Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on NBA players and their blogs, including Corey Brewer, Rashad McCants, and Mark Madsen.
 
 
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, trying to resuscitate his moribund team, is trying to encourage his players by meeting individually with them.

 

The emphasis on
rewarding players from winning teams explains why Timberwolves GM Kevin
McHale has made some pre-emptive remarks about his outstanding power
forward Al Jefferson. Big Al is one of only five players in the NBA
averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season, but the
Wolves have the league’s worst record.
 
Before the Spurs
played the Timberwolves last week, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Jerry
Zgoda asked Popovich whether Jefferson had much of a shot at being
named an All-Star.
 

"It’d be very difficult in today’s world," he replied.

  

Wolves forward Ryan Gomes has no doubts that teammate Gerald Green will
win a second consecutive slam dunk contest next month at the NBA’s
all-star weekend in New Orleans.
 
"He’s the champ right now, just like the Spurs,
until someone else defeats him," Gomes said. "He has incredible
athleticism, so I think he should be able to repeat. I’m sure that’s on
his mind. There’s a lot of new guys like (Toronto’s) Jamario Moon …
who haven’t been there yet, and they want to take the crown."

 

On Friday, he left U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix with the signed jerseys of Suns stars Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash in his arms.
 
"Just my friends," he said of a collection that also includes, among others, Atlanta’s Marvin Williams and Golden State’s Baron Davis. "To hang on my wall." 
 
 
My children’s delight over the beginning of a Wolves game made me
realize my joy is gone. We all knew coming into this year that it was
going to be a rough season, but nobody could’ve expected this. I
prepared myself for the rough season as well, but it’s taken a toll on
me, as is proven by my occasional rants.
 
 
Rick Alonzo/Pioneer Press on Friday’s loss at Phoenix.