Author Archive

Keys to the Wolf Den: Wolves Hold Advantage Over Other Bottom Dwellers

Posted: 2nd January 2010 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
When I speak of advantages, don't consider in terms of wins and losses. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Laker, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Orlando Magic are the top teams in the NBA, while teams like the New Jersey Nets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards etc...are the bottom-feeder teams. One thing I've admired about young teams is the way they play on the court, but off the court, problems seem to arise and ultimately ...

Keys To The Wolf Den: Kahn May Not Sign a Big Free Agent, Is This Bad?

Posted: 1st January 2010 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the few teams that will have enough money to sign a big free agent coming up this offseason. Preferring not to dive into numbers, David Kahn has made it clear with the Alando Tucker trade, that he is capable of making moves that can only help positively from this point. Many NBA fans questioned why would a GM take two point guards back to back in ...

Keys to the Wolf Den: Ramon Sessions Needs To Start Over Jonny Flynn

Posted: 31st December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
Why can't Jonny Flynn rack up assists? Is it the talent around him? I don't think so...Jonny Flynn has Al Jefferson in the post, Kevin Love in the mid-range, Ronnie Brewer on the fast break, and a bunch of other assets that have allowed Flynn to have nights where he racks up five assists or better. Is it the triangle offense? No way, Kevin Love racked up nine assists against the Utah Jazz. Jonny Flynn ...

Keys to the Wolf Den: Ellington, Nicknames, and Having a Successful Year

Posted: 30th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
Wayne Ellington The Minnesota Timberwolves have a nice weapon at their disposal that's not being fully utilized, and that's Wayne Ellington. The former Tar Heel standing at 6'5'' has been providing the Wolves with some very consistent play over the last few games, and he's showing that he can put up numbers when given the time. The Timberwolves roster as a whole struggle mightily from the field, and although as of late they ...

Keys to the Wolf Den: Perspective of a Wolves Fan and the Cold Truth

Posted: 30th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
Sometimes a writer has to get deep down and personal when it comes to a team that he's writing about. No ifs, ands, or buts about it: I am a fan of the Minnesota Timberwolves. I will admit that, upon me initially starting to write for them, I realized I was blindsided by my own negligence and immaturity in finding a positive in all of their negatives. I'm starting to realize that ...

Keys To The Wolf Den: Hart Traded For Alando Tucker and 2nd Round Pick

Posted: 29th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
Yet another deal that cannot go wrong for David Kahn, and can only help. Alando Tucker is a 6'6'' strong small forward. He's a scorer and an athlete with some upside. He's the University of Wisconsin's all time leading scorer, so I'm pretty sure that when the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin played each other, there are some DIE HARD MINNESOTANS that might remember the young small forward. The deal ...

Keys to the Wolf Den: Free Agency Without Rudy Gay

Posted: 29th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
Rudy Gay wants a huge contract. The Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn has said he would pay very close attention to the 6'8'' swingman who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. While I, a Wolves fan, would love to have Rudy Gay, a $65 million contract over five years seems way too much for his caliber player. There are some situations that would limit the young swingman to have to take a ...

Keys To The Wolf Den: Damien Wilkins Evaluation

Posted: 28th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
There comes a point in time where a team needs a big bucket, a steal, or a defensive stop from a dependable source. Damien Wilkins has done that on numerous occasions, and has definitely kept the team composed in times of hardship. Head coach Kurt Rambis has given praise to Damien Wilkins numerous times, even to go as far as calling him a "true professional." Rambis has started Damien Wilkins in 15 ...

Keys To the Wolf Den: Minnesota Preparing For January Form?

Posted: 26th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
For the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 2008-2009 season was one of many excitements and shortcomings. One of those excitements has to be the month of January, where the Wolves won 10 games and lost only two, sporting a Western Conference coach of the month and Western Conference player of the month in Al Jefferson. Kevin Love has said he's still getting in rhythm, as well as Corey Brewer and Al Jefferson as well, ...

Keys To The Wolf Den: On The Lookout For Draft Picks

Posted: 25th December 2009 by Matthew Hayden in NBA
The Wolves are going to enter another draft with two or three first round draft picks, and other than Cole Aldrich, Evan Turner and John Wall, I've compiled a list of players that Wolves fans should keep their eye on. The Wolves should be looking at SG's, SF's and C's primarily, so with Cole Aldrich, John Wall and Evan Turner already being known amongst Wolves fans, I'll dive into some sleepers. But ...