Minnesota Timberwolves

Sam Mitchell on blown leads: 'You've got to knock on the door before it opens'

Published Jan. 21, 2016 4:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Sam Mitchell's Timberwolves are trying to progress. So, it's no wonder why after his team blew a another double-digit lead Wednesday night, this time to the Mavericks before falling in overtime, he was all about analogies that encompass moving from one place to another.

From Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune:

"I’m encouraged," Mitchell said. "We keep giving ourselves a chance. That’s what you want. You’ve got to knock on the door before it opens. You’ve got to keep kicking at that wall until it collapses. Last year we didn’t even know how to knock on the door.”

Mitchell is right to a degree. Last year's Wolves, who finished 16-66, were so poor they couldn't even press the doorbell. Instead, they just stood there, hoping someone in the house would let them in by total coincidence. It rarely ever happened.

This year's Timberwolves have been better, though not by much when you look at the record. Minnesota is 13-31, second-worst in the West, and is a disappointing 5-23 since getting off to that respectable 8-8 start. The team has made a habit of blowing leads, too. But at least getting those leads is its own odd form of knocking.