I really enjoyed Randy Foyes comments after the Pacer game. Is "wonderful young man" overkill? I too have noticed a huge improvement with Blount, and don't think he's the 2nd comming of Randy Bruer, but Craig Smith was the MUCH better choice tonight, late. Smith is more agile, and vastly more intuitive.

The final Bulls basket was God awful, and Jim Petersen called James on that one. The concept of steering a opponent into the help, is apprently foreign to Mike James.

I'm very happy for coach Casey that they hung on, Taylor can put off burning down the franchise for another day or too.

My daughter was in from New York on college break, so I decided to treat her to a game. Well, treat may be a descriptive stretch, but it will have to do. The scalpers outside of Target Center showed a little more basketball IQ than our club did last night. Once they saw her Marist jacket, they were able to recite that they beat the Gophers this year. Go figure. I didn't think anyone was paying much attention to either the Gophs or Wolves this year.

This team lacks mental toughness. We've seen this time and time again from this club; it doesn't take very much to dilute the chemistry and defeat the confidence. Casey did call a time out or two more than he has in the past, but so what? There's nothing that came out of those time outs that stemmed the tide in the 4th, other than Foye's last shot with 1.8 seconds. They should have never been in that position to start with.

In the end, there were too many virtually uncontested layups, very little defensive rotation, and at the core, the "refuse to lose" attitude was missing from this club. Even the last shot when I thought Noiconi was fouled by Foye, showed a substantial defensive breakdown.

At this point, you might as well forget about hurt feelings and use the resources that are working for you. Use Blount as an offensive weapon for three quarters, until his lack of rebounding, fundamentals and defensive prowess really begins to hurt. Sit James down and start Foye, despite the contract. Unless you're Chris Paul, it takes the average point guard around 2-3 years to really learn how to play the position. Until then, free him up and live or die with his athleticism. Bench Davis when he can't play D, or when he does boneheaded things like throw the ball the length of the court with 0.1 seconds left, allowing the Bulls one last shot at the end of the first half.

If I were a coach ready to be fired, I guess I'd stop trying to make honey and show the rest of the league I could make tough decisions, unless he wants to be Nate McMillan's wingman for the rest of his career. Demonstrating a little grit might get him another job down the line, or actually rub off on his current club.

Is it too soon to predict a Wolves' (near) loss if Mark Blount is scoring early and often? Even as the Bulls floundered under Blount's barrage of baskets, I was commenting that the Wolves might be in trouble in this game. Shore `nuff, that's what happened, but we can't exactly blame Blount, since he didn't play in the late 3rd qtr and the 4th.

Hmmm, who was that -22 man? Fie Fie Foye Fum. The Bulls smelled the blood of a rookie, son.

OK, sure, the Randyman needs minutes, but I'm hanging this scare squarely on Rookie Coach Casey. The Bulls had had no answer for the basic Wolves lineup, but Casey decided to counter the Bull's smallball with his own version. Did he ever check the scoreboard? Does he know that one usually considers going back to what was working instead of playing to your opponents strengths?

Hey, I love Craig Smith too, but somewhere in there it was time to bring back Blount, or better perhaps, Mark Madsen.

And, BTW, why was Blount smiling and laughing as the Wolves entered dire straits?

Including Kevin Garnett among the culpable for signing Mike James is not entirely fair. Due to the lack of draft picks and the salary cap burden of Garnett, Hudson, and Davis and Blount (in place of Wally), the Wolves are stuck in mid-level salary cap hell. Year after year the Wolves only have the ability to compete for a free agent that will sign for the mid-level exception. You can't even get a Larry Hughes for that price. You can get a Troy Hudson, Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Mike James, Marko Jaric, or Trenton Hassel. (And these guys can't be moved for superstars like Iverson).

Further, if management wants Mike James to sign, then it's expected that the guy pulling 20 million a year will place a phone call or two.

Mike James was the best point guard option for the Wolves and it's an easy decision to try to sign him. But to limit your options to the mid-level exception, and then place your hopes on that signing solving your point guard woes is entirely ridiculous.

McHale should explain that his back was against the wall, he had no trade assets, no salary cap room, and his only option was to pursue Mike James.

Play Foye all game, take your lumps, but let him grow into the fourth quarter demon that he was born to be.

Half-game out of the playoffs. That is the Christmas gift of the year, as far as I'm concerned.

Sure, the team's going nowhere (I said this about the Twins, too), but two wins over a quality Chicago team is nothing to sneeze at. There's still a chance this team can find itself and finish in the money; at least that will screw the Clippers and we'll be down to one lost #1 to fulminate about.

The first three quarters of the game, the Wolves played the best basketball I've seen them play all year. It seemed every player was in rythm (with the exception of Mike James) and playing to their strength. Blount was stroking mid-range jumpers, Jaric was creating havic on D, and crashing the boards, Hassell was playing tough D and also getting on it on the boards (something I have nott seen much of from Trenton this year, the ups just aren't there because of the knee problem), and KG was operating from the left block like a surgeon, dishing to cutters for layups or putting it off the glass for layups of his own. I want to remember this game through three quarters because we were brilliant, playing great basketball. Of course that all ended when we entered the fourth period but the first three quarters give me hope for what we can be when firing on all cylanders. I even liked Casey's substitution pattern throughout. A couple of observations:

Mike James can'tg gaurd anyone. He was always on the Bulls weakest perimeter player and still managed to get burned with regularity.
Someone needs to explain to Foye that there is a difference between being agggressive and chucking. He took some attrotious shots in the first half.
Craig Smith is a beast. He is going to be something special, I get more excited about him with each game. I think we can expect 18 9 from him in the near future.
I like the lineup of Foye, Davis, Jaric, Smith, and Mad Dog. Two hustle players down low, no true point but three decent ball handlers up top. They played really well togehter, I think it would be great if this became the go-to lineup when KG is off the floor.

I'm just going to echo david's sentiments. THe fact that this team is on a half-game out of the playoff picture is remarkable. They may be going nowhere, but if, somehow, Davis and James can acquire some of KG's competitiveness and learn what it takes to win, then they may actually surprise someone in the playoffs.

Bucks beat the Spurs last night. Moe and Redd struck again.

Despite the glut of guards and swingmen, this team seems to have problems stopping a team when they resort to small-ball. Its something the coaches have to figure out.

I disagree James was the team's only option. If I ran the zoo, for instance, I would have tried to split the exception between a couple of younger guys: Rasual Butler and Jackie Butler, giving the team a 6'7" guy who can shoot the three (setting him apart from the rest of the team's 6'7" guys) and a young center to add the rotation. Looking at it now, Jackie Butler isn't getting much PT with the Spurs, but Rasual Butler's having a pretty decent season with the Hornets (however, it should be noted he's playing alongside a brilliant point guard).

So, at this point I guess I can't claim my wacky little scheme would've made the Wolves a better team right now. But I don't think they'd be worse, and at least they would've avoided paying too much and too long for a 6'2", 31-year-old's career year.

I really enjoyed the game last night and found alot of positives to take from it. Yes, I know, they gave up a 25 point lead, James was horrible and Foye made some rookie mistakes. However, the two things that the Wolves need to become competitive showed up last night: KG was aggressive and Foye was "Wade-like" on offense.

I love the fact that KG was putting up shots even when double and triple teamed, didn't back down in the fourth and got to the line 12 times. This is the KG that I love to watch, and the KG that the team needs.

Foye was a joy to watch. Once he gets a step on the first defender, it's basically lights out. He's either going to score two or get to the line. I can't remember watching many rookies that have the ability and balls to take over a game like he did. Last night may have been a defining moment for him, and it seems that he now has KG's respect and eye as the go to guy. Now I only hope he continues to get 30+ minutes/game.

Regarding Foye's lone assist. While on paper it doesn't look good, he was initiating the offense just fine, IMO. He had no problem getting them into sets or feeding KG inside. He didn't make the final pass to get an assist, but I saw no defeciencies with regards to running the offense. He did have some lapses on defense, but I can live with those as he does show defensive ability and makes up for it on offense. And lets not forget that he was beaten by Ben Gordon, a scoring machine.

Regarding Levi's +/- stat. Whatever it was with Foye in the game, I don't think it was Foye's fault. The kid played his heart out and was *unstoppable.*

I really like the way Blount is playing. The Navy seal training this offseason seems to have helped. I still think Smith needs more minutes.

I saw the last 7 minutes of the game, so I come to this discussion with a limited perspective. But, what I saw was a rookie (as Britt poits out) who was able to stop the bleeding but also save the patient.

Agreed with the point above on how the 'wolves are seemingy built do go small, but do so badly. Isn't KG the prototypical big man around which to build a small-ball team? Hakeem being the exception. Yet, the wolves are horrid going small this year.

Blount has been a pleasant suprise this year. Shame he gets pulled when the game gets fast.

Let's not throw James overboard just yet.
We're getting pretty deep into the season yes, but James still has the ability to play well, at least offensively, and the club needs him to be aggressive. He's also the only member of the team that's even a remote threat from three-point land (Hudson, having been rightly eight-balled from the rotation, no longer counts). If he gets on a hot streak James is good for some wins, I'm betting we'll see it before too long...
As for the game, I agree with most of these observations. If not for Foye's ridiculous game winning shot, last night's game would have been a humiliating loss.
What's everyone's predictions on how much longer Casey will be around.

Krush - it's amazing how we can see the same game, and players, so differently. Foye unstoppable? Bah. That was the vertically challenged Bulls the Wolves were playing. Even then, when Ben Wallace was in the game (note that Big Ben was on the bench for the entire 4th quarter) Randyman only went to the hoop once - and got blocked.

Look, I like Foye, I've been rooting for him to be groomed as PG since Game One and I think he has a chance. But I am not willing to anoint him with hype like "Wade-like", "saviour of the team", or any other label other than "promising rookie'. He's simply not ready for extended minutes at crunch time down the stretch or 30 minutes per game either. Perhaps along with your explanations for his lack of assists, you can be an apologist for Foye's turnovers (and near turnovers). This game should never have been so close at the end. BTW, the -22 stat was for Foye's 3rd & 4th quarter stint(s).

And in regards to Blount - what Britt said. Nice game, but still lacking, big time, on defense.

I was at the game last night and I had not seen the Target Center that full all season. It's probably because people are on winter break but it was great to see the place so packed.

As I jumped up and down in a drunken stupor in the nose bleeds, I watched a 20 point lead slowing dwindle into a tie game. Things were working in the first three quarters. But then something changed. Randy Foye took control for most of the 4th quarter, and despite his high-flying, fun to watch shots and solid D, we got our asses kicked.

This is a rookie who has amazing potential, but he has a lot to learn. His playing style gives it away to everyone that this is his first year. High turnovers and poor shot selection. We got lucky that we won this game, plain and simple. While Foye was in control, we were terribly out of sync on both sides of the court. He had a good night shooting (almost fifty percent), but how good was his shot selection? I thought they were terrible. I'll take an easy layup crafted from good passing over a seven foot tear dropping prayer off of the backboard any day. And 1 assist? 1?!?!?! I'm reading comments where people say he ran the offense well. How did he run the offense at all? He never passed and we only scored 18 points when he was playing point. Many see foye as the reason we won this game. I thought he was the reason we almost lost.

And what about Marc Blount? Sure he scored 18 and grabbed 7 rebounds (that's a lot of boards for the 7 footer), but how effective is he on winning games? If Blount shot 100% from the field I still wouldn't be happy with his play. We have good midrange shooters already. Blount's camping out 15 feet away from the hoop leaves only KG down low. Imagine if Blount traded in his ineffective jump shots for 10 rebounds and a few blocked shots a night? How much more energy would KG have in the fourth quarter if his center that looks like a turtle actually played like a center? Because Blount plays basketball like my old man KG is exhausted at the end of games. If he played with the ferocity of Craig Smith I think this team would be in a far better position as the first quarter of the season comes to an end.

I like Foye and I agree with being cautious. As far as his development, I side on his hitting the game winning shot being more positive than his +/- in the third and fourth quarter. I'm a big +/- guy, and I think when someone like Jaric always seems to be on the high end of plus says something more about him that you don't see from his normal stats. I love the popcorn site, but you cannot take too much from it. Every one in the game at the end of the fourth had attrocious negatives and that includes Jaric, Hassell, KG James with FOye. In addition, the popcorn stat reveals that things went from bad to worse when Casey substituted KG, James, and Hassell to stop the bleeding, only to end up hemmorhaging out until Foye applied the tourniquet.

So, as much as I like the popcorn site, on a game by game basis, the +/- stat in the fourth quarter tells us as much about a player as Joe Nathans era in the ninth inning of a game after he gives up a home run to Jim Thome.

Levi,
It wasn't "Foye unstoppable" against the rest of the NBA, it was "Foye unstoppable" against the Bulls. At the end of the game, he was. No "bah" about it.

I explain his turnovers the same way I explain his defense. He is a *rookie*, and I pointed out he made his share of mistakes in my original post. I'm willing to live with the mistakes if it means his continued development. Look, if Sam Cassell, Malik Sealy or Wally were ahead of him and this was a championship caliber team, I wouldn't be calling for him to be playing 30 minutes/game. However, *on this team*, there ain't nobody better so it's useless to have him sitting on the bench. Put him in there, let him take his lumps and develop. The fact that we found out he can take over a game in the 4th, take and hit a winning shot while the entire Bulls team knew he was getting the ball was far more important than that mental lapse on defense or errant pass.