Losses Continue to Pile
December 2, 2009

Two teams entered Target Center with the two worst records in the NBA Western Conference. When the game was over, the weakest of the pair had lost. The Memphis Grizzlies, now with seven wins and 12 defeats, defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, whose record now stands at two wins and 16 losses. The final score was Memphis 97, Minnesota 95.

Surprisingly, this game did not turn out to be the comedy of errors one might expect. Both teams executed well with a minimum of errors, and the most experienced team won. Minnesota is still struggling, trying to feel its way with a new coach, Kurt Rambis, and his new system. General manager David Kahn, apparently trying to wipe out all traces of his predecessor, Kevin McHale, has drastically altered the team’s roster from last season. It’s up to Rambis to turn Kahn’s players, who come from varied backgrounds, into a cohesive unit. So far the coach has failed, as evidenced by the team’s 2-16 record. Only the pathetic New Jersey Nets at 0-18 keep the Wolves from being recognized as the NBA’s most horrible team.

Last night, with game tied at 88 with less than five minutes to play, Memphis’ Rudy Gay scored consecutive baskets. to give the Gizzlies a 92-88 lead. Minnesota’s Al Jefferson, who was held to 12 points on the night, cut the Memphis lead to two with a pair of free throws with 2:08 to play. After power forward Zach Randolph stretched the Memphis lead to 96-92, Minnesota’s Ryan Gomes hit a three-point basket to cut the lead to one.

Both teams missed key free throws in the final seconds. When O.J. Mayo missed the second free throw with 10.8 seconds to play, Minnesota had its chance. With the Wolves down 97-95, substitute point guard Ramon Sessions drove to the basket and was fouled with 1.8 seconds to play.

Sessions missed his first free throw attempt, and those in the announced crowd of 11,408 let out a collective groan. Under orders to deliberately miss his second attempt, Sessions succeeded but his teammates couldn't secure the rebound. The crowd filed out of the building in silence. A pattern has developed that sees the Timberwolves coming on strong in the first half before wilting in the second. In this contest, Memphis limited Minnesota to only two field goals in the final four minutes.

This was a Memphis team that previously had played four games on the road starting on November 25. On Monday, the Grizzlies lost to the Utah Jazz, 120-93. Wednesday night, Gay and point guard Michael Conley showed just how important they are to the Grizzlies as both missed the Utah game. Gay was attending a family funeral while Conley was out with a left shoulder injury. With Memphis trailing the Timberwolves by eight midway through the third quarter, Gay scored six points in a 15-5 run that gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the night. Minnesota turned the ball over nine times after halftime.

When the game was over, the official scorer noted that Gay, Randolph, and Conley each had scored 20 points. The Memphis bench players contributed only a dozen points, all by Sam Young. Memphis coach Lionel Hollins has established a cohesive starting lineup with Gay, Conley, Randolph, Mayo, and center Marc Gasol, younger brother of the Lakers’ all-star Pau Gasol. Rambis, meanwhile, keeps changing his starters game after game, searching for some sign of cohesion between newcomers and former McHale players Jefferson, Gomes, and Corey Brewer. None of the Rambis lineups have clicked for more than a few minutes on the floor.

In 13 seasons, the Grizzlies have managed to win more than 28 games only three times. This is a path that the Minnesota franchise is desperately trying not to follow.