“Anything different is good.” — Bill Murray as Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day”

Wolves coach Randy Wittman opened tonight’s postgame press conference by asking what day it was. Everyone knew what he was getting at, but no one answered the noticeably baffled coach. So he answered his own question: Groundhog Day - as in Wittman feels like he’s trapped in the same nightmarish situation over and over. And, well, it looks that way from press row, too.

Another double-digit lead lost tonight, this time up 12 on the Trail Blazers with 5:34 to play in the third quarter. And then poof! It was gone.

Give credit to the Blazers’ Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, who took over in the fourth quarter. Minnesota, though, again let a game fly away like a parking ticket in the spring breeze (yes that’s drawing from personal experience …)

Wittman tonight was all about preaching togetherness. As in, his team needs some. This quote is my game story, too, but here it is for you blog readers:

“Until we get 12, 15 players on the same page willing to do the same things we’re supposed to do - when I have to substitute because guys don’t want to play the right way, we’re not going to win close games. You’re not going to. That’s going to come back and bite you every time.”

Wittman said he wasn’t sure if some of his players were more worried about their personal statistics or what. He was asked if he was referring specifically to Rashad McCants, who was benched for the entire fourth quarter after a 2-for-9 showing on mostly rushed shots in less than nine minutes of floor time.

“Next,” Wittman said.

There is clearly something amiss with this team. Players are frustrated (Telfair on being 1-7: “Frustrated. Aggravated. Embarrassed. Disappointed.”). Coaches are frustrated (Wittman on what happened down the stretch in tonight’s loss: “Execution again.”). And the fans? Their quote at the end of the game says it: “Booooo.”

Less than 19 hours from now the Wolves tip-off with the Nuggets in Denver. In its last three road games, Minnesota has given up leads of 10 points or more. And we know what happened tonight. Does the revolving door stop?

Mr. Zgoda is set to give you the Mile High scoop. Check back for his reports.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 16th, 2008 at 12:36 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.