As the self proclaimed fantasy football hero, it doesn’t come as a surprise I struggle finding topics to write about outside of the fantasy season.
I have other interests. The NBA, popular tv shows and movies, a little bit of NHL playoff action. But nothing sparked my interest to write until two weeks ago – when this happen.
The Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time in team history are selecting first in the NBA Draft.
Hallelujah. Halle-fricking-lujah.
I know what all you Green Bay Packer fans are thinking. “Look at this Minnesota sports fan claiming one of the states greatest sports days came as result of losing a bunch of games.”
Yeah, the generic Wisconsin fan is right. One of the best days in my 21 year Minnesota sports memory came on a day when no pucks were dropped, no footballs caught and no baseballs tossed.
Instead a beautiful day in Minnesota sports history occurred because a couple of ping pong balls bounced the Wolves way.
I haven’t been this excited for a ping pong ball to drop my way since the 522 beer pong days.
(A moment of remembrance for my old crappy college house basement please)
Back to the glory that is the Wolves capturing the first overall pick.
My message is simple. If you are a Wolves fan then enjoy the hype and build up to the draft.
Enjoy the endless debates with your friends on Jahlil Okafor or Karl Anthony Towns. I know I have.
![My man Q and I have been debating this since the lottery. He'll see how wrong he is in about 3 years time.](https://bookofellis.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/screen-shot-2015-06-04-at-2-07-56-pm.png?w=300&h=272)
My man Q and I have been debating this since the lottery. He’ll see how wrong he is in about 3 years time.
In both the NFL and the NBA, the pinnacle of the season comes at two different times. The playoffs and the draft, and the reason is simple.
Both situations sell “hope” to a fan base. For the playoffs, hope that your team will reach championship immortality or in the case of the draft. Hope that your team will land the “franchise guy”.
That franchise guy in this draft is Karl Anthony Towns.
Shoot me an email or tweet at me if I am wrong but Towns screams big man of today’s NBA.
Okafor is an extinct commodity that will struggle to defend pick and roll.
But I am not here to expose anyone. I’m here to embrace this glorious moment in Minnesota sports history.
So as I said, enjoy this.
Whether your best friend isn’t speaking to you. You failed a class this spring. You lost your girl or you hate your summer job.
Take a step back and smile. Because the Timberwolves are one step closer to becoming the next Oklahoma City Thunder.
Draft day cannot come soon enough.
NBA FINALS PREVIEW
This will be brief, but I want to talk to a little NBA Finals.
As most know, this series isn’t about Lebron James against Stephen Curry. Like every championship matchup, it is about the supporting cast.
Three big questions for the finals.
1) Is Kyrie Irving going to play 35 minutes a night and be the third best player on the floor? Or is he going to be limited all series.
2) Is Draymond Green a sound enough perimeter defender to slow down Lebron?
3) Are Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson going to limit Golden State’s second chance opportunities?
I’m not going to act like I have the answers to those questions right now. I’ll know after about 15 minutes of hoops is played, but as of right now. No clue.
That’s the beauty of sports though, we gotta watch to find out.
Placing bets and cashin’ checks
New segment here.
I’ll be giving advice on NFL betting lines all fall once the fantasy column returns, but for now. Let’s “bet” NBA Finals lines.
Because I am a college athlete, I cannot bet on sports. But if I wasn’t a college athlete, and I lived in Vegas here is where I’d put my money down on game one.
The Warriors will win by more than six points tonight and both teams will combine for less than 205 points.
If I am wrong on the under then blame my boy Nick Gmiterko. He talked me into the under after agreeing to cocktails tonight.
“WE’RE ON THE LIQUOR AGAIN MA!”
POST CREDIT SCENE
Not sure when I will return for another column. Hopefully it will be before the football season. But what I do know is when I do return, it’ll be a damn chill time.
Take care, peace out and enjoy this dope throwback clip of an all-time great.