Wolves fans should always remember their past.
2003-2004 NBA Season Preview
I know I’ll always remember the time that I met KG in person for as long as I live. It was a total dream come true for this life-long Wolves fan. And what struck me, besides how enormous he is and how cool he was with me, was that for the first time in four years the man looked at peace. I’ve watched Kevin Garnett play basketball at every chance I’ve gotten for nine years, whether it’s a game on TV, a clip on ESPN, live at a road game, or maybe just a picture on the internet. I know him as well as you can know somebody you’ve only met in person for two minutes. And I can tell you that for the last several seasons, he’s been a man with a burden. But as he walked away from me that day in mid-summer, I saw a gleam in his eye that had been missing for so long. It was only July 7th. We had traded for Cassell, but Olowokandi and Sprewell had yet to join the team. Still, he knew as well as I did that this team was about to turn around. He knew that all those years of heart-ache were behind him. He knew that everything he’d suffered was now a memory. Look at the pictures from his press-conference. Look at the pictures of him with Craig Kilborn. I haven’t seen him like this for so long. Kevin Garnett is finally one happy man, and he’s only going to get happier.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the excitement of what’s soon to be the best season in Timberwolves’ history. Just imagining Cassell running the point, Sprewell slashing to the hole, Wally draining wide-open three’s, Kandiman pulling down rebounds, and Hudson exploding off the bench would get any Wolves enthusiast pumped up. And so that’s why I’d like to say something to the Timberwolves nation before that first ball gets tipped on October 29th. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the incredible things that are going on, that we can overlook the one thing that will make this season truly magical. And so I beg each one of you to do the following thing: Never Forget.
When you see Kevin Garnett step onto the floor, proud to be a part of this franchise for the rest of his career…
Never Forget the betrayal you felt when Stephon Marbury turned his back on the team and walked out the door.
When you watch Cassell thread the needle and set KG up for an easy basket…
Never Forget what it’s like to see your starting point guard thrashing on the floor in agony after a career-ending knee injury.
When Sprewell makes an amazing defensive stop…
Never Forget our shooting guard who had his life taken from him in a car crash.
When you see Michael Olowokandi block a shot into next week…
Never Forget how our last big-name free-agent cost us four draft picks, and far worse, our dignity.
Never Forget…
Never Forget each playoff defeat. Never Forget all the pain they’ve caused you for the past seven years of your life. Each opponent that stepped on them. Each person that said they couldn’t do it. Never Forget each loss, each hardship, and each struggle. Never Forget each player who’s left this team, each reporter who’s run their mouth, and each fan that’s turned his back. Never Forget them.
We’ve been through too much. We’ve waited too long. This is our time. This is our moment. With every shot the T-Wolves drain, Never Forget each one they’ve missed. With every game they win, Never Forget all the ones they’ve lost. Never Forget the past. Let it fuel you. Let it burn within you. And finally, let it ignite you into the most passionate, most energized nation of fans that this franchise has ever seen.
This season is going to begin with a common leather basketball being tossed over Kevin Garnett’s head. And this season will end with a shimmering golden basketball being lifted over Kevin Garnett’s head. But from that very first moment until that glorious final one, promise yourselves, your fellow fans, your team, and every player who’s ever deserved to wear the Timberwolves jersey that you will Never Forget. And I promise you that this will be a season to Remember.
PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Atlantic Division:
1. New Jersey – The Nets are heads and shoulders above the competition in their division.
2. Orlando – The Acquisition of Juwan Howard should help the Magic end their second-round drought.
3. Philadelphia – Never count out a team with Allen Iverson, they’ll make the playoffs, but won’t go deep.
4. Boston – They would’ve been right near the top if not for the bone-head trade they pulled with the Mavs.
5. Washington – You can’t make the playoffs with Michael Jordan, good luck doing it without him.
6. Miami – The Heat’s star, Lamar Odom will be playing.
7. New York – The Knicks star, Antonio McDyess probably won’t.
Central Division:
1. Indiana – What a brilliant move by Larry Bird, dumping the worst coach in the league for Rick Carlisle. They lost Brad Miller, but I still think they can take the division because of that great move.
2. Detroit – When a team makes it to the Conference Finals and ends up with the second draft pick they’re in pretty good shape.
3. New Orleans – They’ve got the talent, but unfortunately I don’t think they’ve got the coach in Tim Floyd.
4. Chicago – The baby Bulls are growing up. I expect Scottie to bring them back to the playoffs for the first time since he left.
5. Cleveland – They’re on the rise, but LeBron isn’t ready to take over the team.
6. Toronto – Not much is looking good for Canada’s NBA representative.
7. Atlanta – And the race for the most ping-pong balls is off and running.
8. Bucks – Too bad for the Hawks – these guys will have a few more.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Midwest Division:
1. Minnesota – Nobody, and I mean nobody has upgraded like the Wolves. They had the fourth best record in the league with pretty much KG, Hudson, and Wally who missed the first 30 games. Add Sprewell, Cassell, and Olowokandi to the mix and you’ve got yourselves the BEST record in the league.
2. San Antonio – The champs won’t go down without a fight. While not nearly as good on paper as the Wolves, the defending champs always over-achieve. But then again, so do the Wolves. Get used to calling shotgun Tim Duncan, cause the Wolves are in the driver’s seat.
3. Dallas – What were they thinking trading Raef LaFrentz for Antoine Walker? Antoine may be better, but he creates a total backlog on a team that already includes Michael Finley, Antawn Jamison and Dirk Nowitzki. Are you really going to succeed with Shawn Bradley as your only center? On a team already lacking in defense, I’d like to see what the Mavs will try to do to plug up the middle when KG and the Kandiman head to Dallas.
4. Houston – Stevie Franchise and Yao Ming look poised to break into the playoffs this year. Houston’s up and coming. The addition of Van Gundy as the head coach definitely should lead them to the post-season.
5. Memphis – The Grizz are a potential playoff team. However, I’m thinking it will have to be at least another year before their first playoff berth.
6. Denver – With my best guess for rookie of the year, Carmelo Anthony, and Andre Miller, the Nuggets should be a much improved team.
7. Utah – Your leading candidate for the #1 draft pick in 2004. Will the Jazz set the record for most losses in a season?
Pacific Division:
1. Los Angeles Lakers – Despite the Kobe Crisis, the Lake Show should have a relatively easy time securing the top spot since the Kings are starting the season with key injuries.
2. Sacramento – While optimists might say the Kings’ window of opportunity is still open, I think it’s definitely shut. They barely made any moves to counter all the ones done by their top competition.
3. Phoenix – The Suns are on the rise too. There’s a lot of promising talent on this team. But I have a feeling Marbury will be forever screwed for the way he ditched the Wolves.
4. Portland – They’re falling to pieces. This is most likely the last stand for the leagues longest playoff streak.
5. Golden State – They appear to be taking a step back by losing some key players, but Nick Van Exel will help them from completely bottoming-out.
6. Los Angeles Clippers – They stunk last year, and they lost Odom, Olowokandi, and Miller. Mike Dunleavy will help and the players left want to be there, so they shouldn’t be too terrible.
7. Seattle – Outside of Ray Allen, who do they have? A three-point shooter isn’t much of an asset when there’s nobody else on the squad worth defending.
PLAYOFFS:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
First Round:
#1 New Jersey over #8 Chicago
#2 Indiana over #7 Boston
#3 Detroit over #6 Philadelphia
#4 Orlando over #5 New Orleans
Conference Semi-Finals:
New Jersey over Orlando
Indiana over Detroit
Conference Finals:
New Jersey over Indiana
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
First Round:
#1 Minnesota over #8 Portland
#2 Los Angeles over #7 Houston
#3 San Antonio over #6 Phoenix
#5 Sacramento over #4 Dallas
Conference Semi-Finals:
Minnesota over Sacramento
San Antonio over Los Angeles
Conference Finals:
Minnesota over San Antonio
NBA FINALS:
THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES over The New Jersey Nets in 6 games.
And I’ll be live in the Continental Airlines Arena to watch my team claim its first NBA Title! Now that’s a dream come true!
