Tough loss today by the Timberwolves at the Target Center. They really needed to win the home-and-home series against Dallas with San Antonio lurking Wednesday. This was a very dissapointing loss. I thought the effort was fine. My problem was that the Timberwolves let the Mavericks hang around and it cost them in the end. I thought the Wolves let up and relax too much when they had the big lead. They did not pile it on and they did not have the killer instinct today. Avery Johnson, who is filling in for Don Nelson as the head coach, was all over his players most notably Michael Finley for playing soft. He used profanity as you can hear on your TV screen. Timberwolves should have found a way to put this game away in the third quarter. Wolves interior defense stunk. They could have used Eddie Griffin today because the Mavericks did whatever they wanted in the paint. Mavericks had an easy time making layups and putting the ball in the net from the paint. Timberwolves could have defended better and Mavs got too many second chance shots. It seemed the Wolves just did not have that energy level. They looked a tad slow today. This just show this group of players can't play day games. Their energy was on and off. They would start the quarter off with lot of energy, but then they seem tired and fatigued hence why Dallas made a comeback today. It's clearly a mental thing. They just can't seem to win on day games. It's so obvious. I don't know what's the solution or remedy. It's frustrating. I did not think anyone looked great. AC and KG did alright. Wally stepped up in the fourth, but he was all alone in the island in that quarter. This was a very bad loss.
^ I agree that the Wolves need that win yesterday. I dont think they would have gotten both games against Dallas. But they needed that one because they have what some considered the toughest back to back in the league when your talking 2/3 of the Texas triangle coming up this week. To have to run with Dallas & then comeback & play a pshyical defensive style against San Antonio on tired legs is going to be nearly impossible for the Wolves this week. They may be staring down a three game losing streak, which will be crushing for the playoff hopes. Their overall defense stunk not just the interior imo. The Wolves got burnt in Pick & roll sitautions all afternoon, Jason Terry got into the lanes anytime he pretty much wanted. I dont think the Wolves believe in help defense as apart of the team defensive concept. The bigs never helped AC or Hudson cut off penetration, even KG. Kevin Garnett hasnt been at his best defensively this year at all in my opinion. I would be shocked if he makes 1st team again this year. I dont know if it has to do with the fact he is carrying so much of the overall team load, well more than last year. But 4 & 5 are having a field day against his on the ball defense, right now.
here's my take on things....cassel might be returning to action tuesday and so is "trick or treat"-the british...we gonna win back to back games cause weve got the power and you can sing it with me!!! lakers are going to lose to the wizards today gonna go down to 32-31 denver gonna lose later on...but we will make a run like crazy take on memphis and rockets as well damn crazy up west but will win 4 in a row or 3 out of the next 4 games...wanna place bets? :-o
I know everyone here loves KG, but sometimes you have to face the facts: KG was a huge liability in this game with his incompetence on the defensive end. He is bad at 1 on 1 D, and he is going to slow to complete defensive plays. It caused a lot of problems with penetration in that game. Penetrating was extemely easy for Terry and others, and it's frustrating because KG could be a much better defender. Either way, with Sam coming back, playoffs for this team are getting a lot more unlikely. L.A. is younger so they simply have a better chance at winning games. Denver doesn't even count anymore, they are very hot and will likely pull into 7th, or make 8th unreachable for Minnesota and L.A. They barely lost to Pheonix and beat San Antonio, the Lakers and Wolves havent been able to even dream about that, so Denver has pretty much pulled away.
