The series victory against the Lakers was for more than just the Timberwolves.
As I went live during the Two Words: Wolves Pod Wednesday night with Ryan Eichten and Andrew Carlson, two indispensable men that have helped me keep Canis Hoopus humming this year, I was full of emotions. Disbelief. Anxiety. Satisfaction. Relief. Sensitivity. Energy. Sensational. Treacherous.
But mostly elation.
I was going purely off vibes and not using any of my 30 rows of game notes I took throughout the game. I ended up flowing into a rift about how the Minnesota Timberwolves victory over the Los Angeles Lakers was vindication for so many people. It got me thinking:
Who else is relishing the Timberwolves win other just our fans?
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Tier 1 — Timberwolves Team
Timberwolves players
This series win was a direct testament to the players on this team. They fought through adversity on and off the court. They weren’t setup with a smooth runway due to Tim Connelly’s pre-training camp trade, and the early results reflected that.
However, they never lost sight of the goal.
The entire team grew closer and kept hunkering down. They hit their stride at the perfect time and the proof was in the pudding. They dethroned King James, got the husky Luka Dončić sized monkey off their back, and now get to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Well deserved.
Timberwolves coaching staff and front office
It’s time to anoint Chris Finch as the best Head Coach in franchise history. He may not have the volume of regular season wins as the late Flip Saunders, but he is just one win short of matching Saunders’ postseason win total. Finch and his team watched as fans pointed fingers at them, and witnessed other neighboring playoff opponents fire their coaches for less offences.
But the team never wavered. The team had steadfast belief in their coaches and never once publicly questioned the plan. They stayed the course. Finch, Micah Nori, Elston Turner, Pablo Prigioni, Chris Hines, James White, and the rest of the squad all deserve a big chunk of credit. You better believe they’re overjoyed.
I would be remiss to not mention the engineer of this whole thing. No, not you Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. I’m talking about one Mr. Timothy Martin Connelly, President of Basketball Operations. Boy, did he get dragged over the coals by both local and national talking heads. The Rudy trade. The Randle trade. But it’s all come to fruition and he must have been beaming during the first round.
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Tier 2 — Associated With the Timberwolves
Timberwolves fans
This encompasses most of us readers and those that live in the comments section. It feels cliché to say that sports teams wouldn’t be here without the fans, but it’s quite literally true. We feed the machine with money, clicks, and attention. At times, we endure the worst of it.
Do you think Anthony Edwards feels worse about a loss to the Washington Wizards in February than the diehard fan who comes home from a rough 9-5 workday to spend three hours of their short evening watching it?
Many of us have been fans of this team longer than most of the players on this roster have been alive. It’s always been the long game for us, so the reward is just as sweet, if not more. Especially when it comes against a familiar foe.
Former Timberwolves players
You don’t think Kevin Garnett, who picked the Wolves to win, isn’t headbutting some wall after that victory? This is a legend that has lost to the Lakers three separate times in the playoffs during his career.
Ricky Rubio, who was on track to help end the Wolves playoff drought six years earlier than the final result, suffered his first major sports injury at the hands of the Lakers. I’ll still never forget the infamous, “They ain’t callin’ that sh*t” game. I imagine as he was living his best life in Spain, had the game on and pointed at the TV screen to tell his son, “You see him, Liam? That’s your dad’s good friend, Ant-Man!”
Then of course, you have guys like Patrick Beverley, who still has an affinity for his former team in Minnesota, and not so much for his former team in Los Angeles.
Photo by Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Tier 3 — Direct Anti-Laker Establishments
Boston Celtics
The Celtics still have bragging rights after raising banner number 18 a year ago, breaking the tie at 17 with the Lakers. These two teams have been going at it for well over half a century. I’m sure some fans were salivating at a potential matchup between the two in the NBA Finals (lol), but I’m sure Boston is happy with (another) first round exit for LA.
Sacramento Kings
I’m zeroing in on my hometown team here. Sure, their rivalry may not be as storied or geographically relevant as the other two teams, but they experienced some terrible heartbreak at the hands of the Lakers in the 2000s. You can call me out for some bias here, but I am positive that 99% of Kings fans were happy to see Los Angeles fail.
Los Angeles Clippers (and other “secondary” LA sports teams)
The Clippers are one of the Wolves many brothers in anguish. They’re also one of the many forgotten step-children of Los Angeles-based sports teams. The Clippers finally moved out of the Lakers basement this year, but I know plenty (okay, maybe a handful) of Clipper fans that still get sour every time the Lakers thrive.
I’ll go ahead and lump in fans of other “secondary” LA teams. I’ve met fans of the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Chargers who hold a great disdain for their richer and more popular sibling teams.
Set Number: X158887 TK1
Tier 4 — Peripherally Rooting Against Lakers/Laker Players
Nico Harrison
Somewhere in the deep dark corner of American Airlines Arena, Nico is planning to host a public press conference inviting all media to attend with full media access. You know he had the biggest smirk on his face after Luka gassed out in a number of playoff games. I’m not going to give him props, but congratulations, I guess?
Michael Jordan fans
Old heads and Gen X’ers are quietly fist pumping as they see LeBron James, perhaps the only player who will ever threaten His Airness’ throne, lose in the playoffs once again. This ensures he will remain at four rings for now, just two shy of the MJ.
Kobe Bryant fans
Speaking of false threats to the throne, one of the Lakers top 20 players of all-time has a legion of stans. Ever since the day Los Angeles landed the greatest second greatest player of all-time in his prime, the local community has refused to fully accept him as their franchise player. In their eyes, he will “never be Kobe,” even though he’s a far superior player by every metric. This loss only acts as more fuel to add to their fiery hatred of LeBron.
Small/mid market teams
There’s a reason that ESPN and other national sports networks are criticized for their bias. The large market coastal teams in states like New York and California often get the lion’s share of exposure on the airwaves. Instead of “The Timberwolves advanced to the second round of the playoffs,” Stephen A. Smith is busy prepping a segment about “How LA fell short and can rebuild this summer.”
Meanwhile, there are great teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Cleveland Cavaliers who end up as mere footnotes. Even though the clicks and views will still be there after the large market teams are eliminated, we can all embrace in happiness over their failure.
Photo by Bree McGee/NBAE via Getty Images
Tier X — In the Ether
Flip Saunders
I don’t believe there’s any documented ill-will from the late Flip Saunders towards the Lakers. However, Los Angeles ended Flip’s last two postseason runs with the Wolves in the early 2000s. That surely didn’t sit well with him. About 10 years later, just days after his tragic passing, the Wolves opened the 2015 NBA season in Los Angeles.
This was a game filled with a who’s who of important NBA figures. KG and Kobe’s last “opening day.” Julius Randle’s true debut after he shockingly broke his leg in the previous season’s opener. Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell’s rookie debuts. Ricky Rubio setting a then career-high in points, including a flurry of mid-range jumpers. The list goes on.
Just like a movie, the game came down to a final possession with seconds on the clock. With just over four seconds remaining and the Wolves clinging on to a one-point lead, Lou Williams received the inbounds pass and drove right past the rapidly-aging Garnett. He went for a relatively open scoop shot that he makes in his sleep, but it hit back iron as time expired. Ricky Rubio grabbed the ball and pointed to the heavens.
Some say Flip was looking down on the Wolves and gave them a final victory.
Tim Allen
Tim Allen, for those of you unaware, was one of Canis Hoopus’ previous Site Managers. He was a man that was filled with optimism and hope, always predicting a season record of 82-0. He unexpectedly passed during the summer of 2012, shocking the Wolves and SB Nation community. It’s become common Wolves lore to use “82-0” to honor Tim whether it’s in the comments section, or on social media.
Rest in power, Tim.
This one was for you.