Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell made his long-awaited return to the floor in a 116-106 win against the Kings on Monday night after missing 26 games due to a left knee surgery. It marked just the sixth contest in which Russell appeared alongside his friend Karl-Anthony Towns for Minnesota.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic writes that Russell’s return has to encourage Timberwolves fans, as it perhaps can be seen as a preview of the interplay that could lift the club out of the depths next season.
“As long as we continue to work, work the way we want it, we can do something special,” Towns said of himself and his Timberwolves teammate. “We just got to work. Obviously, first, we got to be healthy enough to stay on the court with each other.”
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discussed the team’s latest additions, Justin Robinson and two-way player Jaylen Hoard, according to Joe Mussatto of the Oklahoman. “Robinson gives us a little extra ball handling,” Daigneault said, adding that Hoard “[p]lays hard, [is a] defender, somebody that understands how to play in a system on offense.”
- Dan Devine of The Ringer wonders if Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is allowing his new team to maximize its ceiling — and if being in Denver is doing the same for Gordon. Because he can cut off the ball, handle the rock, and roll to the rim, in addition to being a multifaceted defender, Gordon thus far has proven to be a more-than-serviceable facsimile of what Jerami Grant was in Denver last season. As of this writing, the Nuggets are poised to win their fifth straight game since adding Gordon.
- The Timberwolves have announced (via Twitter) that Minnesota’s players and staff have received their COVID-19 vaccines.
Why haven’t all of the players in the NBA gotten their vaccines already?
I think everyone I know has gotten theirs. It’s free, and easy. No excuses.
There is an excuse— my free source had to have my drivers L. But there is no way of knowing if I am resistant to this virus shape or not. Not one of my senses. It would be a tough claim to make.
There are excuses, for sure. But as long as its on your “things to do soon” list you’re fine.
It’s so funny idiots think vaccine passports are “dystopian” when we weren’t even traveling back in 1918-1920, the last time this happened in America – also everyone got vaxxed then and nothing happened to anyone, so once again, being anti-vaxx is only for the smoothest of smooth brains.
Every state is different. Some have got it.
With Russell playing now (25 pts). This mean they are going to give up their pick to Warriors. Top ten is still a very nice pick for GS. Warriors gotta be happy to see Russell playing. Rockets chances also get better now. Worst record here I come.
WallyWorld has definitely plummeted to the bottom. I wouldn’t give up on the Puppies just yet. The Dubs still need a ball bounce to get the #4 pick.
It’s WallyWood. And if the Rockets manage to secure one of the top 4 picks in the draft they will be in fantastic shape going into next season. If they add another star player like Cade Cunningham or Jalen Suggs to their core of Wood, Wall, Porter, Gordon, Tate, Martin, and hopefully Kelly Olynyk as well they will be back in the playoffs by 2022.
Wrong (again) even if the Wolves finished dead last, there is a 60% chance of GSW getting their pick.
GSW also get the Wolves second rounder too, so potentially they could get the #4, #13 and #33 picks in this loaded draft AND make the playoffs, if that happens then I will be less mad at this season by a lot. BUT, do these pick even matter if Kerr can’t develop anyone though? I could see some draft day trades for sure if they don’t fire Kerr, because they will need to stack the roster with more all-stars, as that’s all he knows how to coach.
FYI if the Warriors keep their own first-round pick, they’ll have to send the Wolves’ second-rounder to OKC — the Thunder get one or the other.
Oh damn, I read that incorrectly then. Thanks for the correction, I guess I will be mad then no matter what happens, lol
I can see Warriors making a major trade. With those two 1st rd picks if they are 7-20. But a top 6 pick in this draft is a major talent. I would keep that pick, with Wiseman. They not only get better next yr. Also have two major pieces for future.
Nuggets look great. Jokic is sublime.
I can’t help thinking they need to add a shooting guard though. Behind Barton is Dozier. A three point specialist could help.
With combo forwards at the 3&4, they may need a second ballhandler in there (Monte fan).
All of the starting five can handle and facilitate – Gordon and Porter competently if nothing else.
Monte is great of course, but they need a 6’6″ shooter. The backup backcourt is 5’10” Facundo and 6′ Monte – Facu is a savvy pest and Monte doesn’t turn the ball over but neither are knockdown shooters. They’re often paired with Murray as a holding starter and Millsap and Green.
Denver is looking incredibly deep, I just think they need that shooter. Gerald Green, Korver, Lance would all be nice additions if they can be had.
If Curry isn’t MVP (he should be, no one has taken a team of absolute idiots this far before, every 80s/90s/00s star on a bad team never did what Steph is doing this year. What Curry is doing this year is like if Kobe got the 04-05 Lakers to the playoffs) then I wouldn’t be too mad if the Joker wins.
LeBron on the pre-Decision Cavs did (and did better since he was able to get them to a Finals, ECF Finals, and 3 ECF Semis).
If Curry can somehow drag the Warriors to a top 5 seed I can see an argument, but otherwise he shouldn’t be the MVP. Jokic is having a much better year than Curry, on a team that is playing better as well. His PER is 36 which is right up there with Embiid for leading the league. Short of Jokic winning it, Embiid deserves some consideration with his missed games really being the only thing that can be used against him. Even Giannis has a better MVP argument right now (with voter fatigue probably being the main reason he isn’t getting more consideration). Imo those would be my top 3. After that I think you have (in no particular order) Curry, Lillard, LBJ, Harden, and Kawhi. If we’re comparing Lillard and Curry, their stat lines are similar enough that you’re basically splitting hairs, so you have to take that debate to who is having the bigger impact for their team. While I don’t doubt that the Warriors would completely fall apart without Curry, Lillard has helped lead the Trail Blazers to a better record despite McCollum and Nurkic (arguably their 2nd and 3rd best players) both being out for a 2 month span. I just don’t see a good argument for Curry getting serious MVP consideration, let alone winning it, without the Warriors surging up the standings and into a comfortable playoff spot (i.e. no play-in tournament playoff berth) before the end of the year. Maybe the writers who vote on the award will think differently, but I just think its tough to make an argument for Curry when you have at least 3-4 guys having atleast comparable, if not better, seasons while also getting their teams above .500 and possibly into the playoffs.
Wall of text is wrong. Denver has a STACKED roster. GSW has literally no one minus Curry.
With him on court GSW has the 12th best offense in the league, without him, GSW has the 5th worst offense IN NBA HISTORY.
No matter how good the Joker is this year, he’s not as valuable as Curry is to GSW. If you are talking “valuable”, Curry is comedically so far ahead of every player in the league and this season proves it.
Love Jokic though, he’s probably going to get the MVP no matter what because the writers hate Curry and love bigs. Curry is more valuable though.
If Jokic left Denver, they would be a lottery team. Their roster is not “stacked” lol. It’s solid. Good complementary players, but no stars or legit all-stars outside of Joker.
Lol Warriors aren’t even at .500 how is that valuable?