There is a lot of debate about how Minnesota should have taken Thornton
instead of Brewer, and Thornton’s performance in the second period
offers a pretty good testimonial for that viewpoint. It is pretty clear
that Thornton is a superior athlete. But this is also a guy who has
already had a 10-turnover game, and who frequently endures horrible
shooting nights that are more 3-15 FG than 1-5 or 2-8. I think the
current gap between what Thornton is delivering in the aggregate versus
what Brewer contibutes is at its widest point right now. I expect it to
diminish and perhaps swing in Brewer’s direction, within the next 3-4
years. Right now, advantage Thornton. Later: ?
instead of Brewer, and Thornton’s performance in the second period
offers a pretty good testimonial for that viewpoint. It is pretty clear
that Thornton is a superior athlete. But this is also a guy who has
already had a 10-turnover game, and who frequently endures horrible
shooting nights that are more 3-15 FG than 1-5 or 2-8. I think the
current gap between what Thornton is delivering in the aggregate versus
what Brewer contibutes is at its widest point right now. I expect it to
diminish and perhaps swing in Brewer’s direction, within the next 3-4
years. Right now, advantage Thornton. Later: ?
Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune on Randy Foye:
Was it just coincidence he appeared officially back the same night he played point guard all night?
"You tell me," he said. "I feel a lot more comfortable there. That’s
the position I usually play. I just felt comfortable. … They put the
ball in my hands, wanted to me to make plays, wanted me to attack and
that’s what I did."
the position I usually play. I just felt comfortable. … They put the
ball in my hands, wanted to me to make plays, wanted me to attack and
that’s what I did."
From Sid Hartman:
The 6-6 Snyder, a restricted free agent after the season, has played more minutes in his short time with the Wolves than he had all season with the Rockets. On the release of Green, Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said, "Green is young, he will be a NBA player someday, but he need to get some experience playing elsewhere."
Al Jefferson continues to put up impressive numbers for the Timberwolves, but much like his old Atlanta backcourt mate, Rivers, Minnesota coach Randy Wittman wants to see some of that same excellence carry over to the other end of the floor. "Offensively, he’s so talented," Wittman said. "But I’ve told him what he needs to do is to transfer some of that to the defensive end. That has got to be the next step he has to take if he’s going to be an elite player in this league."
Those young, impetuous Timberwolves did the Heat a huge favor with their Friday-Saturday back-to-back victories over the Kings and Clippers. Now three games up in the win column (it sounds odd to say that doesn’t it?) as the league’s second-worst team, Minnesota has provided enough breathing room for the Heat to win a game or two without fear of losing its position as the top lottery seed.