Why? Well, no game comes down to one play. But it is worth noting that the game-winning Clippers basket, which came with two minutes left to play in the 4th quarter, was on a James Harden assisted Kawhi Leonard layup in which Harden committed possibly the most egregious non-call travel in NBA history, which is saying something.

James Harden travels on play that beats Minnesota Timberwolves

On the play, Harden catches the ball at the top of the key, where he proceeds to take, count them – SIX STEPS before he tosses the admittedly beautiful bounce pass that put LA up two points, a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

This is actually crazy lmao 😭 pic.twitter.com/OHTsQQ9fBW

— Ethical Hoops🏆 (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) March 4, 2024

Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn and the Wolves, in general, were cold from deep most of the night. That is not a recipe for winning NBA games in 2024. So nobody is blaming referees for the Wolves’ L today.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Sign T.J. Warren to 10-Day Contract: Does This Impact Marcus Morris?

Nonetheless, these refs need to be held accountable at some point. How do you not call this travel? If you give me 30 minutes, I could teach my 12-year-old daughter (who has no idea what “travel” means outside of getting in an airplane) what a basketball travel is and she would be able to point this out in real time.

How an NBA referee missed it is beyond me. The Minnesota Timberwolves will play the 2nd half of a back-to-back on Monday night vs the awful Portland Trail Blazers. The perfect slumpbuster.

On Monday evening, in fashionably late fashion, the National Basketball Association provided fans, players, and media with its second-annual NBA Awards Show.

As anticipated, the TNT-aired program was highlighted with James Harden of the Houston Rockets earning his first career MVP selection. While the artist known as ‘The Beard‘ grabbed the night’s top honor, a member of the 2017-18 Minnesota Timberwolves was able to leave the star-studded event with some fancy new hardware:

Congrats to @JCrossover on earning Teammate of the Year at the #NBAAwards!

Stay being you, J! pic.twitter.com/Gj7T0yjKj2

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 26, 2018

The well-deserved acknowledgement makes Jamal Crawford the sixth-ever recipient of what’s officially known as the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. Since 2013, the accolade, which is named after the tragic story of once teammates, Jack Twyman & Maurice Stokes, has been given to the individual considered the league’s most “ideal teammate.”

As you can see, Crawford now finds himself amongst a handful of other highly respected players:

Previous Teammate of the Year Award Winners:

• Dirk Nowitzki (2017)
• Vince Carter (2016)
• Tim Duncan (2015)
• Shane Battier (2014)
• Chauncey Billups (2013)

Watch his reaction press conference here: Link

The 18-year NBA veteran, who isn’t new to league-wide praise (3x Sixth Man of the Year Winner) notched this season’s top-teammate title by beating out runner-up Manu Giniboli by 10 first place votes (80 points total).

Eye ballooned shut or not, if it were up to Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford would always win Teammate of the Year pic.twitter.com/WKbsccelS6

— Johnny MN (@TheJohnnyMN) June 26, 2018

In regards to Jamal Crawford’s Timberwolves career, all indications are that he’s going to go college superstar on that bit. One and done:

Jamal Crawford to decline Timberwolves contract option, hit FA https://t.co/BFpTvNp318 pic.twitter.com/VyW8e8VeBt

— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 2, 2018

While he does have a family to feed, the 38 year-old’s decision to become a free agent doesn’t appear to be financially motivated. Speaking of putting food on the table, look who else showed up for the evening’s festivities:

Sup, Spree?!

We’re going behind-the-scenes with the Wolves legend at tonight’s #NBA Awards! pic.twitter.com/t4iit49ntd

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 25, 2018

Other Notable Awards:

MVP: James Harden

Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons

Most Improved Player: Victor Oladipo

Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams

Coach of the Year: Dwayne Casey (Raptors. Casey will not return as Toronto’s HC as he was fired on May 11, 2018)

• Other Finalists: Brad Stevens (Celtics), Quin Snyder (Jazz)

Executive of the Year: Daryl Morey (Rockets)

Sportsmanship Award: Kemba Walker (Hornets)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Oscar Robertson (Retired)

Community Cares Assist Award: Kevin Durant (Warriors)

Sager Strong Award: Dikembe Mutombo (Retired)

Best Style (fan vote): Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

From here, despite having both the draft and the Award Show in the rear view mirror, anyone suggesting that the NBA news is about to slow down is terribly confused.

via GIPHY

The league’s highly anticipated free agency period, which is sure to be beautifully chaotic, begins on July 1st.

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

Congrats, Wolves fans. We made it.

via GIPHY

That’s correct, coach. I’m talking about the playoffs. Tonight’s Timberwolves game will mark the franchises first postseason contest since May 31, 2004.

With eight-seeded Minnesota taking on the top-seeded Houston Rockets, many people don’t see the series reaching a fifth game. Unless there is something wrong with my vision (better than 20/20. no big deal), those individuals are confused and/or under the influence.

First of all, Sunday’s Timberwolves team will be better than their regular season record suggests. This season, Minnesota finished 10-13 without Jimmy Butler. When Butler was in the lineup (as he will be tonight), they went 37-22. If you translate the 62.7 W/L percentage over those 59 games to the entire season, Tom Thibodeau’s squad would have finished third in the Western Conference.

Secondly, the Rockets aren’t your typical one-seed. Despite what the standings suggest, Golden State (Steph Curry was cutting all over the place during his Saturday workouts. Chef was looking spry.) owns not only the West, but the entire league.

Also, and possibly most important, the difference between regular season and playoff basketball strongly plays against Mike D’Antoni’s, innovative approach.

Mike D’Antoni has been to the #nbaplayoffs 7 times and has a 31-26 record as a top-3 seed (1-12 w/a 6 or 7 seed)..

If the #rockets make quick work of the #TWolves it’d be pretty shocking given his past…

1-Seed: 9-6
2-Seed: 16-15
3-Seed: 6-5
6-Seed: 1-8
7-Seed: 0-4 pic.twitter.com/QKrkqupde6

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 14, 2018

Damn. Let the above sample size soak in for a second. D’Antoni is a regular attendee of the “Playoff Struggles” convention.

The Rockets coach is the originator of the “Seven Seconds or Less” offense. In Layman’s terms, that strategy emphasis an extremely up-tempo style of play that includes an aggressive amount of three-point FG attempts. The approach has completely revolutionized today’s NBA.

The amount other franchises incorporate D’Antoni’s philosophy varies. On other side of the fence, the Rockets coach is all in on the approach. When you look at his 232-96 record during his four seasons (2004-05 through 2007-08) in Phoenix, it’s obvious to see why.

.@Hoophall Class of 2018: A maestro with the ball, @SteveNash led the @Suns seven seconds or less approach to perfection. Nash won back-to-back NBA MVPs, joining @MagicJohnson as the only point guards in league history to capture multiple MVP trophies. pic.twitter.com/6X0NriFuHR

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) March 31, 2018

However, as indicated by his 32-38 career playoff record, that success doesn’t translate past the regular season. Despite the court dimensions remaining the same, play tightens up this time of year. The fast-pace, patented offense is less likely to catch a defense off-guard. That plethora of three-point attempts will be more contested than they were in the winter (I know there’s a blizzard outside but I promise it’s mid-April).

No matter what the cause is, D’Antoni’s Suns teams speak for themselves. Steve Nash and his back-to-back MVP trophies never got past the Western Conference Finals.

Not much gets me feeling more depressed than the fact that the Steve Nash Suns never won a championship.

— Mike Kennedy (@mbken84) March 30, 2018

SIDEBAR: That Mike guy either has a real worry-free life or he needs to evaluate his priorities.

In this circumstance, on top of D’Antoni playoff woes, the injury to defensive specialist (and former Timberwolf) Luc Mbah a Moute could hurt Houston more than perceived from afar. While he’s not James Harden or Chris Paul, playing without the defensive-minded UCLA alum doesn’t help the 66 year-old coaches cause.

Speaking of Harden and Paul, how have those two done in the postseason?

After hugely successful regular season, James Harden and Chris Paul will chase elusive playoff glory @kristieAP https://t.co/dvGBxDTlPr

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) April 15, 2018

Okay, okay. I don’t know about you guys/gals, but I’m ready to f*cken dance.

Tip is at 8PM (TNT). See ya then.

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com