Stephen Litel/Hoopsworld on last night’s game:
The juiciest piece of news for you is while in Washington’s locker room, Haywood, Butler, Stevenson and Daniels were very animated. In a hilarious exchange, Haywood shows no respect for his North Carolina brother, Rashad McCants-although they were never teammates there. To clean it up in an effort to keep my job here at HOOPSWORLD, the Washington players referenced McCants as the number one player ego without ever accomplishing anything in the league.
Ryan Kibbe/KSTP interviews Rashad McCants:
This year, McCants has the
green light, and is eager to put his shooting talents on display and
elevate his game in one key area. "Just being a team
player. I think in past years I’ve been bashed on being a team player.
Having an attitude. This year it’s more focused on team chemistry.
Playing better team ball and taking better shots. The main emphasis on
our team is taking good shots, moving the ball, and playing good
defense."
green light, and is eager to put his shooting talents on display and
elevate his game in one key area. "Just being a team
player. I think in past years I’ve been bashed on being a team player.
Having an attitude. This year it’s more focused on team chemistry.
Playing better team ball and taking better shots. The main emphasis on
our team is taking good shots, moving the ball, and playing good
defense."
So it wasn’t much of a concern for him when
discussing his team’s fast-break points, which ranked last in the
league entering Friday, a surprising statistic considering expectations
that this team would push the ball more this season.
discussing his team’s fast-break points, which ranked last in the
league entering Friday, a surprising statistic considering expectations
that this team would push the ball more this season.
The Wolves were averaging only 5.3 fast-break points
a game before losing to the Washington Wizards 105-89 at Target Center.
That fast-break statistic probably is misleading, though, Wittman said.
a game before losing to the Washington Wizards 105-89 at Target Center.
That fast-break statistic probably is misleading, though, Wittman said.
Also from Alonzo:
The Wolves began the night ranked 26th in the NBA in
attendance, averaging 14,367 a game. The bottom four teams – Charlotte,
Indiana, Philadelphia and New Orleans – all were averaging fewer than
13,000 fans. Minnesota drew only 11,783 against Washington.
attendance, averaging 14,367 a game. The bottom four teams – Charlotte,
Indiana, Philadelphia and New Orleans – all were averaging fewer than
13,000 fans. Minnesota drew only 11,783 against Washington.
Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune on Theo Ratliff:
He has a sore right knee that forced him out of the game midway through
the third quarter with the Wolves leading by nine points.
the third quarter with the Wolves leading by nine points.
"It’s been sore the last couple of days," Ratliff said. "I went out
there in the second half and it was popping a little bit. I was running
down the court and I felt it popping and popping, so I pulled myself
out of the game. I have to get an MRI and see what’s going on."
there in the second half and it was popping a little bit. I was running
down the court and I felt it popping and popping, so I pulled myself
out of the game. I have to get an MRI and see what’s going on."
Ratliff will almost certainly not play today…
Also from Youngblood, Marko Jaric talks about the team:
"We talk," Jaric said. "We feel we’re trying to work together. We try
to hustle back together. Here’s the thing this year: When we win we
feel good all together. And we all feel some responsibility when we
lose. It’s not like one or two guys. This team is connected."
to hustle back together. Here’s the thing this year: When we win we
feel good all together. And we all feel some responsibility when we
lose. It’s not like one or two guys. This team is connected."
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site and TV analyst Jim Petersen discuss the Wolves and various league topics. (Audio)
Steve Aschburner/SI.com talks to Flip Saunders about Stephon Marbury’s departure from the team.
Kevin McHale wasn’t trading Kevin Garnett last season. The Bulls
offered him Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng, and the second pick in the 2006
Draft (perhaps Brandon Roy, Tyrus Thomas, LaMarcus Aldridge … and
McHale would be selecting, so maybe I should throw Hilton Armstrong in
the mix) for Garnett, and was told that Minnesota wanted nothing to do
with trading KG. He fired Dwane Casey, who had led the Wolves to a
20-20 record at that point, mainly because McHale assumed that this was
an underachieving 50-win team. It took a trade demand from Garnett, a
third-straight playoff miss, and the work of Garnett’s agent to even
convince the Wolves to trade KG last summer. By then, the Bulls didn’t
have the pieces to put a deal together, unless you think Minnesota was
interested in Ben Wallace.
offered him Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng, and the second pick in the 2006
Draft (perhaps Brandon Roy, Tyrus Thomas, LaMarcus Aldridge … and
McHale would be selecting, so maybe I should throw Hilton Armstrong in
the mix) for Garnett, and was told that Minnesota wanted nothing to do
with trading KG. He fired Dwane Casey, who had led the Wolves to a
20-20 record at that point, mainly because McHale assumed that this was
an underachieving 50-win team. It took a trade demand from Garnett, a
third-straight playoff miss, and the work of Garnett’s agent to even
convince the Wolves to trade KG last summer. By then, the Bulls didn’t
have the pieces to put a deal together, unless you think Minnesota was
interested in Ben Wallace.
Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune and Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press preview tonight’s game against the Hornets.
Click here for the forum’s thread on Saturday’s game.
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