There may not be many certainties in sports but count on the Timberwolves finishing the season with a robust losing streak. The Wolves, 14-54, have lost 10 consecutive games, and 16 of their last 17.
To the naïve this is bad news, but to many Wolves fans the losing streak is celebrated. The Timberwolves have the worst record in the Western Conference having lost six more games than their nearest “competitor,” the Golden State Warriors, 18-48. The disrespected New Jersey Nets have the NBA’s sorriest record at 7-60 and are a team that probably could make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Of course neither the Nets nor the Wolves basketball decision makers are much interested these days in whether you or I respect their teams. The more pathetic the records, the greater the odds of winning the NBA draft lottery and choosing No. 1 in the league draft this June.
The Wolves, who never have lucked into the No. 1 pick, could be more fortunate this year. Presumably that will result in Kentucky point guard John Wall, 19, joining up with the Timberwolves, already a young team with six players 24 or younger.
Wall will make the Wolves better but this is a franchise that collectively has to improve defensively. A lot. The Wolves rank second to last among NBA teams in defensive points per game at 107.4. Last night they gave up a franchise record 152 points in a 152-114 loss to Phoenix.
Coach Kurt Rambis knows the Wolves need to make personnel changes to better that defense. The acquisition of 7-foot, 24-year-old journeyman center Darko Milicic in February was an example, according to the Wolves’ first year coach. Unlike undersized power forwards Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, Milicic can guard opposing centers one-on-one.
Milicic has shown enough since coming here from the New York Knicks to make the Wolves hope he doesn’t make good on previously announced plans to play basketball in Europe next season. His career numbers per game support the journeyman label: 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, but Rambis contends it often takes young players, particularly big guys, time to mature and fulfill their potential as NBA players. With the Wolves Milicic, who is playing part-time and averaging about 22 minutes per game, has on occasion been one of the team’s best players such as last week against the Denver Nuggets when he had seven first quarter rebounds. In 11 games with the Wolves Milicic is averaging 5 points per game and 5.5 rebounds.
Milicic’s basketball IQ is welcome on a team that needs more smarts. He might set a timely screen, throw an unselfish pass or make a subtle defensive adjustment to help his teammates.
Rambis was asked last week if there was any player, past or present who Milicic reminds him of. “I am not saying that he relates to him or even resembles him but we were going through a practice the other day and he was catching the basketball and he was just throwing passes all over the place, picking out his teammates,” Rambis said. “Corey Brewer yelled out, ‘Arvydas Sabonis,’ which was surprising on two counts. That Corey actually knew who he (Sabonis) was. But also just his (Milicic’s) understanding of the game, and somebody of that size and capability who can put the ball on the floor. He can pass; can shoot the basketball from the outside, play with his back to the basket. …”
Sabonis, 7-4, was a legendary European center known for his gifted passing who came to the NBA past his prime. Milicic will never be a Sabonis but if he plays effectively in the Wolves’ 14 remaining regular season games, he will create some optimism about the franchise’s future. If Milicic is not so good, he helps in the drive to finish last in the Western Conference and luck into lottery bliss.