Author: David Shama

Rashad McCants isn’t there yet but the Timberwolves are projecting their 2005 No. 1 draft choice will become a prolific scorer.  Along with Ricky Davis and Kevin Garnett, he is the player with the potential to score a lot of points in a short time during a game.  

That sort of “instant offense” is a Wolves deficiency.  The future might look like this for McCants: first guy off the bench, contribute 10 to 20 points per night. That’s good tonic for this team.  Look no further than Tuesday night to see the Wolves’ need.  Minnesota scored only eight points in the second quarter, a period when a quality sixth man can make a difference.  The Wolves’ were so dismal offensively Tuesday against Dallas they shot a franchise record low of 29.6 percent for the game in a 81-65 loss at Target Center.  The 65 points was the second lowest in team history.          

McCants isn’t ready to contribute much right now.  He’s played in only 13 games since coming back from a career threatening injury to his right knee that required microfracture surgery last June.  The results so far reflect the long layoff (missed 44 games).  He’s averaging 4.2 points per game and making about 33 percent of his shots.  In his last three games he’s four of 17 on field goals and has scored 11 points.   

McCants has talked about removing the “rust” from his game and the Wolves will wait for better days.  He is only 22 years old and management likes the maturity he showed in working to rehabilitate his knee.  They also like his explosive offensive skills, including drives to the basket and effective mid-range and long- range shooting. 

In his rookie season he averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 37.2 percent on three point field goals, a team record for a first-year player.  He closed fast, starting 12 of the team’s final 15 games, averaging 14.9 points in the games he started. 

At North Carolina he averaged 20 points per game as a sophomore to lead the ACC in scoring.  During his three year career he averaged 17.6 points per game with a field goal percentage of 48.6.  His junior season the Tar Heels won the national championship. 

One of McCants’ teammates at North Carolina was Raymond Felton, now the point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats.  Felton was asked about his former teammate.  They have known each other since both were in high school. 

“He has a lot of potential,” Felton said.  “Unfortunately, he got a bad injury and he had to sit out for awhile.  . .. He can score, he can defend, (and) he’s strong.  You know, he’s not really as tall as he should be for a two-guard but his strength, athletic ability and his scoring ability make up for all that.” 

The heights of NBA players often appear exaggerated.  McCants is listed at 6-foot-4 but seems shorter. He isn’t as tall as other two guards, or shooting guards as they are also called.  While defense wasn’t why the Wolves drafted McCants, he has the ability to be effective. 

Can McCants become an NBA all-star?  “I think he can,” Felton said.  “No question.”

Here’s one man’s guess on the Vikings’ legislative pursuit of a new stadium.  It’s not likely to draw serious consideration until 2008 when the team is only three years away from its Metrodome lease expiring.  The Vikings will be free to move to another state then and so the pressure to address the stadium issue intensifies in 2008.

Kevin Garnett averaged 14.2 rebounds per game in February, his best rebounding month of the season.  He leads the NBA in rebounding at 12.8 per game.

Rookie Randy Foye has improved several of his stats since becoming a starter.  Here’s a look at his numbers as a regular with his previous stats in parentheses: 10.3 points per game (8.6), 3.7 rebounds (2.5), 5.1 assists (2.3), 39.7 field goal percentage (41.9), three point field goal percentage 46.2 (32.6).

The Wolves finished 0-5 on the road in February and have lost nine of their last 10 away from home.

Tickets for The Police reunion concert on July 3 at Xcel Energy Center go on sale Monday.  Jack Larson, Xcel general manager, said in other markets the show sold out in 15 minutes.  Tickets are on sale Saturday for the Kenny Chesney concert May 13.   Larson said that show is expected to sell out Saturday or soon thereafter.

The Metrodome will host first and second round NCAA men’s basketball tournament games in March of 2009.  That is the only year right now NCAA tournament games are scheduled here.

WCCO Radio Sports Huddle co-host Dave Mona is writing a book he hopes to have on the market before year end.  The book has chapters devoted to people like Sid Hartman, Calvin Griffith, Billy Martin and Halsey Hall. He has about 40 chapters completed already.

Andrew Brunette, the former Wild player now with Colorado, has tied his single season high for goals with 24.

Does life begin at 30 in the NHL? 

Well, that’s almost the truth for goalie Niklas Backstrom of the Wild.  Backstrom, 29, signed with the Wild as a free agent last June, having played for several years in his native Finland.  Yesterday he was named by the NHL as its First Star for the week ending February 25 after producing a record of 3-0-0 with 1.62 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. 

Since replacing the injured Manny Fernandez, Backstrom’s record is 9-2-1.  He has improved his season record to 13-7-4.  He ranks third among NHL goaltenders in goal-against average (2.23) and save percentage (.923). 

“I’ve tried to enjoy every moment out there because you’ve been dreaming about playing here and I am not that young anymore,” Backstrom said yesterday.  “I am really thankful to have a chance to play here.  I just tell myself don’t think too much, have fun and these are the games you are going to remember when you retire.” 

Backstrom said “every kid back home who plays hockey dreams about playing over here.”  He wondered, though, if his opportunity would come.  He had thoughts that he “missed” his chance so he’s grateful for the opportunity now. 

Backstrom played the past four seasons with Karpat Oulu of the Finnish Elite League, including back-to-back championship seasons in 2003-04 and 2004-05.  He won 104 of the 177 games he played in the Finnish league, with a 104-36-37 record. He had 18 shutouts in four seasons with Karpat and never had a goals against average over 2.17. 

He had an outstanding final season in Finland, compiling a 32-9-10 record. He ranked first in the league with a career-low 1.68  goals against average and finished second with a .939 save percentage.

The Wild (35-23-5, 75 points) are second in the Northwest Division, two points behind first-place Vancouver. They begin a three-game road trip Wednesday against the Calgary Flames, who trail Minnesota by two points in the division.

Backstrom is 1-1 with a 1.86 goals against average versus Calgary this season. 

Fernandez has been out with a knee injury since January 30.  Although Fernandez was the team’s regular goalie, Backstrom won two games earlier in the season he didn’t start.  A Wild spokesman reported that Fernandez’s return date hasn’t been decided.