It’s been a week I’ll never forget.
Yeh, a couple of quick snow showers, the Twins opening on the road and the political TV yak yak jamming my head. Rush hour headaches and homework for my little one. The daily dash of life. So, something lost on many that will forever stick with me was a basketball game. It was a night on a business trip in which we watched the Wolves grow up.
A spatter of games remains in, as I put it time and again, one of the most challenging NBA seasons in T’Wolves history. But make no mistake about it, the Wolves made a huge statement the other night in Oakland.
The defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors are special. They are playing for history. Playing for the most wins ever over an NBA season. Playing for back to back NBA titles. So, a Wolves naysayer might bellow that the Warriors gave it away, perhaps, their hearts weren’t into this one game. That ain’t the case. Not even close. The Wolves grew up right before our droopy eyes as late Tuesday night moved into Wednesday morning. They did it on national TV. They went high-top to high-top against the best team in the NBA. And they whooped ‘em.
If you didn’t see it, then you have no idea how spectacular it truly was.
Impressive stats in a moment but do know this. “The O”, Oracle Arena as it’s now called, is a tough place to play for an opponent. It’s loud. It’s old. It’s meant to be a home court advantage and when the team is good, as the Warriors are now, it’s normally chalked up to be an “L” on the schedule on your visit. I’ve been as a media member and a fan. My wife will never go back after being treated rudely as a visiting fan. It’s tough.
So, what Minnesota did was, not only show up, they showed off. They kicked butt. And these stats were vital to that coming of age game:
>Golden State had the Wolves by 17-points and lost. Minnesota rallied with precision to win.
>the Wolves had a flare for the dramatic in overtime by outscoring GS 18-11. NO easy task. On the road. TV. Nerves. And the players were loving it.
>GS had not lost ALL season when leading at half. Make it now 61-1 please.
>Give it up for the Wolves “D”. Lost in the shuffle a bit is that yes, a lot of points were scored in this 124-117 win, but the Wolves forced 24 GS turnovers. That is impressive against a very fundamentally, tested team.
>How about Andrew Wiggins?! AW knocked down 32 points with 27 in the second half and OT. Just as importantly, his “D” was shutdown. AW had a career-best six steals.
>and KAT man. WOW! Just give him the Rookie of Year hardware now please. Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 points and 12 rebounds. KAT blocked two shots which gave him 132 for the season and allowed him to pass Kevin Garnett (131 blocks, 1995-96) for the team record. KAT now has 49 double-doubles this season.
>Let’s not forget Shabazz Muhammad. Bazz came off the bench to drop a career-best 35 points with 15-of-17 at the line. Bazz played around 39 minutes tonight and only missed 3 shots from the field. Shabazz is a key contributor on this team. That can’t be mentioned enough.
I couldn’t go to sleep with this late thriller unfolding from the Bay Area. That overtime was absolutely stunning when GS would pull back within a bucket; there was a play like KAT’s call, slicing through the lane with the sweet and soft flick of the ball into the bucket and then one. It was a game this young crew will simply never forget. Into the lion’s den and walked out the victor.
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Yes, it was the team’s 26th win on paper but so much more. It’s that turn of the corner which so many loyal Wolves fans have been waiting to see. Even if they didn’t stay up to see it.
Call me sappy if you’d like but as I was watching it unfold, I couldn’t help thinking that it was Flip’s touch at seasons end as well. Scoff if you’d like but this is a team, this is an organization, that’s been through the wringer this season. The Saunders' sudden death, new personalities and ideas now thrust upon this young group of professionals in a short amount of time under tremendous strain and unfathomable grief. Good karma was in the “O” air.
The Wolves are not only on the right path but they now can tell their critics to “lighten up” and give them some room to breathe. It takes time to build teams for the future and greatness. Piece by piece. A player here and a personality there. It comes together. Sometimes faster than others. But in time it shows its face and the Wolves did on the West Coast.
I’m not an “I told you so” kind of guy. I don’t even think of throwing something back at those who venomously disagree with me. But the Wolves have already won 11-games more than last year, they handed the NBA Champions a huge loss and most importantly, Minnesota’s back on the NBA map with even better things to come.
I loved this note that arrived in my e-mail hours after the win over the Warriors. Daniel wrote, “I truly enjoyed watching the Wolves beat Golden State. I read you often and admit, I’ve hammered you with a few emails. I can just imagine you loved it. You are one of the only media guys I know who actually has been on the bandwagon (as you call it). I don’t know how you do it because they drive me crazy but I do love the Timberwolves. Thanks and sorry for bad mouthing you. Game on”.
Wouldn’t that make YOUR day?! It did mine. And NO need for apologies Daniel. I get it. I get frustrated. But for all the angst that we fans feel, it’s nothing in comparison with the guys on the court, those Wolves staffers trying to sell tickets, the coaches working to get the boys to grow into basketball men. I loved your note and thank you.
As I said last week, these guys are simply too flat out good to be down too long. What I didn’t know is that they’d whip up on the Warriors to prove me right.
Thanks to the Wolves. It’s been a week to remember. It’s one I’ll never forget
Say What Rod?!
As always, I love your notes and I’ve answered a very poignant letter. But I thought this one was interesting and it certainly caught my eye. Thought you’d like it.
John writes, “Rod, I keep seeing Scottie Pippen spout on about the Bulls being a better team than the Warriors. How do you side on this one? And don’t sit on the fence or I’ll never read this or watch Game ON again. Keep up the good work”.
John, great letter! And since you give me no out, I lean Chicago. In 1996, I watched the Sonics hand the 72-win Bulls one of their few losses during the regular season then get handed their shorts in the NBA Finals. That Bulls team was special.
The Warriors are very good and have their place as such but the best team I ever watched is MJ’s Bulls. I also remember seeing the record setting 1970-71 L.A. Lakers (Chicago broke LA’s 69 wins for the record) with Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Jimmy McMillan and Coach Bill Sharman. No big man from the Bulls era matched Wilt and most fans have no appreciation for the greatness of West. THAT was an amazing team that made me smile as a young kid. In fact, that Lakers team introduced me to my love of the NBA game.
So John, thanks for the note and the short drive down NBA memory lane. Off the fence I appreciate all three teams but the Bulls get my nod.
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Got something to say?!
If you are a serious Timberwolves fan (and even the casual fan is allowed), drop me a note with your thoughts. Write me at rod@gameONtvMN.com.
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