nuggets escaped with a 115-110 victory in New Orleans to take control of the series. Danilo Gallinari led a balanaced attack for the Nuggets, while Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans shone for New Orleans, who were missing Anthony Davis due to a hand injury.

Portland Trail Blazers (6) defeat Los Angeles Lakers (3) 4-3

After emerging as one of the favourites in the West, the Los Angeles Lakers ended up turning in the most embarrassing performance of the 2019 Playoffs, blowing a 3-1 lead and falling to the underdog Portland Trail Blazers. LeBron James averaged 30.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, and 7.7 apg, and posted an outstanding stat line of 37 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in Game 7, but fourth quarter collapses by the Lakers in the final two games handed a couple of one-point victories to Damian Lillard and the Blazers, and in turn, threw away the series.

San Antonio Spurs (7) defeat Minnesota Timberwolves (2) 4-3

Another recent NBA Finalist fell in the first round, as the Minnesota Timberwolves - who enjoyed a very unlikely run in 2016 - were bounced by the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. Led by the steady playmaking of veteran Tony Parker, the Spurs came roaring back after dropping the first two games in Minnesota. James Harden had a tough series that included going 0-for-10 from the field in Game 1 and shooting 0-for-9 in Game 6, but otherwise managed to contribute to San Antonio's well-rounded offense. Kevin Love starred for the Timberwolves along with Ricky Rubio, who managed to avoid another serious injury following some terrible luck in recent years.

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