Minnesota Timberwolves @ Portland Trailblazers
Date: November 13th, 2024
Time: 9:00PM CST
Location: Fashion Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio
Alright, let’s get real: that performance last night? Absolute dumpster fire. I can’t imagine the Wolves will sink lower than what we witnessed. It was one thing to blow a game against a halfway decent team, but to get rolled over by a squad they’d demolished by 25 points just days ago? In the first game of the NBA Cup? The lack of focus and drive was staggering. They should be ashamed. Not just an “off night.” This was a public humiliation, and frankly, they earned every bit of criticism coming their way.
And sure, I get it—many of you are shrugging off the NBA Cup like it’s some gimmicky midseason distraction. “It’s not the Finals!” But come on, if you’re in the NBA, you’re paid to compete. If you’re truly an elite team with any kind of pride, you step up in every game, gimmick or not. What we saw was the opposite of elite. I wrote about how the Wolves should be laser-focused, piling on a 30- or 40-point win to set the tone. Instead? We watched them trail by almost 20 to a young, hungry Blazers team. Unacceptable. Period.
They’ve got a shot at redemption tonight, but let’s be honest—even if they win by 50, last night’s stain won’t just wash off. This one’s going to linger, a black mark on their record all season. Tonight, they’re going to have to show they care, that they have an ounce of pride and a speck of self-respect. They played lazy, they played sloppy, they walked onto the court acting like the game was already in the bag. And they got rocked.
I couldn’t help but feel like Jimmy Fallon’s character in Fever Pitch—you know, when he realizes he cares about the Red Sox more than the players on the team? Last night, that was us. We’re out here, hoping, rooting, sweating every play, and meanwhile, the Wolves look like they’re just going through the motions. They’ve got the talent, no question. But talent without heart is wasted potential.
Now, they still have a shot to make it into the Cup tournament. They’ll need to take down the Kings, Rockets, and Clippers—no easy feat—and the wiggle room is gone. They’re going to have to play like it’s the playoffs, bring that urgency every single night, and let this serve as a reality check. If they can turn it around, they’ve got a chance. But the clock’s ticking. The leash is short, and every minute counts.
This team has NBA championship aspirations, right? Not just a piece of hardware from a midseason tournament. This group has the potential to make a deep run, but they have to actually want it. They have to want it more than we do, more than the fans who invest in every single game, every single play. Otherwise, what’s the point? Just clock in, cash out, and let the rest of us spare ourselves the frustration.
So here’s the deal: it’s gut-check time. Tonight in Portland, we’ll see if the Wolves show up with some actual pride. Time to cut the excuses and prove they’re a team with real aspirations. Championship teams don’t take nights off. This is a moment to turn things around, to show us they care.
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