Timberwolves Fall Short Against Rockets

Last night, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets squared off at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Wolves started off pretty well against the Rockets, but the score was close the whole way. One thing that caught my attention though was the lack of hustle from the Wolves' biggest star, Kevin Love. He would constantly complain to referees and then jog back down the floor only to get beat by Marcus Morris or Omer Asik. I don't understand how you can be a professional basketball player and not give 100% effort every time you step on the hardwood. I see Andrei Kirilenko and J.J. Barea put their health on the line every time they play and yet the lackadaisical play of Love is very angering. He first publicly criticizes the organization and then doesn't give it his all on the floor.

Back to the game itself, James Harden impressed once again with 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Omer Asik finished with 9 points, 17 rebounds, and 1 block. Those 17 rebounds were a statement of the hustle and desire he showed on the court in contrary with Love's desire and effort. For the Timberwolves, J.J. Barea led the way with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Nobody else played all that well for the Wolves and they only ended up scoring 84 points in what was supposed to be a very high scoring game. Greg Smith, of the Rockets, is going to be a player to watch out for later this year and in the future. He led the game with a plus/minus of +17 in 17 minutes of play. I really like this guy and he showed that although he is undrafted, he can still make an apparent difference in a ballgame.