Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
April 17th, 2013, 8:00 PM Spurs Time
TV: FSSW - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI

Can't the NBA calm down for one second? Just when everything seemed predictable the Spurs go and waive Stephen Jackson, and Kobe Bryant gets injured in a bad way. To round this bonkers of a week off, the Spurs go and do something awesome by signing Tracy McGrady. Despite all of his unpredictably (or because of?) Captain Jack deserves a spot among the all-time coolest Spurs. However a plethora of complicated circumstances were the reason for the two parties to part ways almost certainly for the last time. However, it is hard to get to lost in bummersville when this guy is now wearing silver and black. One word on Kobe, he deserves a really nice cookie or something for his work this season. He is easy to make fun of, but here is a guy who got his team into the playoffs (unless Houston wins and Utah wins) despite playing alongside people who have mostly resembled the Bradenton YMCA Zippers this season. Meanwhile the team was coached by a guy who perpetually looks like the Fonz in the beginning of Waterboy.

The season refused to be normal even during the weeks usually known as " hey let's watch a couple of baseball games before the playoff starts". So it is fitting that we conclude the regular season with a visit from the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that is a dark horse for the biggest train wreck of the 2012-2013 season. The ideal of the Timberwolves is an awesome team destined for greatness. (or at least the playoffs) They feature an explosive point guard, a bunch of intriguing role players, a soon to be all-star center, and the whole ship is anchored by a fantastic power forward. Alas this is an imaginary team that has yet to exist simultaneously on the court for longer than a week. (Kevin Love has played 18 games this season, 18...)The Timberwolves touch a bit of a nerve. Here is a team that could have made the league much more interesting, but were struck by straight up bad luck. They started the season with a seasoned coach (Rick Adelman now with over a 1,000 wins-respect), and a bevy of solid international and um national players who appeared to form of a contender. But it was not meant to be. Some might argue (including me back in January) that it in fact wasn't bad luck but the NBA's gruesome scheduling that did the Timberwolves in. And they are probably right. Anyways it doesn't matter as we are playing the Timberwolves tonight and they will soon have a summer to um lick their wounds.

Game Analysis:
Here are two teams that are practically polar opposites. The Spurs are concluding the regular season fully aware that the games that really matter are coming up. Meanwhile the Minnesota Timberwolves are playing their last game until October and surely are looking forward to washing the stink of this season off in the Minnesota summer rain. (For those who don't know, Minnesota does in fact have summers. The state doesn't always look like this.) The Timberwolvers( that was at first a typo, but it sounds pretty cool so I'm leaving it) provide an opportunity for one last formal practice before the playoffs. This team even in practice mode is a force to reckon so the Spurs will likely come out with a much needed confidence boost.

CIA Pop said that "Everybody will play on Wednesday because it's not a back-to-back. What we're doing tonight is what we do. We've done it all year. We've done it for 17 years." Interpret that as you will. I for one am hoping that Manu, T-Mac and the Coyote see serious minutes tonight. We might as well enter the playoffs on a high note.That is it for the regular season folks, mad thanks to all those who have been reading my previews. See ya'll in the playoffs.

Lineups The Starters PG: Tony Parker SG: Danny Green SF: Kawhi Leonard PF: Tiago Splitter C: Tim Duncan Key "Bench" Players Patty Mills Boris Diaw Tracy McGrady Manu? Head Coach Gregg Popovich			Lineups The Starters PG: Ricky Rubio SG: Luke Ridnour SF: Derrick Williams PF: Andrei Kirilenko C: Dante Cunningham Key Bench Players Greg Stiemsma JJ Barea Alexey Shved Head Coach Rick Adelman

The perspective of the Timberwolvers (I am determined to make that a thing) can be found here @Canis Hoopus

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Game Prediction: Spurs by 11

As always, Tony must dominate Fisher, and NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area. Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate.