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Posted November 9, 2006
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Wolves Need Rookies
on Court Now
After five games, including four on the road, the Timberwolves
have made several impressions. The usual starting
lineup of guards Mike James, Trenton Hassell and Ricky Davis,
forward Kevin Garnett, and center Mark Blount, will
by season’s end leave the Timberwolves on the outside looking in at the
NBA playoffs for a third consecutive season.
Why
is the unproductive Hassell in the lineup? Hassell’s reputation is that
of a defensive specialist but his performance on defense hasn’t been
noticeable and his offense is worse (6.2 per game average on 39%
shooting). Davis has the skills and athleticism but his play frequently
lacks passion and focus. Blount is playing with more consistency than
last season and at times blocks shots and always can uphold his profile
as one of the league’s better shooting big men. James has been
inconsistent but has shown the competitiveness and shooting range that
excited the Wolves when they signed him as a free agent last summer.
Garnett remains one of the league’s top 10 players, a superstar not
without faults but a superb all around player (seventh in the league in
rebounding at 11.2, also averaging 22.4 points per game).
Among
the Wolves’ faults so far (last season, too) is playing without passion
and urgency. A malaise resulting in fewer rebounds and loose balls, and
not attacking the basket for lay-ups and close in shots. When the
Wolves scrambled back from a 20 point deficit in the fourth quarter of
Tuesday night’s game against the Lakers they finally had players on the
floor with a promising blend of talent and attitude. Rookies
Randy Foye and Craig Smith, with James,
Garnett and Marko Jaric produced a rally that had the Lakers
working to game’s end before winning, 95-88.
Foye
and Smith have to play major minutes in future games, at least 30
minutes or more. Foye needs to play point guard, a position providing
the comfort of having the basketball more than any of his teammates.
He’s accustomed to having the ball and once he has it he will create
plays for himself and teammates, providing the Wolves the penetrating
point guard they have sought for some time.
Smith
is Mr. High Energy and Mr. Production so far. Coming off the bench and
playing about 16 minutes per game, he is making 62% of his shots and
averaging 10.2 points per game. He has superb court sense allowing him
to find loose balls and rebounds. Combined with his strong, stocky
frame and soft shooting touch, the second round draft choice looks like
the steal of the 2006 NBA draft. He has provided the Wolves not only
with badly needed rebounds but equally needed inside scoring (hello,
wannabe long range bomber Eddie Griffin, the Wolves 6-10
back up forward/center).
Here’s one man’s revised lineup: Foye, James and Davis at guard,
Garnett at forward, with Blount at center. Then Smith as the first
player off the bench, a sixth man commanding major minutes coming in for
Davis or Blount. And here’s another opinion: playoff team that’s lots
of fun to watch.
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Randy Foye
Kevin Garnett
Foye
and Smith have to play major minutes in future games, at least 30
minutes or more. |
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“Out of the Box”
Suggestions for Vikes
Will
the Vikings surprise the Packers with offensive changes on Sunday? The
stagnant Vikings offense has produced no touchdowns in its last two
games and for the season quarterback Brad Johnson
has thrown four touchdown passes and the Vikings have rushed for two
scores (both by Chester Taylor). The
ineptness has been a team effort with mistakes and below average
performance in multiple positions.
Sometimes a coaching staff will respond with “out of the box” thinking.
Like what? Maybe a no-huddle offense to speed up momentum and give the
defense less time to prepare for the next
play. Perhaps a new offensive formation, unbalanced line or different
blocking schemes. Try a change in quarterbacks, or rotating two
quarterbacks during the game, capitalizing on the skill sets of both,
including ability to run or scramble for extra yards. Even a trick play
or two can help get a team out of its funk (Johnson passing to Taylor
who passes to Johnson?)
And
then if you want to talk way “out of the box,” how about inserting
safety Darran Sharper at quarterback for one or two plays? He
was a high school quarterback with a 20-9 record in Richmond, Virginia.
Whether the Vikings offer some surprises or just execute their standard
stuff a lot better, they know Sunday’s game is more than a “border
battle.” Lose and the Vikings and Packers both have 4-5 records and are
tied for second place in the NFC North Division. Win and the Vikings
take advantage of a home field game against an inferior team.
It
might be time to draw up a few plays “in the sand.”
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Darran Sharper
It might be time to draw up a few plays
“in the sand.”
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U Faces Who-Knows MSU
Psyche
John L. Smith wore a happy face earlier this week
at his news conference but looked tired and stressed. Who could blame
Smith if he were depressed after being told last week by school
officials he will not be the Michigan State football coach after this
season?
Smith
began the news conference by talking individually about his 16 seniors
who play their last game in Spartan Stadium on Saturday against
Minnesota. He smiled when he talked about one player who might be a
“doctor some day” and help people in other countries. He spoke of star
quarterback Drew Stanton, already in graduate school, and
described him as “someone anyone would be proud to have as a son.”
What
Smith didn’t want was to talk about himself. “I feel great,” he said.
“Every day is a great day. Today is the best day of my life and
tomorrow is going to be even better. You better keep smiling and we
better keep moving on.”
How
the Spartans, with their 16 seniors, will play Saturday against the
Gophers is one of the most intriguing questions of the Big Ten football
season. Michigan State is a team that looked like a national title
contender early in the season. The Spartans knocked Notre Dame all over
the field before blowing the game in the fourth quarter. The Spartans
have never recovered, winning one Big Ten game and losing five including
46-21 to Indiana, a team the Gophers destroyed last Saturday, 63-26.
Smith
talks about “love” and “trust” and “grunting around” with his seniors.
He has been trying to help his players understand and get through the
trauma of his firing. Will love, trust and all the other emotions
translate into an inspired performance by Michigan State? Or will the
Spartans continue to “sleep walk” through the season?
And a
good question, too, is what Gopher team will show up? The one that
scored the most Minnesota points in a Big Ten game since 1916? Or the
team that totaled 22 points in a three game stretch against Wisconsin,
North Dakota State and Ohio State?
Minnesota-Michigan State is a match up worthy of speculation by amateur
and professional head doctors.
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“I feel great. Every day is a great
day. Today is the best day of my life and tomorrow is going to be even
better. You better keep smiling and we better keep moving on.”
On the spot MSU coach John L. Smith
Minnesota-Michigan State is a match up
worthy of speculation by amateur and professional head doctors.
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Extra Innings
Michigan State football coach John L. Smith’s Big Ten Conference
career record in his fourth and last season is 12-18. During the same
period Gopher coach Glen Mason’s record is 13-17.
The
Wild play in Los Angeles Saturday night trying for a third win this
season against the Kings. Goalie Manny Fernandez
is 2-0 against the Kings with a 1.00 goals against average and has
stopped 69 of 71 shots.
Roy Smalley, Twins TV analyst, said it will be a
challenge to find the player but he hopes the team can add a right
handed power hitting designated batter for next season. That need is
based on the assumption the team will keep right handed hitting Nick
Punto (only one home run last season) at third
base, a position where teams often have power
hitters.
KARE
11 sportscaster Randy Shaver, who watches countless hours of high
school football video and coaches eighth grade football at Benilde-St.
Margaret’s, said Cretin-Derham Hall junior wide receiver Michael
Floyd already ranks with the state’s best ever prep players
including Joe Mauer. Benilde-St. Margaret’s high school team is
in the state playoffs and Shaver will be covering the team including his
son, Ryan, for KARE 11. In 24 years of reporting on the state
playoffs, that’s a first for Randy.
Rob Leer, former KSTP TV sportscaster, owns Leer Communication and
Consultants, an Edina based company offering a variety of marketing and
publicity services. Leer is directing media relations for the “Boxing
Is Back” card at Target Center on November 17. Matt Vanda and
Anthony Bonsante will headline bouts as part of the first boxing
show since Minnesota reinstated the sport.
Wally Shaver, Gopher hockey play-by-play announcer on
WCCO Radio, said his father Al and mom
Shirley, both 79, are in good health and living on Vancouver Island
in British Columbia. Al was the play-by-play radio voice of the
Minnesota North Stars for all 26 seasons here. Wally is in his sixth
season covering the Gophers.
Brian Buchanan, 33, the former Twin who played with the St. Paul
Saints last summer, will join the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Japanese
Pacific League in 2007. He becomes the first Saints player ever to
agree to play in Japan. He is the 83rd player to move from St. Paul to
a major league organization and the first to go to Japan where the major
league minimum salary is $300,000 (Buchanan specifics not announced).
His manager will be Sadaharu Oh who hit 868 home runs and batted
.301 in a 22-year career in Japan.
In
voting by MIAC coaches, the following schools are pre-season choices to
become conference champions: St. Thomas, men’s basketball, Concordia,
women’s basketball, St. Thomas, men’s hockey, and Gustavaus, women’s
hockey.
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Roy Smalley, Twins TV analyst, said
it will be a challenge to find the player but he hopes the team can add
a right handed power hitting designated batter for next season.
KARE 11 sportscaster Randy Shaver,
who watches countless hours of high school football video and coaches
eighth grade football at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, said Cretin-Derham Hall
junior wide receiver Michael Floyd already ranks with the state’s
best ever prep players including Joe Mauer.
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