Wolves Fold in Stretch
March 11, 2008
On one side of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ uniform shorts are the letters MT, appropriate enough when the Wolves came up empty in the fourth quarter in the team’s clash with the Portland Trailblazers at Target Center. Minnesota lost to Portland 103-96.
The defeat was similar to other games in the 2007-08 season when the Timberwolves took command earlier only to see the opponents kick in an extra gear in the final quarter and coast. This game, however, had the earmarks of something different. For one thing, the Wolves weren’t relying on their sole star Al Jefferson. Big Al started the game in the post and immediately drew double and triple team treatment. He was scoreless in the first quarter and scored on only one shot from the field in the second, yet Minnesota held a 54-50 halftime lead, thanks in no small measure to 13 points from substitute Craig Smith.
Minnesota kept up the pace in the third quarter and led by 79-77 at its completion. Portland coach Nate McMillan, meanwhile, aware that his team had played (and lost) the night before in Cleveland, made liberal use of his bench players. The tide turned in the fourth quarter with the Trailblazers’ starters on the floor. Now Minnesota was relying on Jefferson to do all the scoring and, to his credit, he did an admirable job (despite the double-teaming), making six of nine shots. The team’s letdown came from Jefferson’s supporting cast who played the fourth quarter with all the style and grace of a band of spastic marionettes.
With two minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the game, Portland took the lead for good after Ryan Gomes was whistled for traveling and Brandon Roy scored to make it 93-92. Later, James Jones nailed the coffin with a three-pointer and a 97-92 lead. The Timberwolves stumbled around in confusion following that.
“We had our chances,” moaned Minnesota coach Randy Wittman in the post-game press conference. “In the last four minutes they got to the line and we didn’t. I thought we had good looks, but we didn’t do a good enough job. We’ve got to get to the rim. We’ve got to get into the seams and then create an easy shot.”
McMillan praised his team’s intestinal fortitude. “It was gut-check time. This was our fourth game in five days, and their bodies are aching.” Nevertheless Portland was able to turn it on when it counted. “I thought our defense really tightened up. We got aggressive.”
Despite Wittman’s contention that “we’re making strides,” two Minnesota players who won’t be getting better as the season continues are Marko Jaric and Corey Brewer.
Jaric started the game and played well in the first quarter, driving the lane and scoring 10 points. After that, he ceased to be a factor. He was scoreless in the second half, and, in the crucial fourth quarter, floated an air ball that was rebounded by Portland, setting up a Steve Blake jump shot for two points and gave the Trailblazers a 91-90 lead. Marko is the latest in a long line of Euros named Stojko or Ygor or Gundars or Nikoloz who have failed to perform in a Minnesota uniform. The Timberwolves ostensibly have a European scout. The team would do well to save his salary and select foreign players from a catalog. Other teams get the Tony Parkers. The Timberwolves get the Ygor Rakocevics.
As for Brewer, he was listed in the March 9 edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press as one of the National Basketball Association players who was taken too high in the 2007 draft, an accurate assessment. He was selected by the Timberwolves in the first round as the seventh pick overall, which indicates that Minnesota apparently doesn’t have anyone scouting the United States either. Brewer, until his weaknesses became glaringly apparent, had actually started some games for the Wolves this year. By now it is well known that on offense he has no idea what to do with the ball and has no shot. His defense, once thought to be his strong area, is suspect as he often is deceived by shorter, quicker players or overpowered by larger, stronger ones. The presence of Joel “White Worm” Przybilla, former Golden Gopher and world-class pouter from Monticello, Minn., led a few on press row to speculate as to who would you rather have Brewer or Przybilla? After all, both throw up shots that haven’t a chance to go in the basket. Brewer is young and still has potential whereas Przybilla was born in 1979 and won’t ever get any better. However, Przybilla is 6-11, can rebound, block shots, and clog up the middle, things forever beyond the 6-9 Brewer.
Jefferson led Minnesota with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Rashad McCants came off the bench to score 18, and Gomes had 16 for the Timberwolves. Roy, who once was a timberwolf for a few minutes, led all scorers with 27 points, followed by LaMarcus Aldridge with 20.