MINNEAPOLIS - In six seasons in Minnesota, Kevin Love witnessed how warmly the fans greeted former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett each time he came back to town.On the eve of Loves first game back at Target Center since he was traded to Cleveland last summer, the second-best player in franchise history isnt expecting the same kind of reception.Truthfully? Boooo, Love said Friday when asked by Cleveland reporters about what kind of environment he expected on Saturday night in Minnesota. Probably more of that than a mix of cheers.Minnesota owner Glen Taylor said he, for one, will welcome Love back with open arms.Id be pleased to give him a hug and wish him the best and hope it goes well and hope he stays healthy, Taylor told The Associated Press. He worked hard and he did well for us and Im appreciative of that.Love came to Minnesota in a draft-night trade in 2008, and eventually supplanted Garnett as the face of the franchise. With a strong work ethic, he turned himself into a three-time All-Star and an Olympic gold medallist . He interacted with fans who had jumped off the bandwagon when Garnett was traded. He also started a successful winter coat drive that provided warm outerwear for thousands of disadvantaged in the Twin Cities.But unlike Garnett, who took the Timberwolves to the playoffs eight times and was named MVP in 2004 while leading them to the Western Conference finals, Love never made it to the post-season.Management failed time and again to surround Love with enough talent to compete in the powerful West. Blunders were committed in the draft (Jonny Flynn over Steph Curry in 2009, Wes Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins in 2010), in trades and free agency (Michael Beasley, Darko Milicic, J.J. Barea) and with coaches (Randy Wittman, Kurt Rambis) and general managers (David Kahn).All of those failures, coupled with injuries to Ricky Rubio and Love, contributed to 323 losses in Loves six seasons with the Wolves.I think it couldve gone better with what we had if we had been a little bit luckier (with injuries), Taylor said. Theres a lot of things. Maybe if we drafted better and did some things, but we did what we did. It isnt Kevins fault. Maybe we shouldnt have made some decisions we made. I dont know what to say about that. I wish we wouldve done better.As much credit as Love deserves for transforming himself from a doughy UCLA freshman to a sculpted offensive force in the NBA, he carries some responsibility for the Wolves failures as well.The relationship soured in 2012, when Kahn refused to give Love a five-year maximum contract extension. Love signed a four-year deal with an opt-out after three seasons and didnt hide his disappointment.He carried the grudge for the next 2 1/2 seasons, turning from a funny, engaging public personality into a sullen figure on the court and in the locker room. He played in only 18 games because of a twice-broken hand in 2012-13, alienated teammates behind the scenes by withdrawing from the group and struggled mightily on the defensive end.Love requested a trade at the end of last season and a tour of Boston early in the summer didnt sit well with fans back in Minnesota.Minnesota people are pretty loyal. You turn on Minnesota, they dont forgive you, president and coach Flip Saunders said in December. So I think people probably appreciated him while he was here. But you leave under the terms that he did, just the way Minnesota people are, theyre not pretty forgiving along those lines.The Cavaliers sent No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett to Minnesota in a three-team deal that also netted the Wolves Thaddeus Young to get Love. The Wolves again were plagued by injuries during an 8-37 start to the season, but Wiggins development has them hopeful they have found a dynamic, two-way player to team with Rubio.We needed a player that we get to the end of the game and we give him the ball and the other team says, Holy cow, hes going to be hard to stop because we dont know what hes going to do, Taylor said. We just havent had that guy. Kevin Love ... he couldnt do that by himself and the other team could guard it pretty well at the end of the game because they knew what he was going to do.Love has gone through expected adjustments in his first year on a team with championship aspirations. He has become the clear No. 3 option behind James and Kyrie Irving, and his numbers have taken a sizeable dip. He didnt make the All-Star team in the Eastern Conference and the Cavaliers have only recently started to mesh.Love is 6 for 26 in his last two games, but the Cavaliers had won eight straight heading into the game Friday night against Sacramento.Maybe shooting at the baskets he filled up for six seasons will get him going. But hes bracing for an unexpectedly foreign feeling in his old home.Im sure once I get there, it will be a little different feeling for me, Love said. Obviously playing on the visitors side, going into the visitors locker room, going to the different bench. But I havent really given it too much thought, and luckily were on a winning streak right now, so thats really whats first and foremost.But, yeah, once the game is over (Friday night) and we get there, it will be a little different, not staying at my apartment in Minneapolis, well be staying at a different hotel. . Canada will host Japan in a World Group first-round match in 2015. It will be a rematch of their first-round clash last year when Japan defeated Canada 4-1 to reach the World Group quarter-finals for the first time in its history. . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2.
http://www.cheapnationalsjerseysauthentic.com/. "It feels good, Ive never had one before, not even in College," Hagelin said after the Rangers outgunned the Jets 4-2, behind some solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist following a pretty wide open first period. . The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lose three straight finals in Monte Carlo to Rafael Nadal from 2006-08, has not played in the tournament since 2011, when he lost to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals. .Corey Brewer had 19 points eight rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the third time since Ricky Rubio went out with an injured ankle on Nov.OTTAWA - Brett Gustavsen scored in a shootout as the Ottawa 67s beat the Peterborough Petes 3-2 in Ontario Hockey League play Wednesday. Brendan Bell also connected in the shootout while Tyler Hill and Ryan Van Stralen scored in regulation for the 67s (11-18-3). Connor Boland and Michael Clarke replied for the Petes (13-18-4). Philippe Trudeau stopped 37 shots for Ottawa, while Peterboroughs Michael Giugovaz made 31 saves. --- STING 3 ATTACK 2 (OT) OWEN SOUND, Ont. -- Jeff King scored in overtime as Sarnia overcame the Attack. Nickolas Latta and Nikolay Goldobin had a goal each for the Sting (12-19-3) during a four-goal third period. Gilbert Gabor scored botth goals for Owen Sound (17-12-6).dddddddddddd Taylor Dupuis led the way for Sarnia with 38 saves. Brandon Hope turned aside 30 shots for the Attack. --- BULLS 4 WHALERS 1 BELLEVILLE, Ont. -- Cameron Brace had two goals for the Bulls, who cruised past Plymouth. Aaron Berisha and Remi Elie also scored for league-worst Belleville (9-21-4). Mathieu Henderson opened the scoring with the first and ultimately last goal for the Whalers (11-20-4) just 1:33 into the game on the power play. Bellevilles Charlie Graham made 33 saves, while Plymouths Alex Nedeljkovic was yanked after allowing two goals on nine shots. Zack Bowman stopped 33 shots in relief. ' ' '
