A day after the team he reconstructed trailed Dallas by 31 points at
home and lost for the 29th time in 33 games, Kevin McHale on Monday
acknowledged he assembled too much youth but said the way his players
have conceded defeat is unacceptable.
home and lost for the 29th time in 33 games, Kevin McHale on Monday
acknowledged he assembled too much youth but said the way his players
have conceded defeat is unacceptable.
"We have guys getting beat down and losing their competitive edge,"
said McHale, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations. "You
can’t do that. You can do a lot of stuff, but you cannot not compete. I
understand why it happens; it’s human nature. You have to fight through
tough times, and we’re going through tough times."
said McHale, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations. "You
can’t do that. You can do a lot of stuff, but you cannot not compete. I
understand why it happens; it’s human nature. You have to fight through
tough times, and we’re going through tough times."
McHale
voiced support for Wittman, who is 16-59 with the Wolves after taking
over for Dwane Casey last January. He said he understands why Wittman
gets frustrated with the team.
voiced support for Wittman, who is 16-59 with the Wolves after taking
over for Dwane Casey last January. He said he understands why Wittman
gets frustrated with the team.
McHale
said Wittman is right to call out the players if they deserve it and
that Wittman follows up the day after tough losses in the appropriate
manner, through reviewing the film with the players and setting the
right tone in practice.
"I couldn’t be happier with how he’s handling the team," McHale said.
said Wittman is right to call out the players if they deserve it and
that Wittman follows up the day after tough losses in the appropriate
manner, through reviewing the film with the players and setting the
right tone in practice.
"I couldn’t be happier with how he’s handling the team," McHale said.
Setting a target for wins went out the door a long time ago. Now
McHale and Wittman are focused on evaluating individual players to
see who they want to keep in the fold long term and who needs to
go.
McHale and Wittman are focused on evaluating individual players to
see who they want to keep in the fold long term and who needs to
go.
“We’re trying to figure out where we’re at with our young
guys,” McHale said. “And right now I’d say that jury’s out on a
lot of guys. You see some development, you see some things you
like, then you see some steps backwards.”
guys,” McHale said. “And right now I’d say that jury’s out on a
lot of guys. You see some development, you see some things you
like, then you see some steps backwards.”
Through it all, McHale and Wittman have been clinging to what
they maintain is a strong backbone of the team. They both say that
these youngsters continue to work hard in practice and ask for
areas in which they can improve.
they maintain is a strong backbone of the team. They both say that
these youngsters continue to work hard in practice and ask for
areas in which they can improve.
Monday’s practice provided evidence, McHale said,
that the Wolves are sticking together. He said players encouraged one
another and played with spirit and energy through a grueling practice.
that the Wolves are sticking together. He said players encouraged one
another and played with spirit and energy through a grueling practice.
"They’re trying individually to get better," he said.
McHale said the roster is filled with good-character
players, an improvement over certain teams of years past. He noted some
previous Wolves teams would have suffered an "implosion of epic
proportions" if faced with the challenges of this season.
players, an improvement over certain teams of years past. He noted some
previous Wolves teams would have suffered an "implosion of epic
proportions" if faced with the challenges of this season.