MEMPHIS – It was less than a week ago that Wolves guard Shabazz Napier was talking about his frustration. He had always been a shooter, a threat from long range. He had been putting in the work in practice, watching three after three go through the net. But in games? Not so much.
"But there's a lot of NBA left for us,'' he said. "The only way you can do it is to continue to look up, stride forward.''
Fast forward, one week.
Napier entered Tuesday's game against the Grizzlies in Memphis having scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games, the best such streak in his six seasons. Not surprisingly, the Wolves won three of those four games.
He averaged 32-plus minutes per game in that time. Initially that was because of the spate of injuries and illness that left the team so shorthanded. But even with Andrew Wiggins back in the lineup in Cleveland on Sunday, Napier scored 21 points and handed out seven assists.
His numbers in those four games: 21.8 points and 6.3 assists per game, shooting 60% overall, 55% on three-pointers.
"I mean, don't you guys see me smile when I make shots?'' Napier said. "It is a relief. I think it's just, in due time, obviously you go through these lulls and you just to stay strong through them and hopefully make some shots. I've been fortunate to make a couple shots.''
The shots falling have, clearly, helped the offense.
