Teammates separated point guards Sebastian Telfair and Marko Jaric during an altercation late in Thursday’s practice. The incident was defused before heated words became anything more than that on a team that is 4-27 and has lost six consecutive games.
Also from Zgoda:
Al Jefferson’s name didn’t register a blip when the latest All-Star Game balloting totals were released Thursday, but Wittman said he has, and will continue, to lobby other coaches on Jefferson’s behalf for a spot in the game, next month in New Orleans.
Jonathan Kaminsky/City Pages on the loss to Portland:
As the rest of the team dressed and departed, Jaric sat with a towel
wrapped around his waist, staring sullenly into space. When we
approached to ask how things were hanging, he answered in a small,
non-malicious voice.
"Could we just skip it tonight, please?"
Sure, we said, no problem.
"I just have no idea what to say," he explained.
Chris Sheridan/ESPN has Randy Wittman second only to Isiah Thomas on his Coaching Hot Seat List:
We are nearing the one-year anniversary of the firing of Dwane Casey, whose 20-20 record was deemed insufficient. In the 72 games since, Wittman is 16-57. Surely owner Glen Taylor does not want to fire Wittman and then have to pay another head coach, but at some point he’ll have to address this embarrassment. On Wittman’s side: When the Philadelphia 76ers put together the worst record in NBA history, 9-73 in 1972-73, they did not fire coach Roy Rubin until they were 4-47. The Wolves would need to lose their next 20 to keep that pace. Odds: 8-1
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune previews tonight’s game against Denver.
Click here for the forum’s game thread.
Coach Randy Wittman said he remains committed to the
roster despite his growing insomnia searching for the right game-day
rotations and off-day routines to snap the Wolves out of their endless
funk.
roster despite his growing insomnia searching for the right game-day
rotations and off-day routines to snap the Wolves out of their endless
funk.
"You’ve got to keep it positive still. You can’t beat them down," he said.
Players continue to practice hard and put forth effort during games, Wittman insisted.
Mad Dog and Sebastian Telfair on this weekend’s Shootout at the Target Center
Postgame quotes from Wednesday night.
From Sid Hartman:
Comparing points and minutes in this season and last year, Telfair is
averaging 9.9 points and 32.4 minutes per game this year after
averaging 6.1 points and 20.2 minutes a year ago. Jefferson is
averaging 20.6 points and and 36.5 minutes this season, compared to 16
points in 33.6 minutes last season. Gomes is down from last year,
averaging 10 points in 25.4 minutes this season compared to 12.1 points
in 31.2 minutes last year. Green is down from 10.4 points in 22 minutes
per game last season to 4.9 points in 12 minutes this year.
averaging 9.9 points and 32.4 minutes per game this year after
averaging 6.1 points and 20.2 minutes a year ago. Jefferson is
averaging 20.6 points and and 36.5 minutes this season, compared to 16
points in 33.6 minutes last season. Gomes is down from last year,
averaging 10 points in 25.4 minutes this season compared to 12.1 points
in 31.2 minutes last year. Green is down from 10.4 points in 22 minutes
per game last season to 4.9 points in 12 minutes this year.
Jalen Rose/ESPN on the team:
The Minnesota Timberwolves. Al Jefferson is a stud and better days are coming for the Wolves, just not this season. Their situation is that of a team that’s either standing pat or getting worse the rest of the way.
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