Author: David Shama

Coach Mike D’Antoni has put smiles on the faces of people who love fast break basketball.  His Phoenix Suns averaged an NBA leading 108.4 points per game last season and they advanced to the Western Conference finals before losing to Dallas.  This season they are averaging 111 points per game and again lead NBA teams in scoring.  Most NBA clubs average less than 100 points per game including the Timberwolves who rank 20th at 96.7 (the team is 17-6 when they score 100 points or more). 

The Suns, 42-13, are in first place in the Pacifiic Division and have second best record in the NBA.  Last night at Target Center the Suns defeated the Wolves, 116-104.

No doubt that the Suns with the game’s best decision maker in two-time league MVP Steve Nash and athletic players like center Amare Stoudemire have the personnel to push the ball up the floor quickly.  Still, you have to give D’Antoni credit for his commitment to the fast break in a league with many teams who are determined to playing conservatively.  

In his first full season of coaching the Suns, 2004-2005, Phoenix had the best record in the NBA and he was named coach of the year.  The Suns have been consistent in playing fast break basketball and winning under D’Antoni.  

Running was popular in the NBA years ago but in today’s game many coaches prefer a slower style.  Tommy Heinsohn played on eight Boston Celtics teams that loved to run and won NBA championships in the 1950s and 60s.  He’s an advocate for more fast break basketball. 

“I think that’s what the game is missing right now,” Heinsohn told Sports Headliners. “Anybody that can run makes the game look very easy. Just look at the Suns.  …But nobody wants to run anymore.  They want to control the game.  I keep telling them (to run). …” 

Heinsohn, who follows the NBA as a color man on Celtics telecasts,  talked about all the video tapes teams watch to scout opponents and how “they’ve got every play measured to the half inch.”  Then Heinsohn made a comparison between basketball and World War II.  “I say what you guys are doing by walking the ball up the floor would be like(General) Eisenhower calling up Adolph Hitler and saying we’re landing at Normandy. Get your tanks ready. .. They (NBA teams) allow the defense to play the defense that they’ve scouted you so well (for).” 

Heinsohn was asked why teams don’t run? “They (coaches) don’t think the players can think,” he answered.  “They (also) keep insisting on zeroing in on a player’s weaknesses instead of what they do really well. “

Twins president Dave St. Peter reports via e-mail that the Twins Radio Network has 66 affiliate stations “and counting.” The network ranks as one of the largest team-operated radio networks in baseball, according to St. Peter.  New affiliates have been added in such communities as Red Wing, New Richmond, Marshall, Moose Lake, Preston and Sioux City. 

Wild general manager Doug Risebrough was asked about the recent addition of star center Peter Forsberg to Nashville’s roster, a team that already ranked with the best in the NHL.  Risebrough recalled the Wild won a playoff series in 2003 against a Colorado team with Forbes and Joe Sakic.   “I would say it’s improved their team but I don’t think it’s ordained their team,” Risebrough said. 

The Wild have no problem selling season tickets.  The Minnesota North Stars of the Norm Green era did, however.  The North Star owner came up with a simple and memorable idea.  During a playoff game he held up a sign from his suite that said, “If you like what you see, buy season tickets.” 

Freshman center Mike Carman is a player to watch as the Gophers near the WCHA playoffs.  The Apple Valley native was named WCHA Rookie of the Week earlier this week following his two goal performance in a 3-2 win over Colorado College last Saturday. 

Dan Johnson, the Coon Rapids native, has signed a contract with the Athletics and hopes to win the starting first base job after having double vision last year, according to nbc.sports.com.  In 286 at bats last season he hit .234 with nine home runs.  He struck out 45 times. 

Larry Fitzgerald Sr. reports that son Larry, the Arizona Cardinals star receiver from Minneapolis, is vacationing in Australia.

Randy Wittman was direct and honest in his post-game news conference last night following the Timberwolves’ 100-95 loss to the third year expansion Charlotte Bobcats.  After watching his team lose a 17 point second quarter lead and offer up a dismal second half effort, Wittman, now 5-9 since being named coach in late January, let loose with a candid and stinging evaluation of the Timberwolves. 

His message was the players think of themselves before the team and he asserted that after awhile Wednesday night they quit playing.  He talked about a “frame of mind focused on me rather than we.”  The frustrated coach complained that his players thought about “am I getting enough shots?  Is the ball touching my hands enough?” 

“I am tired of guys pouting on the floor during the game because of whatever, not enough minutes, not enough touches,” Wittman said.  “You can’t do that and win games.  Give me five (unselfish) guys who have no talent and you’re still going to lose the game but you’re going to go down fighting.  We didn’t go down fighting tonight. 

“I want five guys who will play for the team.  Their no. 1 goal is not to score 16 points and get 10 rebounds.  It’s to win the game.  I need five of those guys.  I would much rather lose that way. …” 

The Timberwolves are 3-7 in their last 10 games, have lost two straight since the All-Star break last weekend, and are 25-29 overall and in a fight for the eighth and last position in the Western Conference playoffs.  The season so far has been more about frustration and disappointment than promise and celebration.  

Players left the locker room soon after the game, including Kevin Garnett who wasn’t available to answer questions.  Point guard Mike James admitted there has been players-only meetings to address problems but didn’t seem enthusiastic about the usefulness of future meetings.  “It’s not what you say,” James said.  “It’s what you do on the court and that’s the main thing, what we do on the court.” 

No doubt neither management nor players are happy with this team’s season so far.  Inconsistency has characterized team play such as last night when the Timberwolves had 19 assists in the first half and two in the second.  Management has been working overtime looking at trades to change the roster.  With the trade deadline today, the team will either soon have a new look or be status quo until April when the season ends.  The best result for the Timberwolves, given their need for a major talent upgrade, is to miss the playoffs and be positioned to draft an outstanding college player next June. 

New faces, from college or other NBA teams, with more talent and team values, are needed to improve the Timberwolves.  Without those changes, fans will continue to show the apathy so apparent last night when despite the team collapse boos were seldom heard.