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Dallas coach Rick Carlisle has no illusions about the transformation taking place in Minnesota. He’s already seen it first hand.
“Not only is there hope, there’s a good basketball team here that is challenging for the playoffs—you don’t have to convince us, because we’ve lost to them two in a row,” Carlisle said.
The change in atmosphere around the Wolves this season is as blatant on the court as it is in the numbers. Minnesota lost 18 of its previous 19 games against the Mavericks heading into the season, but the Timberwolves beat them at home on Jan. 1 and on the road Jan. 25, opening up an opportunity for their first season-sweep of Dallas since 1995-96.
What’s been the biggest key to their success against the Mavs this year? For one, forward Kevin Love said the Wolves have been able to close down the stretch.
“Defensively down the stretch, it’s us getting stops,” Love said. “Obviously we’re putting together some runs and got to the free-throw line, but I think it’s the fourth quarter. The last 5-6 minutes of the game. Getting stops against a good team, a team that was able to execute and obviously win the NBA title last year, the World Championship. If we continue to do that, keep taking the right steps in the right direction, we’re going to be better off against a team like Dallas.”