The T-Wolves/Nuggets series, turns into a grudge match.
You couldn’t make it easy on yourselves, could you Denver? You had to make it difficult. We were more than willing to give you the game. We showed you it was yours from the opening tip. We practically handed it to you, gift-wrapped and all. It was a token of our appreciation, a way to show you how much we admired your late season drive, something to give your fans to cheer about after a decade of despondency. It was the only polite thing to do. But you couldn’t just take it from us, smile, say a quick thank you, and let it be. No, you had to take it that one step further.
You know we have your number. The first two games, we were merely playing with you. We’d run up the score, then let you back in the game just enough to keep the crowd interested. One night Sam drops 40, the next Spree goes off for 31. Of course KG did follow up his 30/20 game with “garbage”. After all, it’s not an impressive triple-double unless you get at least 15 assists. It was really just a matter of “when”, not “if”, we were going to secure our spot in the second round. And since home is where the heart is, we figured it was only fitting to let you win your first home playoff game in ten years, which would allow us to win our first playoff series in the Target Center. It was a win-win situation, really. But you couldn’t leave it at that.
We liked you Denver. We genuinely did. We pulled for you the whole way when you were battling for that eighth seed. We even felt a little bad for you when we beat you, knowing how tough it was to be a young team battling a top seed in the playoffs. You see, we’d been in your shoes. You reminded us of ourselves. Well, at least until Saturday night. Because in all our years of being a low seed, we never pulled the cheap, gutless moves you showed us in Game 3. You weren’t content to take the win. You couldn’t just be happy that you played well and we didn’t. No, you had to take it one step further. You had to forget the fact that we had demolished you the past two games. And you had to start thinking you were better than us.
You think you would’ve learned your lesson. Didn’t you take anything from what happened when Voshon Lenard started talking trash to Sprewell? Did the complete shellacking Spree laid down make any lasting impression on you? The lesson is that when the Wolves lay down to sleep, you don’t wake them up. But you wouldn’t tip-toe off the court and count your blessings. You smacked the Wolves across the face. You woke the beasts, and now they’re angry.
Carmelo, who do you think you are? Has the media inflated your ego this badly? When Kevin Garnett asks for the ball, you give it to him, and then thank him for acknowledging your presence. Because maybe, just maybe, you’ll be half the player he is someday. And that brings me to Andre Miller. Let me ask you something Andre. Would you shove Michael Jordan? Would you push Kareem? Well then you better think twice before you ever lay hands on Kevin Garnett. Because he’s the best player in the game right now, just like they once were. Show some respect. And as for Chris Anderson. Well all I have to say is “get ready”. You want to fly through the air with no regard for anyone else’s saftey? You want to lay a hard and completely uncalled for foul on one of our brothers? You want to break his back? Well now we’re going to break you.
Did you see KG at the end of the game? The man couldn’t sit down. You started a fire in his belly, and now he’s going to use you to put it out. You better bring your “A” game if you even want to compete on Tuesday night. Because Sam’s getting ready to torch you. Spree’s going to pick you apart. Hassell’s coming out to tie you up, and Kandi’s coming out to throw it down. Say your prayers and eat your Wheaties. You’re going to need everything you can just to survive, because KG and Co. are bringing the thunder. You’ve got nobody to blame but yourselves. You’ve got a pack of hungry, tired, angry Wolves who are only out for blood.
You’ve earned it.
