Jonah Ballow/Timberwolves site – Wednesday Practice Notes (audio from Kevin McHale and Kevin Love)
The Wolves then got a bit of a pick-me-up during an uptempo, hour-long workout when Al Jefferson made his first appearance since he was sidelined because of a season-ending knee injury Feb. 8 at New Orleans. Still on crutches, he watched practice sitting near members of the coaching staff in a corner of the Wolves practice facility.
“That gave us a boost,” Love said. “I think they called him in just to lift our spirits because last night was horrendous.”
Seriously, McHale said it will be another few weeks before Jefferson is out of his brace and ready to begin a lengthy rehabilitation process.
“I’m hoping Al’s available for these guys, to be a teammate for these guys, next October and November,” he said. “I’d be shocked if he does much in March this year.”
This team simply has no identity without the big fella, who was their first, second and third option on offense. Critics jabbed at Jefferson’s lack of defensive skills, but the Wolves have only gotten worse on that end of the floor since he left.
They have given up at least 100 points in 11 straight games and, more telling, have allowed opposing shooting percentages to skyrocket thanks to easy layups and wide-open jump shots.
They also miss his leadership in the locker room at times like Tuesday night’s 118-94 loss to Golden State, although veteran forward Mark Madsen and others tried to fill the void.
“At halftime and after the game, some of the older guys got vocal in the locker room,” Madsen, the team’s senior statesman, said Wednesday. “I was very vocal at halftime. I made it clear that we have to go out there and scrap. Last night we did not have that.”
The halftime pep talk didn’t have much of a short-term impact on the Wolves, who never got closer than 14 points in the second half of their seventh straight loss and ninth in 10 games since Jefferson went down with a season-ending knee injury.
Even so, Madsen said he believed he and fellow veterans Mike Miller, Kevin Ollie and Jason Collins got their points across.
Stephen Litel/Downtown Journal sat down and chatted with Kevin Love last weekend.
Whether before or after the coaching change, is there one lesson or trick you’ve learned from Kevin McHale that really sticks out?
“There’s so many things, but just how to score the ball in the post and get different shots up. That’s something we’re going to continue to work on as long as I’m here and as long as he’s here. I’d probably say when he became the coach, obviously he was a lot more hands on. He’s at practice every day. When he was whatever he was–GM or Director of Player Personnel–he was down there every once in a while and got to work with me. He’s there every day now and that makes it a lot easier.”
Bob Sansevere/Pioneer Press also talked with Love recently.
BS: With Jefferson being out, has it allowed you to become more well-rounded?
KL: Al came to me after the injury and said, “Everything happens for a reason. There are going to be tough times the rest of the season. I don’t know if we’re going to win that many games. But there’s a chance for guys to step up, especially you, because you’re going to go from getting 23 minutes to playing 30-plus minutes. You’ll have to step up and, at 20 years old, come into your own.”
Kevin McHale can expect to double his $1.5 million handshake deal with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor if he decides to return as coach next season.