For the better part of four months, the Timberwolves had much of the NBA crying uncle.

For the past two weeks, it's the Wolves who have been caught crying wolf.

Or, as in the rubble of their 114-81 collapse against the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night at Gund Arena, simply crying.

What happens when someone cries wolf? People stop taking you seriously. The Wolves are on the brink of that now. Play badly enough, often enough, against clubs such as the Cavaliers -- who ended a 12-game losing steak, beat the Wolves for the second time this season and are a mighty 4-21 against teams with winning records -- and folks will stop paying attention.