The Minnesota Timberwolves: Bottomless Sadness
Nov 15, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Kevin Martin(23) dribbles as Dallas Mavericks forward
Al-Farouq Aminu(7) defends during the second quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
So, remember that awesome game Kevin Martin had Wednesday against the Knicks? Turns out he fractured his wrist in the early goings of that game, and is set to likely miss 4-6 weeks. This would be bad news in any case, but considering Ricky Rubio will be out for what looks like quite awhile, it is a particularly bad blow. The Wolves lean heavily on Martin to score, and now he is gone until no one knows when.
Thus continues a pattern that has existed since the dawning of the Wolves existence. Flashes of hope and potential, followed by crushing blows and exceeding mediocrity. This has always been an unduly unlucky franchise. Despite being near the bottom of the standings and near the top of the lottery many, many times, the Wolves have never won the draft lottery. The closest thing was this past off-season, when a string of events led to the Kevin Love–Andrew Wiggins deal. Even in that instance, getting the number one players in the last two drafts cost the Wolves their best player.
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Kevin Garnett was always relatively healthy, but did not have enough help to get over the hump. First, Stephon Marbury got jealous and begged out of town. A few nondescript seasons followed, until 2003-04. Kevin McHale landed Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. Finally, the Wolves had a team good enough to win the title. Good enough, that is, until Cassell hurt himself and then the Wolves got bounced by a Lakers team I will go to my grave believing was inferior to those Wolves. Greed again ruined our roster, as Spree decided he needed to feed his family and the team got blown up again. Soon, Garnett was gone and it was time to rebuild several more times.
Recently, hope rested on the shoulders of Love and Rubio. Both were injured often and as the supporting cast changed and at least generally improved, the playoffs still could not be reached. Had David Kahn not been recklessly poor at drafting, the Wolves would look completely different today.
That’s not to say there is no hope. I like the current roster. I like the Rubio extension. I like where this team is heading. I still hope they will finally get over the hump this time.
I’m just not holding my breath.