Game #78, Home Game #39–Dallas 105, Minnesota 88
1. KG “Hurt”–And Gone for Good?
For the first time in a dozen years, there is a distinct possibility that the Minnesota Timberwolves will not take the floor with Kevin Garnett to start the year in the 2007-08 season. Garnett has been put on the shelf with a right quad injury that everyone knows would not prevent him from performing if it were beneficial to the Wolves future to win rather than lose games at this point in the season. He has an opt-out clause in his contract at the end of next season, meaning that for the Wolves to get full value in a trade, they would probably have to move him during this off-season. Then there is the question of whether even KG’s patience has finally run out after three straight pathetic seasons out of the playoffs.
My gut feeling, right now, is that Garnett stays, at least through the mid-point of next season. That assumes the team will keep their draft pick and be choosing among the top 7-8 teams in the lottery this summer. But, hey, I’m only guessing and so is everyone else. The point is, like the rest of us, Garnett is sick of this season, tired of the same old April bullshit, tired of hearing for the past 12 months that all the team needed was a tweak or two, then that all the team needed was some consistency, then that all the team needed was better chemistry–and when all that dense delusion was exposed as being clueless wishful thinking, THEN hearing that McHale and Wittman were probably coming back.
Seriously, what can anyone from the front office tell the fan base with a straight face at this point in the proceedings? It already almost too late for people to do the honorable thing and resign.
2. The Usual Suspects
Dallas had nothing to play for, having already secured the top record in the entire NBA. They sat their MVP candidate, Dirk Nowitzki. They sat their starting center, Erick Dampier. They sat their starting point guard, Devin Harris. They sat their 6th man, Jerry Stackhouse. They had Austin Croshere and Devean George in the starting lineup and gave rookie Maurice Agar the second-most minutes of anyone on the team. They also were outscored in the second and fourth quarters and tied in the first.
Ah, but the third quarter. With 6:36 to go, the score was tied at 63. At the end of the period it was 66-86. And who was on the court for most of that blitzkrieg? Mark Blount, Ricky Davis and Mike James, with Craig Smith and Marko Jaric along for most of the dysfunctional ride. So, what happened Coach Wittman?
“Ball domination. I think we had two guys score. I just thought our offense was terrible, which led to bad defense.”
Yes, indeed, Mike James had 11 of the team’s 15 points for the period, taking 6 shots and earning zero assists. The other four points belonged to Mark Blount on 2-4 FG. Davis had the club’s only two assists of the period but missed all 4 of his shots. Smith likewise was 0-4 and Marko was 0-1–ditto Randy Foye and Rashad McCants, who came in in the last 2-3 minutes and couldn’t stop the bleeding.
It is good to know that the veteran tankers did not let up with the decision to waylay Garnett. And good to see that Wittman didn’t chance fate but subbing in hustle, fundamental guys like Hassell and Madsen. Philly beat Boston tonight, so that draft pick is a wee bit more secure.
3. Consolation Prize
The game’s two high scorers for their respective teams, Croshere with 19 and Justin Reed with 17, got tied up under the boards and nearly came to blows at the other end, each earning a technical. Bracey Wright demonstrated admirable restraint by attempting just one shot in 12 minutes of play–the entire garbage time 4th quarter in a garbage time point of the season. Wright must believe that everyone knows he can shoot, and concentrated on grabbing three boards, doling out a dime and playing decent defense.
Hassell played 11:13 and was +1 in a 17-point loss. Madsen played 10:57 and was even.
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