Minnesota Timberwolves need to learn how to close out ballgames
The Minnesota Timberwolves need to learn how to close out a game and they need to learn it quick.
There is a whole lot of talent on the Minnesota Timberwolves. There is a whole lot to worry about, too. The Timberwolves are never making any game too easy on themselves and it came back to bit them again on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards. A Wizards team that was without John Wall, by the way.
The Wolves managed to fumble away a solid lead in the fourth quarter at Target Center leading the Wizards to claim victory in the final seconds. Andrew Wiggins had multiple looks in the closing seconds to prop the Wolves up, but nothing ever hit.
The sad part is that this isn’t close to the first time this season that this season that the Timberwolves have done this. Heck, it isn’t the first time the Wolves have done this in the last handful of games.
On Sunday, the Wolves had a nice lead, but the Phoenix Suns brought it back to a 11 point game. Looking further back to November 22, the Wolves had almost a thirty point lead heading into the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic and ended up only winning by six. Looking back to November 19 and November 20, the Wolves had solid leads in games against the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets but lost both leads and both games. That’s just the last handful of games.
It is concerning. Sure, games will be lost during a season with 82 games, but the fact that virtually every game a very talented Timberwolves team plays in turns into a grind in the last few minutes is frustrating and maddening.
The Timberwolves should frankly be blowing some teams out. The firepower of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Wiggins should allow Minnesota put the pedal to the metal and cruise easily to victory. They don’t seem to want to do that.
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The struggles defensively of Towns and Wiggins, of course, play major keys in why Minnesota can’t close out these games.
Here’s the thing, though, the Wolves can’t simply ignore this. They need to somehow fix this issue. It is easier said than done, but it needs to be done. The Wolves are giving up these leads to mediocre teams right now in the month of November, just think how ugly that will be in April against the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets.
It is time for Tom Thibodeau to earn his contract. Get this team to play some defense and close out a game before it digs this team a hole it can’t get out of.
Next: 4 things the Timberwolves should be thankful for!
The Timberwolves will try to hold on to victory when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Tip from New Orleans is scheduled for 7:00 Central.