Timberwolves Must Reads: Early Camp Edition
Now that training camp is finally here, the media scene has exploded with coverage, and some of it is actually insightful and some of it excellent quote-finding.
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The Hoopus community's own McCleak has done a fantastic series of posts that you can find in the FanPosts section on the right. Well played sir.
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Offensively, guard Randy Foye is the key. He missed the first 43 games with a knee injury, during which Minnesota went 8-35; once he was available, they were 14-25. Foye played on raw ability and confidence for that half-season. The challenge to him now is to perform like a real point guard, to get teammates shots before he goes looking for his, rather than as a release valve when his own maneuvers fail.
"I think we're going to score points" coach Randy Wittman said. "I think the X factor is how we perform defensively."
That means, first and foremost, Jefferson, a heavy lifter on offense who was permitted to lighten his load too often at the other end. How he and Love man their battle stations will determine how much time they spend on the court together, which in turn could determine how successful this Wolves team will be.
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"I had to find out, because all these guys were going into their free agency," Wittman said of a process in which the team decided to re-sign Gomes, Telfair and Smith and let players such as Gerald Green and Kirk Snyder go. "It wasn't coaching, per se. We played through a lot of ups and downs with people. We had to play guys even if they were struggling, because I had to find out who they were and if we wanted to move forward with them."
Wittman: "When we're not doing things the way we should be doing them, somebody has to have the courage and ability to step up and say something, other than me."
Jefferson, the team's best player, on Monday vowed he will be the one to do so. He said he was too quick to criticize teammates last season and too slow to offer support and encouragement, qualities he said he will reverse this season.
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"Being the Number One guy was something I got a chance to experience again for the first time since high school. But there's a lot of things I have to get better at, like being a leader, picking up my teammates," Jefferson said. "I averaged 21 and 11, but we won (22) games, so that really don't mean nothing. I'd rather average less points and less rebounds, but we make the playoffs. That's the Number One thing for me."
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Thank you for the bundling
I especially like Aschburners article.
by Wim (Belgium) on Oct 2, 2008 2:39 AM CDT 0 recs
It's been...
…his best in a while. He’s been beyond bitter since KG left and some of his stuff has been pretty hard to read.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
by Stop-n-Pop on
Oct 2, 2008 7:30 AM CDT
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exactly
I’ve written it somewhere before his negativeness (overall, not just on timberwolves) was one of the reasons I stopped reading SI.com
by Wim (Belgium) on
Oct 2, 2008 1:48 PM CDT
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Nah, he's not that negative.
I disagree wholeheartedly. Hes fair. I mean sometimes someone has to say it and he is KGs guy. Still he can be critical of KG.
I have always enjoyed his writing and put him on par with Britt (not quite as good as Britt, but Britt sets a high standard. He’s closer than most). He has gotten especially good since he left the Strib and started writing at MNPOSt and SI. I also like hearing him on KFAN with Dan B.
I am not sure where to draw the line on negative. Peter W can be quite negative, but hes clever. I don’t think most fans want to just hear praise about the home team. Thats why we come hear and read you guys and why we read Britt. Its also why we read Ashe.
by Andy B on
Oct 2, 2008 3:34 PM CDT
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Fair enough...
….I remember one article in particular that I thought was a bitter cheap shot. I’ll see if I can dig it up.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
by Stop-n-Pop on
Oct 2, 2008 4:55 PM CDT
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Have to confess I only read the things he wrote on SI, might be he’s less bitter everywhere else or that I just read the same article SnP is talking about above. Agree that nobody wants to hear praise when it’s not in order, that’s obvious.
by Wim (Belgium) on
Oct 3, 2008 3:34 AM CDT
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One thing to keep in mind
about Asch and bitterness. He shares a bond with KG because they were both let go at about the same time. Asche took the Strib buyout and then changed his mind, but the Strib didn’t take him back. And his bitterness at the Strib goes even deeper. When Dan B. left the Strib to focus on his talkshow at KFAN, it was btw Asche and Souhan as who would be the new sports columnist. I’ve been a little bitter myself since they bypassed Asche for Souhan.
But, Asche has been able to write more as a columnist since he began writing for SI and MNPOST and his writing is so much better with his new found freedom. I really don’t see his writing as being that bitter (or negative), though.
by Andy B on Oct 3, 2008 7:57 AM CDT 0 recs
I'd be bitter too...
…if they chose Souhan over me. Thankfully, I don’t get that rag anymore.
The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com
by Stop-n-Pop on
Oct 3, 2008 9:10 AM CDT
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