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During the NBA season, the gloom of the pandemic in the NBA has normalized. We’re used to sheeted pits, the noise of fans and the drudgery of Timberwolves. But sitting here in the bull’s-eye as the lights dim and the center court lights up for the team’s extended entry show filled with howls and strobe lights, it feels anything but normal. The fifteen scribes sitting in the arena who trace the disappearance of the team are reminded that fighting is prohibited and that unruly supporters will be escorted out of the building. If I see something, like another member of the media across the arena slipping off his mask for a sip of water, I’m supposed to say something.
So, it’s understandable that the players wouldn’t want anything else to make this season over, or at least given themselves a little break, especially as the losses mount. But maybe the players are so used to playing in their own bubble on the pitch, ignoring the fans and the noise around them, that they can just cut off the lack of energy rather than its presence. After all, ruling out the heckling of the T-Shirt Squad must strengthen every soul’s resolve.
But maybe not. It was all too easy to watch the team deflate when the Hornets embarked on a run in the second quarter. Wolves were able to recover to finish half of six, but inflection points, like Towns coming out early in the first half after committing his third foul, made it look like air was being sucked out of a ball already. empty. Or in the third quarter, when Ricky had the ball pushed from behind at the start of a quick break and three Wolves came back as the Hornets then hit a wide open three. There are too many bumpy balls, passing into the unknown, and perpetual snipers after mistakes for this to be normal.
And it shouldn’t be. Wolves had another game where they played like a typical NBA team for part of the game, then quickly slipped through garbage time in the third quarter. The Hornets raced and both teams realized the game was over. The Hornets stopped trying and messed around on the attack, separating the porous Wolves defense. Wolves lost the third quarter 36-20.
But yet, with Wolves, it’s not just that they lose by twenty, the game is just over. The Hornets didn’t play any tighter and / or gave off some nervousness when the Wolves took a few shots. Wolves are just as likely to come back down, throw a three-pointer that doesn’t hit anything other than the backboard, then drop a lob dunk when someone isn’t careful. To be honest, the Hornets started the fourth quarter in a 20-4 run against the supposedly struggling Wolves.
This break is needed to decide if Wolves are a real team or if they deserve to be relegated to the underworld to blow up the roster again.
As for the actual game, Jake Layman started in place of Josh Okogie, leaving Jarred Vanderbilt to guard Gordon Hayward. The Hornets quickly isolated Hayward against Vanderbilt on every opportunity. Layman performed well, showing off the cut chops that many thought were best expressed when playing with good passers-by like Ricky Rubio and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The battle of the announced recruits did not materialize in the first half. LaMelo Ball was reckless with the basketball, but he clearly established himself as a threat to throw the lob while driving. The Big Wolves turned away from their man, leaving Ball an open path to the rim when he was available. But for every strong time pass, there was a pass straight to the other team. His score is real though, as he solidly knocked down three and made easy buckets at the rim. Ball finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in a seemingly pedestrian exit.
Anthony Edwards had another difficult night. It was one of the first games that I saw Ant strip down multiple times on the way to the rim. He finished with 19 points, but shot 8-23 from the ground and 1 of 10 from beyond. The less we talk about his defensive conscience, the better.
There were a few new wrinkles tonight. Josh Okogie and Juancho Hernangomez were out of the rotation, with Jaden McDaniels getting his longest run to date under the new coach. McDaniels had a tough offensive night, ending 0-4 beyond the arc. Ricky Rubio and Jake Layman have had the best games among Wolves, each providing 20 and 14 points respectively. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled with issues and generally had a bad game although the stats belied a typical performance. Wolves shot 9 of 40 from beyond the arc one night Ricky Rubio had four of his six three-point attempts.
The team are heading into the break with a nine-game losing streak and look like the worst team in the league. We can only hope that the next chapter will be different.
To spend the evening – The Oaxaca Old Fashioned
- 1 1/2 ounce of tequila reposado
- 1/2 ounce of mezcal
- 1 teaspoon of agave nectar (or simple syrup)
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitter
Have a good All-Star break!
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