Minnesota Timberwolves By Bill Evans When the 2004-05 season began: Many were suggesting that 2005 might be the Year of the Wolf. After a trip to the Conference Finals, Minnesota looked poised to battle for the top spot in the Western Conference. What happened? The Wolves couldn't capture a playoff spot, much less compete for the NBA title. The bad karma started in training camp, when Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell aired contract gripes. Fittingly, Sprewell amassed the lowest scoring total of his career (12.8 ppg) and Cassell's average (13.5) was his lowest since 1994-95. By the end of the season, owner Glen Taylor was calling the acquisitions of Sprewell and Cassell “a failed experiment” despite what they accomplished the previous season. Flip Saunders became the fall guy for his team's failures in February. He was let go after a tenure that ranked only second only to Jerry Sloan when it ended with a 411-326 mark. Kevin McHale assumed the coaching duties for the remainder of the season, so at least he had an up-close look at the players he will be evaluating when the roster gets a makeover this summer. The only untouchable would appear to be Kevin Garnett, who started all 82 games in his 10th season with the Timberwolves. He delivered his customary 22.2 points, a league-leading 13.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.37 blocks per contest. With the retirement of Reggie Miller, Garnett more than any other player in the NBA is identified with a single team. What now? To Minnesota's credit, they finished 16-8 down the stretch, so the players never quit on McHale. Their 44-38 record put them a game behind Memphis for the final playoff spot. The cupboard is hardly bare. After forfeiting four first-round picks in the last five years because of the illegal Joe Smith contract, the Timberwolves will be participating this year. They own the 14th pick, and their needs correspond to the four positioned not manned by Garnett. Sprewell is a free agent. Cassell is in the final year of his deal and may be moved before he can throw another pity party. Wally Szczerbiak is the subject of annual trade rumors and center is Michael Olowokandi is…well…he's Michael Olowokandi, which is neither insult nor compliment. ============= 翻譯 ============== 由翻譯網站來的，請板友見諒 ================= 明尼蘇達Timberwolves 由 Bill-Evans 當2004-05 季節開始了: 許多建議, 2005 也許是狼的年。 在到會議決賽的一次旅行以後, 明尼蘇達看起來保持平衡作戰為頂面斑點在西部會議。 發生了什麼事？： 狼不能奪取淘汰賽, 爭奪NBA 標題。 壞羯磨開始了在訓練營, 當 Sam Cassell 和 Latrell Sprewell 宣揚了合同牢騷。 Fittingly, Sprewell 累積了最低的計分的共計他的事業(12.8 ppg) 並且Cassell 的平均(13.5) 是他最降低自1994-95 以來。 在季節以前, 所有者幽谷泰勒叫Sprewell 和Cassell 的承購 "一個未通過的實驗" 儘管完成了早先季節。 輕碰Saunders 適合秋天人為他的隊的失敗在2月。 他是放棄在排列只其次只對傑瑞Sloan 的佔有權以後 當它以411-326 結束了標記。 McHale 承擔 教練的責任為季節剩下的時間的凱文, 那麼至少他有關閉神色在他評估的球員花名冊得到makeover 這個夏天。 唯一的untouchable 會看來是 凱文?Garnett, 開始所有82場比賽在他的第10 個季節與Timberwolves。 他提供了他習慣的22.2 點, 主導同盟的13.5 反彈、5.7 協助和1.37 塊每比賽。 以Reggie 米勒的 退休, Garnett 更多比其他球員在NBA 被辨認與一個唯一隊。 現在什麼?： 對明尼蘇達的credit, 他們下來完成了16-8 舒展, 因此球員從未被放棄在McHale。 他們的44-38 紀錄投入了他們賽在孟菲斯之後為最後的淘汰賽。 Sprewell 是一位職業運動員。Cassell 在在最後的該年他的成交, 也許被移動在他能舉 辦其它哀憐聚會之前。 Wally Szczerbiak 是年鑒貿易謠言主題並且中心是 Olowokandi 是 ... 好的... 他是邁克爾?Olowokandi, 是不侮辱亦不恭維的邁克爾。 --

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