Forum The Longship Can the Timberwolves end the 33 year drought?

Can the Timberwolves end the 33 year drought?

FLVike
Joined Jul 2017
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The last Minnesota team to make a finals was the Twins in 1991.

The North Stars made it in 1990.

The Viking did it in 1976.

The Timberwolves never made it.

#1 · May 4, 3:35 PM
StickierBuns
Joined May 2013
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#62 · May 20, 6:01 AM
AGRforever
Joined Sep 2014
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RS_Express wrote:
Unbelievable.  Down 58-38 in the 3rd with Ant shooting bricks and go on a 60-32 run on the road vs. the defending champs.  I didn't even find where the game was televised until it was over. I hope TNT does a rerun.  Even a shortened/chopped version of that 2nd half would be amazing to see.

Nice the Wolves now have homecourt for the WCF, but that clearly means nothing this year LOL. Mavs and Pacers both won 2 series without homecourt and the Wolves just went 1-2 at home and 3-1 in Denver.

https://basketball-video.com/

Enjoy!!

#63 · May 20, 6:53 AM
MA
Joined Apr 2024
612 posts
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MaroonBells wrote:

When the Nuggets were up to 20 I was rooting for the Wolves to make it a good game. But then I couldn't stop! When Conley hit that three to take the lead for good, I was on my feet and the conversion was complete. 

I think if Denver had won I wouldn't have watched their next series, but now I'm kinda excited to see what the Wolves do.

Come feast with the pack, Maroon... 

AAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

#64 · May 20, 8:29 AM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
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This is going to be a great Western Conference Finals. I guess you can call me a bandwagoneer fan, it would be appropriate and accurate.

Frankly, I think the Nuggets presented more of a challenge than the Mavs will - but I learned through pain to never take anything for granted.

Wolves will ultimately need to get the ownership figured out, but that will take care of itself this summer. Whoever that owner is? Better find a way to keep Connelly:
==================================

It's natural to assume that NBA teams will go as their star goes, but depth, defense and coaching have been as important to the Wolves as Edwards' jump shot.

In Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday night in Denver, the Wolves overcame a 20-point deficit to win, 98-90, even though Edwards, Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson shot a combined 9-for-41 from the field.

The Timberwolves are 8-1 this season when Edwards is held to five or fewer points in the first half.

Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has built a deep roster that can win in different ways on different nights.

Connelly built the Nuggets team that won the title in 2023.

In 2024, two years after Connelly left, the Nuggets lacked depth and the Wolves proved to have the stronger roster. That may not be a coincidence.

Edwards finished seventh in the MVP voting. Rudy Gobert won Defensive Player of the Year. Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year. Chris Finch finished third in Coach of the Year voting.

Virtually every decision Connelly has made with the Wolves has produced the desired result. The same could be said for every decision he didn't make.

He signed Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Alexander-Walker and Conley to contract extensions. Gobert is signed through next season, with a player option for 2025-2026.

The only member of the Wolves' regular eight-man rotation who is not signed long-term is Anderson.

This team was built to win this year, but also to contend for years to come.

Just as notably, Connelly didn't replace Finch, even though many sports executives want to make their mark by hiring their own coach.

He didn't trade Towns, even though such a move would have been popular with the Timberwolves fan base a year ago.

Continuity is vital in the NBA, especially on defense, where connectedness and trust are required. Connelly was patient when the Gobert deal failed to produce immediate results, and now he and the Wolves are reaping rewards.

https://www.startribune.com/timberwolves-minnesota-dallas-mavericks-nba-playoffs-jim-souhan/600367336/

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#65 · May 20, 9:45 AM
JimmyinSD
JimmyinSD
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MaroonBells wrote:

When the Nuggets were up to 20 I was rooting for the Wolves to make it a good game. But then I couldn't stop! When Conley hit that three to take the lead for good, I was on my feet and the conversion was complete. 

I think if Denver had won I wouldn't have watched their next series, but now I'm kinda excited to see what the Wolves do.

its like witnessing the birth of a bandwagon jumper.... :P

Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?

#66 · May 20, 9:53 AM
StickierBuns
Joined May 2013
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https://x.com/JJettas2/status/1792384571033416148

#67 · May 20, 11:25 AM
MaroonBells
Joined Jan 2014
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JimmyinSD wrote:

its like witnessing the birth of a bandwagon jumper.... :P

Or just a new fan. I was never a Nuggets fan. Hell I didn't even know they were in the championship series last year until the city lost it's mind. I'm a life-long Celtics fan and you can bet if it's the Wolves and Celts in the show, I'm going to be rooting for the Celtics. Until then, go Wolves!

StickierBuns wrote:
Tough loss. Need to stay composed.

Wolves need to win one of these at home. They proved they could win on the road in Denver. But it's a lot easier if you don't have to.

edited May 23, 2024 2:47 AM
#68 · May 23, 2:45 AM
StickierBuns
Joined May 2013
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Tough loss. Need to stay composed.

#69 · May 23, 3:39 AM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
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tough loss for the franchise and fans.

They'll be a lot to pour-over this off-season and for the player/coaches to reflect on.

The ownership needs to get figured out and they gotta find a way to keep Connelly too.

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#70 · May 25, 4:34 AM
LabGeek
Joined Jan 2014
40 posts
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StickierBuns wrote:
I apologize......I start rooting for a team and it turns to shit. Midas touch.


I'll share the blame... Ultra casual NBA fan and haven't really cared since the Garnett days... And now I care again, then this...

#71 · May 25, 4:39 AM
MaroonBells
Joined Jan 2014
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When the Wolves went up by 5 with a minute left I thought they had it. Teams are living and dying by the 3-pointer. Makes me wonder how boring the NBA must've been before it.

#72 · May 25, 6:08 AM
Greylock
Joined Oct 2013
158 posts
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They are playing like they accomplished their goal of beating the Nuggets. Not having to face the Thunder in the finals, it's like they thought all they had to do was show up and they would beat Dallas.

Not sure they run this team back next season with them being up against the luxury tax threshold and the ownership power struggle. They need outside shooters and a reliable point guard since Conley isn't getting any younger.

edited May 25, 2024 6:52 AM
#73 · May 25, 6:52 AM
StickierBuns
Joined May 2013
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I apologize......I start rooting for a team and it turns to shit. Midas touch.

#74 · May 25, 7:42 AM
Kentis
Joined Oct 2013
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Considering some sub par play, throw in some questionable officiating & coaching, we still lost 2 games by only a total of 4 points——perspective…! 

edited May 25, 2024 8:01 AM
#75 · May 25, 8:00 AM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
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Yah, but 0/2 is still 0/2...

Kat and Ant are letting them down this series. Gobert had some key D lapses too.

Hell, Naz Reid might have been their best player out there last night lol!

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#76 · May 25, 8:03 AM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
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I have no idea who the hell JJ is with...Got a Viking chain on. Kirko's cousin?

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#77 · May 26, 3:15 AM
StickierBuns
Joined May 2013
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#78 · May 26, 8:03 AM
StickierBuns
Joined May 2013
5,336 posts
Rep: 1
purplefaithful wrote:

I have no idea who the hell JJ is with...Got a Viking chain on. Kirko's cousin?


Aaron Jones, new Viking's RB from Green Bay.
#79 · May 26, 8:32 AM
kmillard
Joined Aug 2013
158 posts
Rep: 170

And the answer to the question is no.

#80 · May 26, 6:00 PM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
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Rep: 4,152
StickierBuns wrote:
'Hard to watch': Chris Finch

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40227004/karl-anthony-towns-shooting-struggles-continue-timberwolves-brink-playoff-elimination-mavericks

Towns is 28% shooting this series. Pretty much benched him at the end of Q4/game 2. 

The trade KAT detractors will be loud again when this series mercifully ends.

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#81 · May 27, 3:20 AM
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Forum The Longship Can the Timberwolves end the 33 year drought?

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