Don Seeholzer/Pioneer Press on Rashad McCants and his recent lack of playing time.
For someone who was the Wolves’ second-leading scorer last season and is used to logging heavy minutes, it admittedly hasn’t been easy.
“Of course, it’s frustrating,” he said. “But to be successful, you’ve got to go through some ups and downs. You’ve got to lose some to win some. Right now, all the frustration and not playing is really just fueling me to get better.”
Wolves coach Kevin McHale met briefly in his office with McCants at the end of Thursday’s practice and said the player has done a good job of handling a tough situation.
“Rashad has really worked hard,” McHale said. “He has done everything he has had to do, and I’m proud of him. It’s not easy. If you’re not playing and you’re used to it, it’s very, very hard. But he’s handling everything well.”
Click here for the forum’s thread for tonight’s game at Phoenix
Game Previews:
* PM UPDATE … The guess here is that O’Neal will play tonight and sit out Friday’s home game with Minnesota, turning Al Jefferson over to Robin Lopez. There’s been no official announcement about either night but that makes sense because they like to give him a rest on back-to-backs and the Denver game could prove more imporant in the standings down the line. Plus, O’Neal had a night off entering this game and a Friday off gives him some rest time before Saturday’s long trip to Toronto and Sunday’s day game.
Al Jefferson had a rare off night Tuesday, scoring just nine points and hitting 4 of 14 shots in a 99-96 loss to Miami.
Based on recent history, though, the Wolves’ star center should bounce back strong Friday night at Phoenix.
Since coming to Minnesota, Jefferson has averaged 30.0 points in five games against the Suns and led the team in scoring each time.
Since Kevin McHale moved from the Timberwolves’ front office to the coaching sideline, Randy Foye guesses he looks at the bench an average of three to five times per game.
And before that, under Randy Wittman?
“Almost every possession,” the Wolves’ third-year guard. “Almost every possession, we ran a set. You know, that was Witt’s style, and this is Mac’s style. Mac wants us to get up and down, and first good shot you have, take it.”
If the tale of this season could be summed up in one sentence, that’s it.
As they prepare for their 19th game under McHale, the same number they played this season under Wittman before he was fired, the Wolves are playing the game on the court, not through the bench.
Miller has played six games since returning Jan. 2 from a sprained right ankle suffered Dec. 20, his second such injury this season. In those games, Miller has not scored more than eight points. His 9.6 points per game average this season is nearly five under his career average.
Tuesday night against the Miami Heat, Miller made one of seven shots from the field. All but one of those attempts were from beyond three-point range.
The 14.3 percent shooting night in 26 minutes played is a season low; Three times this season Miller has shot 20 percent.
Brought in this season for his shooting ability, Miller has temporarily lost his touch.
The Star Tribune newspaper filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (PDF) tonight in Manhattan in the Southern District of New York of U.S. Bankruptcy Court…
In the petition, the Star Tribune checked a box that said “debtor estimates that, after any exempt property is excluded and administrative expenses paid, there will be no funds available for distribution to unsecured creditors.”
…Other unsecured creditors include McClatchy Interactive of Raleigh, N.C., with claims of $91,160, and the Minnesota Timberwolves with a claim of nearly $58,000.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
