MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves may have to sit down and discuss what team they truly want to be over the final stretch of the season.
Because if their plan is to be a lights out defense, as they’ve suggested when things are good, they are not putting in the requisite work on a consistent basis to be just that.
After a three-game stretch against Golden State, the Clippers and Lakers in which Minnesota held all three opponents to sub-43% shooting, the Wolves’ defense has disappeared in the three games that followed.
Minnesota tried late, but was unable to salvage another lackluster defensive showing for three quarters Friday at Target Center, falling 124-123 to Brooklyn in overtime.
Minnesota did tighten things up in the fourth against a Brooklyn team that’s sans a real closer and has subsequently struggled late in games since the Kevin Durant trade. When the Wolves want to defend, they can.
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That opened the door for Naz Reid to bang home a game-tying triple at the end of regulation.
But it was to no avail as Minnesota couldn’t make the necessary stops in overtime.
For much of the night, the Nets got whatever look it wanted against Minnesota’s drop pick and roll coverage. Spencer Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges combined for 63 points by drilling one open mid-range look after another.
In the overtime, Dinwiddie dissected Minnesota’s defense in isolation one possession after another.
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