Open Thread: Back In the Bucket vs. Toronto

Game #56, Road Game #26: Minnesota 85, Toronto 107

Season Record: 12-44

Well the Foo Fighters were great until they strung a trio of their pop hits together at the encore–the hard rockers were their metier, and the acoustic set, while solid, simply disrupted their stride and made it difficult to settle back into that raging sweet spot when they returned. Serj Tankian (lead singer of System of a Down) was as daft and operatic on his own as he was with System, and Against Me! was a killer opening act churning for only half a house.

Uh, I was at Target Center tonight and the Wolves weren’t. Went to the concert with my son. Sorry to be obnoxiously glib up top. Was going to tape the game but I’m too swamped to guarantee a worthwhile analysis so, once again, the floor is open.

I did watch the first 1 and a half quarters, saw Foye’s boomlet of points that contributed to the quick start. I also note that Bosh went off for 28 a game after Boozer’s 34–slippage for Jefferson? Frankly, I didn’t think Jefferson played that badly on D vs. Boozer. And watching Bosh nail that well-guarded trey as the first quarter was ending was an omen that even good defense wasn’t going to stop him tonight.

But I wasn’t around for it so instead I’ll prompt with leading questions:

Shaddy five more attempts than any other Timberwolf, including 1-9 from trey territory. Was he ball hogging or trying to get the Wolves back in the game in a hurry?

Jefferson was 9-12 and Foye 7-10. I remember hearing Hanny say Foye had hit his first five shots. So why did he and Jefferson stop shooting? Too judicious? Good Raptor double teams? Other players dominating the ball? Bad pt guard play from Bassy?

Five turnovers for Craig Smith in less than 17 minutes? What’s up?

I see the Wolves forced only 6 turnovers after getting 24 vs Utah the night before? Was Wittman right to call out the ballclub? Did they lie down in the second half? As Toronto began to open up a little lead in the second just as I was turning off the set, it still wouldn’t have surprised me to have seen a close game result–they weren’t playing that badly. How and why did it crumble?

Or just give me your own take.