Former Wolf Derrick Rose struggled yesterday, but his team didn't. (Bruce Kluckhohn/USA Today Sports)
Don't let the final score fool you, this one was never really close. After 10 3-point makes in the first quarter, the Knicks led the game 38-29. That was the closest the game really ever was, as the Knicks bolstered that lead to 24 at the half, as the Wolves scraped together 52 points before halftime to New York's 76. As a Wolves fan, the game felt over once halftime began. The Knicks ended with 4 players in double figures, with 3 of those players (Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson) having 22 or more.
While we are only 11 games into the season, we are still 11 games into the season. That is not insignificant. What can and should be said about the Wolves lack of performance has already been said by many, including some of the players. Anthony Edwards had thoughts. Austin Rivers had words. The fans had boos.
If you were unable to watch the game, that's probably a good thing. It was rough. Really rough. There was almost no offense. There was even less defense. The body language showed defeat and apathy as early as the late first quarter.
If you are the Wolves, some soul-searching has to happen. This team has talent. We have experience. Between all the players on this roster, we have accolades of every variety and playoff experience. Other teams without the player pedigree of the Wolves have managed to cobble together better records thus far (I'm looking at you, Utah, and you, San Antonio). After a game like this, which can only be described as embarrassing, something has to shift. I'm not talking about blowing the team up, but culturally or within the locker room, something has to happen. The Wolves will face off against one of the best teams in the league in the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. I think it will be the biggest prove-it game of the season for this team.
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