Ahead by 29, Wolves lose at Dallas 107-100
Posted on December 31st, 2008 – 12:56 AMBy Jerry Zgoda
Go ahead.
You pick your own word to describe this one.
Embarassing.
Absurd.
Sickening.
Ironic.
Maybe even tragic.
But certainly historic.
The biggest lead a Wolves lead had blown in 20 seasons was the 25-point one against Seattle in March 2007, two months after Kevin McHale fired Dwane Casey as coach.
Funny, but who does McHale end up working the sidelines against Tuesday while his team kicked away a 70-41 lead just moments in the second half.
That’s right: Dwane Casey, the Dallas assistant coach who assumed command of his team after Rick Carlisle got ejected midway through the second quarter.
The Mavs set their franchise record for biggest comeback victory, beating the 25 they came back from to beat Denver in overtime in a 1994 game.
The Mavs’ measly seven personal fouls committed also were the second fewest ever by a single team in an NBA, two more than the Mavs had in a 1999 game against San Antonio.
Why didn’t Kevin McHale try to settle his team after the Mavs started back from those 29 points first with a 21-2 run?
He said he probably should have “burned” a few more, but said he was trying to get his team to play with more “pace” and “flow,” like they had demonstrated in the opening 25-plus minutes.
22 Responses to "Ahead by 29, Wolves lose at Dallas 107-100"
Weird game.
Great job fellas.
Especially our talented coach and master planner who was smart enough to assemble this wonderful group of winners.
Happy new year fans!
How about an extension before some other team steals our Kevin away from us.
How about who cares?
I love Brian Cardinal’s game. I mean what is not to like about this roster? I know Swan is with me, right Swan?
I love the Michael Cage hair reference on the last set of posts! Good stuff! Look, among all the leagues (granted I know nothing of hockey), the NBA is the hardest to get ‘good right away’, unless you pull a Boston Celtics and unite 3 hall of fame caliber guys.
Guaranteed contracts, refs who frequently give calls to the good teams, and the ultimate fixer - the commish (who I love and hate), makes rebuilding in the NBA looooong. OK - so the Portland Trailblazers did it right. They got Roy in the ‘06 draft and kept accumulating LOTS of young talent thereafter. Quite frankly - they are the only team in recent memory that built a team like that. Maybe Memphis will get there with their players, but I can’t think of a team that went from crappy to good in two or three years. The Golden State Warriors in 06? Maybe. The Clippers when EB had that awesome year? Hmmmmm. Both teams are not that great this year.
For a lot of reasons, their are a lot more growing pains in the NBA then the other leagues. I’m not excusing blowing a 29-point lead or one guy leading all rookies in scoring and another barely getting 25 minutes a game on a bad team, but big, glaring positive results are usually not going to be instant.
Pointless - Did the best defending Dirk ! Cardinal rules !
McHale managed it just right. He took his time outs. The team just folded. Last night: the best of time, the worst of times.
Of all the indignities this franchise has had to endure watching Brian Cardinal get significant minutes may be the worst of all. Jerry, what rationale does McHale offer for keeping this guy on the floor? He made several critical errors in the last few minutes that pretty much sealed the game including a terrible rotation off of Nowitzki that gave him an easy basket and flopping so theatrically in an effort to try to draw a foul that Dallas was able to swing it around for a wide open three.
It’s absolutely amazing to me that they haven’t just bought him out.
I’m betting McHale’s answer would include the words “basketball IQ”.
They quit playing defense, simply as that. Out of position the hole second half. All I seen were wolves players chasing mavs players all over the court. Also Al Jefferson is a great player,but his help D and overall D is pretty poor. If the wolves good play “team” defense they would have a much better record.
This loss was on Kevin McHale.
The players were shell shocked in the 4th minute of the 3rd quarter, and did McHale call a TO? Did he call a single TO in the entire 3rd quarter when a 29 point lead was dwindling? I mean for the love of christ we needed a Time Out when the lead dropped under 20…
McCants didn’t play a single minute in the 3rd quarter after having a very solid 1st half, and he’s actually playing better… going for steals, and less terrible moments on defense lately.
What the hell is up with the Brian Cardinal love fest with McHale? Is he going to be the answer for this team? NO!
Gomes was hot as heck in the 1st half, and disappeard in the 2nd half as well.
I didn’t see anything in the 2nd half of that game. If this team can’t play because it’s a back to back… well they have 20 plus back to backs every single year… and they are all getting paid millions of dollars… get in shape, and grow a pair of testicles boys!
NBA Trade rumor…
Telfair and McCants to the Knicks for Marbury.
First of all… how the heck does that work with Marbury’s contract?
second of all, if we have Marbury back here with McHale I think that is a great sign that we all need to start going to religious centers because it’s the end of times!
I would rather die than ever see Marbury in a Timberwolves uniform ever again. Ricky Davis is Ricky Cancer, but there is only one Idiotbury… the worst A$$hole that has ever been in the NBA. The fact that he’s even considered an NBA baller at this point in time disgusts me far more than McHale, Wittless, Glen Failure…
But putting them all together and I stop caring about the NBA.
Marbury would be a death nail!
I would not put much stock into that rumor. That would be way too much to give up for a player who’s primary value is an expiring contract.
That said if Marbury were a FA I think he’d be a fine pickup. You roll the dice and he may be a better short term option than anything else on the roster, if he’s not or if he’s a problem you cut him. Big deal.
And it’s death knell by the way, BC.
On another note Jerry is there any indication coming from Taylor that they may clean house in the off-season? This is unfortunately starting to look a lot like the Detroit Lions situation where an owner’s unwavering loyalty is hurting the franchise. The Lions finally booted Millen but are just retaining the same staff that he assembled, and the Wolves have sort of dumped McHale but are also just keeping his front office mates on board.
Shouldn’t it be clear to Taylor that they need some new thinking? Whatever they’re trying to do up there it’s really not working.
B.C.
Marbury is not coming here, but what do you mean by your comments?
“Marbury would be a death nail!”
Are you implying that it would break up the “team” and they might not continue to play at this high level?
That’s funny. Thanks.
Does anyone else see the obsurdity of playing Jefferson and Smith at the same time? I almost threw the remote at the TV in the second half last night. I would rather see Mark Madsen play instead of Smith. I don’t think that man has the talent to play in the d-league. He won’t rebound or play defense. Sounds like Jefferson doesn’t it???? Playing at the same time you almost could lose a 29 pt lead!!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year
What I meant (and thanks for death knell) my hearing isn’t as good as it should be.
Was that bringing Marbury back would be the last nail in the coffin before I gave up on the NBA, and the Timberwolves.
Not even a change of ownership at that point in time would get me back I don’t think.
I F’ing hate Idiotbury. He is the only person in basketball I like less than Kevin McFailedabortion.
Pauly,
I kind of like Smith, but he should be a 10th-11th man on a team, not a starter, or 1st option off the bench.
I think they’ll be a new basketball boss come next summer. Whether that person gets to bring an entire new staff in depends on how big of a hire it is and how much Taylor is willing to invest to to try to turn this thing around. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Flip as GM or GM/coach. I think they’ll be more change than not. I don’t see him just tabbing Fred Hoiberg to replace McHale.
Don’t see Hoiberg replacing McHale as VPO or as coach?
Please, please, please … no Flip!
We need fresh faces with NO connection to this mess in any form.
Don’t agree with Sean on some of his assessment of the players on the team, but I am 100% with him on getting a whole new perspective.
If they do bring Marbury back, I promise you this, I will never ever go to another Wolves game. He is the T.O of the NBA and I can speak for a few of my friends, too. We should have been starting Mayo and Roy alongside Jefferson. And how about trading Love/Cardinal for someone who at least can move their feet?
