Don’t lose the dreams inside your head,
They’ll only be there 'til you’re dead,
Dream...
It was several months ago that I wrote the 2002-2003 Pre-Season Wrap-up for the Timberwolves. The theme: "You Never Know". Things looked so dismal. We were barely a playoff pick in the minds of many sports analysts. Wally was injured, Joe was injured, let's be honest pretty much everyone was injured. But being the eternal T-Wolves optimist, I couldn't just let them lie and get trashed. And so I penned my article of hope. To be honest, I didn't have a clue how the Wolves would be able to really make any significant progress from the past years. Brandon appeared to be done, Chauncey was gone. It was looking like an unknown in Troy Hudson would be starting, backed up by Igor. So while everything around me seemed to be saying to keep the expectations low, I reached down deep and pulled out twelve things that could possibly change their bleak outlook. Some of them were a little outrageous, like Igor Rakocevic becoming the next Peja Stojakovic, but after giving them a second glance at the season's end, I found that 5.9 of them had come true.
Maybe, just maybe - This is the year that Rasho breaks out of his shell and becomes a true force at the center position...
Maybe, just maybe - Troy Hudson, utilizing Flip Saunders' new offense, doesn't feel the pressure to control the offense, and actually out-performs Chauncey Billups...
Maybe, just maybe - Wally Szczerbiak gets the ball from his teammates when he needs it, while simultaneously meshing in with the offensive scheme...
Maybe, just maybe - We pick up Rod Strickland, giving us some extra veteran experience in the backcourt...
Maybe, just maybe - Peeler breaks out with inspiring play like he did in the Seattle series in '98...
And maybe, just maybe - Kevin Garnett silences his critics by bringing his game to an even higher level, taking total control of this team, inspiring his teammates to play even better, and finally, after all these years, getting this team out of the first round of the playoffs...
Notice that I said 5.9 out of 12 of my possibilities came true. That's because the very last line of the sixth says that KG carries his team to the second round. And while there's a decent possibility that it might not happen, you can't fault the guy for putting together one of the most dominating 82 game performances in NBA history, setting a franchise record for victories with 51, and getting his team home court advantage for the first time ever. So maybe this is the season where the Wolves make a playoff run, and then again maybe it isn't...
Out of the darkness comes light like a flash,
You think you can, you think you can,
Dream little darling, dream...
...But after all the pain and frustration, this season will end up going down as the best in the history of the Timberwolves.
"Who Could've Known?"
PLAYOFF PICKS:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
First Round:
Orlando over Detroit
New Jersey over Milwaukee
Indiana over Boston
Philadelphia over New Orleans
Conference Semifinals:
New Jersey over Indiana
Philadelphia over Orlando
Conference Finals:
New Jersey over Philadelphia
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
First Round:
Phoenix over San Antonio
Sacramento over Utah
Dallas over Portland
Minnesota over Los Angeles
Conference Semifinals:
Minnesota over Phoenix
Sacramento over Dallas
Conference Finals:
Sacramento over Minnesota
NBA FINALS:
Sacramento over New Jersey
