With 19 games remaining on the schedule, the Timberwolves need to learn whether they have a second exceptional player on their roster to team with center Al Jefferson in 2008-09. The best candidate is Randy Foye, the second year guard who played in all 82 of the team’s games last season but has missed most of this season because of a left knee cap injury.
Foye is healthy now and has helped the Wolves win two of their last three games. His statistics this season include the following in 20 games: 11.4 points per game, 3.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Last season he averaged 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He started 12 of 82 games.
Of particular interest now is that regular point guard Sebastian Telfair’s sprained right ankle has provided Foye an opportunity to play that position in the last two games, rather than shooting guard. Even before his rookie season began Foye spoke about how he values a leadership role on the team, stepping forward in the fourth quarter to make the big plays and shots.
Foye isn’t a classic point guard but that may be his best position and he welcomes the opportunity to play there while Telfair is sidelined. Foye won’t dazzle with no-look passes or fancy dribbling like Jason Kidd, but he’s likely to make a timely basket with his jump shot, or bank the ball off the backboard from the right side (a Foye favorite). He’s likely, too, to make a timely pass, or see that the Wolves are in the correct offensive set.
Years ago the Boston Celtics won two world championships with a tough, defensive specialist who was a money player in the fourth quarter. Dennis Johnson didn’t even play as pretty as Foye, but he was one of the NBA’s most productive point guards. Larry Bird called him the best player he ever played with.
The Wolves need to find out if Foye can become a star, developing his own game and success, perhaps at point guard. Telfair, who started 51 games, is young, 22, like Foye, 24. However, despite his speed, Telfair didn’t lock up the position, sometimes unable to finish drives to the basket, make wide open jump shots, or creatively find teammates with his passes.
Foye also has been inconsistent in his play. In the last four games he has scored 18, 7, 26 and 9 points. In two of the last three games he never attempted a free throw but in the other game had 12 attempts.
The Wolves, 14-49, need star players besides Jefferson who ranks 15th in scoring at 21.4 points per game and fifth in rebounding in the NBA at 11.7. This season was supposed to provide a lot of answers about Foye and some about the team’s future. Because of the knee injury we know less than we had hoped, but the last 19 games will give us more insight about Foye and the Wolves.