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Meanwhile, Shelden Williams hasn't gotten off the pine. When I asked McHale if he'd be ready soon, the coach responded that he doesn't like to play 11 guys, let alone 12, so exactly how much of a look-see we'll get of Williams remains ambiguous. There was a point late in the second quarter against Utah when there seemed to be a need for a defensive-oriented big who wasn't Collins' size, but McHale obviously thought otherwise.
Two things we are beginning to know, however: With some of the post-trade chatter, then the suiting up of Brown before Williams and now the playing of Brown before Williams, it would seem that Wolves are more intrigued with Brown, who, unlike Williams, has a year to go on his (small) contract. Secondly, McHale isn't really enamored with either player, which leads one to believe he wasn't the biggest influence in the room when the deal went down.
Madsen was more winded going through this pregame workout than some guys are during a game. Seeing him wince as he stretched his arms above his head while trying to catch a breath, it took me back to university and Sunday morning practices when anything was game. After a couple of minutes walking around the court, more push ups are in order, to the delight of fans sitting courtside.
Sweat pouring down his face, he hops up, bounding over to get a cup of water, the smile never leaving his face, now that he isn't focused on the drill in front of him. When the security guard hassles him for missing the garbage can with his cup, Madsen looks at me, shrugs his shoulders, laughs and then apologizes to the guard, getting the cup back from him. This time he says, "alley-oop", and throws the cup to the guard who slams it through the garbage can. 37:00 minutes before tip and he's got the fans sitting courtside, the security guard and myself in the palm of his hands.
The visiting locker room at Target Center is so small, Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko had to share a locker. I'm pretty sure Minnesota is the only NBA stop where there aren't a full 15 lockers available for the visitors.
Love is not a good finisher on putbacks and other contested finishes inside. Nor is he a good shooter from the perimeter. But I have no doubt he's going to excel in both areas soon. And that should keep Wolves fans smiling for years to come.
He is still learning how to play with his new, slimmer body. And I expect him to get stronger and leaner over the next two offseasons. Practicing finishing with explosiveness around the rim should be Priority No. 1.
Meanwhile, his jumper looks fine -- he often shoots too fast, but he will slow down in time and it's going to be a huge weapon for him.
Mike Miller looks like a different player since the All-Star break, both in the way he moves and with his shooting strokes. His 21 points were the most he has scored since he had a season-high 25 in that double-overtime loss to San Antonio int he season’s fourth game, way back in November.
It wasn't as if Miller didn't have an alibi. He severely injured his ankle in early December during a homecoming where his NBA career started in Orlando with the Magic. After missing a little more than a week and four games, he returned for five games before injuring the same ankle again. He returned after missing five games. Too often, Miller felt as if he left his shooting touch on the shelf.
“(The ankle) is not where I want it to be, but it's not an excuse, either,” said Miller. “If I'm out there playing, it's not an excuse. The only way I'm going to get out of this is to make shots and keep shooting.”
Taylor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press he'd like to keep McHale on the bench, and he doesn't see him going back to his former role as vice president of basketball operations. Taylor says he thinks McHale enjoys working with the players.
McHale said before Wednesday night's game against the Utah Jazz that he'd worry about next year later.
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