While the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown..." - Don McLeanThe Minnesota Timberwolves knocked down the defending champion Dallas Mavericks at Target Center tonight, winning 99-82 for their first win of the season, and their first victory in 20 tries stretching back to last season. The Wolves are now UNDEFEATED in 2012. The Mavericks looked much more like a 1-4 team than the Larry O'Brien Trophy raisers tonight. Here's the box score action.
<-- J.J Barea's current team looked more champion-like this New Year's Day. (Associated Press photo)
For once this season, the Timberwolves decided not to get down by a significant amount at any point in this game, and despite a few stretches of very poor play, they still came away with a 17-point victory.
This game was as much about Dallas struggling as it was Minnesota putting together a great game. Considering Dallas' off-season moves, including key losses and acquiring tough-to-plug-in malcontents, combined with the Mavericks' poor play to begin the season, I came into tonight fully expecting the Timberwolves to win this game. It might sound ridiculous given Dallas' recent rise to the top and the Timberwolves half-decade-plus mediocrity, but I genuinely believed the Wolves had the more talented and cohesive team at this point. As long as the Wolves kept the game in a place where Dirk Nowitzki couldn't single-handedly win with some last-minute heroics, I felt the Wolves matched up well in size, speed, athleticism, and skill. The only advantage I saw the Mavericks having coming in was experience, but their team seemed hastily put together and full of big-name players who were either past their primes (see: Jason Kidd, Vince Carter) or used to different systems (see: Lamar Odom).
On top of getting a win, the Timberwolves had several highlight-worthy plays, especially a dime by Rubio where he threw the ball between Dirk's legs to an open Anthony Tolliver in the corner for a three. This game was a showcase of two teams heading in different directions: the Wolves on the rise, and the Mavericks on the fall.
Other observations:
1) Per usual, Kevin Love was spectacular. 25 points on 9-16 shooting, 17 boards, and a winner's swagger. The Timberwolves need to lock this man up. Not only does he put up terrific numbers, he does it efficiently, and he's improved just about every aspect of his game from season to season.
2) I don't write about Rubio as much as everyone else, but make no mistake, I love watching him play. This team is a much more entertaining product, and he's one of the key reasons for that (when he's on the floor). 14 points (including a pair of threes), 7 assists, 4-4 on free throws, and generally looking to score when it worked best for the team. Trust me, I'm as pumped as everyone else. Speaking of free throws...
3) I didn't complain much up top because they won handily, but 17-24 for 70.8% is pretty pathetic. The Wolves have to get their acts together from the line.
4) As quick as I am to criticize, I am also game to praise. Michael Beasley had an all-around nice game. I felt he played within what the team was doing, showed great effort on the defensive end of the ball, limited his bad-shooting choices, and had a few key rebounds in traffic down the stretch. In other words, he did what I wish he did every game.
5) Welcome back to J.J. Barea. It's still nice having a guy on this team that tries to get in the lane and knows what he's doing when he gets down there. Speaking of guys getting in the lane...
6) ...just the opposite is Wes Johnson. Wes looks lost this season. Again, if he cannot consistently get himself open looks off screens or just generally moving without the ball, then also knock those shots down, his minutes are going to suffer. Through five games, I feel like he has regressed in almost all respects. I think Coach Adelman should give Wayne Ellington a serious look at more of Wes Johnson's minutes. As for struggling players...
7) As a fan of an opposing team playing the Dallas Mavericks, I could watch Vince Carter do Vince-Carter things all day. My favorite Vince moment was watching him pay close attention to Crunch try to juggle while Rick Carlisle was managing a huddle. I also love watching Vince do some of the things other once-athletic, now-older stars do like shooting turnaround, fade-away jumpers. The only difference is that players like Kobe and Jordan relentlessly worked on their games to hone those veteran-savvy moves while Vince makes those moves seemingly believing that they should come effortlessly.
8) Another nice game for Anthony Tolliver. AT is going to draw a lot of tough guards this season, as he just came off a game guarding LeBron down the stretch only to find himself face-to-face with Dirk Nowitzki. Tolliver and the other Wolves guarding Dirk did a wonderful job making sure Dirk almost always had to look shoot over someone's arms.
9) We're 3 for 3 on Loon's Nest air balls at halftime. Today's "shooter" picked the three point shot.
10) What would you do for a Klondike bar? I think the PR guys at Target Center blew their loads opening night with the tattoo. Tonight all one had to do was drink the juice from a can of black olives.
11) The defending champions weren't the draw the Thunder & Heat were as the upper level looked pretty empty.
See you at Target Center tomorrow night for the San Antonio Spurs. The last time I watched them on a non back-to-back or the front end of back-to-back, they destroyed the L.A. Clippers.
<-- J.J Barea's current team looked more champion-like this New Year's Day. (Associated Press photo)
For once this season, the Timberwolves decided not to get down by a significant amount at any point in this game, and despite a few stretches of very poor play, they still came away with a 17-point victory.
This game was as much about Dallas struggling as it was Minnesota putting together a great game. Considering Dallas' off-season moves, including key losses and acquiring tough-to-plug-in malcontents, combined with the Mavericks' poor play to begin the season, I came into tonight fully expecting the Timberwolves to win this game. It might sound ridiculous given Dallas' recent rise to the top and the Timberwolves half-decade-plus mediocrity, but I genuinely believed the Wolves had the more talented and cohesive team at this point. As long as the Wolves kept the game in a place where Dirk Nowitzki couldn't single-handedly win with some last-minute heroics, I felt the Wolves matched up well in size, speed, athleticism, and skill. The only advantage I saw the Mavericks having coming in was experience, but their team seemed hastily put together and full of big-name players who were either past their primes (see: Jason Kidd, Vince Carter) or used to different systems (see: Lamar Odom).
On top of getting a win, the Timberwolves had several highlight-worthy plays, especially a dime by Rubio where he threw the ball between Dirk's legs to an open Anthony Tolliver in the corner for a three. This game was a showcase of two teams heading in different directions: the Wolves on the rise, and the Mavericks on the fall.
Other observations:
1) Per usual, Kevin Love was spectacular. 25 points on 9-16 shooting, 17 boards, and a winner's swagger. The Timberwolves need to lock this man up. Not only does he put up terrific numbers, he does it efficiently, and he's improved just about every aspect of his game from season to season.
2) I don't write about Rubio as much as everyone else, but make no mistake, I love watching him play. This team is a much more entertaining product, and he's one of the key reasons for that (when he's on the floor). 14 points (including a pair of threes), 7 assists, 4-4 on free throws, and generally looking to score when it worked best for the team. Trust me, I'm as pumped as everyone else. Speaking of free throws...
3) I didn't complain much up top because they won handily, but 17-24 for 70.8% is pretty pathetic. The Wolves have to get their acts together from the line.
4) As quick as I am to criticize, I am also game to praise. Michael Beasley had an all-around nice game. I felt he played within what the team was doing, showed great effort on the defensive end of the ball, limited his bad-shooting choices, and had a few key rebounds in traffic down the stretch. In other words, he did what I wish he did every game.
5) Welcome back to J.J. Barea. It's still nice having a guy on this team that tries to get in the lane and knows what he's doing when he gets down there. Speaking of guys getting in the lane...
6) ...just the opposite is Wes Johnson. Wes looks lost this season. Again, if he cannot consistently get himself open looks off screens or just generally moving without the ball, then also knock those shots down, his minutes are going to suffer. Through five games, I feel like he has regressed in almost all respects. I think Coach Adelman should give Wayne Ellington a serious look at more of Wes Johnson's minutes. As for struggling players...
7) As a fan of an opposing team playing the Dallas Mavericks, I could watch Vince Carter do Vince-Carter things all day. My favorite Vince moment was watching him pay close attention to Crunch try to juggle while Rick Carlisle was managing a huddle. I also love watching Vince do some of the things other once-athletic, now-older stars do like shooting turnaround, fade-away jumpers. The only difference is that players like Kobe and Jordan relentlessly worked on their games to hone those veteran-savvy moves while Vince makes those moves seemingly believing that they should come effortlessly.
8) Another nice game for Anthony Tolliver. AT is going to draw a lot of tough guards this season, as he just came off a game guarding LeBron down the stretch only to find himself face-to-face with Dirk Nowitzki. Tolliver and the other Wolves guarding Dirk did a wonderful job making sure Dirk almost always had to look shoot over someone's arms.
9) We're 3 for 3 on Loon's Nest air balls at halftime. Today's "shooter" picked the three point shot.
10) What would you do for a Klondike bar? I think the PR guys at Target Center blew their loads opening night with the tattoo. Tonight all one had to do was drink the juice from a can of black olives.
11) The defending champions weren't the draw the Thunder & Heat were as the upper level looked pretty empty.
See you at Target Center tomorrow night for the San Antonio Spurs. The last time I watched them on a non back-to-back or the front end of back-to-back, they destroyed the L.A. Clippers.
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