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The Wolves are counting on the trust that was built between Finch and Randle in New Orleans to travel up the Mississippi to Minnesota. If they can pull it off, this is a team that can go as far as it wants to go in the West. The Wolves would not have traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Randle and Donte DiVincenzo if they thought the deal was going to hurt their chances to contend. Finch’s connection to Randle played a major role in their decision to make such a significant move after planning to run it back. “If anybody knows anything about me, I’m a rhythm player and Finchy does a great job of putting me in spots where I’m catching it in the flow, catching it in rhythm, making my reads simple and just playing,” Randle said. “Not thinking too much, just playing. We view the game in a very unselfish way and I just try to let that be contagious with the rest of the team.”
Jeff Zillgitt: Also mentioned: Greg Monroe grew up just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. His buyout from Phoenix, I’m told, was favorable enough that money doesn’t have to be a deciding factor in his decision.
A lot should change in nearly seven years, but after accepting a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Carmelo Anthony has returned to a situation that is eerily familiar: the more difficult path to the NBA Finals remains west of the Mississippi River. “You’ve got to want that,” Anthony told The Vertical. “You’ve got to have that edge about you. We’ve got that edge about us. That was no factor in my decision, whether it was East or West.”
Fisher does not associate Memphis with Barnes’ new workplace. Memphis always has special meaning for Fisher, with Arkansas right across the Mississippi River. Fisher grew up in Little Rock, Ark., 90 minutes away, and also played college ball there. “I always get to see lots of friends and family,’’ Fisher said. “This is the closest to home that a person from there can get there. It’s always great with relatives. We’re all a basketball family. We’ll see how many Knicks fans there are tonight.’’
With the Mississippi River expected to reach its highest level in more than 70 years on Monday night and evacuations taking place in some areas of the community due to flooding, the Memphis Grizzlies were reaching out to help while in the midst of their conference semifinal playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Coach Lionel Hollins taped a public service announcement for local TV following the team’s morning shootaround prior to Game 4, asking for donations to help those displaced. The team was also soliciting donations for the Red Cross inside the FedExForum and will continue to do so at every home game throughout the playoffs.
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