Cliche Sunday

Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Hmm...I wonder which cliche is most appropriate for the Wolves 106-104 victory last night against the Bucks:

1) It's better to be lucky than good
2) Let's give credit when credit is due
3) You can't argue with success
4) They made a living behind the 3-point arc
5) This team has finally learned how to win

For today's post, these five all fit, but feel free to search for your own. A handy reference site is SportsCliches.com, where you can look at a decent list of frequently used statements to explain your favorite team's victory or loss.

After "holding" the Bucks to 44 points in the second half, the Wolves used the three point shot and a resuscitated Randy Foye to eak out a two point victory against Milwaukee. This came after the Iron Ranger was booted between the first and second quarters, apparently for arguing over Al Jefferson's jump stop travel call late in the first, and a non call on Mike Miller. Watching the game on FSN Wisconsin, I saw McHale yelling at the referees to tell them Al's jump stop was legal, but then switched the channel to track the progress of the Carolina-Arizona NFL playoff upset. By the time I switched back, he was gone.

The Wolves played horrible defense in the first half, letting the Bucks score 60 without breaking any sort of sweat. In the second, Milwaukee started missing a lot of those same shots. It certainly wasn't because of any Minnesota defensive pressure; possibly it was result of playing the second night of a back to back, or the fact that holding onto leads has also been a problem for the Bucks, but 44 points for a half is still decent.

At any rate, when Big Al fouled out with 1:29 left to play, the Bucks inability to take advantage of the moment was a key point late in the game. Luke Ridnour--the last second scoring star of Friday's game against the Nets--missed a seven foot shot with 0:13 left. Michael Redd--who torched Foye all night long with 32 points on 12 of 24 shooting--missed a fall away 10 foot jumper with one second left. So the Bucks had their chances to tie and send the contest into overtime even after giving away the lead. It is at times, better to be lucky than good.

But give credit where credit is due. Minnesota hung in all night after the Bucks took an early lead and didn't show any signs of giving it up, especially in the first half. And, given that the Wolves "stars" were having relatively off nights--Al went 8 for 20 and fouled out with a -10 while playing matador defense the entire night, Foye was 4-12 and couldn't handle Michael Redd at all when playing the off guard possition--the fact that Rodney Carney stepped up with 4 three pointers, can't be overlooked. For once, instead of complaining about the Wolves lack of perimeter defense, the club was able to make a living behind the 3 point arc.

Again, even those their opponents have been relatively soft, you can't argue with success. At the lower, junior varsity levels of the NBA, the Wolves are beating who they're supposed to beat, and re-establishing some hope that in a season that was thought to be totally lost, progress can still be made. Until they start playing better defense, add a real starting point guard and can mix in more size in their front court, thinking this team could in a year or two contend for the playoffs is still a great stretch. But they are finally learning how to win, and that's a huge compliment for a team I've enjoyed mocking the last few years.

No question about it.

P.S. - I thought the FSN Wisconsin broadcasting team was a tad better than ours as well. Less spin, more analysis. Kudos to those gents, Jim Paschke and Jon McGlocklin.