It’s been a week. Hasn’t it?
In just a matter of a few days, fans have said goodbye to a favorite outfielder and watched a new World Series start. They were stunned to see an unforgettable college football coach retire without notice. And we’re all still trying to filter and come to terms with the death of Minnesota basketball great Flip Saunders.
I’ll be honest. I am still in a funk and a bit of a haze even one week after learning of Flip’s death. I didn’t know Coach very well. I did know that Coach was fighting hard and struggling in his fight against Cancer.
For three decades, I’ve covered NBA basketball in Seattle and here in Minnesota and Flip was all that and more. Such love and reverence for Flip and he deserved it all. Flip was putting together something special. I could see it happening. Through the pain and losses of last season, Flip stayed positive all the while the Wolves bandwagon was often empty and those on board, were doubters. But carefully, player by player, Flip had a game plan. The Wolves were moving into gleaming new offices and facilities across the street from Target Center. Team Owner Glen Taylor long ago had given Flip the room to move, navigate and orchestrate a rebuild on this franchise. Flip knew that this was going to turn. And turn around soon.
Flip was making it happen. While hand picking his generals to assist and to look over his shoulder while offering opinions on any situation, Flip was preparing for this franchise’s next big step. Sadly, as we see now, even though he wouldn’t be there to help take those steps.
Flip’s moves have been solid. And they look very familiar to me. You see, I watched in the mid-1990s while covering the Seattle SuperSonics. It was a team in the tank but the Sonics secured the No. 1 draft pick out of Oregon State, guard Gary Payton. They had high flying forward Shawn Kemp and a strong cast of complimentary veterans including Nate McMillan, Michael Cage and Hersey Hawkins. The Sonics front office fired legendary basketball coach (and Celtics Legend) K.C. Jones and brought in, from Euro league Real Madrid, long time NBA vagabond George Karl. The Sonics had a number of strong of Western Conference playoff runs that also included series wins over Flip’s T’Wolves and an NBA Finals visit against Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
Now, while this tale of two teams doesn’t intersect at every turn, it does underscore how great basketball minds, those patient and unrattled type-A’s can do the impossible. Given time, opportunity and talent. And this T’Wolves team’s turnaround was happening. Flip knew it.
That was Flip. Confident. Energetic. And after enduring a Wolves season that saw just 16 wins, Flip only prepared for far better days. Coach knew a powerful draft choice was coming and his blueprint was solid. All the while, Coach continued to encourage Wolves workers from receptionists to sales to support staff to anyone in and around Wolves HQ.
And as every person who may or may not have met Flip processes his passing, his team, the one on Flip’s blueprint, showed us in Los Angeles that the Beta testing is over. This model is ready to roll.
The Wolves 27th NBA opener was jagged. It was one with many new faces but it was very sweet. An opening night road win ain’t easy if you are an NBA Champion so consider the Wolves situation, mourning their fallen leader while doing it all in the house that Kobe built. Flip’s Wolves did it. And impressively.
From the get, the Wolves kept their focus after an emotional moment of silence inside the sold out Staples Center. Lakers players wearing “Flip” shooting shirts (showcasing the design of the “MPLS” on the old jerseys of the Minneapolis Lakers) and Wolves players wearing “WE” shooting T’s. You could hear a pin drop when a booming announcement called Flip “a beloved member of the NBA family.” After all of that, the Wolves played a game Flip would have loved. They jumped out fast, staggered a bit while falling far behind but they never panicked or gave up. In the third, no swoon just scoring and when Minnesota rallied from more than a dozen down to outscore LA in the 4th and final period (24-16). It was a win they wanted more than any to this point. And Flip was with each and every player.
Granted, it’s just one game. But it’s big. And after watching pre-season shows and various NBA “insiders” few give the Wolves much of a chance at post-season play. Just as I did with the revamped Twins (after few gave them a shot at ending four consecutive 90-loss seasons) I encourage you to let the season unfold. Be less of a critic and watch what Flip has manufactured grow. Will they win the NBA Championship this season? Unlikely. Can they make the playoffs? I say, why not?!
Flip would likely tell you just that. Maybe the tone would be a bit louder and perhaps a little saltier. But his line would also be, “Why not?!”
I mentioned it earlier as the T’Wolves unveiled specially designed Flip Saunders “WE” shooting shirts when they took the floor at Staples Center for team warmups.
The shirt, which says “WE”, symbolizes the togetherness of the team and its commitment to unity over individualism. The shirt is gray with black lettering, with the name “Flip” across the heart side of the shirt. The team will wear shooting shirts through the month of November. And the Wolves will wear a commemorative patch on their jersey during the 2015-16 season in honor of Flip Saunders. The patch will be worn for the first time on Monday, November 2, as the Timberwolves open the home portion of the 2015-16 season against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center. The team will wear the patch for all home and road games for the balance of the season beginning on November 2.
If you are a serious Timberwolves fan (and even the casual fan is allowed), drop me a note with your thoughts. Write me at rod@gameONtvMN.com.
A downtown parade capped off the Championship celebration for the Minnesota Lynx after winning the WNBA title for the third time in five seasons. Lynx center Sylvia Fowles was named WNBA Finals MVP as the Lynx beat Indiana 69-52, finishing the 2015 postseason with a 7-3 record and at 22-12 finished the regular season with the second-best overall record in the league.
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The official Timberwolves app offers fans the ability to follow live game content including the score, stats, shot charts and related social media conversations via the Game Tracker. The app also allows fans to seamlessly check the team’s schedule, roster and conference standings. Fans on the go can stay engaged and updated with the team by accessing Wolves articles, photo galleries and original videos through the app. New features including ticket sales integrations, fan experience modules, exclusive membership content and more will be added to the app in the near future. The app is another step the Wolves have taken to accommodate the continued growth of mobile web use.
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