For a team that's trying to claw their way back into the playoffs after a near decade-long drought, the Timberwolves have played A LOT of bad games this season, but tonight's may very well top them all! A loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings is far worse than any other loss we've suffered this season. There's plenty of blame to go around... Jon sums up my feelings exactly. I cannot understand why Adelman continues to try the same schemes and rotations game in and game out and expect different results. I cannot even fathom a reason that Adelman didn't play Luc Richard Mbah a Moute tonight! It makes absolutely zero sense to me. Here you're facing a team that Mbah a Moute was playing for at the beginning of the season against one of the premier offensive scoring forwards in the NBA in Rudy Gay. Brewer did his best, but he just couldn't get the job done--the same goes for Budinger. Mbah a Moute should've played tonight and while the fact that he didn't isn't the reason we lost--it's one of many. The Wolves have a great offensive squad that can put points on the board, but as always the defense is absolutely putrid. When you allow Derrick Williams to shoot 7-for-11 from the field, you know you've had a terrible, terrible night. For those giving Derrick well wishes...why? My feelings toward Williams mirror those that Jim Peterson shared on tonight's broadcast. Ultimately: If he can play good like this tonight, why couldn't he do that during his time in Minnesota and if he's motivated and playing harder because it's against his former team--why can't he muster that kind of motivation every time he steps on the floor--if he was able to do that he'd still be in Minnesota. Williams finished the night with 16 points in 28 minutes off the bench. A 7'8" rim protector like Muresan would certainly help, but you know what I'd REALLY like? How about some guards who can stay in front of their man?! Between Barea, Rubio & Martin I've never seen players get caught up on screens on such a consistent basis and then blame Pek & Love because they don't rotate over quick enough. While I agree that a shot blocker on the inside would help--better perimeter defense could also solve some of those problems!
The Wolves are now 0-11 on the season in games decided by four points or fewer. They can't beat the teams they have to beat (Cleveland, Boston, Sacramento), the teams they need to beat (Denver, Dallas, Lakers) or the teams they need to steal some games from (Clippers, San Antonio, Indiana, Miami, Golden State, etc). If things don't change in the very near future, it will be yet another lost season in Minnesota and all summer long we'll get to hear the Kevin Love rumors circulate daily. The problem is that Adelman refuses to try anything different. I don't think we should start any kind of #FireRick campaign, but he's got to embrace the fact that things aren't working--until that happens expect to remain under .500 and well out of the playoff picture. The Wolves return to action on Friday night in Toronto vs. the Raptors.
1 Comment
Chip
1/17/2014 01:10:02 am
I've been kinda ticked off at Adelman too... something is off and the adjustments aren't being made... normally we crush bad teams, but then just struggle and come up a bit short against good teams, what's with that!!! K-Love seems to be not as clutch this year as he was 2 years ago either...
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