KG4MVP
- Alex
So I turned on the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves game last night. I thought to myself - Hey, it's only 11:15, we're already in the fourth,
and it looks like a good game... I can watch the end of this. ...two hours later the game was over, and now after minimal sleep and nursing a
large thermos of coffee, I will subject you to my takes on the game. Not that I'm bitter. Much.
How does KG make that shot at the end of OT? How does he slip and fall for the travel on the next posession? Where were the court wiper guys?
I think TNT screwed up the call on McHale, though... I don't think he's the kind of guy who'd shout instructions to Flip. I think he was saying that
KG got fouled on his shot attempt (he did) and McLurch was calling for the "and 1".
What a terrible stretch of officiating. Yet another reason why the NHL playoffs are
better. In the 3rd period and OT of an NHL game, the refs do their best to let the action on the ice determine the outcome of the game. In
the fourth quarter and OT of an NBA game, the refs do their best to make the most controversial calls possible, presumably so people will have
something interesting to say about a Heat/Pacers game. It'd be nice if they didn't call little touch fouls in important games, especially
away from the ball. Nothing like bringing a game to a screeching halt for no good reason...
And when Bibby went out (on what was probably a decent call, although I really didn't see any contact personally), we were left with Doug Christie
bringing up the ball for the Kings... and KG for the Wolves. It was close to high comedy, watching Brad Miller trying to pressure KG full court.
In the action I saw, the refs only made two good calls... the travel on KG was accurate. And at the end of the game, when Stoijkovrankovic
tried to lean into Hassell for the foul, what it actually led to was Hassell blocking a shot with his elbow. Very entertaining, absolutely a
correct no-call... but given the rest of the night's officiating, I think it probably would've been a foul if it hadn't been at the buzzer.
My MVP for the game, though? Darrick Martin. The dude came off the bench cold in the 4th when it became clear that the Wolves needed an actual
point guard on the floor to face the full court trap. So of course he gets fouled twice... in high pressure... and calmly sinks 3 of 4.
That's money, baby.
But the thing is... as much as I love watching the Woofs... and as much as I was definitely into the game... I was lying down for the entire
OT. I tried to lie down for a while during the Wings/Flames Game 6, and I just couldn't. It was too exciting to watch lying down. The NBA isn't.
Ah well. Today it's a small comlplaint... go Wolves!
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