The Wrath of Flip

I didn't get to watch this game until the 4th quarter. When I arrived, there were 9:00 minutes to play, the Wolves trailed by 15 or so, and Kevin Garnett was on the bench. I still had some faint hope that they would go on a late run. KG never reentered the game. As a result, this game watching experience goes into my bottom 10 all-time. Here's the complete stage. I was watching at a bar with some friends and some other acquaintances. Generally when there's a Wolves game on I watch first and converse second. Unfortunately, I was supposed to be playing host for my friends with this big group of people they don't know that well. So I felt guilty about watching, but watched anyway. There game was shown on a Detroit feed, so the highlights were all pro Pistons. Also, there was no sound. This went from annoying to unbearable because they kept showing shots of KG on the bench looking despondent and watching his teammates get obliterated. The Pistons played their starters for some of the 4th and the lead ballooned to 20 and then 30. I saw at least 2 airballs by the Wolves in that time, maybe more, and a couple of turnovers. Detroit's starters gave way to Darko and Co. with about 4 minutes to go and a 28 point lead. The Wolves subs were all in, including Bracey Wright for what I think was his first NBA action ever. During the all-subs portion of the game, 2 of the Pistons' nobody's dunked, including one play I'll never forget. Darko stole a Wolves outlet pass from a defensive board, and threw the ball cross-court to a cutting Piston who threw down a ridiculous windmill dunk. The Wolves, meanwhile missed and missed and missed. The Target Center was almost empty, but when the Wolves did score next, they cut to a woman and child in the stands. The woman clapped her hands, seemingly just to remember what it was like, as she looked off somewhere appearing dazed and disbelieving. It should've been better to not hear sound because I'm positive there were unrelenting boos from whoever else did stick around to see the tail end of the massacre. But I filled it in subconsciously and felt my mood sink lower as the time ticked so slowly away. I didn't want to watch, but I thought I had to, almost out of loyalty. Thinking of KG having to sit on the bench and watch this left me no choice.

The worst thing about this game was that the Wolves led by one at the half. Again, I didn't see it, but I'm sure they had opportunities to be ahead by double-digits and couldn't capitalize. That's been the theme of the season. At this point, I just want to stop thinking about the team and watch numbly hoping they win. I suppose that slowly my expectations are lowering so that the next ugly win I'll be really happy about and the losses I'll be oblivious to. But like any doomed man, I have that glimmer of hope. I believe that Kevin Garnett is one of the all-time greats, and I believe that the NBA is a superstar league. I know it doesn't seem like his way, but I think at some point in the rapidly-approaching second half, he will carry this team to the playoffs. I believe in it although I don't have any idea how or when. But maybe that's the best kind of faith for a fan, the kind that comes untethered to expectations. Here's hoping.