I…don’t… understand

On the list of things that weren’t/aren’t ever supposed to happen, (never EVER happen, that is) Darko Milicic putting up back-to-back 20-point nights falls just below MLKJ’s assassination and Brendan Frasier getting ANOTHER acting gig. I’m not even joking:

Official United States List of Things That Weren’t/Aren’t Ever Supposed to Happen

1. Martin Luther King Jr’s Assassination

2. Brendan Frasier Getting Another Acting Gig

3. Darko Milicic  Putting up Back-to-Back 20-point Nights in the NBA

So, as you can see, it’s only patriotic to surprised by this happy coincidence. And it’s not just the points. It’s the way he’s getting them in the context of the offense the past four games. He’s shooting 59.2% from the field on 49 shots. Think about that for a second.  Those are massive numbers. MASSIVE. It’s clear the team is running plays for him and getting him the ball in spots where he’s more comfortable working. More importantly, the team is sticking with Darko (mostly because Pekovic is out) through thick and thin, as he’s played 30+ minutes in each of the past four contests. What I love most though, is that he’s using agility while showing a basketball IQ that surpasses what I thought he had. And it’s really fun to watch.

And that brings me to last night’s Wolves vs. Thunder game, which wasn’t all that fun to watch. A few points:

a. Michael Beasley pisses me off when he doesn’t drive to the bucket when his shot isn’t falling. He missed seven jumpers inside 18 feet, and I guarantee he could have at least gotten fouled had he gone strong to the rim. Three free throw attempts? Embarrassing.

b. Our defense was awful. So many easy looks (they shot 54 percent from the field). So many bad fouls (they shot 40 free throws to our 16 total attempts). It was so bad that general offensive non-factors Serge Ibaka, Nenad Krstic and Thabo Sefalosha combined to hit 13-of-16 field goals for 33 points.

c. Luke Ridnour (14), Corey Brewer (7) and Anthony Tolliver (9) all took more shots than starting shooting guard Wesley Johnson. I don’t know how to explain this, and if he’s going to start, then why not let him shoot? Or find ways to get him shots? 

That’s all I’ve got for now. Be good, my peeps.