Two of the NBA’s biggest surprise teams thus far into the season met on Wednesday night when the Charlotte Bobcats knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves 89-87.

While the Bobcats have rebounded from posting the NBA’s worst winning percentage of all time, the Timberwolves’ start has to be considered far more impressive as they have posted a 5-3 record despite missing their two top players for the whole stretch in Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love.
It seems like a game doesn’t pass by without another player joining them on the sidelines. Against the Bobcats, Minnesota only dressed nine players and still came within a bucket of victory.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Chase Budinger will miss the next three to four months while recuperating from knee surgery. The former Arizona Wildcat was averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Starters Brandon Roy (sore right knee), Nikola Pekovic (sprained left ankle) and backup J.J. Barea (sprained left foot) were all missing which means the team is potentially missing six of eight rotation players.

If the Timberwolves get one more long-term injury they will be eligible to add a player above the 15-man limit.

“Thank God we don’t have a fourth player at this point,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “That’s not an avenue we want to proceed in.”

Before the game against the Bobcats, Kahn met with coach Rick Adelman and his staff to discuss possible roster moves but rarely do you see a lot of NBA trades at this point in the season.

The Timberwolves did sign Josh Howard on Tuesday, cutting Will Conroy in the process.

“It’s not feasible to do anything right now,” Kahn said. “It’s harder this time of the season to get a player. Certain players can’t be traded until after December 15 if they signed in the summer.”

WAITING ON WALL: The Washington Wizards are off to a disastrous 0-7 start without point guard John Wall and centre Nene, and the outlook won’t be getting better anytime soon.

Wall told NBA.com that there is no target date yet for his return.

“Still tough and frustrating,” Wall said as he tries to battle back from the stress fracture in his right knee.

There is also still no timetable for the return of Nene either as he is suffering from plantar fasciitis.

“We are certainly playing shorthanded, but we still should be a better team with better results than where we sit today,” Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said on his blog on Thursday morning.

Not to nitpick but the difference between the Wizards and Timberwolves likely lies in their coaching choices.

Granted the Wolves have a deeper team thanks to Kahn but Adelman is one of the top coaches in the league while the Wizards retained Randy Wittman, who has a career record of 118-238, and likely came a lot cheaper.

Very surprising to see the Wizards go the cheap route with Leonsis in charge as he has been such a solid owner for the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

CRAWFORD IMPRESSING PEERS: With a win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Clippers pushed their record to 6-2 on the season.

A big reason for the start has been the play of newcomer Jamal Crawford, who has been garnering praise from peers after averaging 20.5 points per game including a 22-point night against Miami which included this nasty crossover on Ray Allen.

Twitter was abuzz with praise for Crawford. Former NBA player Tracy McGrady tweeted:

My dude Jamal Crawford @jcrossover is a cold brother. He’s putting that work in. 6th man of the year easy.

— Tracy McGrady (@Real_T_Mac) November 15, 2012

Gary Forbes, who was with the Raptors last season and is now a Houston Rocket, said:

Wherever @jcrossover workin out at next summer, I’m there! My dude got odeeee shuugz! Ankle Bone Collector!

— Gary Forbes (@GForbz3) November 15, 2012

CAPTAIN JACK AND THE RED ROCKET: San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner is running out of his favourite New Balance sneakers and recently tested out a pair of Adidas in practice, creating a buzz among teammates.

“I think everybody in the locker room noticed it,” teammate Stephen Jackson told the San Antonio Express-News. “The New Balance has been his thing for a long time. It’s kind of like Shaft cutting his ‘fro.”

Bonner formerly had a sponsorship deal with New Balance but that was not renewed and his supply is running low. He recently uncovered a few pairs in his locker and believes he has enough to finish the season.

“It was kind of like finding the Dead Sea Scrolls,” Bonner said.

FANTASY UPDATE:

BREAKING NEWS: #Mavs F Shawn Marion told me he plans to make the trip to Indiana and Cleveland. Whether he plays, that’s another story.

— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) November 15, 2012