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Wolves Updates 4/13
Written by SG   
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Timberwolves Coach Randy Wittman, a former Magic assistant coach, said he has been assured by owner Glen Taylor that he would be back next season. Wittman has two years left on his contract. He expected the T-Wolves to go through some growing pains this season after trading star Kevin Garnett. "We knew it would be bumpy," Wittman said. 
 
 
 
The Wolves have only two games left -- Tuesday at Detroit, Wednesday at home against Milwaukee -- and now after winning their 21st game are within one victory of catching the 22-victory Grizzlies in the standings. Memphis finishes the season at Portland and Denver.
 
At stake is either a 15.6 percent or 11.7 percent chance at getting the No. 1 pick in the June draft.
 
 
 
Brewer said his focus this offseason will be working on three areas: ball handling, jump shooting and gaining weight and strength.
 
He plans to hire a nutritionist to help him add muscle and size to his 6-foot-9, 185-pound frame.
 
"I feel like I can put on some weight," Brewer said. "That's going to be a focus. I always do a lot of weight lifting. But you focus on that during the offseason. You really don't want to try put much weight on during the season because that can throw your game off."
 
 
 
 
Brewer's playing time for the T-Wolves has been sporadic, and his jump shots has left him for long stretches. He entered Friday's game averaging 5.6 points in 22.6 minutes per game. He's started 35 games, but he's back in a reserve role now.
 
"The losing has probably been the toughest thing," said Brewer of Minnesota having the third-fewest wins in the NBA. "I still haven't gotten used to it. After games, I'm still that way when we lose. I've never really lost this many games at any level, so it's been hard for me."
 
 
 
Richards' biggest adjustment has been losing instead of winning. At 20-59, the T-Wolves have the NBA's third-worst record.
 
``It's different,'' he said. ``It's new, but you have to try to learn from every loss and go from there. I never want to get used to losing, I don't really like losing, but at the same time, it's reality and it's happening. So I have to try and take something from all the losses.''
 
 
 
Such are the tricks of the mind you consider employing in such an inconsistent, baffling rookie season such as the one Corey Brewer has had. Some nights, you see a jump shot that spins sideways and conclude the Wolves brass have done it again with their personnel decisions. Then there are games such as Friday’s at Orlando, where Brewer was aggressive and athletic and made as many shots as he missed (believe it or not).
 
 
 
A rare five-game week yielded opening losses at home to Memphis on Sunday and New Orleans on Wednesday and on the road at Charlotte on Tuesday. They extended the latest losing streak to six (and eight of nine) before rallying to beat Orlando on Friday and capping the week with a victory at Memphis on Saturday, disappointing fans hoping for lottery chances.

 

Wolves swingman Kirk Snyder tweaked an ankle during Friday night's 102-101 win at Orlando. 

 

Timberwolves Vice President Kevin McHale was in Portsmouth, Va., scouting an NBA camp. 

 

Postgame quotes from the Wolves loss in Orlando

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Wolves 114, Grizzlies 105
Written by SG   
Sunday, 13 April 2008
The Grizzlies were flat from the start, and overwhelmed by the Timberwolves' dominance in the paint all night. Minnesota left with a 62-45 rebounding edge and a 60-44 scoring advantage in the paint.
 
After falling behind 43-25 after the first quarter, Memphis never really threatened.
 
 
 
Wolves record: 21-59
 
 
 
 
The Wolves could have clinched the third-worst record in the NBA with a loss. By winning, they gave Memphis (22-58) a chance to finish with the third-worst record, bumping the Wolves (21-59) to fourth worst. The team with the third-worst record has a 15.6 percent chance at winning the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, and the team with the fourth-worst record has an 11.9 percent chance. 
 
 
 
From the AP recap:
Kirk Snyder had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Al Jefferson added 21 points and 10 boards, and the Timberwolves beat the Grizzlies 114-105 on Saturday night.
 
Also from the recap:
Ryan Gomes was the third Minnesota player with a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Rashad McCants led Minnesota with 23 points and Randy Foye scored 16. Snyder’s points, on 9-of-11 shooting, were a season high and the rebounding total was the best of his career. 
 
 
 
Six days after he shot the Grizzlies to victory at Target Center, South Dakota's own Mike Miller watched from the sideline dressed in a suit because of back spasms. The Grizzlies also didn't use three other regulars, and the Wolves gave Al Jefferson and Randy Foye extra rest and still came one rebound from a franchise record. 
 
Their 62 rebounds -- which included a season-high 24 offensive rebounds -- were one short of the 63 a Timberwolves team hauled down in an April Fool's Day game against Phoenix three seasons ago.

  
 
The Wolves have broken their franchise record for points in the first quarter twice in the last three weeks. Tonight's 43 points at Memphis set the record, last accomplished March 22 with 42 points at home against New York. Wolves coach Randy Wittman said he was worried that his team might not have much energy tonight after rallying to win 102-101 at Orlando Friday night. Instead the Wolves got off to a fast start and cruised to a 114-105 win at Memphis tonight. 
 
 
 
From AP Sports:
Three people were injured Saturday night before a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies when a small section of the stands at FedExForum collapsed.
 
One person was taken away on a stretcher and two others were treated at the scene. Grizzlies spokesman Dustin Krugel said during the game all three were taken to various Memphis hospitals as a precaution. Officials did not have the identities of any of the injured or specific hospitals, but all three were alert and conscious after the accident.
 
The incident happened about an hour before the 8 p.m. EDT tip-off ...

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Wolves Updates 4/12
Written by SG   
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Wolves forward Al Jefferson’s candidacy to win the NBA’s most improved player award, voted upon by journalists who cover the NBA, could be hurt by his team’s poor record, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
 
“I’m not saying Al Jefferson’s not deserving -- he’s a hell of a player and I have great respect for him -- but I’m just telling you that a team that’s going to be around the 20-win mark, it’s going to be tough,” Van Gundy said before tonight's 102-101 loss at home to the Wolves. 
 
  
 
Lang Greene/Hoops Vine talks to Randy Foye about his recovery, offseason plans, and whether he'd take Deron Williams or Chris Paul:
Randy Foye: I got myself. If I wasn't injured,  you know it might be a different story. But I have to give it to CP3 right now, because his team didn't make the playoffs last year and they're number one right now. So I have to give it to him right now. 
 
    
 
Wolves forward Craig Smith did not play Friday at Orlando because of a collarbone/breastbone injury sustained in Wednesday's loss to New Orleans. Point guard Sebastian Telfair did not make the two-game trip and on Friday missed his 18th consecutive game because of a sprained ankle sustained March 7 at Sacramento. 
 
 
 
 
 
Click here for the forum's game thread 
 
 
They Wolves remain positioned for the third-most chances in the NBA draft lottery after Memphis won on Friday to maintain a two-victory lead over the Wolves.
 

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Wolves 102, Magic 101
Written by SG   
Saturday, 12 April 2008
So tight all too often earlier in the season, the Wolves recovered from 14 points down in the third quarter, from seven behind with three minutes left and from four points back in the final 87 seconds to defeat the Magic 102-101 at Amway Arena. Ryan Gomes sank two game-winning free throws with 2.9 seconds left.
 
"You got to shoot 'em like there's nobody in the gym," Gomes said of two shots that swished.
 
 
 
Wolves record: 20-59
 
 
 
  
 
 
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Randy Foye: 
His 44-minute, 25-point night included 12 points and two three-pointers in the fourth quarter, when he played every second.
 
 
 
From the AP recap:
With Orlando leading 101-100 with 1:17 to go, the Magic failed to score on their next two possessions and Minnesota misfired on four attempts. Al Jefferson missed a tipped rebound at 3.9 but Howard fouled Gomes chasing the rebound with 2.9 remaining.
 
 
 
The search for consistency will continue into next season. Friday's victory ended the Wolves' six-game losing streak and was their first road victory this season against an Eastern Conference team. Overall, they improved to 6-33 on the road.
 
Ryan Gomes made two free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining to give the Wolves their first lead of the game. Gomes' trip to the line came only after the Wolves got two offensive rebounds on their last offensive possession.

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Wolves Updates 4/11 Part 2
Written by SG   
Friday, 11 April 2008
The Wolves are also without Craig Smith, who was ruled out for tonight's game. Smith suffered an injury to his left collarbone and sternum area when he was reaching for a loose ball and collided with another player late during Wednesday's game against New Orleans. "I'm just a little banged up, a little sore," Smith said. "It's a tough little injury. I'm just day to day." Officially the injury is a "sprained left sternoclavicular joint."
 
 
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Ryan Gomes about the team's last few games.  
 
 
City Pages' Benjamin Polk and Jonathan Kaminsky discuss "the sideline antics of Randy Wittman, the curious case of Corey Brewer, and how to address the team's Greatest Needs."
 
 
 

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Wolves Updates 4/11
Written by SG   
Friday, 11 April 2008
The only player who has more double-double games this season than Wolves star Al Jefferson is Magic center Dwight Howard, whose 67 in 78 games is 15 more than Jefferson's 52.
 
Also from Zgoda: 
A few days ago, it looked as if Sebastian Telfair might play tonight for the first time since spraining his ankle in Sacramento on March 7, but he did not accompany the team Thursday on this two-game trip to Orlando and Memphis.
 
 
 
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press on Craig Smith's injury: 
With only four games left, it might not be worth potentially aggravating his injury. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, so it's an important offseason for him. 
 
 
 
WD/Canis Hoopus on Kevin McHale scouting at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
 
 
 
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to Chris Richard and Ryan Gomes about their NCAA brackets.  
 
 
The Twins and Timberwolves also added to the prime-time competition Wednesday night. The Twins' 12-5 victory over the White Sox had a strong 8.9 rating and 16 share on WFTC (Ch. 29); the woeful Wolves' 122-90 loss to New Orleans managed a minuscule 0.1 rating (1,707 households) with a 0 share.
 
 
   
Similarly, a good case can be made for Chris Kaman to be the league's Most Improved Player. Before he got injured he was averaging nearly 16 and 12 – by far the best season of his career. The Timberwolves are trying to make a case for Al Jefferson, who has also had a monster year. But is a player who's having a great year for a terrible team really the Most Improved? 
 
  
 
Previews of tonight's game at Orlando:
 
 
 
T-Wolves, who are coached by former Magic assistant Randy Wittman, have lost six in a row and have a league-worst road record of 5-33.

 

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Smith injured
Written by SG   
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Craig Smith suffered a sprained left sterno clavicular joint in the closing minutes of Wednesday evening's loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Smith is listed as day-to-day, and is scheduled to go on the team road trip to Orlando and Memphis. Smith scored two points and grabbed five rebounds in 16 minutes of action against the Hornets and is averaging 9.4 points and 4.6 boards in 20 minutes of playing time per game.
 
 
According to orthogate.org, "The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is important because it helps support the shoulder. The SC joint links the bones of the arms and shoulder to the vertical skeleton . . . The SC joint connects your clavicle (collarbone) to your sternum, which is the large bone down the middle of your chest. This attachment is the only bony joint linking the bones of the arm and shoulder to the main part of the skeleton."

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Wolves Updates 4/10 Part 2
Written by SG   
Thursday, 10 April 2008
In all seriousness, I'm not certain giving Brewer any more burn in these final four games is a good idea. Better just to let him keep practing and then proscribe an off-season diet of milkshakes, bench presses, squats and cheeseburgers along with a daily diet of about 10,000 jump shots. The boll weavils have infested his confidence and it will take a few months to clean them away.
 
 
 
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament kicked off today at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia.  The high school gym was teeming with NBA General Managers, scouts, media members, and local hoop fans.  There were scouts from all over the world representing many leagues from many nations.
 
Larry Bird, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale were among the General Managers seated right behind one of the baskets.   
 
 
 
About 20 NBA scouts packed the gym on Wednesday for the international practices in Portland for the Nike Hoop Summit. Recognizable names in attendance included Fred Hoiberg and Jim Stack of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Gersson Rosas of the Houston Rockets, Tommy Sheppard from the Washington Wizards, and Michael Born of the Portland TrailBlazers.  
 
 
 
Sebastian Telfair on his progress this year:
“For myself personally, I feel like I established myself as a point guard this year. I take a lot of pride in that because I was consistently getting guys open shots and being a point guard every game. I take pride in that and have to give myself a little pat on the back for that, but as a team, the way we’ve matured as a team from the beginning of the season to right now, we’re a completely different team.”
 
Translation: This is about the corniest thing I could possibly say to a reporter about my season, and the T-Wolves as a whole. And that’s not me. I’m so real they named a sex position after my crossover. But I mean every word of this, and at this point in my chaotic career, that feels f*cking fantastic. This is my very own “Star Spangled Banner.”
 
 
 
Postgame quotes from last night's loss to New Orleans 

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Wolves Updates 4/10
Written by SG   
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Wittman said he did not feel the need to talk to guard Rashad McCants after benching him Tuesday against Charlotte. McCants committed two fouls in three minutes in the first quarter and was pulled for the rest of the game.
 
"They know," Wittman said when asked before the game if he needed to explain his decision to McCants. "I've been pretty consistent in that. When we play with a purpose and with our mind in it, we're competitive. I've said that all year long. The first eight minutes of that game we weren't."
 
 
 
Wolves veteran Greg Buckner's 31 minutes at Charlotte were his most since early November. He said he was surprised to play and that his lungs were burning.
 
Buckner said he has never doubted his abilities despite playing in just 30 games this season.
 
"Every day in practice, I play hard," he said. "I know I can play this game."
 
 
 
The third-worst record would mean a 15.6 percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick when the lottery is held May 20. The Wolves still have a chance to catch Seattle for the second-worst record in the NBA, which would give them a 19.9 percent chance at the top pick. Miami is on track for the worst record, giving them a 25 percent chance.
 
 
 
Emily Johns/Star Tribune on U.S. Rep. John Kline:
Kline also received $1,000 from former Republican Sen. Rudy Boschwitz this quarter, $500 from the president of "Armor Shield," a Kentucky-based company that manufactures body armor, and $1,000 from Glen Taylor, the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
 
 
 
Throw in a too-close-to-call MVP race, the Boston Celtics’ record-shattering re-emergence and a flurry of blockbuster trades, and there’s been no shortage of things for fans to talk about.
 
“The races, the Western Conference, you’ve got Boston back being one of the best teams. The Lakers are back up there again with the moves they’ve made. I think it’s been a good year all the way around,” Minnesota Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. “The more competition you have, like this year has been, the more interesting it is.”

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Wolves 90, Hornets 122
Written by SG   
Thursday, 10 April 2008
From the AP recap:
Rashad McCants had 23 for the Timberwolves, who have lost six straight. Randy Foye scored 20 points for Minnesota, but just four of those came in the final three quarters.
 
The win gave the Hornets a franchise-best 55 wins, beating the record set in 1996-97.
 
The Hornets led just 48-46 lead at intermission but Stojakovic - who finished with five 3-pointers - sparked a third-quarter surge that put New Orleans in front to stay. 
 
 
 
Wolves record: 19-59
 
 
Hornets 247 game recap 

 
 
The entire Timberwolves team looked tired and bored throughout the game. When New Orleans punched them in the mouth, Minnesota didn't care. They just stood in the corner of the ring, taking the beating from the heavyweight. There was no pride or purpose in what they were doing and looked as if they can't wait for the season to end. 
 
 
 
Wittman was not happy with his team's focus in the first quarter Tuesday, but the Wolves showed some life -- at least on offense -- in the first half.
 
Randy Foye seemed motivated by a head-to-head matchup with Paul, scoring 16 points in the first quarter, including 4-for-4 from three-point range.
 
As a team, the Wolves shot 72.2 percent from the field in the first quarter, but Wittman felt his players began settling for jump shots rather than attacking when the Hornets ran out and contested shots.
 
 
 
Minnesota made 72 percent of their shots in the first quarter and most of it came from guard Randy Foye, who had 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The Timberwolves entered on a five-game losing streak. 
 
 
 
Behind 19 points and 16 assists from guard Chris Paul and 24 points from Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans currently stands 1.5 games in front of San Antonio (who with a win vs. Phoenix would remain one game back) in the race for first. To top it off, tonight's win represents a new franchise record for wins in a season. 
 
 
 
They were surging, winners of six of nine games at one point in March.
 
Since then, they have lost eight of nine games and six in a row, including Wednesday night's 32-point loss, which marks their second-most lopsided defeat this season. New Orleans' 34-point win (110-76) Dec. 22 is Minnesota's worst.

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