Before the Timberwolves scribble "must win" onto any more of the dates on their 2006-07 calendar, they might want to write "must defend" into a few of the boxes first.
In their three most recent games, the Wolves have scored 104, 94 and 107 points, more than enough to win had they maintained the defensive scoring average (93.4) that had carried them through their first 21 games with pride, at least on one end of the court.
Instead, they gave up 108, 111 and, in a six-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at Target Center, a season-worst 113. Their defensive average, in one week's time, has bloated to 94.8. Worse, the right side of the Wolves' won-lost record has bloated with four consecutive defeats.
Turns out, like a lot of holiday shoppers, the Wolves have been victims of identity theft.
"It could be focus," forward Kevin Garnett said. "It could be individual mindsets, what guys are thinking. We won a couple [four actually] in a row, and maybe we got a little complacent with that.
"Whatever it is, we need to go back and look at how we were winning games. Things were a lot more promising on defense. We weren't missing assignments as much as we are now."
The Wolves (10-13) tried to convince themselves afterward that they were sievelike only before halftime, when they trailed 59-52. In truth, they only made it difficult for Milwaukee to score for a stretch in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Bucks (12-14) hung another 30 points on the board.
The inability to get defensive stops when they needed them didn't get in the way of the entertainment; the final quarter had the pace, intensity and edginess of a playoff game.
Offensively, the Wolves looked well-oiled and aggressive, with Garnett, Mike James and Ricky Davis combining for 75 points. Problem was, Milwaukee is better at that game, and got 83 points from a three-headed backcourt of Michael Redd, Charlie Bell and Mo Williams.
Those three used the basketball like a baton, with Redd scoring 12 in the first quarter, Bell getting 17 in the second and Williams fending off Minnesota late with 16 in the fourth. Down the stretch, after the Wolves tied for the last time at 102-102 with 3:17 remaining, there never was any sense that they could throw a net over the Bucks.
In fact, that tie lasted only eight seconds; no sooner had Davis slammed in a break-out dunk than Bell got down for an 18-footer. No heels dug in for a defensive stand, no shorts hitched up. That sort of thing went on all night, with Milwaukee running to a 28-11 fast-break edge.
"It goes back to our defensive approach, our defensive identity against a quick, jump-shooting team," coach Dwane Casey said. "Whether it's transition, halfcourt, whatever ... we've got to get some pride back into our defensive game."
Lots of the problems came because Milwaukee -- playing without forward Ruben Patterson (stomach virus) -- had Bell, Williams or Redd pushing the ball. Their Minnesota counterparts were backpedaling and failing to stick close to the Bucks attackers. Blaming the backcourt, though, didn't get anywhere with Garnett.
"It's a team here," the Wolves forward said. "If one guy scores, he scores on everybody. Including the guys sitting on the bench, the executives sitting up in their seats, the owner. He scores on everybody."
And lately, that's pretty much any time "he" wants to.
Steve Aschburner • saschburner@startribune.com
wolves/nba
resize text 
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters
