New Wolves Order

Now that the Timberwolves organization and KG are moving on (C.I.P - compete in Peace, dawg) the rest of us left to finish our careers in Minnesota are trying to move on too.

It's been hard to get worked up about so far. The fantasy draft was the only game for me this preseason. Being in Europe. I hadn't seen any Wolves yet this year. But we unexpectedly got last-minute tickets to the season opener at Target Center vs. Denver. Before we got our car towed from in front of the fucking Fine Line, it was a pretty good time. Here's what I saw.

Since the last hope for a championship had taken the edge off, we took our time and got there late. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Wolves up by 10 in the first quarter and Rashad McCants showing up this year. Very cool. The seats in the Target Center were also full enough, even in the upper deck. Apparently, the marketing department was doing their job creatively, enough to make it a scene (at least for now). And it's always fun to see AI. But I don't see Carmella and Co. beating Utah for the division title, even though Denver's supposed to be good.

For the Wolves, even without Foye, there were a bunch of hustling young dudes out there and Denver was feeling the pressure. Gomes was glue, Brewer was disruptive, Craig Smith was bowling people over. McCants had the shooting touch. Even Theo Ratliff was finding new life and doing the Ervin Johnson thing...providing stability in the middle alongside Al Jefferson, who is now putting on the show in lieu of the Big Ticket. No expectations really. No pretentions, no disappointments. Just hooping it up for the crowd. It's the NBA, still alive in Minnesota.

One Al Jefferson move even got me out of my chair. A double pump, then "oh I'll do another pump off the ground and dunk on your head instead" thing. Boom! Now, KG got me out of my seat all the time...but Jefferson had many other solid plays, and this was a start. Plus, he and Ratliff are pretty big on the offensive glass. We had fun, and I will be down for the next home game vs. Orlando tomorrow. It is done.

On a side note, Minnesota can also turn another page -- on former Timberwolf Anthony Peeler. As though rapping KGs chopps for Sucktown in the playoffs a few years back didn't wipe away all those great Peeler "shoulda beat Seattle" memories...there is a new AP in town, people. Adrian Peterson in the backfield, for real!

True Blue and now Purple, rebuilding in the North. Don't forget how he looked going by you...