Jon K article: Vibes are down in Minnesota as Timberwolves limp toward NBA playoffs

[BleedGopher]

Per Jon K:

These moody Minnesota Timberwolves have ridden the emotional waves all season long. Now, just as the playoffs near, they have returned to the sunken place.

“It feels like we’re a million miles away from the team that we can be and that we are,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said after a 122-108 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. “We’ve got to get that back with our connectedness and our spirit.”

The Wolves (46-32) have lost three straight and are 6-9 in their last 15 games. Superstar Anthony Edwards has missed all but seven of those with a knee injury, and Jaden McDaniels (knee) has also been out for the last five games. The combination of injuries and desultory shooting from 3-point range has the Wolves slumping their shoulders, throwing towels on the sideline in frustration and searching for any kind of positivity as they try to lock down a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

It wasn’t long ago that Minnesota believed it could make a run at the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round. But the Wolves have slipped to 2 1/2 games behind the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets (48-29) with four games to play. They are three games ahead of seventh-seeded Phoenix (43-35), and need only one win and one Suns loss to ensure they avoid the Play-In Tournament.

“I know a lot of guys can get down individually if things aren’t going their way. We do have an emotional team, so it can spiral if it gets too crazy,” guard Mike Conley said. “It’s just about trying to keep everybody’s spirit up, understanding that we’re a really good team. Just because we hit a tough stretch, injury and whatever we’re dealing with, we have a lot in the tank, we have a very deep team, and we should still go out there and compete.”

Vibes are down in Minnesota as Timberwolves limp toward NBA playoffs

The Wolves still believe they can flip a switch when the playoffs begin. They believe that when shots start falling, the vibes will return.

www.nytimes.com

Howl Wolves!!

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Per Jon K:

These moody Minnesota Timberwolves have ridden the emotional waves all season long. Now, just as the playoffs near, they have returned to the sunken place.

“It feels like we’re a million miles away from the team that we can be and that we are,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said after a 122-108 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. “We’ve got to get that back with our connectedness and our spirit.”

The Wolves (46-32) have lost three straight and are 6-9 in their last 15 games. Superstar Anthony Edwards has missed all but seven of those with a knee injury, and Jaden McDaniels (knee) has also been out for the last five games. The combination of injuries and desultory shooting from 3-point range has the Wolves slumping their shoulders, throwing towels on the sideline in frustration and searching for any kind of positivity as they try to lock down a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

It wasn’t long ago that Minnesota believed it could make a run at the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round. But the Wolves have slipped to 2 1/2 games behind the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets (48-29) with four games to play. They are three games ahead of seventh-seeded Phoenix (43-35), and need only one win and one Suns loss to ensure they avoid the Play-In Tournament.

“I know a lot of guys can get down individually if things aren’t going their way. We do have an emotional team, so it can spiral if it gets too crazy,” guard Mike Conley said. “It’s just about trying to keep everybody’s spirit up, understanding that we’re a really good team. Just because we hit a tough stretch, injury and whatever we’re dealing with, we have a lot in the tank, we have a very deep team, and we should still go out there and compete.”

Vibes are down in Minnesota as Timberwolves limp toward NBA playoffs

The Wolves still believe they can flip a switch when the playoffs begin. They believe that when shots start falling, the vibes will return.

www.nytimes.com

Howl Wolves!!

The “flip the switch” strategy isn’t a winning culture; you grind your way to excellence.

The best thing that could happen long-term is to lose in the first round and the hiring of a new coach who believes in accountability; Finch’s comments are incredibly uninspiring.

Maybe this will wake them up that you need to show up every game, even when you’re tired or disinterested if you wanna EARN a chip.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

The “flip the switch” strategy isn’t a winning culture; you grind your way to excellence.

The best thing that could happen long-term is to lose in the first round and the hiring of a new coach who believes in accountability; Finch’s comments are incredibly uninspiring.

Maybe this will wake them up that you need to show up every game, even when you’re tired or disinterested if you wanna EARN a chip.

Just like elementary students see right through a teacher that doesn't hold them accountable. Respect goes right out the window.

My belief is Randle and DDV need to go. Randle too moody, plays when he wants to play.
It's been said DDV pouts if hes not starting. He also pouted last year competing with NAW for minutes.

Both of those guys need to go

 

[tikited]

Just like elementary students see right through a teacher that doesn't hold them accountable. Respect goes right out the window.

My belief is Randle and DDV need to go. Randle too moody, plays when he wants to play.
It's been said DDV pouts if hes not starting. He also pouted last year competing with NAW for minutes.

Both of those guys need to go

F' Donte's feelings. He's a bench player on a friendly contract. Keep him.

I want Randle gone!!

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

F' Donte's feelings. He's a bench player on a friendly contract. Keep him.

I want Randle gone!!

My hope is some other team overvalues him and we get something good for ddv. They have to extend him or he's even going to be a bigger bitch

 

[tikited]

My hope is some other team overvalues him and we get something good for ddv. They have to extend him or he's even going to be a bigger bitch

I still hold out hope he can be a positive player. Wants a big pay increase....play better.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

I still hold out hope he can be a positive player. Wants a big pay increase....play better.

Good luck