Jawai in, Hart out for Cavs tonight
Posted on October 30th, 2009 – 1:49 PMBy Jerry Zgoda
The Wolves will activate newcomer Nathan Jawai for tonight’s game against LeBron, Shaq and the Cavs at Target Center and will make veteran guard Jason Hart, who didn’t play Wednesday and won’t as long as Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions stay healthy, inactive.
UPDATE
A couple other things about tonight:
* Al Jefferson now, at least for these couple hours when he faces Shaquille O’Neal, wish he were his old self.
“I wish I could borrow them 30 pounds back, just for tonight,” he said of the weight he lost since he injured his knee last season.”
* LeBron James on Ricky Rubio, who started against James and the U.S. team in the Beijing Olympics title game in 2008: “He’s going to be really good and they should look forward to it. He was very under control. You can tell he’s been doing it (playing professionally) for a while. It helps when every summer you get a chance to play with Rudy (Fernandez) and Pau (Gasol) and Jose (Calderon) and the rest of those guys. So that definitely helps his maturity.”
* A reporter asked Kurt Rambis if any of his Lakers team had gone through “anything like this” horrid start?: 0-2? If I was them, I wouldn’t be worried at all. I just think by the end of the season I fully expect them to be right there in the playoff hunt for a ring. No one will look back at the start of the season and remember when. It’s just a product of starting the season, learning how to play together, working out the kinks. There’s so much talent there, so much willingness to sacrifice, they’ll turn it around.”
39 Responses to "Jawai in, Hart out for Cavs tonight"
Go get ‘em, Jawai. THICKY!
maybe if we call him outbak shaq he’ll get even more pissy and go after Shaq. could use some toughness in the paint.
i think swan doesnt like him because from what ive read pekovic lacks defensive prowess.
If Jawai is the answer, the question must be “who hasn’t fouled out yet?”
If Pecherov is on tonite we will give the Cavs a lot of trouble, if not will be that more difficult. I’m not worried about shaq, he’s so out of shape and ld he can’t play any significant minutes and he can’t camp in the lane as it clogs it up for LBJ. LeBron will get his, if we can limit everyone else we’ve got a shot.
Arenal
thats assuming Big Al can pick up his offense. as we saw in game 1, we have a tough time when he’s not making shots.
not really, Pech being on will draw shaq out, opening lanes, increasing FT’s. If not, well shaq can just sit in the paint and clog it all up. Or if AJ can hit some 10ftrs that will help as well.
I realize Pecherov is a shooting big man, but he’s also not good.
Shaq might only play 25 minutes, lets worry more about Lebron, if he shoots poorly there team really struggles, make Parker and Williams beat us.
[…] On the Wolves » Blog Archive » Jawai in, Hart out for Cavs tonight blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wolves/2009/10/30/jawai-in-hart-out-for-cavs-tonight – view page – cached The Wolves will activate newcomer Nathan Jawai for tonight’s game against LeBron, Shaq and the Cavs at Target Center and will make veteran guard Jason Hart, who didn’t play Wednesday and won’t… (Read more)The Wolves will activate newcomer Nathan Jawai for tonight’s game against LeBron, Shaq and the Cavs at Target Center and will make veteran guard Jason Hart, who didn’t play Wednesday and won’t as long as Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions stay healthy, inactive. (Read less) — From the page […]
BTW, speaking of Anthony Parker. I’m a big fan. Solid all-around and an excellent defender.
He obviously never would have come here because he had an offer from Cleveland. But early in the off-season, I was hoping The Wolves would have had a shot at him.
Pekovic isnt necessary to the squad, thats why I don’t like him. We need athletes and D to compliment Al & Love. Now, say Al and Love aren’t here, then his value increases for this squad.
Shaq can’t play D anywhere.
I agree that Pekovic has some of the same characteristics as Love and Jefferson, but he’s pretty well thought of. He’s definitely good depth. If The Wolves can move him for somebody of equal talent that fits better, I’d be all for moving him.
But otherwise, I’d be fine with him coming over as a good reserve big-man.
OK, who wins the individual match-ups in tonights game?
Wolves vs Cavs
Jefferson O’Neal
Gomes Varejao
Wilkins James
Brewer Parker
Flynn Williams
well when you put it that way trie, it sure doesn’t look good does it?
We might at least draw at 4 of the 5 positions, but even then….
At least I’ll only hear it and not see it. No cable only KFAN. Shouldn’t be quite as depressing that way.
Analysis of the Wolves’ season-opening comeback win, Flynn’s fourth-quarter dominance, Lopez owning the paint, and more:
http://mnhowl.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/season-opener-flynn-credible-comeback/
Jefferson O’Neal
Gomes Varejao
Wilkins James
Brewer Parker
Flynn Williams
Draw at four of five? Varejao’s better than Gomes — not much for offense but a true big man and a better rebounder and defender. I’ll be generous and call Flynn and Williams a draw, and even give Al the edge over Shaq these days, but Parker’s better than Brewer and that SF spot sure looks like a problem!
How fat is Shaq these days? Jerry do they have a pregame buffet that he cleans out?
Ellington rules
He’s gonna be good.
Hollins can score too. I like watching this team. I feel more like a scout than the last couple of seasons. Trying to evaluate who is actually good.
Pecherov!!!
Even though Gomes just made a shot, he is the worst player on the Wolves through 2 games
Typical Swan, don’t know sht about bball. Brewer has been absolute sht.
I’m not sure if the last posts are the real Swan or Arenal.
I wish them both the best… especially Foye. But in 33 minutes, Mike Miller attempted 5 shots. FIVE. And Foye went 3-for-12 shooting off the bench.
I really like those guys, but why there is any heart-ache about them being traded is still beyond me.
well that was kinda sad. I saw some really piss poor play and I am disappointed in the PG’s. Sessions just keeps chucking up shots (and missing) and Flynn either drives (with some success) or shoots and doesn’t run the offense. this team seriously needs a real athletic big and a wing player who can shoot a jump shot.
they have some effort out there, which is good, but it’s sad to see them not even show up in the 4th quarter.
Foo- Foye and Miller had good opening night games, but I’m glad they are gone, the whole resigning them thing would have just baited Kahn and now we don’t have to worry about Kahn over paying them.
That was really me.
Yeah… Miller only shot four times on opening night. Foye had a better shooting night in the opener. Miller has filled up the box-score with secondary stats though, which we’re all familiar with.
I’ll be the first to say they are good players… just not a good fit for where Minnesota is going. Inconsistent, low-ceiling performances are just nothing to lose sleep over.
Swan - Well are you drunk or something, at least?
I think Jawai showed he can play in this league. he did look pretty decent in the limited time he had on the floor.
I agree, Brewer should be sent to the CBA or whatever it’s now called. He has no IQ on the court, shoots airballs, and looks like he is on weed or something.
Pfffttttt Brewer rules the D.
I was at the game and Corey was actually very solid. Shot well overall, rebounded, played great defense. He matched up with LeBron and I though LBJ would just run him over with his sheer sie, but Corey moves his feet so well that if LeBron had tried to drive into him, he probably would have picked up a charging foul
The guy who did nothing tonight was Gomes. He’s in the same situation as last year, where he’s being asked to play power forward, and he’s just too short. Especially against Cleavland.
Flynn though has to get it together. He’s got scoring prowess, but he didn’t do a very good job facilitating, and Dan Gibson got him frustrated at the end of the game on defense.
We have to be close to the worst shooting team in the league. If Damien Wilkins doesn’t have 3 range, and Brewer is offensively challenged at times, who can stretch the the D with the starting lineup they are throwing out there?
The Wolves didn’t play that badly for most of the game. But LeBron is simply at a different level from everyone else. He had numerous highlight reel passes tonight, and he shoots from anywhere on the court so effortlessly that he looks like an adult playing against young kids.
Also, Cleveland really showed that they have a lot of experience playing together. They consistently moved the ball quickly and selflessly. LeBron, Varajeo, Williams and Ilgauskas combined for numerous impressive no-look passing combinations. They were very aware of where their teammates would be on the floor.
The Wolves haven’t played together long enough to do anything that remotely resembles this kind of team play.
