Photo by Fernando Medina, NBAE/Getty Images
I could have written this recap last night, but I didn't feel like it. I had better things to do. The Magic had the same mindset earlier in the evening when they blew a fourteen-point lead to a Minnesota team still winless in thirteen tries on the road against Eastern opponents.
What'd we do well last night? Uh, we hit our three-pointers. That's about it.
- We didn't rebound (46-31 overall, 29-19 in the second half)
- We didn't hit our free throws (9 misses in a game we lost by a single point)
- We didn't do a good enough job getting the ball to Dwight Howard when it mattered (just two field goal attempts in the fourth quarter)
- We didn't close out on the Timberwolves' shooters (Randy Foye and Rashad McCants went 8-of-12 in the fourth quarter)
- and overall we just didn't give a damn, which is why some of the fans in attendance booed the team as it left the floor.
Sure, there were some nice plays; Rashard Lewis' follow dunk (pictured above) was nice, as was Adonal Foyle's open-floor rejection of Corey Brewer. But overall, it was a night to forget. If we don't win our final three games in convincing fashion, I'm going to be furious. Apathy extinguished the fire that motivated this team earlier this season. Hopefully, Stan Van Gundy and the coaching staff can light it once more before the playoffs start. Otherwise, we're headed for a first-round exit.