NFL
By Steve Rogers
In the history of the NBA, no team has ever returned from my 03 deficit in the NBA playoffs. The Minnesota Timberwolves have put themselves in a 0-3 hole and find themselves the 155th team to attempt the impossible. Throughout the annals of time, records have been set and broken over and over. Some records stand longer than others and some take on a life of their own becoming “The record that will never be broken.” Like Cal Ripken Jr.’s record for consecutive games played mark of 2,632. Which he set in 1998. Before that, it was held by Lou Gehrig for 56 years!! How bout Roger Maris’s 1961 record of 61 home runs that stood for 37 years before Mark McGuire AND Sammy Sosa broke it in the same year chasing each other for the record that would go to McGuire. Here’s one more from the baseball side, one of my favorites Rickey Henderson holds the all-time career stolen base Mark at 1406 over his 25-year career. That’s 468 more than 2nd Pl., Lou Brock currently Rickey Henderson is the only player to reach 1000 stolen bases Henderson also holds the single-season record of 130. He set the record in 1982.
Here are some examples from the NBA. Let’s start with the truly untouchable ones… His name is Wilt Chamberlain He once scored 100 points in a single game!! In the 1961-62 season, Chamberlain averaged 50.4 PPG! He also averaged 48.5 minutes per game in a season!?! Let’s see anybody touch that in this “Loadmanegment” era. How about some team records? Let’s talk about a true dynasty the Boston Celtics won EIGHT consecutive championships! In the NCAAW Basketball, the UConn Huskies won 111 straight games. Those are all records that might never be broken but this is about ones that will someday be broken. Like the 154 times NBA teams have been down in 0-3 holes have never won four in a row.
Only a few years ago, the NCAAM tournament saw 130 plus times of the 16 seed losing to a 1 seed. That record fell on March 16, 2018. When the University of Maryland, Baltimore County did just that, beat not only a 1 seed but the NUMBER ONE OVERALL University of Virginia. Not just that it happened again just last year. When Fairleigh Dickinson University knocked off Purdue, history has been made twice in the past six years.
So there is historical relevance the Timberwolves can look to to use as inspiration as they now look to chase down history of their own down 3-1 to the Dallas Mavericks. This really does feel different though in so many ways. For starters the Timberwolves are completely healthy they aren’t struck with multiple injuries the way the New York Knicks were. The Timberwolves are the higher-seeded team so they potentially have two home games. Yes, these Timberwolves have lost their last two games at home. They are also 3-0 in elimination games in this postseason run. Two of those wins have been on the road. The last time the Timberwolves won at home in the playoffs was possibly the most dominant game from start to finish I have ever seen. It was also an elimination game. When the heat and pressure turn up so can and do these Timberwolves.
Do I think Dallas is suddenly just going to roll over and surrender of course not. This is going to be an all-out war till the final whistle tonight. No game thus far has been decided by double digits I don’t expect that to change. As much as everyone wants to think this team goes as far as ANT because it’s his team, it will only go as far as Karl Anthony Towns goes. This means no matter how good Anthony Edwards is playing Towns needs to be just as important a factor if he’s playing well the team wins on about 80% of the time. This Timberwolves team has the coaching staff, the right system, and a complete roster to go out and execute 1 game at a time and stay laser-focused on that tunnel vision. Win tonight, period. Live to see tomorrow. Repeat. This is the only strategy needed. Getting Towns going opens up Edwards’s opportunities. The Timberwolves will find a way to win tonight and force at least a game 6. Can’t be concerned with anything to do with 7 till you get there. Like Kevin Garnett said in 2008 “ANYTHING IS POSIBLLLLLLLLLLE!!!”
