In these modern Timberwolves we see parallels to the team from 20 years ago. There's no way things can be that bad this time, right?

It became much more than that, as the Wolves finished third in the West at 56-26 and won two series – a four-game exit against Phoenix in the first round and an epic seven-game exit against defending champion Denver in the second Round.

The 2004 team was No. 1 in the West at 58-24. Those Wolves also won two playoff series and then lost in six games to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, largely due to Kobe and Shaq anchoring LA, partially due to guard Sam Cassell (the Wolves' second weapon behind MVP Kevin Garnett ). ) is hobbled.

Wally Szczerbiak, an accomplished scorer, had played in just 28 games this regular season and was also slow to return to the playoffs.

Now Wally would be back for 2004-05. This was Garnett in prime time. The influx of Cassell, 34, and Latrell Sprewell, 33, had made all the difference a season earlier — and it seemed like they had enough left to do it again.

Get your tickets early, people. This could be the path to the finale.

The preseason began with Sprewell complaining about not receiving a hefty contract extension. His quote about the need to “feed my family” became so infamous that 20 years later, when I typed his name into a search (by his date of birth), that phrase came up when the name “Latrell” was finished.