In comparison with the past couple of seasons, the Timberwolves have actually taken a step forward this year. In 2010 and 2011 (both 82-game seasons), they won less than 20 games. This season with the shortened schedule, Minnesota has won 26 games with one left to play. However, they have been atrocious since March when Ricky Rubio was lost for the season with a torn ACL. The Wolves have lost 12 of their last 13 games and had lost 11 straight prior to last Thursday. Things have gotten ugly, and J.J. Barea is fed up with his teammates as a result.
“We’ve got problems here,” the point guard said after the Wolves loss to the Warriors on Sunday, according to the Pioneer Press. “We have a lot of guys that don’t care. On a basketball team, when you have a bunch of guys who don’t care, it’s tough to win games. We’re going to keep getting (losses) here until we get players that care about winning, about the team, about the fans.
“They just come in here after the game like nothing happened. That’s what happens to a losing team.”
Typically, calling out your teammates is a move that is reserved for superstars who feel they aren’t getting any help. If there are really guys who don’t care about winning in the Minnesota locker room, I have no problem with Barea making that known to the media. The only issue I have with it is that he waited so long. The Timberwolves are out of the playoffs and ready to start polishing their golf clubs. Next year’s team will be entirely different altogether, so if Barea felt like saying something he probably should have done so before they lost 12 of their last 13 games.
H/T Ball Don’t Lie
Photo credit: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE
