The reeling Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t stand a chance against LeBron James and the Miami Heat Saturday night at Target Center, but that’s no excuse for the way they have played since starting the season 7-4.
At 9-11, the Wolves are a dismal 2-7 since beating the Mavericks at home on Nov. 30.
Granted, their only game last week was against the Heat, but the fact that their scheduled game against the Spurs in Mexico City was smoked out didn’t stop the analysts from dropping them lower in this week’s power rankings.
NBA.COM: No. 15 – The Wolves are 7-2 when they shoot 32 percent from 3-point range, but they’ve done that just once in their last 11 games. They were the worst jump-shooting team in the league last season and, despite the additions of Kevin Martin and a healthy Kevin Love, have actually been worse from the perimeter this year, with an effective field goal percentage of just 41.0 percent from outside the paint.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: No. 12 – The Wolves’ last six losses have come against the Heat, Thunder, Nuggets, Pacers, Rockets and Clippers, all of whom sit in the top 10 of our rankings. If it hadn’t been for a faulty generator in Mexico City, the Spurs might have been on that list, too.
ESPN: No. 13 – Anyone remember that 3-0 start? The Wolves won’t have too many fond memories of the season’s up-and-down opening quarter. The last week was especially trying due to the cancellation of their game in Mexico and the tough circumstances forcing K-Love to miss Miami’s weekend visit.
YAHOO! SPORTS: No. 14 – Smoke canceled the T’wolves’ game in Mexico City last week against the Spurs. The Wolves visit San Antonio on Friday.
CBS SPORTS: No. 13 – Do these guys want to wake up for us, please? Somebody get them a Red Bull or something.
Minnesota is about to start an important stretch of games between now and Christmas, with six of the next eight on the road.
- at Detroit
- vs Philadelphia
- at San Antonio
- at Memphis
- at Boston
- vs Portland
- at L.A. Lakers
- at L.A. Clippers
