This NBA draft highlights why I get frustrated with Minnesota fans

[M Dogg™]

As the draft approached, many draft boards had Shabazz Muhammad going to the 'Wolves with the 9th pick. I think SI and a few other credible sites had that. So going into the draft, Flip Saunders started questioning Muhammad's character, which makes sense, and his ability to be unselfish, which also makes sense. As the draft approaches, the 'Wolves try to move up for Michael Oladapo, or move up just enough to secure Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Flip Saunders was very honest about that. So as the draft unfolded, both failed, so Flip traded back to get two picks, sell off the other pick to make cap space to resign free agents, and still get Shabazz Muhammed, who almost EVERYONE had going to the 'Wolves. It was like getting exactly what you expect, but then getting a bit more. I turned off the draft after this thinking, damn, Flip did a good job tonight. When I turned on the radio out here, fans were so mad. They HATED the Muhammad pick, but going in that's who almost everyone had going to Minnesota. I am so confused. People out here in the corn fields hate players like Muhammad, controversy, selfishness, but at the same time he was the #1 high school player last year (though we find out he was 19, not 18), and he was a damn good player for UCLA. (Maybe I'm mad because I still follow UCLA and they are my team in college basketball.) Most fans here think that the UCLA/MN game was representative of Muhammad.

It's frustrating. He has a chance to be a good NBA player, and no worst than Kevin Martin, O.J. Mayo when he first came out, or any other score first shooting guards. It's very rare in today's game that you get a shooting guard who scores 30, get's 1-2 steals and 4-6 assist. Now most shooting guards are score first players, and it's up to the point guard (Ricky Rubio is one of the best, if he wasn't on the 'Wolves, I'd never watch a game) to pass the ball and to make the play. If Muhammed does enough to get open to score, Rubio will find him.

Oh well, it is frustrating following basketball in the corn fields. But I will say this, if Mayo joins the 'Wolves as reported is a huge possibility, that's 3 UCLA players all 25 or younger. :-) I might actually watch 3-4 games next year. Still, I will be watching WAY more Laker games, though my worry for them in the 2014 off season is a whole other thread.

[Russell Bell]

As the draft approached, many draft boards had Shabazz Muhammad going to the 'Wolves with the 9th pick. I think SI and a few other credible sites had that. So going into the draft, Flip Saunders started questioning Muhammad's character, which makes sense, and his ability to be unselfish, which also makes sense. As the draft approaches, the 'Wolves try to move up for Michael Oladapo, or move up just enough to secure Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Flip Saunders was very honest about that. So as the draft unfolded, both failed, so Flip traded back to get two picks, sell off the other pick to make cap space to resign free agents, and still get Shabazz Muhammed, who almost EVERYONE had going to the 'Wolves. It was like getting exactly what you expect, but then getting a bit more. I turned off the draft after this thinking, damn, Flip did a good job tonight. When I turned on the radio out here, fans were so mad. They HATED the Muhammad pick, but going in that's who almost everyone had going to Minnesota. I am so confused. People out here in the corn fields hate players like Muhammad, controversy, selfishness, but at the same time he was the #1 high school player last year (though we find out he was 19, not 18), and he was a damn good player for UCLA. (Maybe I'm mad because I still follow UCLA and they are my team in college basketball.) Most fans here think that the UCLA/MN game was representative of Muhammad.

It's frustrating. He has a chance to be a good NBA player, and no worst than Kevin Martin, O.J. Mayo when he first came out, or any other score first shooting guards. It's very rare in today's game that you get a shooting guard who scores 30, get's 1-2 steals and 4-6 assist. Now most shooting guards are score first players, and it's up to the point guard (Ricky Rubio is one of the best, if he wasn't on the 'Wolves, I'd never watch a game) to pass the ball and to make the play. If Muhammed does enough to get open to score, Rubio will find him.

Oh well, it is frustrating following basketball in the corn fields. But I will say this, if Mayo joins the 'Wolves as reported is a huge possibility, that's 3 UCLA players all 25 or younger. :-) I might actually watch 3-4 games next year. Still, I will be watching WAY more Laker games, though my worry for them in the 2014 off season is a whole other thread.

people who live in traditionally hard working rural communities and come from families who do so, typically resent the TO type of loud mouth out for themselves only athlete.  Its a cultural difference really.  i dont blame them.

[Sccit]

so u a full-fledged wolves fan now or what?

[M Dogg™]

Nope, but since I live hear I was following the draft through the 'Wolves radio and Flip Saunders makes it easy because he's on the radio every Friday on my drive home from work. Besides, the Lakers didn't have a first round draft pick, so I figured I'd listen in. I was MAINLY rooting for my UCLA guys though. That is who I root for in college basketball since my old classmate Travis Reed went there in the 90's. So when I read the draft boards and every draft board I read had a UCLA player going to MN, I was interested.

[Chamillitary Click]

Bazz is a fucking stud.

[Russell Bell]

so u a full-fledged wolves fan now or what?

damn

i could never flip on my team just cus of geography

if anything, living in another city would make me wanna root for my team louder

[M Dogg™]

This is true. I use to actually like the Vikings, once I moved here I couldn't stand them. I was mad at the Lakers when they got rid of Shaq, but the next year when I moved here full time I was about ready to get a Kobe Bryant tattoo. (no lie actually) It's weird.