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Game preview:
Randy Foye considers this a homecoming, even if he grew up in Newark, N.J. He played at Villanova for four seasons and attended the Wildcats’ practice Tuesday afternoon with Kevin McHale and assistant coach Ed Pinckney, who led Villanova to its stunning 1985 NCAA title.
There are few things more frustrating in this world than when people do not try their hardest. Really, is it too much to ask? It should be inherent in the very premise of life: we are given a finite amount of time on this planet; we divide that time into years, months, days, hours, seconds. We are obviously very aware of the constant passage of time. And yet we choose to waste it giving half-hearted efforts. We’re talking to you, members of the Timberwolves’ starting five…
So, my team is in the Phillips Center in Atlanta warming up and getting ready for our game against the Hawks and I look over and see Dominique on the sidelines in a suit getting ready to do the TV for the Atlanta Hawks broadcast.  But the crazy thing is that he still looks like he’s in good enough shape to jump into an NBA game right now, today! So I go over and say hello and ask him, “Can you still windmill dunk?  It looks like you’re ready to still play?”  He says back to me laughing: “I used to the Human Highlight Reel….now I’m just the human.”
In his next six games — a stretch interrupted by that sprained right ankle — he averaged 10.1 points before he busted out of a March slump Monday night with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting in a loss at Atlanta, the Wolves’ 18th in 21 games without Jefferson.
Wolves coach Kevin McHale sat beside Foye at his locker room for a good bit before Monday’s game, listened to Foye’s laments about a long season and the extra attention he has received in recent weeks and then urged the third-year guard to get aggressive.
“He wanted me to be the old me,” Foye said.
Although McHale probably will (and should) get fired this season, does he deserve all of the blame for the depressing situation in Minny? He did put this roster together, true, but he can’t do anything about injuries, and he can’t make guys try hard, if that really is the biggest issue.
Indeed, one look at Kevin Love and Corey Brewer is enough to remind you that, although the pro game is significantly quicker and more athletic, most NBA rookies must learn to slow their bodies down, to play with a calm and focus that allows their skill and athletic ability to take over.
Teammate Mark Madsen has to go up against Smith every day in practice. The only break he gets is game night. Recalling his Los Angeles Lakers days, the forward said, “I’ve guarded Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) and in some situations, matched up with Kobe (Bryant) in practice, but Craig is different. It is not an easy task.”
“He has impressed me as much as any player who has come through here,” said Wolves TV sideline reporter Lea B. Olsen. “He figures out how to score on bigger guys. I think that’s what has kept him in the game and in the NBA. He’s explosive, strong and smart.”
Bickerstaff adds that he also has been impressed with Smith’s progression as a pro. “The transformation from Boston College to now… his commitment to his health and his fitness has been immense and has been most impressive.”
Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love, who came to Target Center to see nephew Kevin Love’s inaugural NBA game with the Timberwolves this season, might be back to see the last home game of the season on April 15 against Sacramento.
The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that the team will host Minnesota Timberwolves affiliate night at the Sioux Falls Arena on Saturday against the Austin Toros. The players will be outfitted in the white home uniforms of the Timberwolves which will be auctioned off for charity during the game.