NFL
By: Randall Gimm
Head Coach of the Timberwolves Chris Finch has said, (paraphrasing) that it is not his job to get NBA players ‘ready to play’. With an average age of 25 for this roster and after so many cases of his team not showing up for lesser competition, blowing 10-plus point leads. It is clear that this team does not have the right mindset as they are trying to build consistency.
On Wolves Twitter, the words “Wolves Back” seemed to be repeated every three to five games. The Timberwolves have strung together several 3+ win streaks. Seven to be exact. But the ending to those streaks goes as follows:
A 2-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a 5-point loss to Dallas, a 17-point loss to Detroit, a 7-point loss to Sacramento, a 23-point loss to Philadelphia, a 7-point loss to Phoenix, and the Timberwolves finished the season with a 3-game win streak but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers after leading through 3 quarters.
The Hornets’ loss was from a 39-21 3rd quarter domination from the Hornets. The Dallas loss can be attributed to a 27-10 free throw differential in favor of the Mavericks. Detroit has a good young core, but when you compare the aspirations of the Pistons and Timberwolves, the Wolves should not be giving up a game to an aspiring young team.
That isn’t the only time we have seen the wolves not show up for lesser competition. I.e. the Rockets and Spurs early on in the season. The two worst franchises competing for the number one pick. Philadelphia is a contending team with an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid and a former MVP (multiple-time MVP runner-up) James Harden. The most recent Phoenix game was a bad whistle for the Wolves, they played very well in that game.
Finally, the loss to the Minneapolis Lakers (D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley all former Timberwolves), was after the Timberwolves led after 3 quarters and collapsed in the fourth with Anthony Edwards having an abysmal stat line. Edwards finished with 9 points on 3 of 17 shooting and 0-9 from three. Throw in 20 turnovers from the Wolves over the course of the game. That was the 19th game where the Timberwolves have lost after leading by 10 points or more. 2nd in the NBA.
All of that being said, regardless of the veterans that have been brought in (Rudy Gobert, Mike Conely, and Austin Rivers, this team is clearly still young-minded. This Timberwolves squad has shown flashes of ruggedness, and great scoring ability, and has shown no fear in several occasions against the league’s best. What is it going to take for this team to become consistent and progress toward a Western Conference Final?
I truly believe Chris Finch is one of the best X’s and O’s coaches in the league. But, when it comes to managing egos, expectations, and emotions, I feel he lacks in that area. The “fight” between Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gobert is a boiling point to this frictional season and if they lose in the second round of the play in to a Thunder or Pelicans team, that they know they can beat, the Timberwolves are going to have to make some drastic decisions if they truly want to contend with this group.
