Bleacher Report - Articles by matt erickson

The Timberwolves Have Options and Needs

matt erickson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:03:01 -0400

There are a lot of obvious holes in the Timberwolves line up. The Wolves are in desperate need of a point guard who can run the offense and lead the team, Telfair is not a starting point guard in the NBA, he is a change of pace backup who can come in and spark the team.

Foye is a shooting guard, he is to turnover prone to have the ball in his hands and be expected to run the offense. The good news? This year’s draft is loaded with talent at point guard, and there are several players who can come in and have an immediate impact on the team and take command of the offense.

Rubio is most likely out of the question unless the Wolves trade up to get him, and while extremely talented would not be able to come in and run the team immediately. The way I see it, there are two very good fits for the Timberwolves and several players who would work well with the team also, but are not going to be as sure of a thing.

Curry, many people think he is too small, is too turnover prone, is not strong enough, well he’s heard it all before, and continues to play with a chip on his shoulder. They said he couldn’t be a point guard, then he led his team in assists, and we all know he can score.

He has an amazingly quick release on his jump shot and has limitless range. Curry would come in and be able to run the point and hold his own defensively until he is able to put on a little more muscle, Foye can also guard bigger and stronger players. The second player is Eric Maynor.

Yes, both of these players come from small schools, but they both played at a very high level, and Maynor improved each and every year over his four years in college basketball. Maynor has the leadership qualities the Timberwolves need in their future point guard, he can score, he can pass he can defend.

The knock on him is he doesn’t do anything great, just does everything well. So what’s the problem? He has no real holes in his game, but he also won’t be able to take over games. He has a Sam Cassell like quality, he hits big shots and plays almost mistake free during the game.

There are other good fits for the wolves, Darren Collison has experience and is one of the fastest players in the draft. He knows how to play in a half court set, but prefers to run and gun, Collison has also developed into a lock down defender, which is something the Wolves desperately need at the point.

Patty Mills is a hot name floating around. He is the fastest player in the draft and can get to the rim at will and is a good finisher, however he has a tendency to over dribble and is a bit turnover prone, he also has a streaky jump shot.

He needs to develop a consistent jump shot to be a starting point guard in the NBA, right now, he would just be a better version of Telfair for the wolves, and I would only take him with the 28^th pick, no higher. Jrue Holiday has been shooting up the charts, and he has a ton of talent, but will most likely not contribute immediately, he is in the same boat as Rubio and is a few years away from being a starting point guard.

Johnny Flynn is also a hot name. Amazing athlete and competitor, a bit undersized but makes up for it with strength and will power. Flynn would be a good fit in the Wolves system but has a bit of a temper and that Is not something the Wolves need right now.

The Wolves cannot simply be content at using their three draft picks, they need to make some trades and dump some salary. Madsen, Miller and Cardinal both have contracts expiring in 2010, and would be hot commodities on the trade market.

Minnesota should look at possibly moving the sixth pick along with Miller and Madsen for a center, small forward or point guard and future picks, or a later pick in this draft depending on the player they receive in return.

The Wolves should consider trading Miller and the sixth pick to Milwaukee for Joel Alexander or preferably Richard Jefferson and the tenth overall pick. Milwaukee would like to move up to select either a point guard, possibly Curry, or pick Jordan Hill to partner with Bogut down low.

The Wolves can then in turn use the tenth pick to select Eric Maynor. Then, Minnesota can use the 18^th pick on Austin Daye, Earl Clark or DaJuan Summers, all who can learn behind Richard Jefferson, who most likely would not resign after his contract expires after the 2011 season. The 28^th pick should be used on a player who can be stashed overseas for a season or two and then come over and contribute.

The Timberwolves roster would look like this:

Brewer

Miller or Cardinal

Foye

Gomes

Love

Jefferson

Maynor

Richard Jefferson

Telfair

Smith

Carney (Resign)

Daye/Summers/Clark

The starting lineup would be:

Maynor

Foye

R. Jefferson

Love

A. Jefferson

Kansas Jayhawks: Keys to Reach the Final Four

matt erickson — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:07:11 -0400

At the beginning of the year, people had a lot to say about Kansas. We were saying that the Jayhawks lost their entire national championship team from last year, or that Sherron Collins was the only real contributor returning.

Now, as a three seed in the Sweet 16 preparing for a very winnable re-match with Michigan State, a third consecutive trip to the Elite Eight looks very possible.

The obvious and major keys to the Jayhawks' success so far have been the play of Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich.

Collins needs to continue on his scoring tear and must shoot a relatively high percentage from the field. His shot selection has improved greatly since the loss to Baylor, and his decision-making has been consistent, as taking care of the ball has been a priority for him.

Aldrich needs to be a monster on the boards for Kansas to have a good chance against the Spartans. His defense has been perhaps the biggest reason for the tourney success so far. His 10-block performance against Dayton is hopefully a sign of things to come against MSU; he must continue to alter shots and shot selection.

The one thing Collins needs to do a better job of is getting Aldrich the ball consistently. If the Jayhawks can wear down the Spartans' interior and get to the free throw line, it will be Kansas' game for the taking.

Tyshawn Taylor has been inconsistent throughout the season. He has shown flashes of brilliance but has also shown his youth, as in the contest against Dayton (six turnovers). He needs to take care of the ball against the Spartans, and must make good decisions with his shot selection. Kansas can not afford unnecessary turnovers.

The Morris twins need to stay out of foul trouble. Kansas needs them to play extended minutes, use their bodies to bang down low, and help Aldrich with his rebounding burden; he certainly can't do it alone against MSU. They'll want to make sure they are in position on defense and that they do not pick up sloppy fouls when caught off-guard. In terms of offense, 15 points between the two of them should be enough.

Between Reed and Morningstar, one of the two needs to make three-pointers consistently and be a viable defensive option alongside Taylor and Collins. Reed has provided great ball-handling and poise so far in the Dance, while Morningstar has not found his longball and has gotten burned on defense by more athletic players. Either he finds his shot or Bill Self pulls him on favor of Reed.

This region is winnable for the Jayhawks. They can't let their youth become a factor; hopefully, Collins and Aldrich are the only upperclassmen necessary to carry this squad to the Final Four.

Randy Wittman Fired; Kevin McHale Taking Over

matt erickson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:42:17 -0500

Randy Wittman never should have been hired, but Dwayne Casey was forced to make room on his coaching staff for Wittman. It was clear Casey was going to be fired and Wittman would get the job.

Wittman has had a terrible record every year he has coached, including in Cleveland and Minnesota, so it was a mystery to me as to why we would hire him and be so adamant about it.

Casey was a solid coach, who had a team full of poor defensive players performing as one of the top defensive teams in the league. That aside, let's focus on the future of the Timberwolves.

McHale was a good coach when he took over. He went 19-12 and had the team finish eight games over .500, and this time around he is giving up his front office duties to coach the team.

Hopefully for the Timberwolves, this means the mayor, Fred Hoidberg, is taking over for McHale in the front office. If this team does not show significant improvement, McHale should find himself out of a job because Glen Taylor can no longer justify keeping him around.

Under Wittman, the team had no offensive flow and looked apathetic on defense, even though Wittman claimed to stress it. I look for this team to finish with around 25 wins, which I know is not too impressive, but if Wittman was not fired, it would have been closer to 15 wins for the season.

This team has talent, so let's see what McHale can do with it as coach. Hopefully, he gives Kevin Love some more playing time since he wanted him on the team so badly.

Growing Pains for Young Kansas Jayhawks: Let's Work the Kinks Out Now

matt erickson — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:30:23 -0500

Kansas opened their season Sunday night against University of Missouri Kansas City, and it was a less than inspiring effort, especially in the first half. The score was tied at half, 32-32, Cole Aldrich picked up two fouls in the first three minutes and sat the rest of the half, and the defense struggled without its anchor inside.

Sherron Collins and Tyrel Reed did everything they could to keep the team in the game, and Markieff Morris was grabbing every rebound that came his way. The first half was a huge disappointment.

When they came out to start the second half, they went on a huge run to get a double-digit lead. It was obvious that Coach Self chewed out the team at the half, and it worked.

Aldrich came out and scored 13 in the second half, and Collins and Reed continued their stellar play. Despite all of his fouls, which were called constantly in this game, Tyshawn Taylor played very well too.

The team shot under 10 percent from long range—that has to change, and fast. In the second half, KU rebounded well with Aldrich and Markieff Morris grabbing everything in their path.

Bill Self also needs to work on his guard rotation. Morningstar and Teahan should only get garbage minutes, and that was obvious Sunday night when both struggled defensively and offensively on the floor. Teahan got quick fouls, and Morningstar was consistently getting beat.

I don't know if Bill Self was sending a message to his other guards to try to motivate them, or Appleton and Thomas are really struggling that much also. I though Quintrell Thomas played pretty well defensively when he was in, but he also struggled on offense.

From what I saw in the opening game, the starting lineup should be Aldrich, Markieff Morris, Collins, Taylor, and Reed. Marcus Morris and Quintrell Thomas should be the first off the bench, followed by Mario Little when he gets healthy.

For all the growing pains these Jayhawks will go through, Collins and Aldrich will carry them through until other players step up. It looks like Reed may already have done that, along with Markieff Morris. This team will come together, but it will take time, and KU fans are not very patient.

Twins Offseason Outlook: Changes Ahead for Left Side of Minnesota Infield?

matt erickson — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:26:02 -0500

It is well known that Minnesota Twins need a third baseman and a shortstop, or at least a more consistent one. Brendan Harris and Brian Buscher were serviceable last year and had moments that led to hope for them being the long-term fix at third, but, let's be honest, they are backups in this league.

Nick Punto bounced back from a terrible 2007 season and played well at shortstop, but he is an energy utility guy who can play almost every position but should not start, and he is currently a free agent and I believe he will be brought back...Ron Gardenhire loves him.

There are many good options out there for these two positions that are within the Twins' small budget.

Joe Crede is a great option at third; he will come at a lower price due to his recent back problems, but he plays stellar defense, and, with a full season in the Homer Dome, he will have the best power numbers the Twins have seen at third in, well, two decades.

I am not sold on Garrett Atkins. He can't hit on the road, and with the pitching he will face in the AL, it just seems to much of a risk for a player who can only hit in half of the games you play, especially when you need to give up a guy like Michael Cuddyer, who is well-liked in the clubhouse.

The other name thrown around recently is Casey Blake. The Twins cut him, twice, in 2001 and 2002. He is 35 but plays good defense and has some pop left in his bat, but, again, he is 35, and the Twins need a player who will be around more than a season or two. Players that old usually do not put together back-to-back high-quality seasons, especially when they have bounced around the league.

Yunel Escobar and J.J. Hardy are possible options for the Twins to trade for and get a solution at shortstop. Escobar had a down year in 2008 compared to 2007, but he is pretty young and does not have a ton of miles on him, and, due to his slumping production last year, his price tag will be significantly lower. Hardy has a lot of pop in his bat for a shortstop—he can hit 20-plus home runs—his defense can be suspect, though.

The Twins have some good trade chips on their roster, the most obvious would be to trade an outfielder. The organization is committed to Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez because they were the cornerstones of big trades last offseason. Denard Span ignited the team last year, has a high on-base percentage, and plays great defense, so it would seem he is also safe.

That leaves Jason Kubel and Cuddyer. Kubel played well last year at the DH spot; he turned it on in the second half of the season and is the team's best option at DH. So it seems Cuddyer is the odd man out, and with his large contract ($8 million per) would be good trade bait, despite him being well-liked in the clubhouse and throughout the organization.

The Twins also have a glut of young pitching. I would hope Francisco Liriano would be untouchable, but many people think that he should be traded while his value is still at its peak. Scott Baker showed he can bounce back and be the ace of the staff along with Liriano, so I don't see the Twins trading the cornerstones of their pitching staff.

That leaves Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Mulvey, Phil Humber, and Kevin Slowey. The Twins have shown a commitment to Slowey; they have refused to trade him in the past few seasons.

Blackburn was solid last season, but I have doubts about him being a long-term consistent pitcher in the league. I like him a lot, but i see him as a No. 4 or No. 5 starter, which makes him expendable.

Perkins is also a No. 4 or No. 5 starter, especially in the AL, but he is a lefty, has bullpen experience, and is willing to pitch as a starter or reliever, and I also think he has less value than Blackburn on the trade market.

Mulvey and Humber have not pitched much for the Twins yet and both were part of the Johan Santana trade last offseason; don't rule out their availability at the right price, but I think the Twins want to give them a look before giving them up.

The Twins are not short of options this offseason. Let's see if they make any big moves like last year, don't expect anything to big, but expect what moves they do make to make a big impact.

Texas Tops Matt's College Football Top 25

matt erickson — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:36:01 -0400

1. Texas

2. Penn State

3. Alabama

4. Oklahoma State

5. Oklahoma

6. Florida

7. Texas Tech

8. Georgia

9. Missouri

10. BYU

11. Ohio State

12. USC

13. LSU

14. Kansas

15. Utah

16. Boise State

17. Michigan State

18. Virginia Tech

19. South Florida

20. Wake Forest

21. UNC

22. Minnesota

23. Ball State

24. Pitt

25. Cal

Todd Reesing: No Heisman Love

matt erickson — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:50:56 -0400

Todd Reesing: He gets the job done, carries the team on his back, plays in a big conference, and has great stats.

Why no Heisman talk?

He is not even in the top ten in most Heisman watches, yet he has stats almost as good as the guy who is number one in the watches, Chase Daniel.

Reesing racks up the yards and the touchdowns, also runs for some good gains and touchdowns, and with the KU team having almost no run game, he still puts up the unbelievable numbers game after game.

Give the guy some love and some well deserved Heisman talk, he plays his heart out every game carries his team. He carried the Jayhawks to an Orange Bowl victory over a Virginia Tech team that many wanted in the national championship!

Come on, give him some well deserved Heisman hype!

Minnesota Twins Make Final Playoff Push

matt erickson — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:40:35 -0400

The Minnesota Twins have defied expectations once again.

There were no preseason predictions that had them in the playoffs, or even better than third in the division. Most had them fourth or even fifth, even behind the Royals in the Central divison.

People said they have no proven pitching, and lost their clubhouse leader in Torii Hunter. If history has proven anything to us it is that the Twins farm system is stocked with pitching, so never underestimate their starting staff, and people forgot just how good Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are.

Well don't look now, but the Twins may be in the playoffs, they looked strong last night in game one against the Chi Sox, but have a tough test tonight and again tomorrow with two good Chicago starters.

If the Twins make the playoffs or not, this has been an amazing season, and has given valuable experience to the team for next year, with all of the players back they should be stronger next year and make another push for the division.

Yes, I am making a homer pick, but i think the Twins will sweep this series from the Sox, and then win 2 out of three against the red hot Royals, while the White Sox lose 2 of three to the even hotter Indians, and then the Twins would be in the playoffs.

In the first round the twins would play the Rays. The Rays have no experience in the playoffs, and the Twins just split a four-game series with them in Tampa.

So don't look now, but the Twins are making a run, and beating all expectations.