Steve Aschburner/MinnPost lists the five worst injuries in Timberwolves history.
1. Sam Cassell’s aching back and hip. Cassell was 34
but playing younger, going to his first All-Star game in his first
season with Minnesota. He, Garnett and Latrell Sprewell carried the
club to new heights, with the mouthy Cassell averaging 19.8 points and
7.3 assists. He already was banged up in playoff series against Denver
and Sacramento, and by the time the Wolves faced the Lakers in the West
finals, Cassell was barely functional.
He tried and failed to perform in Game 2, then got burned defensively
by Gary Payton despite scoring 18 points in 26 minutes in Game 3. "I’ve
never seen him play that way," said Payton, a former teammate. "He’s
trying to play. He’s gutsy. I feel bad for him."’
but playing younger, going to his first All-Star game in his first
season with Minnesota. He, Garnett and Latrell Sprewell carried the
club to new heights, with the mouthy Cassell averaging 19.8 points and
7.3 assists. He already was banged up in playoff series against Denver
and Sacramento, and by the time the Wolves faced the Lakers in the West
finals, Cassell was barely functional.
He tried and failed to perform in Game 2, then got burned defensively
by Gary Payton despite scoring 18 points in 26 minutes in Game 3. "I’ve
never seen him play that way," said Payton, a former teammate. "He’s
trying to play. He’s gutsy. I feel bad for him."’
Peter W/Canis Hoopus with a peek into the Wolves future.
Tom Ziller/Fanhouse puts Al Jefferson at #18 on Fanhouse’s list of the Top 50 players in the league.
In all seriousness (regrettably*),
Jefferson’s game is remarkably basic. Al’s massive and strong, a
Rottweiler in the post. He rebounds, he gets buckets. He does not
smile. He is a young Karl Malone, in the flesh. Honest to blog, the
comparison is striking in its completeness…
Jefferson’s game is remarkably basic. Al’s massive and strong, a
Rottweiler in the post. He rebounds, he gets buckets. He does not
smile. He is a young Karl Malone, in the flesh. Honest to blog, the
comparison is striking in its completeness…
* It’s regrettable that I have to be serious, not that Jefferson’s game is basic. Because by basic I mean Basically Awesome.
Mike Trudell/Timberwolves site talks to new Wolves assistant coach Dean Cooper:
MT: But Telfair can improve…
Cooper: Oh he’s already gotten much better this summer. I mean,
markedly better. I just talked to him when I was walking up here about
some of the things we’ve been working on. You first need a plan and
second need to develop a skill set to do it, and then have confidence
that you can (execute it) in the game. It’s like being a golfer: you go
work on your swing on the range, but once you walk to the first tee you
can’t keep working, you have to trust that what you already did works.
Cooper: Oh he’s already gotten much better this summer. I mean,
markedly better. I just talked to him when I was walking up here about
some of the things we’ve been working on. You first need a plan and
second need to develop a skill set to do it, and then have confidence
that you can (execute it) in the game. It’s like being a golfer: you go
work on your swing on the range, but once you walk to the first tee you
can’t keep working, you have to trust that what you already did works.