LIVE BLOG: Kevin Garnett's Return
By Stephen Litel
November 21st, 2008
3 Comments
4:10 PM
Hi everyone,
Walking through the skyway to the Target Center is a walk down memory lane, as photos of faces past line the walkway. The faces of Pooh Richardson, Tom Gugliotta, Malik Sealy, Stephon Marbury, Isaiah Rider and Christian Laettner display the history of the team on a singular wall. For anyone who has remotely followed this team during their existence, it’s difficult not to be contemplative.
As the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate their 20th season in the NBA, the most shining highlight of their history returns to the Target Center. That is, of course, Kevin Garnett, who leads the defending champion Boston Celtics into town for their lone appearance in the ever-present Minnesota cold. Garnett made an appearance on the court last year in street clothes, waved to the fans and then disappeared into the night, but tonight will be a prolonged thank you to “Da Kid.”
Three hours before tipoff, the Target Center is mostly empty, as you’d expect. Yet, two middle school basketball teams--the Maple Grove Crimson and Prior Lake Lakers--battle it out on the court that will be a top story on Sportcenter this evening. A few of the players on the bench for the Crimson are overheard saying, “KG is going to be on this court soon!” In a sports town many have called a farm league city for “real” pro sports teams, certain players have grabbed the hearts of Minnesotans and Garnett must be chiseled onto the Mount Rushmore of Twin Cities Sports.
Throughout the evening, I will post with updates on what is occurring inside the Target Center. Feel free to post comments below and you may email me at stephenlitel@hotmail.com. Wolves fans, Celtics fans, NBA fans or just fans of a spectacle of any sort are welcome tonight.
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6:10 PM
Of course, during the locker room access time for media, Kevin Garnett sat in the training room. Media can’t go back there and, although Garnett is happy in Boston and has moved on, it must be an emotional evening for him as well. Personally, I’m curious to see if he’ll try to score a great amount of points or if he’ll be happy enough with the win. Knowing him, this feels like a game where KG will have 12 points and eight rebounds while Paul Pierce goes off offensively.
The Timberwolves locker room wasn’t any better. Mark Madsen was speaking with Steve Aschburner, David Shama briefly spoke with Al Jefferson before he made his way into Minnesota’s training room (stealing a Garnett move) and Rodney Carney watched video of last night’s Boston/Detroit game.
Briefly spoke with Carney about the oddity of tonight’s game and he mentioned how he went through this experience before in Philadelphia when Allen Iverson returned for the first time. Philly fans gave AI a 20-minute standing ovation and it was clear he was touched by the response, so the question remains what will happen tonight?
When Ryan Gomes--a former Celtic--made his way into the room, I asked him if he was sick of asking the “same questions” the past couple days. He gave me a look, as if to indicate, “Hell, yes.” Then, he mocked the media members by asking, “So, what’s it like for you to watch the Celtics dominate, win a lot of games and win the championship?”
Yeah, we media people can ask stupid questions at times. What is he really going to say?
You can bet tonight will be full of those questions.
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7:10 PM
Looking around the crowd, it’s evident the KG love will always continue. As expected, this is the biggest crowd of the year by far. There are more green Garnett jerseys in the seats than Minnesota jerseys put together. It’s odd to see the big man go through his pregame shooting routine on the opposite end of the floor, working up a good sweat, a good lather. However, that is the reality of the situation.
The ovation for Garnett was minimal, but not because the fans didn’t want to show their support. Garnett was announced first, the crowd cheered greatly and there was a brief pause. However, the Timberwolves apparently decided not to give the greatest player in their history more than a second. Yes, he had his moment last year when he walked out and acknowledged the crowd, but this is the first time many are getting to see him play live in over a year.
Game time.
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7:38 PM - FIRST QUARTER THOUGHTS
It’s intriguing to see Jefferson and Garnett guarding each other to start the game. Prior to tipoff, I would’ve bet Perkins starts on Big Al and KG guards Collins for each team to save their respective players from foul trouble. Because the teams are giving fans the head-to-head matchup they want, it’s unfortunate Jefferson picked up an early foul on a driving Paul Pierce. Save them for Garnett.
Also entertaining is watching the referees interact with the head coaches. When a ref speaks with Doc Rivers, it seems like a business meeting from afar. They’re in a discussion, each side giving their opinion and respecting the other’s point of view although they may disagree. Randy Wittman seems to crab consistently at the ref like a child who isn’t getting the candy bar they wanted from the store. The refs look at him as if to say, “Calm down, be a good child and maybe you’ll get a treat someday.”
Later in the quarter, the switch is made to my pregame thought. Perkins is guarding Jefferson and Garnett guards rookie Kevin Love after he checks into the game. After throwing up an airball after checking in, the rookie Kevin calms down and contributes by drawing the second foul on Perkins, forcing him to sit on the bench and scoring a hoop. Kevin Love may never be an All-Star, but for those who are still doubters, he will be a fine NBA player.
Throughout the season, the Wolves show videos of great moments in Wolves history. Tonight, the video is of the 2003-04 season. The best season in the history of the franchise in tribute to the best player in the history of the franchise.
Ryan Gomes (or should I say KG) gives the Wolves the lead at 15-14 on a fast break. The block of Gomes layup is called goaltending and Garnett is shocked. It looked to me to be the right call, but I do also sit behind the basket some. What was interesting was the crowd reaction because they enjoyed the play by the Big Ticket and cheered loudly, but those cheers grew as the ref made the call to give Minnesota the basket.
Al Jefferson sits at the 1:44 mark with the score 17-17. How will the rest of the team do? Who will step up? Will Jefferson return with the game out of control? Maybe it’s a good sign that Kevin Love dunks the ball hard almost immediately following Jefferson going to the bench.
End of the first quarter and the Celtics lead 22-21. It really seemed as if both teams were “feeling each other out,” so which team can execute the rest of the way? Honestly, the Wolves are lucky to be down only a point since they shot 36% to Boston’s 53%.
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8:20 PM-2nd quarter thoughts
To start the second quarter, Minnesota’s bench is playing well as a unit. Corey Brewer put his head down, put the ball on the floor, scored a basket and was fouled. The entire lineup is active on defense, a lineup that includes Telfair, Carney, Brewer, Smith and Love. Rookie Love even makes a Sam Cassell like pump fake to draw the third foul on Kendrick Perkins, a sign of “thinking” the game.
Oh…and Sebastian Telfair even made a jumpshot in there at one point.
During the timeout at the 8:30 mark of the quarter, there are actually smiles in the Timberwolves huddle. That has been a rarity already this season, as faces full of confusion, annoyance and just flat out being ticked off have become commonplace. There’s a LONG way to go in this game and the Celtics are the champions, but body language from the Timberwolves seems to indicate a difference from a few days ago. The Philly win the other night might be a turning point of sorts for this young team.
Of course, before I get ahead of myself or readers begin to rip me, let’s see how this game plays out. Let’s see how the next week plays out. Let’s see how the next month plays out…
Jefferson returns to his team at the 7:07 mark and they played well without him and have built a 6-point lead. When Garnett returns to action a few moments later, the Wolves lead by four. What happens now with the star post players on the court again?
Those annoying thundersticks make their first appearance of the season when Ray Allen is at the line. I know many fans like them, but I could go a lifetime without seeing them again and die a happy man.
To this point, Jefferson is not having a good night. The issue is how he compounds the problem by not hustling back on defense and single-mindedly looking to score the ball. On numerous occasions, Jefferson shot the ball over a double team with a wide-open teammate. Yes, those teammates have not stepped up much to help him out very often this season, but as the leader of the team, he should continue to make the right play and demand his teammates do their jobs.
Tonight, the “rest of the team” is doing their job. Jefferson is doing his in a half-assed manner. The Wolves lead by 3 at half, despite Jefferson tonight. Let's see if that changes in the second half. Boston will make their adjustments and will come out for the kill.
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8:55-Third quarter
A bright pink sign in the crowd reads, “KG, you’ve always been a champion to me.”
As expected, the Celtics come out with execution after halftime and Minnesota’s 3-point lead is gone in less than a minute. Boston takes the lead on a Garnett dunk.
Ray Allen and Garnett run a pick and pop, which leads to a wide open shot for KG. Jefferson does seem to be hustling on D, but barely gets back to Garnett to get a hand in his face. After the play, Coach Wittman screams at Jefferson and Big Al clearly says, “There’s nothing I can do about it,” pointing at Big Ticket.
Don Overbeck, the stupid Wolves promo guy this year, is in the building. I didn’t think anything could be worse than last year’s Sweet Water Jones campaign. I was wrong.
After a Rondo to Garnett alley oop dunk, Coach Wittman brings in rookie Kevin Love for Jason Collins. Hopefully, he’s doing so to force Al Jefferson to guard Garnett now. If Al thinks of himself as a franchise player, it’s time to act accordingly on both ends of the court. While I’m typing this, Jefferson wastes a foul on a driving Rondo (as he did in the first half on Pierce), instead of saving them for the post players.
Boston is beginning to dominate this game and all the while Coach Wittman has a majority of the players who were playing well in the first half on the bench. Rodney Carney provided fine minutes, although most of his game won’t show in the box score and Craig Smith also gave some good minutes as Jefferson sat. That is, in fact, two fine games in a row for the Rhino. With Leon Powe playing the power forward position now for Boston, it would be a good matchup to bring Smith in.
Minnesota’s play out of a timeout is an off-balance Randy Foye jumpshot. That’s good coaching…and it leads to a Garnett dunk on the other end.
Because it seems as if I’m picking on Al Jefferson tonight, although rightly deserved, I’ll single another player out. College Wolf over at Twolvesblog.com will be upset, but Ryan Gomes hasn’t deserved a majority of the minutes he’s received tonight. There are excuses out there, such as the fact he’s guarding Pierce, he’s playing out of position, etc. Yet, since the world has noticed Randy Foye, Rashad McCants and Corey Brewer can’t hit shots, it needs to be mentioned Gomes hasn’t been so hot himself recently.
A three point lead at halftime for the Timberwolves becomes a 22-point Boston lead going into the fourth quarter. Someone explain to me how that happens. Someone explain to me how a coach allows that to happen…because I don’t have the answers to those questions.
Anyone?
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9:25-Game over.
Minnesota starts the fourth quarter with a lineup of Telfair, Foye, Brewer, Smith and Love. Wittman is close, but not right. Carney for Foye. It’s also already too late. Now, it’s just a matter of what the final score will be and if Minnesota’s players can make it respectable after their coach blundered the entire third quarter.
Remember those smiling, almost confident faces I mentioned in the first half? They’re gone. Confusion and annoyance are back.
At the 5:42 mark and the score 83-64 in Boston’s favor, the first big wave of fans begins to leave the arena. It’s unfortunate the fans who paid good money for this game couldn’t enjoy an entire game, especially when KG’s back in town. I have my opinions, but who those ticket-buying fans believe is the reason for that is all that matters.
Wonder why I’m not writing much in the fourth quarter? Here’s the highlight…Patrick O’Bryant is in for Boston. Yep, that’s it. Exciting, huh? Come for Kevin Garnett and Al Jefferson and you get Patrick O’Bryant and Brian Cardinal.
I’m not going to finish this comment, but at one point in the fourth Kevin Love, Brian Cardinal, Mark Madsen and Brian Scalabrine were all on the court at the same time. Anyone want to finish that joke? Send me an email.
In the end, the night goes as expected. Boston wins. Minnesota loses. Boston continues about their championship ways. Minnesota continues about their lottery ways. I’m not sure of another way to sum up the night than that.
The game ends in a blah manner…the live blog ends the same way.
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Hi Stephen. Nice to see you back to blogging from the games! Taylor said in the paper that Witt is safe. Do you think this is the normal kiss of death "vote of confidence", or is he truly going to stick with him like McHale?
I am fairly optimistic normally, but until McHale and Wittman are gone it is hard to see the team moving in the right direction. Even a win tonight will strike me as causing a several week delay in much needed change.
Shawn,
Good to see you too. Don't know right now if blogging from the games will become the norm or not, but thought it would be fun tonight. We'll see how it goes. lol.
Anyway, Taylor's comments on Wittman seem genuine, as Taylor does seem to shoot from the hip a lot. However, I'm beginning to like the idea of replacing Wittman with McHale himself...much like the New York Knicks did when they made Isiah Thomas their coach.
McHale publicly stated this team should win 20 more games this season than last year and they've started 2-8. If McHale is such a believer in the product he's put together, make him coach. This works for two reasons...
Example one. McHale actually gets this team to play how he believes they can. He is, in fact, the second best coach in Timberwolves history. Although it's unlikely, it would be a good thing if he could do so.
Example two. McHale coaches and there's no improvement or minimal improvement. This is finally Taylor's opportunity to get rid of McHale.
I agree that it would make a ton of sense for McHale to replace Witt for the reasons you mentioned. He also did have a modicum of success when he briefly took over for Flip.
However, from the tone of Taylor's comments in several different stories, I get the sense that he won't make a move unless the Wolves are getting blown out of games. Just losing is apparently not sufficiently bad to raise a red flag.
I also remember McHale mentioning how the brief stint would be his last coaching, that he promised his wife it was a one-time, short-term thing, etc. Perhaps his kids have grown up and the travel/time commitment would be less objectionable. Doogie from KFAN did post that he'd heard McHale was itching to starting coaching (?!).
However, I'd find it more likely that McHale would dig his heels in, and if given an ultimatim would retire to the north woods.
