Theus seems to have adjusted just fine to being an assistant coach. He is keeping the routine simple off the court, living in a townhouse in downtown Minneapolis so as to limit the walking commute to the Target Center, His duties, according to T-Wolves head coach Kurt Rambis, are to scout opponents for approximately 20 of Minnesota’s games and work with a small group of players on a hyperfocused basis (and the rest less frequently). Forward Ryan Gomes is among them, and he said Theus’ playing background makes him worth listening to as an assistant.
From Brett Pollakoff/FanHouse: Corey Brewer Would Like to Welcome Derek Fisher to His Poster (VIDEO)
The memory of Corey Brewer’s vicious dunk over Lakers guard Derek Fisher a night earlier still lingered in the Wolves’ locker room before Saturday’s game. The soaring slam, in which Brewer’s head appeared even with the rim, was almost immediately posted by admirers on YouTube.com.
Brewer called it his most memorable dunk as a pro, but only put it among his top three all time.
Also from Zgoda:
There’s been some quiet, but persistent, discussion around the league that the 8-14 Chicago Bulls might pursue former Wolves executive and coach Kevin McHale if they decide to fire Vinny Del Negro
McHale purportedly is quite happy working a day and a half a week being a studio guest on NBA TV on Tuesday.
From John Shipley Pioneer Press: Lakers crown Minnesota wannabes
Those 19 boards in a 104-92 loss to Los Angeles Lakers matched a career high for the Wolves’ second-year power forward, not bad for a guy playing just his fifth game this season since returning from a broken left hand. Still, Rambis wasn’t generous in his praise.
“He did a lot of good things out there, and a lot of so-so things,” the coach said. “I think he was a little bit nervous.”
Love was willing to accept that he did not play a great game, but he refused to cop to being nervous.
“I wasn’t nervous. No,” he said. “I’ve been in too many situations now where I don’t get nervous. It was just missed shots.”
“He did a lot of good things out there, and a lot of so-so things,” the coach said. “I think he was a little bit nervous.”
Love was willing to accept that he did not play a great game, but he refused to cop to being nervous.
“I wasn’t nervous. No,” he said. “I’ve been in too many situations now where I don’t get nervous. It was just missed shots.”
From Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune: David Stern asserts that a woman could someday play in the NBA. The Wolves’ thoughts? They’re not so sure.
“Shoot,” he said. “If Candace Parker can’t do it, it won’t be done.”
WEEK IN REVIEW
Record: 0-3
• Winless (entering Saturday’s late game at Sacramento), just like four other weeks so far this young season. But there is improvement: Lost those three by an average of 6.3 points that included Wednesday’s one-point, last-second home loss to New Orleans and Friday’s 12-point defeat at the L.A. Lakers.
Record: 0-3
• Winless (entering Saturday’s late game at Sacramento), just like four other weeks so far this young season. But there is improvement: Lost those three by an average of 6.3 points that included Wednesday’s one-point, last-second home loss to New Orleans and Friday’s 12-point defeat at the L.A. Lakers.
Long after the longtime Lakers assistant coach had shunned the potential contract terms for the Kings’ head-coaching job (two years, $3 million guaranteed with incentives) and thereby lost any chance at the position, he was handed a telegram from the Kings’ ownership family on the doorstep of his Los Angeles home.
“They sent me a note of congratulations when I got the (T-wolves) job,” Rambis said before facing his old team in Los Angeles on Friday. “I very much appreciated that. … It was sincere.