Reasonable thought says it’s impossible, especially in basketball.
That’s not impossible or “never going to happen”.
The same thing applies here.
It actually starts well before Game 4 is even played.
The entire sports world is going to call you dead and buried.
Shit, I did that in the postgame blog after the Mavs went up 3-0.
It’s the logical thing to do when talking about a 3-0 lead in the NBA playoffs.
But as a Wolves fan?
Your first step is to block it all out.
Don’t even let the thought input your mind, even for a second.
STAGE 1: GAME 4
Welcome to the “Don’t let win us today” stage.
But this is the stage where the belief is most important.
That’s just human nature, but it’s an important factor in the process.
As we saw last night, the Wolves were able to take advantage of this stage.
This is where the belief starts to grow.
For Wolves fans, this is why Game 5 is so important.
Once you get past this threshold, things become MUCH more real.
This is the stage where for the first time in the series, doubt will begin to form.
Buttholes start getting tight, especially if the Wolves win that game convincingly.
You’ve made progress, but you still have a LONG way to go.
STAGE 3: GAME 6
Welcome to what I consider the hardest part of the climb.
Once you get here as a fan, you’re battling a few things.
Now, the Wolves aren’t the more overwhelmingly desperate team like in Games 4 & 5.
Once that levels out, it becomes a series that gets back to execution.
The benefit you have in this spot is you’ve already been living this desperate lifestyle.
Should you win this game, you have now entered RARE air.
Now, everything that happened prior in the series doesn’t matter.
Falling down 0-3, the early clutch issues that blew the first few games.
It’s all erased.
As a fan, this is the stage that might kill you.
From there, it’s just like any other Game 7.
All you’re free to do is leave it up to the Basketball Gods.
By now, the media narrative will have completely shifted.
Now, you’re going to be the team everyone picks to win.
There will always be a Caleb Martin performance in this bang out of Game 7.
Unfortunately, it’s going to haunt you for life.
But if you pull it off like the 2004 Sox did and then go on to win the title?
It’s sports nirvana.
It’s life changing.
There is not a better feeling in all of sports as a fan, I truly believe that.
Of all the titles the city of Boston has won, the 2004 Sox title will always be different.
Not just because of the curse it ended, but because of that 3-0 comeback.
The odds might not be in your favor, but don’t worry about that.
If they win tomorrow night, allow yourself to really start to believe.
People will call you dumb, but fuck ‘em.
This isn’t about what people think.
This is about making history, and you’re only 3 more wins away.
