Game Preview: Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves

by Wil Cantrell on Mar 28, 2010 11:12 AM MDT in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage

There are two teams in the NBA who are currently on 15 game losing streaks at the moment. The Washington Bullets Wizards are one of the teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the other. Not only have the Wolves lost 15 in a row, they've won just once in their last 22 games and are on their second 15-game streak of futility this season.

I wonder what it feels like to lose that badly. Probably not good. Says Al Jefferson:

"It's not fun losing 15 games in a row, but you have to stay professional and do something about it...You have to stay positive and good things will happen." What good things? Like getting traded? Poor Al. He seems to be doing his part though, averaging 19.3 points and shooting 55.6 percent from the field in his last 10 games. Give him some credit for not creating a sore back or something so he can stay home and not look bad while his teammates continue to lose.

Minnesota's opponents are averaging 112.7 points and shooting 48.8 percent during the 15-game slide. I think the Suns should eclipse those numbers tonight, if the past can dictate the future. Of course, they will have to do that without the services of Robin Lopez who is back in PHX nursing a legitimate back injury.

There isn't much to say about this one, other than the Suns need to take care of business. Hopefully, Nash, MAX, and Co. can put in a little early work and get out for some rest while Dragon, LB, and the rest of the second unit mops up.

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Al Jefferson	69	32.4	7.6	15.1	50.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	2.3	3.4	67.4	2.4	6.9	9.3	1.8	1.7	0.9	1.2	2.7	17.4
Kevin Love	51	28.6	4.9	10.8	45.4	0.6	1.7	37.5	3.9	4.7	81.7	3.8	6.9	10.7	2.3	1.9	0.7	0.4	2.2	14.4
Jonny Flynn	73	28.9	4.9	11.9	41.2	0.9	2.5	34.4	2.8	3.4	82.3	0.3	2.1	2.4	4.4	2.8	1.1	0.0	1.2	13.5
Corey Brewer	73	30.5	5.0	11.7	42.9	1.0	2.8	34.8	2.0	3.1	64.9	0.9	2.7	3.6	2.3	2.1	1.4	0.4	2.7	13.0
Ryan Gomes	67	28.7	4.2	9.6	44.3	0.9	2.4	35.2	1.3	1.6	81.7	1.0	3.7	4.7	1.6	1.3	0.8	0.2	2.1	10.6
Ramon Sessions	73	21.0	3.0	6.5	45.8	0.0	0.2	8.3	1.9	2.7	70.8	0.7	1.9	2.6	3.1	1.6	0.7	0.1	1.6	7.9
Wayne Ellington	68	18.4	2.6	6.0	42.8	0.9	2.2	39.6	0.8	1.0	86.4	0.5	1.7	2.2	1.0	1.0	0.3	0.1	1.0	6.9
Ryan Hollins	65	17.6	2.4	4.4	55.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.6	2.2	71.3	1.2	1.8	2.9	0.7	1.3	0.2	0.5	2.8	6.4
Damien Wilkins	72	20.3	2.1	5.0	43.1	0.2	0.8	30.9	1.2	1.6	78.6	1.0	2.4	3.3	1.8	1.0	0.9	0.3	1.8	5.7
Darko Milicic	24	19.0	2.5	5.0	50.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.6	53.3	1.4	3.1	4.5	1.3	0.8	0.5	0.8	2.7	5.3
Oleksiy Pecherov	43	10.3	1.8	4.3	41.2	0.3	1.2	26.9	0.7	0.7	90.6	0.7	2.1	2.8	0.3	0.7	0.2	0.3	1.3	4.6
Sasha Pavlovic	62	12.3	1.4	4.2	33.8	0.5	1.7	27.6	0.2	0.4	38.5	0.2	1.5	1.7	0.9	0.8	0.3	0.1	1.3	3.5
Nathan Jawai	39	10.5	1.3	2.8	44.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.0	68.4	1.3	1.4	2.7	0.6	0.7	0.3	0.2	1.5	3.2
Brian Cardinal	27	9.0	0.5	1.3	38.9	0.1	0.3	33.3	0.5	0.5	100.0	0.2	0.7	0.9	0.7	0.2	0.3	0.1	1.7	1.7

The Suns are looking for their first season sweep of the Wolves since 1994-95.
A Wolves loss would tie the franchise record for consecutive defeats (16)
The Suns' next four opponents have combined for 44 losses in 52 games in March.

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Comments

Sad to say.. I feel sorry for this team.

Is Kurt still trying to teach this team the triangle? I remember him talking about doing it when he signed on to coach the team. He doesn’t have the pieces to do it so I think it’s a huge waste of time.

by NashMV3 on Mar 28, 2010 11:33 AM MDT reply actions

Earlier in the season

bad teams would still play hard but now….guys are just ready for it to be over. I think that’s why you are seeing the Wolves, Wiz, Pistons, etc just mailing it in.

That and lottery balls

Blogging Suns Basketball . twitter: @sethpo

by Seth Pollack on Mar 28, 2010 11:37 AM MDT reply actions

Does anyone else feel that the Walves are a lost and hopeless team?

by 8472species on Mar 28, 2010 12:26 PM MDT reply actions

(Wolves, that is)

by 8472species on Mar 28, 2010 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions

With Lopez being out I actually see that as a motivation tool to help our team come out focused and step on their throats right from the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised if we won by 40.

by Beavis 25 on Mar 28, 2010 12:42 PM MDT reply actions