Minnesota’s kids smack down Raptors – lessons to be learned

Feb 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) looks to pass the ball around Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) on the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) looks to pass the ball around Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) on the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Raptors lost their second game in five to a poor team. Is our squad over-rated?

The Toronto Raptors pushed out to a Q2 lead that ballooned to 18 points, yet lost the lead, and ultimately the game, in the fourth. What happened?

The worm of doubt had set in early. There were a lot of matters out of joint. Jonas Valanciunas was called for two fouls before the game was three minutes old and had to sit down. DeMar DeRozan was getting to the free-throw line – and missing. Bismack Biyombo crammed in a shot, then landed loudly and painfully on his back. With JV in foul trouble, Lucas Nogueira had to come in. Luis Scola was more accurate from beyond the arc than a few feet from the rim. Kyle Lowry was putting up air balls, and ended the game one for seven from 3-point land.

Feb 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

All of these disturbing things happened before half-time; the 13-point lead the Raptors enjoyed seemed about as safe as walking on the ice on Lake Simcoe in March (for our non-Canadian readers: that’s big water about an hour north of Toronto where falling through thin ice is all too common; the result is…not optimal. And that’s true many times over if you’re on a snowmobile at the time).

Anyway, the crazy number of fouls called on the Raptors did not diminish in the second half. The 34 PFs Toronto was assessed is the highest number in any game this season. DeMar looked like he was going to get T-ed up several times, for calls both made and unmade.

In the sense of maintaining their cool, Minnesota looked like the veteran team on the floor. And we need to take a balanced view here; the T’Wolves played extremely well. As Carl Yazstremski, the Hall of Fame Red Sox outfielder, once said: “Sometimes you don’t make out. Sometimes the pitcher gets you out.” Karl-Anthony Towns scored 35 points in his fifty-fourth NBA game. Ricky Rubio’s three 3-balls made are the most he’s nailed in one game all season. The book on him is “Let him shoot”, but that view may be outdated. Andrew Wiggins had 26 points, and was in DeMar’s grill all night. He probably got away with some sneaky stuff that should have been called (the zebras had a very bad night); regardless, he’s a huge talent on both sides of the ball.

Ultimately what’s the takeaway from this most disappointing result? Never take an opponent lightly, and its corollary: ya gotta play the entire 48 minutes.

The Raptors were due for a stinker, yet still scored 112 points, a total which should win most games. They got four buckets from Norman Powell, who must have felt like a rock was removed from his shoulders. DD poured in 35. The team had four more field goals than Minnesota, yet was crushed by 43 made free-throws, compared to 24. Yes, our team lost to an inferior one, but the party’s not over yet.

The Raptors next play a week from tonight in Chicago. Let’s hope our walking wounded (DeMarre Carroll, James Johnson) are nearly ready to return. Will we see a trade by then?