Wolves 136, Mavs 121: a Tantalizing and Mesmerizing Finale!

Wow, Canis Hoopers! The Wolves’ season termination was quite the sensation! A tantalizing and mesmerizing finale indeed! Playoff seeding was at stake for the Mavericks, so they started their best five and hoped to thrive, but unfortunately for them, the whole Wolf Pack had the knack tonight!

Jaden McDaniels, “Big J-Mac,” led the attack with 8 of the Wolves’ first 10 points. He was so proficient that he finished with a ridiculously efficient 19 points on 8-13 shooting. But his offensive glory is but half the story: McDaniels was a frustrating and grating irritant for Mavs superstar, Luka Doncic. Luka turned the ball over 4 times while assisting 6, and shot 8-13, but only 2-7 from 3-point range. Big Mac bringing his best and being a pest certainly matched Ol’ Clyde’s eye-test, as he led the Wolves with a plus/minus rating of 15. So, if it were my call, Jaden McDaniels would definitely get the “game ball.” He even threw in a sick crossover, shaking and baking Dorian Finney-Smith:

Luckily, tonight, our other precocious neophyte was also quite the delight! Ant was on fire, showing no fear, playing with the fire & desire to establish himself as the Rookie-of-the-year. Edwards finished with 30 points, going 5-9 from three as he led the Wolves on their gleeful spree.

Luka also found Ant’s defense frustrating and devastating. I appreciated how Edwards coupled Luka’s rejection with a correction of direction, keeping the ball in play for a fastbreak the other way:

As you can see, in that play, Jarred Vanderbuilt, “Vando,” continued to put on a show, bounding and astounding with fire & desire! He has amazing hustle and bustle, despite his lack of giant muscles. Seemingly everywhere at once, collecting 12 rebounds and 3 steals, the motor of V8 was great!

Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell, the Wonder Twins, chipped in an identical 23 points. The best buddies drove the Mavs nutty, wheeling, dealing & stealing, combining for 5 steals and 15 assists (10 for D-Lo). The icing on the cake was when D-Lo ran a scam to set up an Ant jam!

After that, Russell’s handle set up KAT, who attacked Boban like a vandal with a bat:

Tonight was also another reminder that next season, Reid must be freed! More minutes, not traded, of course. Naz was a perfect 7 for 7 from the field, with 3 pretty looking threes. He was also unafraid to drive & thrive and post & toast Kristaps Porzingis, who admittedly had a great shooting night himself, hitting 4 out of 5 threes.

Well, folks, we’ve come to the end of the Wolves’ 20-’21 story, but next season will be assuredly fun, and it just might lead to glory. This season was a rollercoaster ride; it had doldrums that even Clyde couldn’t abide, but the precocious neophytes’ potential could not be denied. Go, Gersson Rosas & Viva la Prosas! I love this team!!! I would be thrilled to have the current core return intact. Tune in next season for some super-fun run & gun, Canis Hoopers!