Wolves Updates 1/31 Part 2

From Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press:

There’s a possibility that Kevin Garnett might not play Feb. 8 when the Timberwolves host the Boston Celtics because of an abdominal strain. Garnett will miss his third consecutive game tonight when the Celtics play Dallas. And Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters in Boston today there’s no timetable for Garnett’s return. The Celtics don’t play their next game until Tuesday at Cleveland. Rivers said the four days between games doesn’t guarantee Garnett will be ready. Rivers said it’s not worth risking further injury if Garnett isn’t completely healthy. 

 

 

 

From Britt Robson/On The Ball:

Without belaboring the point, as Jefferson raised his offense from a B+
to an A over the past week or two, his defense has been elevated from a
D to a C. Sure, some of this is two games against Ben Wallace, who will
make any defender well with his nonexistent O. But after showing little
genuine interest in denying points to the other team, Jefferson does
seem to be more engaged in deterring penetration, rotating over to the
opposite block and, albeit less successfully, showing on the pick and
roll. It’s coming.

 

 

 

Chris Colston/USA Today on deserving players who aren’t included on the list of All-Star reserves: 

None of that trio will be in New Orleans. Neither will the Rockets’ Tracy McGrady, a starter last season, nor Al Jefferson of Minnesota, one of just two players averaging at least 20 points and 12 rebounds per game (Howard is the other). 

 

 

 

From Jonathan Kaminsky/City Pages:

Gerald Green, as you probably know, has been invited back to the
All-Star weekend to defend his prestigious slam dunk title. We asked
young Gerald what he had in store.

 

“It’s a secret," he said, with an actual wink. "I got something I don’t think even the video game can do. Quote that.”

 

 

 

  
 

MLN-The Raw Feed on Chris Richard in the D-League: 

Shortly thereafter, Richard told Sioux Falls trainer Dustin Schramm
that he intends to report to the gym one hour earlier than required
each day.

 

"I don’t know how long it’s going to be," Richard said. "I just have to
come in with the right mind-set and right attitude and do whatever I
have to do to get sent back up."

 

 

 

From Will Brinson/Fanhouse:

If his previous years’ second halves are any indication, Jefferson is
going to put up some absurdly stupid numbers after the All Star Break,
and a lot of people will spend the rest of 2008 wondering how the hell
he wasn’t named to the team in the first place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Mike Moreau/Hoopsworld:

Al Jefferson, in spite of playing on a bad team without much help, has become one of the premier post players in the NBA using a combination of power, quickness, great footwork and a variety of finishes around the basket.

 

Young players tend to rush things in the post. Not Al Jefferson. He catches, looks for cutters, fakes, surveys the landscape, and then goes to work. He can bang into you and score with strength, or use a variety of jabs and pivots to blow by you. He finishes high and has a hard shot to block.