Are there moral victories in defeat? Perhaps, perhaps not. Even if there are shades of gray between the black-and-white contrast between winning and losing, the Minnesota Timberwolves did not seem to provide much to debate against the Denver Nuggets.
Losing is not final in the NBA, nor is it the end of all things in any professional competitive sport. It’s simply the feedback that no competitor wants to hear: Not enough. And after years of practicing, training, and self-discipline, falling short can be devastating. Or it can be an excellent learning opportunity.
But much of what the Timberwolves faced in the NBA Playoffs could be summarized by an earlier contest between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns.