Julius Randle accuses the Timberwolves of lacking professionalism

Fans have been thinking about this for weeks, but it’s now clear that the players in the locker room don’t believe the Minnesota Timberwolves operate like a serious basketball team.

According to Julius Randle, there is a lack of professionalism – and that was also missing in Thursday night’s loss to the now 4:12 Toronto Raptors.

“Yeah, I would say it’s a low point for us as a team,” Randle said, sitting in a chair in the locker room with a Raptors towel on his shoulders.

“I know we will turn things around. “I trust everyone in this locker room that we will turn things around,” Randle continued, “but at this point we have to look ourselves in the mirror and decide what kind of team we are. “I want to do it on a consistent basis be. We didn’t have great games. I have to look in the mirror and say I have to be better.

They have now lost to Toronto (4-12), Portland (6-9) twice, San Antonio (8-8) and Miami (6-7). In the second loss to Portland, the Trail Blazers played without two starters. Jimmy Butler did not play in the loss to Miami.

Why don’t Wolves beat the teams they should?

“Execution and just professionalism,” Randle responded.

“We can’t look, ‘Oh, we’re playing the Raptors.’ They’re 3-12 or whatever, and okay, we have it easy and can take care of our individual things. We have to be professional and understand that it’s about us as a team, coming out every night, developing the right habits and doing the right things.

Related: Rudy Gobert wanted the ball, Julius Randle didn’t give it to him in a bizarre sequence

At 8-7, it’s not time to panic. But concern is spreading. Minnesota has four games left to play in the first full calendar month of the season. Will they start December with a winning record? Boston is a mammoth task on Sunday. A loss would drop them to 8-8. Then next week they have games against the Rockets, Kings and Clippers.

When December comes, the competition becomes much tougher. The Wolves open the month with games against the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Warriors, Knicks and Warriors. Yes, they play the Warriors three times in 15 days. Then they get a game against the Hawks before facing the nation on Christmas Day against the Mavericks.

It’s clear that the Wolves need to right the ship. If a lack of professionalism prevented them from beating the Raptors, Blazers, Spurs and Heat, then Minnesota can look in the mirror and imagine that they should be 13-2 instead of 8-7.

Now of course they have to prove it.