The Timberwolves beat the Raptors 115 to 107 last night. I watched the whole thing, mostly because the remote was on the other side of the room and I already had my weighted blanket positioned exactly right. It was a game of basketball that definitely occurred in the temporal sense.
Minnesota scored more points than Toronto. It happens a lot lately, like when you go to the grocery store for milk but come home with a decorative gourd. You did something, but it wasn't necessarily what you set out to do.
The Shooting Guard Dilemma
JaKobe Walter has taken command of the backup shooting guard role, if you define command as scoring 13 points across 77 minutes of play. He has made 3 of his last 14 shots. It is a bold strategic choice to simply not have the ball go into the hoop.
Before him we tried Battle, and Gradey, and Ochai. It is like a revolving door that only leads to more hallways. We have so many options at the position, yet we have very little production to show for it.
My uncle says you can't win without a guy who can create his own shot. He also says the pigeons in Scadding Court are getting more aggressive. I think he might be right about both, though the pigeon thing feels more urgent.
Regrets and Tall Forwards
I remember when people on the internet were very angry about the idea of getting LaMelo Ball. We collectively decided he wasn't good enough for us, which is funny considering our current situation. He is an effective player who makes his teammates better, but he is no longer an option, if he ever really was one.
Now we have Brandon Ingram. He has been healthy, which is a positive thing to say about a person. He has only missed one game this season. It is nice when someone shows up to work consistently, even if the work involves a lot of contested mid range jumpers.
Bright Spots in the Distance
Julian Reese put up 18 points and 20 rebounds in a game recently. Those are large numbers. Seeing someone grab twenty rebounds makes me think about how much effort it takes to just want something that many times in a row.
I often wonder what Jorge Garbajosa is doing right now. He probably isn't worried about backup shooting guard rotations. He's likely sitting on a nice patio in Spain, eating olives, and not thinking about 3 for 14 shooting stretches. That seems like a good way to live.
The Raptors play again soon. I will probably watch it. I will keep the remote closer this time, just in case, but I know I won't use it. We are all just spinning, waiting for the next whistle to blow.