Tim Faklis
- Inclusion and Youth Programs Support Manager, Edina Public Schools
Minneapolis
As seen in:
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VICE,
Royal Blue Mersey,
Yahoo Sports,
FanSided,
Sporting News,
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Articles by Tim Faklis
The Curious Case of Dwight McNeil at Everton
It’s a fun time to be an Everton fan. The club is at the international break after the transfer window closed having won their last three games, with six out of nine Premier League points, a berth in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup, and a lot to look forward to when they get back in a couple weeks. With a Merlin Röhl acquisition to close the window, David Moyes and his Everton squad are as complete as they’ll be until the New Year at the earliest.
The Curious Case of Dwight McNeil at Everton
It’s a fun time to be an Everton fan. The club is at the international break after the transfer window closed having won their last three games, with six out of nine Premier League points, a berth in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup, and a lot to look forward to when they get back in a couple weeks. Advertisement With a Merlin Röhl acquisition to close the window, David Moyes and his Everton squad are as complete as they’ll be until the New Year at the earliest.
Analyzing Everton’s Signings So Far
Most transfer windows can feel like the world’s longest sprint. Sporting Directors, Managers, coaches and other members of recruitment teams are tasked with: Scouting a player who fits their profile. Hoping said player wants to leave their current club. Hoping said club is willing to sell said player. Negotiating a fee to buy said player from said club. Negotiating a new contract with said player. Praying their medical goes well. Hoping Tottenham doesn’t hijack the deal at the last second.
The Canis Hoopus Midseason Roundtable
The Canis Hoopus team takes a look back at the first half of the 2021-22 Timberwolves season. By Tim Faklis, Logan Alten, andrewcarlson, Leo Sun, and Brendan Hedtke Jan 14, 2022, 3:35pm CST Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports Friends! We’re at the official halfway point of the Minnesota Timberwolves season (or, we will be when this is published! Just roll with it!)! Let’s sink our teeth into some of the good and the bad to open the season, and see where we’re at as observers, fans, etc. 1.
Who is Jaylen Nowell?
If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. It hasn’t always been easy to envision where Jaylen Nowell fits in. A 6’4” second-round pick out of the University of Washington, Nowell came into the league with a solid set of scoring instincts, good mobility and a solid stroke from outside. All NBA-necessary skills for an off-guard. It’s been an up-and-down season for him, both in terms of minutes and production.
Take a Breath and Enjoy the Ride
(Side note to start: I’ll be honest — this might just be for me. I’m not in the heads of every single Minnesota Timberwolves fan, but I do have Twitter. I read the tweets. If this doesn’t apply to you...great! But hopefully this resonates with a few of you. If not, please excuse me working through my own second-guessing as a Wolves observer.) It can be easy to get caught in a rut.
AWAW New Season Roundtable: Part 1 - A Wolf Among Wolves
The (pre)season is upon us! With that, I threw out a few questions this week to a few members of our team in preparation for the Wolves' first game this Saturday. Will Anthony Edwards come out of the gate hot? Will Ricky Rubio start? Will Ryan Saunders keep his suit game strong despite the wardrobe rule changes? Let's find out! Alright team, we're a day away from our first (preseason) game (by the time this is published, anyway).
2020 Minnesota Timberwolves Draft Recap
The 2020 NBA Draft is finally in the books. Better five months late than never, I always say. The Timberwolves entered the night with the No.1, No.17, and No.33 picks in the draft. At the end of the night, the team had acquired both new and familiar faces. Let’s recap the action. No.1 Overall Pick: Anthony Edwards | G| University of Georgia Saying Edwards is a home run swing is an unusual statement about a top pick. He’s 6’5’’ and 225 pounds and can get to the lane at will.
OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, and Dealing with Draft Uncertainty
At about 3 A.M. on June 26, 2008, my dad woke me up. “I think I’m gonna give up our season tickets.” In most cases, I would have fought it instantly. I had a privileged upbringing — my family had Timberwolves season tickets in 1996, and didn’t give them up until 2018. But a few things made me pause before I tried talking my dad out of it. I was about to enter my senior year of high school — my last chance to regularly attend game. I was tired.
The Role Player Podcast Episode 10: Alysha Clark — A Wolf Among Wolves
Jordan and Trevor are joined by Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark. They discuss her vast successes in the WNBA and overseas, her upbringing and her path to the pros. Click here to follow on Spotify Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts Every time you share this, KAT dunks on someone:
Everton, Josh Okogie and the NBA: A Look into the Attempted Return to Normalcy — A Wolf Among Wolves
After months away, my favorite soccer team returned to the pitch this afternoon. My team is Everton — a team with a wealth of history and scattered success, who have frequented the middle of the Premier League table since I began watching at the beginning of the 2010s (2013 or so). Everton is based in Liverpool, but anyone that watches the Premier League (even casually) knows what team rules the Merseyside right now.
The Role Player Podcast Episode 4: Peyton Siva — A Wolf Among Wolves
The Role Player Podcast Episode 4: Peyton Siva Jordan and Trevor speak with Peyton Siva, former Louisville guard, second-round draft pick currently playing for Alba Berlin, where he led EuroCup in scoring in 2019. They talk about his recruitment to Louisville, his stint in the NBA and his travels as a pro in Europe. Click here to follow on Spotify Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts Every time you share this, KAT dunks on someone:
The Fly in the Lakers’ Ointment: A Troy Hudson Tribute — A Wolf Among Wolves
Wednesday, April 14, 2004 is one of the greatest regular season days the Minnesota Timberwolves have ever had.
My Unconditional, Unapologetic Love for Lance Stephenson
I used to hate LeBron James. I am not proud of this part of me. ‘LeBron James is an asshole’ certainly isn’t the best opinion of the countless basketball opinions I’ve held in my thousands of hours with the sport. I wasn’t the only 22-year-old idiot in the world who held such an opinion in the summer of 2010 after LeBron made ‘The Decision’ to leave the Cavaliers and his native Cleveland to form a ‘Super Team’ with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and the Miami Heat.
Welcome to the New A Wolf Among Wolves
Welcome back. When A Wolf Among Wolves started, I was at Minnesota State University — still a sport management major — trying to figure out how to best build around Al Jefferson and Kevin Love when I inevitably become the new Timberwolves GM after I graduate. Over the next few years, I changed my major and graduated with a journalism degree. I had moved back to the Twin Cities, was writing for a local newspaper and a different Timberwolves blog. Meanwhile, AWAW was had grown.
It’s Official: Kevin Garnett is a Hall of Famer
The last 15 years have been grueling for Timberwolves fans. Since 2004, the Wolves have gone through a number of losing seasons, a knuckle pushups fiasco, more than one top-five draft picks that busted at the NBA level, a million head coaches, and David Kahn. Even their one playoff season in span time had its hitches. While 2018 gave the Wolves plenty of success, two All-Stars, an incredible Game 82 and an emotional trip to the postseason, it wasn’t what some hoped it would be.
According to the Fans: Corey Brewer is the All-Time Timberwolves Role Player
I was bored one day. What went from “who are your favorite role players in Timberwolves history?” became a 64-player bracket and a week-long string of Twitter polls to answer those questions for good. A few of the rules (I made all of this up on the fly, don’t get mad at me if I forgot your favorite player. I tried, dammit): 1.
D’Angelo Russell’s Mystery is Part of the Appeal
I don’t want to break down 12 games of D’Angelo Russell in a Timberwolves uniform. I don’t want to necessarily compare those 12 games to the 33 games he played in Golden State, either. Appealing as it may be, I definitely don’t want to deep dive into the one game he played with Karl-Anthony Towns.
A History of Michael Jordan and the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves had some success in the late 90s. Kevin Garnett was a young All-Star, Tom Gugliotta was healthy and excellent, and Stephon Marbury looked like a future All-Star himself. They became a playoff team. Life was good. Michael Jordan and the Bulls didn’t much care. We’ll start with the positive. Tonight marks the premiere of the long-awaited ESPN documentary of Jordan and the Bulls in their final championship run in 1997-98.
"Tough Decisions": Five Major Questions Facing the Vikings This Offseason
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA Today Sports) Head coach Mike Zimmer was ready to get away from the Vikings’ Eagan facility less than 48 hours following his team’s playoff loss at San Francisco. The loss was a harsh reality check for a team high on optimism after its upset of the New Orleans Saints, perhaps so sudden of an emotional letdown that Zimmer altered his usual post-season schedule.
How the Timberwolves Thrived Without Karl-Anthony Towns
The Minnesota Timberwolves entered their Saturday evening game in Washington with a massive hole to fill. On a per-36 minutes basis — which corrects for Karl-Anthony Towns, um, “missing” the second half of the Philadelphia game — the deleted Towns chasm to be filled in was 31.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.0 blocks. Caulking up that void could only be done with a team effort, and that’s exactly what the Wolves brought to their 131-109 road victory over the Wizards.
The Andrew Wiggins Problem is a Two-Way Street
Photo Credit: Brad Rempel (USA Today Sports) When the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a five-year, maximum contract extension with Andrew Wiggins in the fall of 2017, he was expected to deliver a multitude of talents and, subsequently, meaningful value. But he’s struggled mightily to live up to those expectations; after a relatively promising start to his career, the 24-year-old has hardly been an effective option for his team over the last couple of seasons.
The biggest separator between Wolves and Bulls has no link to Chicago
CHICAGO – The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves traveled to the United Center, the stakes were different. Roars of applause took up the arena for both teams; a pair of tribute videos for Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson – former hardwood heroes in Bulls uniforms – were shown on the jumbotron after Tom Thibodeau, the architect of Chicago’s last successful run of seasons, was given his own ovation. The Timberwolves were still in a honeymoon stage in the short-lived Butler era.
In post-Jimmy Butler era, Timberwolves rediscover joy of winning together
A couple days after Jimmy Butler was traded to the 76ers, the Timberwolves had a game to play against the Nets. To that point, not much had changed. Paperwork had yet to be completed, so Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Jerryd Bayless hadn’t yet practiced with their new teammates nor been cleared to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads rising Bucks, but Milwaukee isn't just one-man show
On Friday night in Minneapolis, after just one half of basketball, the Bucks led the Timberwolves by 25 points. It’s not common to see such a wide margin by halftime, especially with the home team down, but it makes sense considering each team’s circumstances. The Timberwolves are going through Jimmy Butler drama and haven’t looked like last year's 47-win squad. They currently sit at 3-4 with their Western Conference playoff hopes in shambles. The Bucks don’t look the same either.
Please Welcome Katie Nelson to A Wolf Among Wolves
A few weeks ago, we put out a tweet on our Twitter page, seeking out a couple new writers to join the A Wolf Among Wolves team. We had a lot of good, qualified people send us emails, but a pair of individuals stuck out to us. One was Ashish Mathur, who has already started contributing. I imagine there will be an intro post for him as well, but if there’s not, now would be a good time for us to publicly welcome him as well. The other was Katie Nelson.
James Harden's individual excellence fuels Rockets' success, and that's 'all that matters'
Every time James Harden goes to the free-throw line, the same thing happens. Sure, it will never have the same muster as the first few times the Toyota Center crowd erupted, but the truth of the message has gotten clearer as the season as gone on. So while the excitement of that first “MVP” chant might not be as fun as the 50th, the way its aged keeps the fun alive. Harden barely lost the MVP award to Russell Westbrook last season, but it’s never affected him.
Three Things to Watch for in Timberwolves-Rockets
It has been over 5,000 days since the Minnesota Timberwolves last played in a playoff game, which justifies getting into the weeds a bit. Here are three important subplots to the Wolves-Raptors series that could make a discernable difference. The Wolves (finally) got back to full strength for the last three games of the season.
What Was Going on in the World the Last Time the Wolves Clinched a Non-Losing Record?
The Timberwolves won their 41st game on Tuesday, making an uncomfortable amount of history in the process. It’s the first time the Timberwolves managed to clinch a non-losing record since April 13, 2005 — the season after the team’s lone run to the Western Conference Finals. That game was a win over the Golden State Warriors. Flip Saunders had been fired and Kevin McHale had taken over. Kevin Garnett had a triple-double and Troy Murphy led the Warriors in scoring.
The Adaptability of Nemanja Bjelica
With 13 games to go, the Timberwolves’ place in the Western Conference remains up in the air. And while the road ahead is going to be tough for obvious reasons — both the schedule and the lack of Jimmy Butler to blame — there is hope within the organization that they can finish on a good note. But in order for that to happen, Nemanja Bjelica, starting on a temporary basis, is going to have to perform in Butler’s absence. He has done that, and it’s gotten better each game.
MWS: New Twins Writer Dan Hayes on Spring Training, Life Changes and More!
In this episode of Midwest Swing, Brandon catches up with Dan Hayes (@DanHayesMLB) of The Athletic Minnesota to talk about changing jobs, getting acclimated with the Twins beat, Spring Training in Arizona and Florida and much more! As always, send comments, questions and feedback to @Brandon_Warne on Twitter. Subscribe to Midwest Swing on iTunes or Stitcher! A Zone Coverage Podcast Network Production Related
Trying to Figure Out Andrew Wiggins
The beginning of Andrew Wiggins’ career was expectedly turbulent. Through his first three years in the NBA, Wiggins was relied upon to be the team’s primary and/or secondary scoring option, which led to a mixed bag of results. He came into the league with supreme athleticism, good-looking form on his jumper and high potential on both ends of the floor. He showed an immediate level of control of his elite-level athleticism, showing a strong will of getting to the basket and finishing in traffic.
The Two Paths of Jimmy Butler's Next Maximum Contract
Forty-three players in the NBA are making more than the $19.3 million that 28-year-old Jimmy Butler will be paid this season. His deal increases by 6 percent next season, but even at a tick above $20 million, Butler will only be paid as a good player. Butler is not a good player; he is one of the best, trending towards his second straight All-NBA season. For that reason, he wants a raise.
Ep. 125: Flip and All-Star Weekend with Kickstradomis
Tim Faklis, Dane Moore, David Naylor and Tom Schreier discuss All-Star Weekend before Kickstradomis joins the show (15:00) to talk about the Flip Saunders-inspired shoes he created for Thursday’s game, and what he’s doing for the All-Star Game. Then the guys finish the show by reminiscing about Flip Saunders (27:40) and what he meant to them as a younger fan in his first stint and a budding media member during his second.
John DeFilippo Not Defined by Systems, but by Philosophies | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
The Minnesota Vikings’ new offensive coordinator, John DeFilippo, will be critical in defining the future of the franchise even if he only stays with the team for one year. His input on how the team should prioritize offensive roster-building, including signing a starting quarterback for the 2018 season, will have ramifications for years to come as the Vikings’ window potentially closes.
Stephon Marbury Retires from Basketball After 22-Year Career | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Stephon Marbury called it a career in Beijing, and likely altogether on Sunday after playing his last game with the Fly Dragons. He announced his decision to retire last week to Marc Spears of ESPN/The Undefeated, playing his final game just a week before his 41st birthday. He did tell Spears he’d listen to offers to return to the NBA this season if the calls were to come, but is otherwise very at peace with his decision to call it quits. “I’m tired, man. I’m tired.
The Zone Coverage Timberwolves Trade Deadline Primer | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
The buzz surrounding the Minnesota Timberwolves this trade deadline has been relatively non-existent. The line of thinking around the team is that this is the group Tom Thibodeau wants to roll with. If there is to be an adjustment, it is one that will likely come on the margins — perhaps a veteran who is bought out after the deadline. That said, the Wolves do have a handful of bench players that would make sense to move.
Central Division Trade Deadline Outlook – Nashville Predators | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
We continue on with the Central Division series this week with the Nashville Predators. Nashville currently holds second place in the Central Division and got a boost in the lineup last week when Mike Fisher announced his return after a brief retirement. Helping us look at the Predators today is Jeremy Gover of the Predators Radio Network. Let’s look at the state of the Preds… Q: How have the Preds been able to avoid the Stanley Cup Hangover this season?
2/1 RECAP: Impressive Timberwolves Defense on Display in Dominant Win Over Bucks | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
The Wolves, and their defense, refused to lose three games in a row. Even despite being fresh off a pair of losses on road-road back-to-backs, the Timberwolves returned to Target Center Thursday and appeared to re-discover the energy that got them the top-four spot in the first place. Their 108-89 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks wasn’t just a blowout, it was an example of how good this team can be defensively. “We want to build the right habits.
Comparing the Seasons of Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan have both played like MVPs this season. To start the year, guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James were considered by some as the leaders of that particular chase. As the season has pressed on, the race’s leaders have re-populated with more of the usual suspects – see: James, James Harden, Kevin Durant – but also started to include Butler, especially during the mid-December stretch when the Wolves were statistically the best team in the NBA.
How Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum make imperfect pairing work for Trail Blazers
It had been a while. For the first time in three seasons, the Trail Blazers have a participant in the NBA All-Star Game. And, just like before, that person is Damian Lillard. This came at a time when the Blazers, frankly, were in need of some good news. Their record 48 games in — currently at 26-22 — has hovered just above the .500 mark. The team’s consistency in treading water and staying just within the playoff picture is remarkable, really.
MWS: Mike Berardino Reveals His Hall of Fame Ballot | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Brandon Warne covers the Twins for Cold Omaha, and has had his work featured in numerous places across the United States. Locally, Warne’s work has appeared at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1500 ESPN and Go96.3 for writing and audio, and he’s also had written work appear on Baseball Prospectus, Fangraphs and cited in the Los Angeles Times. Warne lives in the outer Twin Cities suburbs with his wife, Amanda. Listen to his Cold Omaha podcast Midwest Swing.
WOLVES WIRED Ep. 116: The Zach Podcast with Zach Harper | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Tim Faklis, Zach Bennett (1), Dane Moore and David Naylor are joined by FanRag NBA and A Wolf Among Wolves writer, and Spotlight Media Ventures co-founder Zach Harper (2) to talk about Zach LaVine’s (3) return, Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive improvement, and the Timberwolves season as a whole. Sunday’s episode also features the unveiling of our new logo! Follow the Crew: @ZacharyBD @timfaklis, @DaneMooreNBA, @ProfCedar, @tschreier3 Subscribe to Wolves Wired on iTunes and Stitcher! Related
FAKLIS: Jimmy Butler is an All-Star This Year… Right? | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Jimmy Butler does things Wolves fans aren’t used to. Between the gutty performances, the vocality on defense, the intangible will to win, and the straight up winning, Butler has won the Timberwolves fanbase over in ways that haven’t existed since a certain Big Ticket was rocking the tree-trimmed jerseys in the early-to-mid 2000s. After starting the season mainly as a shot-frugal distributor, he’s taken over the team’s scoring load, all while continuing to handle distributor duties.
Alongside Joel Embiid, Rookie of the Year leader Ben Simmons pushing Sixers back to prominence
Sixers fans have been waiting a long time for this. Their team is in the playoff hunt, Joel Embiid is playing big minutes consistently and they finally have some veterans to help implement Brett Brown’s shorter-term goals. Despite a plethora of injuries that are forcing a hard look at the team’s lack of depth, it’s impossible not to smile when thinking about the then and now.
WOLVES WIRED Ep. 107: Minutes and Mavericks | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Tim Faklis is a senior editor and the Timberwolves beat writer for Zone Coverage, as well as an NBA contributor for Sporting News. He’s written about basketball and music for A Wolf Among Wolves, VICE, City Pages, Fansided, Growler Mag, Hardwood Paroxysm, The Classical, and others. As it stands right now, he remains the world’s biggest Trenton Hassell fan.
How Ricky Rubio helps Jazz adjust, transform offense without Gordon Hayward
This summer forced some major changes for the Jazz. Some of it was unwanted. The offseason began with an overwhelming supply of worry, as general manager Dennis Lindsey and head coach Quin Snyder attempted to keep star forward Gordon Hayward from heading east. Their first move was replacing point guard George Hill. When they did this, it was clear what direction they wanted to go in.
MWS: Mike Berardino on the Molitor Extension, Twins Offseason | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Brandon Warne covers the Twins for Cold Omaha, and has had his work featured in numerous places across the United States. Locally, Warne's work has appeared at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1500 ESPN and Go96.3 for writing and audio, and he's also had written work appear on Baseball Prospectus, Fangraphs and cited in the Los Angeles Times. Warne lives in the outer Twin Cities suburbs with his wife, Amanda. Listen to his Cold Omaha podcast Midwest Swing.
The case for each of Kyrie Irving’s preferred trade destinations
Kyrie Irving is a good enough basketball player that, even if he hasn’t expressed interest in your team, odds are your favorite team called to inquire anyway. Players as good as the four-time All-Star are going to generate interest from almost every team in the league, and it would be silly for even the cellar dwellers to sit back and assume they don’t have a shot. That said, as always, there are teams with an upper hand in this trade scenario.
New Orleans is a music hub of the United States, and trying to figure out the Anthony Davis-DeMarcus Cousins front court is a lot like trying to figure out a really fun, high-potential rock supergroup. It features shades of brilliance from its individual parts, but while some things are clearly compatible, it hasn’t brought tangible results yet. However, they’ve only release their first single. There’s more to come. The Pelicans traded for Cousins on Feb.
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