Reason For Optimism and Hesitation

By: Tim Parochka 

The sports narrative changes often. Sometimes, in a single day, or a week or a month, or in some cases, even years.

On Tuesday evening in Phoenix, the sports narrative flipped in exactly 6.3 seconds. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves' had 6.3 seconds to diagram a winning formula and in the end, Andrew Wiggins made a contested game-winning mid-range jump-shot over the much tougher and stronger defender, P.J. Tucker.

Wiggins, often criticized for attempting several mid-range jumpers which have analytical gurus degrading Wiggins's value, put the analytical geniuses to bed; at least for one night.  

On a night where the narrative changed in the amount of 6.3 seconds, I think about how the narrative would have been if Andrew Wiggins missed a difficult shot.

Why did the 7'0 Karl-Anthony Towns being guarded by the 6'6 P.J. Tucker receive limited touches in the final five minutes? The Minnesota Timberwolves' blew another double-digit second-half lead. Andrew Wiggins missed another clutch free-throw.

There's reason for optimism because the Wolves have showcased an ability to close in their last three games. Something that hasn't been done consistently since the era of Sam Cassell. And there's reason to hesitate because the team continues to provide examples of losing basketball in the weighing minutes.

The Wolves' playoff hopes - in the eyes of fans - are probably ruined if Wiggins couldn't capitalize in the end. It's easy to forget the problems after Wiggins planted buzz into every Timberwolves fan.

In the grand scheme of things, it took a wild Wiggins fall away as the buzzer expired to defeat the Phoenix Suns.

Furthermore, the Wolves probably should have won by five.

There's your reason for hesitation.