Growing Pains

Call it growing pains. It’s the dark before the dawn for a basketball fan. That point when your team is getting ohhhhh so close to wins but isn’t quite there. When those games where they are in control and look like a win is within reach and then the opponent roars back, takes control and steals it back.

Growing pains proved to be a serious pain for those watching the Wolves fall to OKC. And for that matter, the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Predictably, to a player, the Wolves knew both games in this week long stretch of 5 games in 8 days were there for the taking. After pounding Cleveland at Target Center, these guys expected to build a winning streak.

Couple of things. Compared to last season at this time, the Wolves are far better off and getting better. There’s vindication for the steadfast fan and those who’ve tried to find the positive during these days of retooling. You have to know it’s true if not for the numerous media members who are now in love with Kevin Love and warming to the team around him. The Wolves record may still be a bit too lopsided for most but here are five reasons that their continued improvement will pay off as the season continues:

1.) The emergence of Kevin Love as an all star and a monster rebounder. You can’t do anything without the basketball and Love grabs it for his team and is clearly the games top rebounder. In one year, Love has turned into a major “get” in the draft. He can score; he controls the boards and makes a contribution every single night. Love is also a draw for the locals. They can get their arms around this guy. The fact that he cares off the court too (see the K-Love Coat drive) will eventually make him one of the most loved players in Minnesota.

2.) Darko. So far so good and a guy this team needs. Out with an injury we all see how much he’s missed when he’s not in there. Milicic is a becoming a force in the middle as he’s blocking shots (on pace for 230 blocks which would be a team record), scoring and gaining long sought confidence. His teammates like him a ton and they know how important it is to have a tall tree in the middle of the lane, on both sides of the ball.

 
3.) Michael Beasley is not always going to hit the game winning shot like he has done (remember the Clippers) this season but he’s got “go-to” written all over him. He’s down to business in practice, he’s nothing like the mainstream media portrayed him upon arrival in Minnesota and again, his teammates really like him. The Wolves need this guy to win games and continue to get better. They know it, fans know it and so does Beasley. I like him. I like having a guy on the team who wants to carve up the other team by himself. We all know he can’t do it alone but he’s a giant chunk of the puzzle for the Wolves.

4.) The time after halftime. Somehow, someway and soon, the Wolves gotta’ figure out the third and fourth quarters. Their opponents know it too. Just watching the faces of the OKC players in the third quarter, there was no panic, no pressing. Just patience and the look of “been there, done that…we can rally on these guys…we’ll get it done”. SO patient was OKC that young veterans Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant flat out took over. Durant was a huge American this summer in the FIBA championships and he’s a budding superstar in the NBA. He just sliced the Wolves, in and out, on defense (that third quarter block on Wayne Ellington was classic) and even though he fouled out, Durant’s damage had been done. To turn more nights into wins rather than losses, the Wolves must figure out how to sustain great first half play against the good teams, not just the NBA’s have-nots. The Knicks on the road and OKC here are perfect and recent examples.

5.) Zebra snubs. Don’t expect breaks from the NBA referees. The winning teams, the consistent teams get more calls than the ragged, out of control and inconsistent teams. Some perfect examples in the loss to OKC. I’m sitting by fans at games who just go crazy by the calls. I do too. But, winning changes that. Drives fans crazy but that’s the deal.

I was watching the OKC game with an old friend from Seattle and as much as the Wolves season of struggle wears on them, they can draw some confidence from that Thunder crew. They were horrible just a few years ago and then they retooled (as Portland and Chicago and other teams have done) and now, everyone sees the transformation. That can and should be the story here.

They made great player selections, from the draft to free agency and non-drafted role players. They have a mix of young and older school coaches who’ve played in the league. There is strong camaraderie and a sense that when they walk out on the court together, they will leave with a “w”.

My Seattle friend was dying during this game. Remember, this was his old team playing against Minnesota and he’s cheering for the Wolves, snubbing and sneering at the Sonics-turned-Thunder and all the while, laying out some nuggets of wisdom and an outsider-looking-in view regarding the Wolves.

He agrees with most of my five-points and follows the Wolves closely. SeattleGuy insists it’s not sour grapes (if you don’t know, the Sonics were sold and moved to OKC a few seasons ago after more than 40 years in that region) that has him cheering for the Wolves. SeattleGuy says he’s like a lot of fans around the country. They see the “up side”, the possibilities in Kurt Rambis’ team. SG says there’s a lot to like and the Wolves, in his opinion, will get find that groove and get it turned in the right direction. It didn’t happen on the night my old friend wanted to see it. Sorry ‘bout that. I’m here for the long haul. I’m patient. It’s coming. See you in the stands and Happy Holidays!!