Andrew Wiggins gets up on highflying jam
Squashing the Dallas Mavericks isn’t exactly something to brag about, they’re 1-10 and almost anyone who faces them is guaranteed to come out on top. Jumping so high you nearly lose your head on the rim, now that’s impressive. Andrew Wiggins is no new name to the list of electrifying high flyers that the league has to offer. However, his most recent gravity defying slam might just be one to add to his personal highlight reel.
In the closing moments of the first half, Wiggins took flight and finished the alley oop pass from teammate Jeff Teague. The speedy point guard and athletic forward put an exclamation mark on the half with some quick fireworks, but it was their overall impact that helped lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to victory.
Although Teague notched a point assist double double and Wiggins dropped 23 points, it was Karl-Anthony Towns who shouldered the load for the Wolves in their 112-99 defeat of the lowly Dallas Mavericks. Finishing the night with 31 points to go along with a steady diet of 12 boards, Minnesota’s generationally transcendent talent tallied a well rounded performance in which he put every one of his tools on good use. KAT’s size, strength and athleticism is what initially turns heads, but it is his seeming absence of a weak spot that scares opponents night in and night out.
While the T-Wolves have slowly built themselves into contenders in the West, the same cannot be said for the Mavericks, though they have much to look forward to in rookie Dennis Smith Jr. The freak physical specimen of a man reminds many of Russell Westbrook in the way he bounds across the court at full speed ahead. His 18 points did little to help his Mavericks stay competitive against a superior Wolves team, but the freshman floor general has flashed more than enough upside to keep Dallas hopeful for the future.
Regardless of what owner Mark Cuban might say, the Mavs aren’t fooling anyone and they won’t be contending for a title any time soon. They respect Dirk Nowitzki too much to cut his minutes significantly, and the surefire Hall of Famer and undisputed greatest Maverick of all time deserves every ounce of their loyalty. Having said that, it may be time to encourage the German sharpshooter to reconsider retirement so that they can usher in a new era of Dallas basketball.
The likelihood of that happening while he’s under contract for the next two seasons are slim. A legend like Dirk deserves better than to be heartlessly traded or cut from the team, but his career has reached its twilight and the future must be placed first and foremost on the Mavericks agenda. Nowitzki’s knowledge of the game is incalculably valuable, and it’s about time his minutes be used to teach the next generation instead of donating points to whatever fortunate soul finds himself on the opposite end of his olé defense.
