Venting On The T-Wolves Doing 'Bad Team' Things
One of the great pleasures of The Wire is watching characters grow and develop like, well, actual human beings rather than the dueling position papers you might get on other prestige shows. Anyway, one of the great moment's of the first season is when Lance Reddick's "Lt. Daniels" character finally has had enough of BPD bureaucracy and several episodes' worth of slow burn is replaced by his explosion that the chosen tactic of an officer who outranks him, to go for a quick rip rather than a detailed investigation. Basically the boss wants the equivalent of Nick Young gunning for glory on this year's Lakers.
Even though I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool Timberwolves fan, I have enough lingering affection for the franchise from my time spent in the Twin Cities so that I think I can speak for many in that fanbase who felt much the same way about last night's collapse versus the Knicks as our hero the Lieutenant did when confronted by Major Rawls' intransigence. The 4th quarter had very much of a "final straw" feeling as the Wolves piled mistake after error after blunder to turn what was a winnable game on a night they weren't at their best into a farcical loss to a Knicks team that has quit on its coach to the extent that players are one step removed from taking selfies and ordering pizza on the bench. (No, I will not make the cheap Ray Felton joke about pizza. But I suppose I just did.)
Rather than focus merely on the frustration of the loss, I wanted to use the stretch run to illustrate the Wolves' tendency towards what I like to call "bad team things" - the small things that happen in a game that cause lesser teams to lose close winnable games. In and of themselves, each of these mistakes could be seen as aberrational, or not that big a deal, but I think those who have watched bad, though talented teams over the years, and this Wolves team in particular will recognize many of these as archetypes of the kind of "anti-winning" plays which have plagued the team all season.
In case it's unclear, this is much more venting than serious analysis.
Rather than focus merely on the frustration of the loss, I wanted to use the stretch run to illustrate the Wolves' tendency towards what I like to call "bad team things" - the small things that happen in a game that cause lesser teams to lose close winnable games. In and of themselves, each of these mistakes could be seen as aberrational, or not that big a deal, but I think those who have watched bad, though talented teams over the years, and this Wolves team in particular will recognize many of these as archetypes of the kind of "anti-winning" plays which have plagued the team all season.
In case it's unclear, this is much more venting than serious analysis.
#1 Where were you? No Where were YOU?
Despite their status as a top 10 overall defense, the Wolves do some unfortunate things on that end. For example, they give up a fair number of easy baskets through lack of communication. Last night they chose to force Carmelo Anthony, hard, to his left hand. This might not be a great idea in general, but it's especially questionable if the Knicks clear out the left side of the floor for him. And then Dante Cunningham decides to pressure at the elbow, giving up the easy two:
#2 The Flat Tire
The Timberwolves have been grinding hard the entire 2nd and 3rd quarters to get back in the game. They get a stop on defense. An offensive rebounder falls down. Now's the time to stick the dagger in. Open 3 in transition. Brick. The building deflates like an air mattress on a box spring of thumbtacks. The hopeless attempt on the offensive rebound is a nice touch.
#3 I Have To Do EVERYTHING Myself (The JJ Barea Story)
Though this isn't limited to JJ Barea, he's of course been a galling example for much of the season. Given up a couple of quick buckets to start the quarter, and need to get back on track? Going 1-on-5 never fails!
#4 I Thought You Had Ball. I Thought YOU Had Ball!
#5 Pushing the Right Buttons
After the above, Rick Adelman called a timeout...and sent the same 5 straight back onto the court.
#6 No Seriously, I Got This
Maybe sit this one out, JJ?
#7 Violating the Prime Directive
If there is a principle upon which this blog is founded, it is do not rotate off the shooter in the corner to the worse shooter on the wing. Especially if he has nowhere to go. Looking at you Dante Cunningham:
#8 F This, I'm Out Of Here
After (another) time out to stop the (same) run. Barea is still on the floor. For one more possession. With Ricky Rubio at the scorer's table. Barea wants to leave us with a parting gift.
Sweet body language, too.
And Suddenly a 2 point game is 13, and it really never got better from there, but I've had enough. I'm with you Lieutenant:
And Suddenly a 2 point game is 13, and it really never got better from there, but I've had enough. I'm with you Lieutenant:
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