OK, so no Mike Miller, no Corey Brewer…
But how long can this go on without something happening?
The 29-point loss was by 12 points the Wolves biggest of the season. It was lopsided and they look so disinterested and frustrated…
Click here for the forum’s thread on tonight’s game against the Clippers.
Game previews:
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune (Ricky Davis is out)
Reggie Theus (Kings), Marc Iavaroni (Grizzlies) and Randy Wittman (Timberwolves) are feeling the most heat. Theus is struggling to balance the desire to win now while also developing several key youngsters. Iavaroni just got the dreaded vote of confidence from general manager Chris Wallace. Wittman has received public support from owner Glen Taylor. It is still possible all three could hang on to their jobs, but don’t be surprised if there is at least one more coaching change in the coming months.
The Wolves have lost some heart-breaking games already this season, none more disappointing than that double-overtime loss at home to the Spurs in November. It was a painful defeat, but it came with a lesson learned. It gave Love one more reminder of what it takes to win in the NBA.
“Just the little things,” Love said. “For example, boxing out. In college I could get away with running to the basket or just standing under the basket to get rebounds, now it’s a lot more physical,” Love said. “As a rookie, it’s those intangibles that are going to make the difference and I know I’m going to have my ups and downs. It’s just a part of the process.”
• With Miller unavailable, rookie Kevin Love returned to the starting lineup for the first time since a Nov. 15 game against Portland. He had collected double-double games in two of the past three but was nearly invisible in the first half Friday before awakening after intermission to provide an emphatic one-handed slam dunk and his long outlet pass of the season, a 70-foot strike to Ryan Gomes for a layup.
• Friday night’s game ended a three-game Eastern trip that Wittman began by flying from Minneapolis to Indiana to watch his son, Ryan, play for Cornell against the Hoosiers, Wittman’s alma mater, and ended with him back home today to watch Ryan and Cornell play the Gophers at Williams Arena.
The Wolves dropped to 4-14 after Friday’s 113-84 loss at New Jersey. Sometimes, it’s Ryan Wittman who calls — or text-messages — offering encouraging words after a tough Wolves loss.
“I’ve just been telling him to hang in there,” Ryan Wittman said. “They’ve obviously been in a lot of games. I think they’re getting better.”
Randy Wittman said he appreciates his son’s support.
“It’s nice from that standpoint of having somebody that goes through ups and downs, which he has throughout his career at Cornell,” he said. “It’s always nice to hear encouraging words like that, especially from your son.”
Miller, who suffered the injury during Wednesday night’s 100-89 loss at Orlando, tested the ankle during the Wolves’ morning shoot-around and went through another workout before the game.
In the end, though, the Wolves decided to play it cautiously with their best long-range shooter, who was replaced at small forward by Ryan Gomes, with rookie Kevin Love taking Gomes’ spot at power forward.
With the Wolves playing back-to-back games Friday and at home tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, Miller could be held out until Tuesday’s game against Denver.
That work ethic includes taking around 1,000 shots a day, even on off-days. Before practice and after, Miller is regularly seen on the court, sometimes for too long.
“We’re trying to start practice but we’re like ‘Where’s Mike?’ said third-year forward Ryan Gomes. “He’s always down at the other court and we have to wait for him to finish before we can start. He’s always shooting.”
Miller, whose clean-cut hair from his Florida days has been replaced with longer shoulder-length locks, hasn’t been shooting quite as much as he’s used to since the season started. He’s shooting a little better than his career average 46 percent, but not taking nearly as many shots.
“That’s something that will come around,” McHale said. “He just has to get adjusted to a new place, a new team. He knows what he’s doing.”