Wolves 2013-14: 25 Years of Ineptitude, and Counting

The Minnesota Timberwolves, now in their 25th NBA season, have been picked by most reputable basketball pundits as the team most likely to squeeze into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  Then they would have the honor of having been sent packing by whoever is the Number One seed.

Since the Wolves have disappointed their fans so often over the past quarter century, there is reason for skepticism over whether it's necessary to start printing playoff tickets.  The Wolves haven't had to do that since 2004, when Kevin Garnett (now with the Brooklyn Nets) once roamed Target Center.

There are already too many question marks concerning the Wolves to make anyone think they deserve a place at the playoff table.  For starters:

• Can Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love stay healthy?  If one or both go down, any interest in the Wolves quickly dries up.
• Will Chase Budinger be as effective on the court after knee surgery?
• Can Love go through an entire season without whining and demanding a trade?  Isn't this also the last season before he can legitimately make noises about becoming a free agent?
• Is recently-acquired Kevin Martin an answer or just another question mark?
• How committed is Rick Adelman to his job as Wolves coach?  He had to take time off last season because of his wife's health, and never really said when he'd return.  So Jerry Kill, the University of Minnesota football coach, isn't the only local sports coach with health issues.
• Does Flip Saunders really know what he's doing as the Wolves' president of basketball operations, or is he just marking time until Adelman steps aside?

Since 1989, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been around twice as long as the Minneapolis Lakers, who lasted 13 years here before moving to Los Angeles in 1960.  But they've never achieved anywhere near the success the Lakers have had.  Over 25 years, the Wolves have had Metrodome sellouts, Kevin Garnett, Kevin McHale, Bill Musselman, Joe Smith, botched lottery picks, a near-move to New Orleans, Stephon Marbury, Sam Cassell, Christian Laettner, Latrell Sprewell, Harv and Marv, Glen Taylor and so much more.

Why should this year be any different?

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In the rest of the NBA, David Stern is retiring as commissioner, the New Orleans Hornets are now the Pelicans, the Kings are still in Sacramento, and Dwight Howard is a Houston Rocket.  Otherwise, it's all about LeBron James.  Will he win a third consecutive NBA title with the Miami Heat?  Where does he go after that, when he becomes a free agent?  Boston?  New York?  Philadelphia?  Does LeBron stay in South Beach?  Or will he come home to Cleveland?  It's time for another Decision.

It's also time to drag out our picks for who will make the playoffs.

Eastern Conference:  Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards.

Western Conference:  San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks.