That kind of thinking has been evident in the coaching, too. In recent days, the team has had private trainer Idan Ravin in to run some special sessions in addition to regular practices and shootarounds. It is yet another break from the norm.
Ravin is the focus of a whole chapter of Chris Ballard’s The Art of a Beautiful Game, in which Carmelo Anthony explains why he calls the trainer Crouton: “Because his name rhymes with crouton, and he’s a lot cooler than a regular cracker.”
Ravin — who has a reputation both for challenging, and connecting with, players — took some questions on the phone on Thursday, and says he hopes to inspire the young Timberwolves.
“I understand the suspension,” Hollins said after Thursday’s practice. “They said my fist was closed when it happened. That’s a league rule. I have to learn to control myself better and know what the refs are watching. I know it’s a matter of interpretation about what they see.”
Hollins is allowed to practice during his suspension, which cost him $53,252 of his $2.183 million salary this season, but he is prohibited from being in the arena for Wolves games. He was at home for Wednesday’s loss to Denver and will be again tonight for the Wolves’ game against San Antonio at Target Center.
Love noted after Wednesday’s game that his shooting percentage is 42 percent over the past 10 games and attributed it to not knowing when he’s going to get the ball in the team’s triangle-based offense. “It’s OK to be disappointed, it’s OK to be unhappy, it’s OK to be frustrated,” Rambis said. “Those are all natural human emotions. It’s how to you deal with them.”
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