Britt Robson/On The Ball on last night’s game:
On to the locker room, where McCants was holding up his right arm as a
Wolves’ cleanup guy affixed a bag of crushed ice to the inside of his
elbow with circular motions of clear tape. When did you do that? I
asked. "Practice," McCants said. Wow, did it affect your stroke any
tonight? I said. "Well, I went 5 for 16 tonight; what do you think?"
Shaddy said testily. His mood was sour enough, and my belligerence
meter low enough, that I didn’t supply the natural rejoinder: Well, how
smart was it to jack up 16 shots in less than 24 minutes with a bum
elbow?
As if the misfired gunning wasn’t bad enough, McCants did not visit the
free throw line..
After the game, Wittman was the most pissed we’ve seen him this young
season. It wasn’t so much the refs (“We’re not getting calls. Jiminy
Christmas, I don’t want to get into that,” he said, referring to the
33-13 disparity at the free-throw line) or even players showing up late
to shootarounds (Corey Brewer sat out the first half as punishment, but
played the entire fourth quarter). It was more Rashad McCants, who
Wittman implied was playing like a petulant wuss. “We’re not talented
enough right now to just play and hope that it happens,” said Wittman,
who spoke ominously of looking for five players who wouldn’t quit when
the team “gets punched in the mouth.”
As Buckner pointed out, Green’s effort was wasted Wednesday night because the Wolves didn’t win. But for a guy who
hasn’t played much, Green’s scoring impressed his teammates and coaches.
hasn’t played much, Green’s scoring impressed his teammates and coaches.
"He played well," coach Randy Wittman said. "For not
playing and coming in, I thought he did a nice job. I thought he just
kept playing no matter what the score was or who was guarding him."
playing and coming in, I thought he did a nice job. I thought he just
kept playing no matter what the score was or who was guarding him."
Green is one of the Wolves’ most athletic players
and best jump shooters. The knock on him is that sometimes he gets into
trouble because of the decisions he makes. That’s in part why the
Wolves didn’t pick up his contract option for next season, meaning
Green will be a free agent next summer.
and best jump shooters. The knock on him is that sometimes he gets into
trouble because of the decisions he makes. That’s in part why the
Wolves didn’t pick up his contract option for next season, meaning
Green will be a free agent next summer.
The Timberwolves lost for the eighth time in their first nine games Wednesday to Cleveland, but discovered a lineup near game’s end that coach Randy Wittman liked and vowed to revisit because he grew unhappy with his other options.
Wittman turned to a group that included previously little-used Gerald Green and rookie Corey Brewer. He watched the Wolves scratch back from a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to pull within four points in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers not only thought they made a legitimate case for Garnett
over the summer, they thought that case might really get closed.
over the summer, they thought that case might really get closed.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who was involved in talks with Taylor, said
last month: "I personally feel that we made a better offer than the
people who were successful."
last month: "I personally feel that we made a better offer than the
people who were successful."
Mary Schmitt Boyer /The Plain Dealer has a Q&A with Coach Wittman.
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to some of the Wolves about their holiday plans.
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune on tonight’s game at Denver.
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