Minnesota Timberwolves

[Tanamera Jr.]

Randy Foye discuta cu fanii


hyattsville, md
how many times do you work out during the day now compared to how many days you workout in college

RANDY FOYE
I wake up around 8:30 to get over to the Target Center to lift weights. Then after that I shoot and do ball handling drills. I do some rebounding with KG. Then we play like 15 games of pickup. Then we do some more shooting when we're tired. Then I come back here to my hotel room.

Brett (NYC)
Did you know what was happening as far as the trades go on draft day or were you in the dark like the rest of us?

RANDY FOYE
Yeah, I was pretty much in the dark. I knew I was going 7th, but I didn't know where I was going to be at.

Joe (Villanova, PA)
Randy, we miss you on campus! Have you stayed close with Kyle Lowry and A. Ray, and have you heard of A. Ray's chances of making the Celtics roster?

RANDY FOYE
Yeah, we always talk. Me and Kyle were together this past weekend at Villanova for a football game. We always talk and communicate through text messaging.

Shawn (Rochester, MN)
Hi Randy! What are you expectations going into this year. Has Coach Casey said anything about how much you might get play?

RANDY FOYE
He hasn't said much about playing time. It's just something I have to work hard at and earn it. I don't have many expectations and just work as hard as I can.

Newark,NJ
How is it moving from Newark,NJ to Minnesota, lol?

RANDY FOYE
It's different. But I'm staying here right down town in the center of the city. So, it's pretty much the same as living in a city. I'm sure the winter is going to be colder. But everything's been good so far.

Ryan (Dallas, TX)
What's the coolest thing you've gotten since joining the Timberwolves (shorts, new NBA balls, etc.)?

RANDY FOYE
Probably one of my cars that I got. I got a Mercedes. That's pretty cool.

Pete Facente, NJ
Hey Randy, this is Pete, Villanova Class of 02. Which players are you most excited about going up against this season? Best of luck!

RANDY FOYE
Kobe. I look forward to going up against him. Steve Nash, Vince, Chris Paul. Shaq, not guarding him, but being on the floor with him.


Ryan (Ramsey, NJ)
What do you think is your greatest asset as a basketball player? Congrats on a great 'Nova career!

RANDY FOYE
The way I communicate to my teammates. I can relate to any type of personalities. I try to figure out certain guys and figure out what they like to do.

Dan (Princeton; 'Nova 81)
Randy, thanks for a wonderful 4 years at 'Nova. You've overcome a lot in your life already. Now that you're a pro, what do you think will be the biggest hurdle for you to transition successfully into the NBA?

RANDY FOYE
Probably not playing as much in my first year. I just have to get used to that.

Chad (KY)
What is it like practicing and training with KG?? Do you think this is a playoff team??

RANDY FOYE
Yeah, I think this is a playoff team. Working out with KG, he works very hard. He tries to do everything to perfection. You just go all out until you can't anymore. That's why he's at where he is right now.

Joe (Villanova, PA)
What kind of rookie hazing stuff have the rest of the guys made you do?

RANDY FOYE
Stuff like when we're working out, we have to get Gatorade and water. We have to get fresh Krispy Kreme donuts. Carrying bags. All that good stuff.

Shawn (Rochester, MN)
Hi Randy! Do you the 3 being a big part of your game? If so, how has the transition been going to the NBA 3 point line?

RANDY FOYE
It's been pretty good. I never used to shoot the 3 in college on the line, I always used to shoot a couple of feet behind it. I've shot that shot before. I don't feel as though that's been a problem for me.

Curtis (Columbia, MD)
As a former Nova student myself, I'm looking forward to another great season, what are your feelings about this upcoming college season for the wildcats? Also, you'll be missed, good luck in the pros, show em that you're for real.

RANDY FOYE
I think they're going to be OK. I actually went home to work out with Curtis, who will be back. I did somethings to test him and he looked like his old self. I think he's ready. We did that two days in a row. He went about it first class. The younger guys and they're working hard and looking to the upperclassmen. I think they'll be all right.

Ken (St. Paul)
Randy, welcome to the Twin Cities - looking forward to seeing you play. I've heard many comparisons of your game to D-Wade's game. How do you feel you compare to D-Wade?

RANDY FOYE
I don't really think our games are similar. We both go to the basket, but he's a great player and I don't think I can compare myself to him until I've been in the league.

Shawn (Rochester, MN)
Hi Randy. I read in the paper that you and a bunch your teammates have been practicing together on your own. How long has this been going on, and do you think it will help the Wolves start fast?

RANDY FOYE
I think it's important for me to play with them in practice because I'm a rookie and I have to learn what they want to do and like to do. I've been up here forever. The whole team is here. We're working out. We're just working out. I've been up here for 3.5 weeks now.

Kilroy (Bloomington, MN)
Someone pointed out that you appear to palm the ball on drives to the hoop. How do you respond to such criticism?

RANDY FOYE
A lot of people say that I palm the ball a lot. I just think it's a part of my game. That's the way I dribble the basketball. If the refs start calling it then I'll change.

Luke (Minnesota)
Will you and Mike James eventually be the starting backcourt for our T'Wolves and if so who is the PG out of you two?

RANDY FOYE
I would say out of us two, I'm more of the point guard. Will we ever play in the backcourt? I would love to. I would love to play with him in the backcourt.

Dan - Minnesota
Welcome to the Wolves Randy! We are looking forward to your playmaking skills big time.With a crowded backcourt, (Marco, T-Hud, and Mike James at point), do you see yourself playing any 2, or will you play mainly the point?Also, what can you bring to get us back to the playoffs? Can't wait to see you at Target Center. PEACE!

RANDY FOYE
I think I'm going to play 1, 2 and 3 for the Wolves. I go against some of the guys every day. I'm learning the tricks of going against these guys. But mostly, I think I'll be playing the point, as well as the two.

McLayne, Hermiston, OR
You were one of the top perimeter defenders in college basketball, who was your toughest assignment?

RANDY FOYE
Probably, I would say Troy Bell and Ben Gordon. I learned a lot. Ben Gordon would take me off dribble and screens a lot. Troy did the same thing. I learned a lot from playing against them.

Jeremy (Los Angeles, CA)
Who is your favorite player in the NBA today?

RANDY FOYE
I have to go with Kevin Garnett and Kobe.

RANDY FOYE
I appreciate all the support from everybody. I love the fans. I just want to say thanks.

[Tanamera Jr.]

Hoiberg, Babcock join T'Wolves office

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/b ... index.html

[Tanamera Jr.]

All this week, ESPN.com will be looking ahead a few years in an attempt to see what the NBA will look like in the year 2010.

Mon., 9/18: Which current cellar dweller may turn into a champ?
Tues., 9/19: Which current elite team may find itself in the lottery?
Wed., 9/20: Who will supplant Dirk as the NBA's best international player?
Thurs., 9/21: Which player will rise from mediocrity a la Boris Diaw?
Fri., 9/22: Timelining the rise of the NBA's next young superstars.

We asked some of the top NBA writers from around the country to weigh in with their thoughts.

Here's today's roundup:

Q: Which one of the Bottom 10 teams (Blazers, Knicks, Hawks, Wolves, Bobcats, Warriors, Raptors, Rockets, Celtics, Sonics) can win a championship in the next couple of years?

David Thorpe, Pro Training Center: Just three years ago, the Miami Heat came off a bad year and started the new season with a rookie coach, losing their first seven games.

Yet, less than two seasons later, that franchise lost in the Eastern Conference Finals, and then won the title the next year. I think the Minnesota Timberwolves can build a similar team.

The Heat added Shaq, giving them an All-Star post player to go along with Dwyane Wade. The Wolves already have Kevin Garnett, a dominant scorer/rebounder/defender, and they drafted Randy Foye, who showed this summer (and in college) that he has a real chance to be Wade-like very soon.

Eddie Jones and Damon Jones provided perimeter scoring and leadership that proved pivotal to the Heat, while the Wolves now have Mike James, coming off a career year (20 ppg and 44 percent from 3) and Ricky Davis (19.4 ppg).

Udonis Haslem and Eddie Jones were great defenders and knew how to play their roles to perfection. Trenton Hassell and Justin Reed can play similar roles in Minnesota.

Mark Blount had his two best rebounding months in March and April last year. KG will continue to influence him toward playing to his potential. The Wolves need some additional help inside, and they need Foye to develop rapidly, so a trade involving Ricky Davis could help on both accounts.

Now, if Coach Dwane Casey can go to school as fast as Coach Van Gundy did in Miami, and Foye can "be like Dwayne," the Wolves just may pull a Miami and contend for the title in 2008.

David Thorpe is Executive Director of the Pro Training Center in Clearwater, FL, where he works as a personal coach for Udonis Haslem, Kevin Martin and other NBA players.


Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon Journal: It's the team with the best player from that group, the Timberwolves. Kevin Garnett's still in his prime and is still just two years removed from being the NBA's MVP. There is no questioning his motivation or management's position -- progress must be made fast or it will be time to start over.

The Wolves appear to have significantly upgraded their backcourt over the summer, convincing Mike James to turn down the Rockets and Mavericks and drafting Randy Foye, who will start the season as a favorite for Rookie of the Year.

More help is needed, of course. The roster has assets for Kevin McHale to work with and using them wisely is the best way for Minnesota to get back to elite status. When the Wolves had the West's best record in 2003-04, they were buoyed when McHale pulled off trades to pick up Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell.

So the challenge at hand is to create a package involving one or more of the following: Mark Blount, Ricky Davis, Marko Jaric, Trenton Hassell and Troy Hudson. All are semi-talented players with somewhat burdensome contracts who have value to someone.

The other big issue is the head coach. If the Wolves don't get off to a good start, every insider in the league feels Dwane Casey will be on the hot seat, especially with Randy Wittman imported to his staff over the summer. Getting behind Casey or making a prudent switch will be vital.

Brian Windhorst covers the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal.


restul articolului: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... 010_champs

[AO]

[Tanamera Jr.]

When the Bulls and Wolves played last week, Tyrus Thomas got off a pretty sick dunk on Kevin Garnett. Usually, the hyper-competitive KG would be seething, but he was cool about this one, even giving the rookie some props after the game when he told reporters “That kid’s gonna be good.” So was that the end of it? Of course not. Last night, the two teams met again. And on one play, Tyrus came soaring in for a dunk. Now, if you watched LSU play at all last year, you know Tyrus is hell to deal with once he’s locked in on the rim. And maybe he even had some confidence in knowing that he’d dunked on Garnett before. But KG went up, got his whole hand on the rock, and sent Thomas to the floor, a la Ben Wallace on Shaq in last year’s playoffs. Welcome to the League, Tyrus …

[Sharkie]

Tanamera,ce mai stii de KG,se transfera au ba ?

[Ady Micinic]

Acuma stii cum l-ai injurat?

[Sharkie]

Sper sa n-o ia personal

[gorba]

nu se transfera. mai ales daca o sa mearga bine echipa in sezonul asta

[Sharkie]

Pai echipa nu cred ca poate mai bine de runda 1 in playoff.Cel mult.Iar Kevin ar merita un titlu,insa la Minnesota nu cred ca il poate obtine.De asta ma gandesc ca ar fi bine pentru el sa se transfere.

[R0bby]

la minnesota kevin garnett nu are cu cine sa obtina titlul..cel putin nu are o echipa..insa in privinta plecarii..nu imi imaginez ce alta echipa i se potriveste lui kg!

[Tanamera Jr.]

No way man! Am zis-o de atatea ori si pe OLS, stii doar. NU pleaca. Vara asta a fost intr-adevar critica, dar conducerea echipei nu a stat degeaba si s-a intarit binisor. Daca nu aduceau ceva bun, era foarte probabil sa ceara transfer, dar acum e mai multumit si optimist ca niciodata. Echipa serioasa, tanara, cativa veterani pe langa el, omogenitate data de cantonamente si timp petrecut impreuna, spre deosebire de sezonul treuct. Nu automat optimismul lui KG se traduce in victorii si aparitii in finala, dar intrebarea era daca pleaca sau nu

Nu uitati ca anul trecut Wolves au fost la cateva puncte de o clasare mult mai buna. A fost probabil echipa care a pierdut cele mai multe meciuri la 1-2 puncte. Cu meciurile alea castigate, era in playoff. Foye şi James sunt mai buni la capitolul "presiune pe final de meci" decat A. Carter, Jaric sau Banks. Nu vad niciun argument (teoretic) serios ca Minnesota sa nu treaca de primul tur. Practic ne vom lamuri in cateva saptamani cum sta treaba

Si da, daca tot nu prind playofful, e probabil sa plece.

[Tanamera Jr.]

Inceput de sezon infernal pentru Minnesota.

1 nov Sacramento @ Minnesota

3 nov Minnesota @ Denver

4 nov Minnesota @ Portland

6 nov Minnesota @ Sacramento

7 nov Minnesota @ Lakers

Cinci meciuri in sapte zile, dintre care patru in deplasare. Doua deplasari la rivale de divizie - Denver si Portland.

Urmeaza patru meciuri in paisprezece zile, fara meciuri prea dificile, si apoi:

22 nov New York @ Minnesota

24 nov Minnesota @ NO/Okla. City

25 nov L.A. Clippers @ Minnesota

27 nov Minnesota @ Dallas

28 nov Minnesota @ Houston

Alte cinci meciuri in sapte zile, cu "doar" trei deplasari, toate dificile.

[Stefan_aka_starbury]

Garnett va pleca dupa sezonul asta... nu vad cum ar putea Minnesotta sa aiba un sezon prea bun...

[Soso90B]

Ar fi foarte frumos sa ia Minesotta un titlu anul acesta..dar nu cred ca il va lua.Garnett nu are cu cine juca.Sunt jucatori buni,dar nu jucatori cu care poti castiga o finala de NBA.Garnett are deja o varsta,si se apropie de capatul puterilor,si stiind cat de mult isi doreste un titlu,cu siguranta va parasi Minesotta in favoarea unei echipe mai de varf.

[Publicitate]