Wiggins doesn't ball out, Warriors lose to Timberwolves 116-110
A letter in a bottle to Dub Nation from Wiggins Island
Dub Nation HQ, I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. It’s early afternoon here on Wiggins Island, where I’ve been stranded with a dwindling supply of Hennessy (official sponsor of the NBA!) for the past month. The citizens here are still recovering from a storm from last year that knocked off the power and apparently removed the ability to consistently make a jump shot.
I’ve received plenty of DM’s and texts from people who are checking to gauge my temperature on Andrew Wiggins since I’ve been such a strong supporter of his. Last night was another rough night for those of us who have invested early and heavily into supporting Wiggins Island in building an infrastructure based on high efficiency scoring and some of the most advanced high-security lockdown facilities known to man.
He scored six points, with four rebounds and four fouls as the Golden State Warriors fell 116-110 to his former team the Minnesota Timberwolves. This was an especially stinging defeat as Stephen Curry scored 38 but didn’t get the help he needed for the team to get over the top. Heck even Draymond Green got disrespected on back-to-back nights: first he got ejected after jawing with Donovan Mitchell Saturday, then Anthony Edwards showed him no fear last night.
These young guns really ain’t scared of the Dubs no more, eh?
But back to Wiggins. This season after a long summer, Mr. Wiggins has not been looking like a max-contract All-Star who once saved the Golden Empire in the 2022 playoffs en route to a championship.
Remember that man, the guy who averaged 16.5 PPG on 47% shooting from the field during that magical run while also putting Alcatraz level defense on the stars in his path? The man who shipwrecked Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics’ championship dreams with a performance so gutsy that there was buzz he would get Finals MVP votes?
Here’s a quote from USA Today as those Finals reached their golden climax about Wiggins’ dominance:
Wiggins entered the NBA Finals MVP discussion with another tremendous performance Monday. He had a team-high 26 points and 13 rebounds — his second consecutive double-double — and added two assists, two steals and one block in Golden State’s 104-94 victory against Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
On a night when Curry was ordinary, Wiggins was extraordinary. His 10 fourth-quarter points came during a stretch in which Golden State turned a 75-74 lead at the start of the fourth quarter to 99-84 on his dunk with 2:10 left in the game.
The Warriors have a 3-2 series lead and can win their fourth championship in eight seasons with one more victory against the Celtics.
And for me, one of Wiggins Island’s earliest settlers, it was the coronation of Wiggs as an elite two-way wing on a championship level. That’s why I’ve been so lowkey flabbergasted by some of the lack of domination I’m seeing from him so far this season. He’s averaging 10.5 points on 41% shooting, 15% (!) from beyond the arc, and just under 4 boards per game. Monta Ellis would never.
Let’s spam some related tweets real quick:
Sigh. I’m absolutely all-in on 2-Way Wiggs, but he for sure needs to step it up for the Warriors to look like the Warriors.
Golden will point a finger at everyone but there big 3 Curry, Clay and Green. Jordan Pool now Wiggings I don't get it.
We were not world champion when the record was 6-2. And we are not trash being 6-5. We need to keep patience. They will figure it out.