Hungry Like T-Wolves

While the Heatcontends for the Worst Record in the Eastern Conference title, Miami can take solace in the knowledge that the Minnesota Timberwolves have comfortably settled into the position of Worst Team in the Entire NBA. The big difference is that the Wolves have an excuse: They were built to suck this year. In trading Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for Al Jefferson (now Minny’s top scorer and rebounder) and a gaggle of uniform-fillers, Minnesota elected to trade losses now for wins circa 2010, maybe. How serious are the Wolves about not winning games? Their other big deal in ’07 was swapping Ricky Davis to Miami to bring aboard erstwhile Heat mad bomber Antoine Walker. (You imagine Kevin McHale, the Wolves’ VP of Basketball Operations, before that trade, scanning the morning box scores with a highlighter and muttering, “We’ve just got to find someone who loves to shoot the ball as much as Ricky…” )

Aside from Jefferson, the Wolves don’t bring much for your NBA-going dollar, though Rashad McCants is finally blossoming as a scorer and Corey Brewer, the former Florida Gators do-anything-from-anywhere swingman is logging almost 20 minutes a game for Minnesota. That Florida team won two titles in two years; this Minnesota team won two games of its first 16. See the Heat against an opponent it actually outmatches at the American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami) today at 7:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $10. Call 786-777-4667, or visit www.heat.com.
Mon., Dec. 17, 2007