We might have to settle for moral victories. We didn’t come into this season preparing to revert back to the old Minnesota Timberwolves mantra of accepting moral victories, but here we are. This wasn’t the outright circus that has been in town over the past few games, but it wasn’t the cure to the disease either.
The game ends 114-103. Some things improved, but too many things stayed the same. If the Wolves ever want to climb off this carousel of calamity, they need a lot more things to improve. There was more energy, a more pronounced intention to move the ball, and they never quite let go of the rope when Memphis was percolating. However, they got absolutely shredded on second chance points, cratering the successful defensive possessions they did get, a fact that consistently forced their head back under the guillotine every time they seemed destined to escape it.
Things are dire. Things need to change. There is no more benefit of the doubt or time to allow chemistry to build. The season is quickly getting away from the Wolves, and moral victories aren’t going to save it.
D’Angelo Russell: 0/10
Just an anchor dragging this ship to the bottom of the deep dark ocean. There were a lot of moments where this team looked capable of winning this game, but none of them came while he was on the floor. It’s coaching malpractice to have him out there playing starter’s minutes and it’s viewing malpractice to subject our eyes to the fucking misery he is providing.
Players go through shooting slumps, it’s only to be expected, but when it’s coupled with an unwillingness to work or try or leave any kind of fight out on the hardwood, well then it’s untenable. He is untenable.
Finished with 4 points (25% TS) and 8 assists in 27 minutes — -15.4 net rating.
Anthony Edwards: 9/10
The polar opposite of his plodding backcourt buddy. Just full of life. Full of the sparkle and joy that we’ve grown to love over time and missed thoroughly of late. And it started with off-ball movement, it started with backdoor cuts and curls around pindowns and the willingness to bin isolation-ball in favor of a more team-based approach. From there, his game sprouted forth like a beautiful blooming rose.
There were a couple of sweet lobs to Rudy Gobert that we haven’t seen before. Throw in a plethora of bruising drives with petal-soft finishes. Of course, a couple of pull-up triples, and a way more consistent effort to fight through screens and keep his head on a swivel defensively.
Didn’t get the result to rubber stamp the mastery of this night, but he needed to bust the slump he has been in. Consider it busted.
Finished with 28 points (73.4% TS), 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 38 minutes — +2.6 net rating.
Jaden McDaniels: 9/10
Back-to-back dazzlers by the skinniest, most gangly-looking motherfucker this side of the equator. Took the task of stopping the volcano that is Ja Morant head on and won more of their duels than any mere mortal has a right to win. Morant got his, he always will, but McDaniels was consistently poking balls away, coming up with loose balls, swatting shots away and just generally smothering and harassing and nipping at the heels in every point-of-attack foray.
That tenacity and effectiveness transferred to his offensive performance, as well. He buried a couple of spot-shots, consistently made smart cuts and tough finishes, and never dwelled too long on the ball. Just another really good night lost in the muck of a really bad season for his team.
Finished with 15 points (70.5% TS), 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks in 34 minutes — +0.2 net rating.
Karl-Anthony Towns: 2/10
Another anchor. Another night where the Wolves needed him and he was caught cowering. Another night where he proved why he is remarkably overstretched in a leadership role. Fouls out in 26 minutes. All of them caused by unnecessary stupidity or horrendous defensive positioning. Never forces his generationally good scoring prowess and ends up with just nine field goal attempts and four makes.
If there were ever a time for him to clean the sheets and stop shitting all over the bed, that time is now.
Finished with 13 points (60.4% TS), 10 rebounds and 4 assists in 26 minutes — -7.2 net rating.
Rudy Gobert: 6/10
Kind of just floated through the game, never wounding the team but never healing them either. The intention to get him the ball on lob attempts was nice to see and his finishing on such plays was too, but the Wolves were once again poleaxed by Memphis on the offensive glass and, despite his teammates constantly hanging him out to dry in that area, he wasn’t the cure-all that he was touted as. Despite a multitude of sweet stops at the rim defensively, he also wasn’t the lone warrior who could stop Morant’s explosions.
He needs to be better and he needs his teammates to help him more. Both of those things can be and are true.
Finished with 15 points (104.2% TS) and 6 rebounds in 35 minutes — -11.3 net rating.
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