Never mind that the Minnesota Timberwolves are significantly better than they were a year ago. They aren't good enough. That's why President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale fired coach Dwane Casey on Tuesday and replaced him with assistant Randy Wittman.The Wolves (20-20) own the last playoff seed in the rugged Western Conference after winning just 33 games a year ago. They won seven of their first eight games in January before dropping four in a row. It was that inconsistency that prompted the move. Bet on the Timberwolves at WagerWeb.com and receive a 30% bonus!
"Every time you thought, 'I just don't how this is going to go,' we'd turn around and win three or four in a row," McHale told the Associated Press. "With 42 games left to go, we wanted to make sure Randy had the time to get things going."
Wittman has spent nearly 10 years in Minnesota as an assistant, including a stint when McHale was head coach for 31 games during the 2004-05 season. This won't be his first head coaching experience, however. He managed a 62-102 record with Cleveland from 1999 to 2001.
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Lakers Weather Storm: Some anticipated a collapse when the Los Angeles Lakers lost power forward Lamar Odom to a right knee injury on Dec. 12.
It didn't happen.
They expected a fall when emerging center Kwame Brown sprained his ankle three weeks later.
It didn't happen.
The Lakers are 12-9 since Odom was sidelined and 7-4 with both out. They are a strong 27-15 overall and now the two frontcourt players are getting healthy. Odom, in fact, plans on returning Friday night against visiting Charlotte. He was averaging 17.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists a game before the injury. Brown attempted to practice Tuesday in hopes of playing against the Bobcats as well, but has since ruled himself out. He had played well, particularly defensively, since taking over for 19-year-old Andrew Bynum in the middle.
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White-Hot: OK, this is getting out of hand. Is it time to just let Phoenix and Dallas play for the NBA championship?
The Eastern Conference doesn't deserve to be represented anyway, right?
The Suns won their 14th consecutive game Tuesday night, blitzing host Washington, 127-105, in a matchup of the two highest-scoring teams in the league. The Suns shot an ungodly 61 percent from the field. Point guard Steve Nash, an early favorite to win his third straight Most Valuable Player award, contributed 27 points and 14 assists.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, rolled in Orlando, 111-95. They are 35-4 since an 0-4 start and have won 21 of their last 22. The forward combination of Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki was brilliant as usual, combining for 58 points.
Dribbles: The return of power forward David West from shoulder surgery will help New Orleans, but his 23 points and 11 rebounds weren't enough Tuesday night as the Hornets fell in Philadelphia, 102-96. Both teams play again Wednesday night. WagerWeb.com lists New Orleans as an 8.5-point underdog in Toronto and the 76ers as 11-point underdogs in Cleveland. … Denver's new depth at guard and small forward is showing. Small forward Carmelo Anthony and off-guard Allen Iverson combined for 55 points in a 117-112 win Tuesday night in Seattle. Meanwhile, guard J.R. Smith came off the bench to score 20 to help overcome a 44-point explosion by Sonics sharp-shooter Ray Allen. Denver has won five in a row since falling to 17-17.
