Wolves Game Two: Wolves at Nuggets - Wrap-Up
94-92 Nuggets (1 OT)
Its still so early in the season to call this game a "rough game to lose." It really isn't. The team is still trying to figure out how to play with each other, trying to get back into the rhythm of playing games against high-caliber NBA teams. Still, in just the second game of the season, this Wolves-Nuggets rivalry has become firmly established. Which is a good thing. There are some teams where you drop a game to them and you don't care, because they're a good team with a deep bench and some strong players who play the game the right way and were superior that night. Those are the games where you shake your opponent's hand and look ahead to beating your next team. And then there's those teams where you have to beat them, because you can't stand the thought of losing to them. You don't want to give them the joy of being on top for even one night. You will play your heart out and to all ends just to stop them from winning. What I'm saying is, if the Detroit Pistons beat you, you move on. Sure, you wanted to win, and think of the boost you'd get from beating such a great team, but sometimes its just not in the cards. But when the Denver Nuggets beat you, especially in a game where no team took a strong lead the entire game, a game that went into overtime, a game with lots of fouling and technical fouls and even ejections, those are the games that linger in your mind. If this were late December, I'd say this one hurts. As it is, the Wolves showed signs of fatigue. It seemed as if the team generally just was a step behind what they typically are at all game. A big part of that probably comes from being exhausted from flying into Denver late and not being used to the rigours of an NBA schedule. This team looked flat pretty much the entire game, but that's the kind of thing that will work itself out through time. This team will be able to win games on back-to-back nights, just not this one so early in the season, not against an already hated rival in Denver.
The rest of the games in this season series with Denver will be exciting basketball, I'm sure, as both teams will step up their game when that part of the schedule rolls around. For now, the Wolves need to forget this game, as hard to put it in the back of their minds as it may be, and get ready for their next game.
Its still so early in the season to call this game a "rough game to lose." It really isn't. The team is still trying to figure out how to play with each other, trying to get back into the rhythm of playing games against high-caliber NBA teams. Still, in just the second game of the season, this Wolves-Nuggets rivalry has become firmly established. Which is a good thing. There are some teams where you drop a game to them and you don't care, because they're a good team with a deep bench and some strong players who play the game the right way and were superior that night. Those are the games where you shake your opponent's hand and look ahead to beating your next team. And then there's those teams where you have to beat them, because you can't stand the thought of losing to them. You don't want to give them the joy of being on top for even one night. You will play your heart out and to all ends just to stop them from winning. What I'm saying is, if the Detroit Pistons beat you, you move on. Sure, you wanted to win, and think of the boost you'd get from beating such a great team, but sometimes its just not in the cards. But when the Denver Nuggets beat you, especially in a game where no team took a strong lead the entire game, a game that went into overtime, a game with lots of fouling and technical fouls and even ejections, those are the games that linger in your mind. If this were late December, I'd say this one hurts. As it is, the Wolves showed signs of fatigue. It seemed as if the team generally just was a step behind what they typically are at all game. A big part of that probably comes from being exhausted from flying into Denver late and not being used to the rigours of an NBA schedule. This team looked flat pretty much the entire game, but that's the kind of thing that will work itself out through time. This team will be able to win games on back-to-back nights, just not this one so early in the season, not against an already hated rival in Denver.
The rest of the games in this season series with Denver will be exciting basketball, I'm sure, as both teams will step up their game when that part of the schedule rolls around. For now, the Wolves need to forget this game, as hard to put it in the back of their minds as it may be, and get ready for their next game.
posted by Ryan W. at 3:02 AM
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