March 28, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malcolm Lee (3) drives past Charlotte Bobcats center byron Mullens (22) and guard Kemba Walker (1)during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Timberwolves win 88-83. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

After defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in their opening NBA Summer League game, the Timberwolves faced a team slash player in Byron Mullens of the Charlotte Bobcats that just couldn’t miss. It’s kinda hard to say that the Bobcats won, no offense. The Timberwolves fell to the Bobcats 81-78 in a game that Mullens basically looked like Ray Allen making shoot around jump shots.

The big man of the Bobcats, who stands 7 feet tall, shot 13-24 and tallied up 33 points. Mullens was 3 for 5 beyond the arc and was pretty much the same on the inside as the Wolves had no one to stop this one man assault. The Bobcats outscored the Timberwolves 36-26 inside which was mostly caused by Mullens himself.

The Timberwolves, last night looked like a chicken with it’s head cut off. The team was lost and was out of sync and didn’t know what to do for the most part of the game. The Wolves committed 22 turnovers which would eventually lead to the Bobcats scoring on the other end. The Bobcats converted all of the T-Wolves’ turnovers into points by scoring 25 points off turnovers. However, despite the Bobcats  looking as if they were ready to blow this game wide open, the Wolves kept responding. Down 10 points early on in the game, the Wolves responded with a strong 7-0 run which cut the lead to 3. Unfortunately, the Bobcats countered the Wolves’ counter attack and rebuilt their lead in the 2nd half.

In the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves were able to get within one point and just one basket from taking the lead. The Bobcats, however, didn’t want this game to slip away much like most of their games this past season. Although, they didn’t slip away they were forcefully taken away by the opponent.

The Timberwolves were led by guard Wes Johnson, who had 24 points in the game including 14 points in the fourth quarter. When the Timberwolves were trailing in the fourth, Johnson led the team back into with his shooting and his aggressiveness inside. He kept the Wolves in striking distance in the fourth but unfortunately wasn’t able to close.

The Bobcats made their free throws down the stretch which allowed them to add some cushion to their lead. Down 3 the Timberwolves still had a shot to take the lead. Wes Johnson got the ball and shot it up but unfortunately, it rimmed out and the Bobcats closed out the game at the line.

Second-year forward Derrick Williams helped out Wes Johnson by scoring 17 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. Point guard, Zabian Dowdell, chipped in with 11 points and big man Paulo Prestes had 10 points for the Wolves.

Off the bench rookie Robbie Hummel had 6 points, while Corey Fisher and Coby Karl, Head Coach George Karl’s son, had three points apiece. Small forward starter Mike Harris had 4 points.

Aside from Mullens’ 33 points for the Bobcats, second year guard Kemba Walker had 15 points and forward Othello Hunter had 12 points to help the Bobcats hand the Timberwolves their first loss of the 2012 NBA Summer League.

The Timberwolves’ 3rd game of the NBA Summer League tips-off tomorrow at 7:00 PM at the COX Pavilion in Las Vegas as the Wolves take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The game will be shown live on NBA TV.

For more NBA analysis and opinions, check out Theon’s general NBA Blog, THEONBA!

Mar. 3, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) smiles after being fouled during the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

One day I mysteriously decided to visit all NBA team’s sites with hopes of learning something new. From the Hawks down to the Wizards one team’s website shocked me the most. It wasn’t the Timberwolves’ site, but it was the Bobcats’ site. The website of the worst team in NBA history.

So, what did I see that shocked me? Well, underneath the site’s tabs, in bold letters (including team colors of course) it states, “BUY THIS SEASON, GET THE NEXT ONE FREE!”

Just think about it how the Wolves would have been had Rubio not arrived to Minnesota. We could certainly be like the Bobcats who are in dire need of people to buy tickets. And think about it, Charlotte does not have other professional teams within their city, so more people in their city can focus on one pro-sports team. Although there is the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, but the city itself doesn’t have any other professional sports team. Minnesota on the other hand have 3 other! The Twins in baseball, the Wild in hockey, and the Vikings in football. And each of those team’s still receive a good amount of attendance per game and not resorting to a buy one season get the other for free. It’s just sad to see that the Bobcats are in desperate need for fans to attend a single game. I mean, they’re selling one season and giving out another season for free. Think about it. It’s just embarrassing. That’s all I could say.

I know Love would still have been an MVP candidate but no one in Minnesota would be much attracted to the Wolves had Rubio not played for us. Love may be one of the best players in the NBA today, but as we all know, he can’t do it alone as the Wolves fell to the bottom of the NBA for two consecutive seasons. Rubio really has had a marvelous impact for the Timberwolves. Especially with the Wolves’ WNBA counterpart, Lynx, winning the WNBA championship recently, the Wolves had to step up. With Rubio, the Wolves were basically saved from doing what the Bobcats are now doing. Thank God!

For more NBA analysis and other NBA opinions check out Theon’s general NBA blog HERE