[外電] This is a New Season to be Excited About

[wisdom8002 (Blood、Sweat、Tears。)]

This is a New Season to be Excited About

August 11, 2006
By Don Ackerman

Mike James summarizes the upcoming season cleanly, "This is a new season to
be excited about. If nobody else gets excited, then they don't understand
basketball."

It's the middle of summer and the fans are ready for the season. Though the
regular season doesn't start for months - The Timberwolves open versus the
Sacramento Kings on November 1st - the Minnesota Timberwolves fans are
treated to basketball events. On August 7th, the Minnesota Timberwolves
hosted season ticket holders and Timberwolves fans. It gave fans an
opportunity to listen and talk with Kevin McHale, Vice President of
Basketball Operations, and Mike James, the Timberwolves point guard who
joined the team on 12 July, 2006.

Before Kevin or Mike said a word, the fans were talking. This was a power
lunch and fans were enjoying roast beef, mashed potatoes, salad, and
perfectly smooth cheesecake while discussing big men, Olowokandi, this year,
and last year. When Tom Hanneman appears, the talk shifts to Kevin Harlan,
then the Lynx, and the $199 season ticket.

Tom Hanneman introduced Kevin McHale who talked about the following subjects
and answered fan questions:

* The Off-Season

Kevin McHale signed Mike James because the 'Wolves were looking for a
veteran. James shoots 44% from the three-point line. What's left is to find a
bigger body. The summer league has gone very well for 1st round draft pick
Randy Foye. While in Las Vegas, Foye took league MVP honors. The signing
season started July 12 and now it's August. For many players, "The money's
not there." Player expectations were high and now the players are realizing
it's not there.

* Finding the Big Man

To get a big man, McHale is talking about trades. The first fan asked about
a big man, specifically a rebounder. McHale attacks the rebounding problem.
He points to the perimeter problem. If everyone stays attached, and boxes
out, they get the ball. We need to tighten the perimeter, not rebound.

* A Losing Season

It's only been two years since the Western Conference Finals. Winning is a
fine line. The year of our run, we won close games. We gained momentum and
confidence. Last year, we had the worst record in close games. We found a way
to lose games.
That's why we brought in Mike James. He's a big-time shot maker, a fourth
quarter difference maker.

* Rules Changes

The rule: If a team has two 60-second timeouts left in the final 2 minutes
of regulation or in overtime, one will be reduced to a 20-second timeout.
Teams now have two 60-second timeouts and one 20-second timeout in overtime,
instead of three 1-minute timeouts. Clubs will no longer be permitted to
carry over a 20-second timeout from regulation into overtime.
McHale's take: "I like the timeout changes. It's tolerable and will make the
last two minutes of games go quicker."

The rule: "The postseason roster is expanded to 15, instead of 13, with 12
players active for each game."
McHale's take: You're playing 8 or 9 players anyway. Red Auerbach used to
talk about the top 4 players and bottom 4 players being happy. The top 4 are
playing. The bottom 4 are young or happy to be in the NBA. It's the middle 4.
I like 12 except for injuries.

* Trading KG

I'm not sure where trade rumors come from. These days it seems someone can
make something up and it flies.

* Losing Close Games

When asked about being up at half and down after 3, McHale asked his
question, "Why are we good enough to be up by 14? What do we need to do to
sustain it? When you lose close games, it looks and feels really really bad."
We're trying to add players to make one play, to jump on the other side of
the snowball." We have to win our fair share of close games.

* Drafting Roy or Foye

One fan remarked that Brandon Roy was discussed by the experts as a better
player. McHale disagreed. We were were talking Foye the whole time. Portland
wanted Roy. Foye has more juice with the ball. Basically, we took Roy to
trade. Portland had already traded the piece we liked.
When asked if it was a defensive issue, the reply was solid. "No. No."

Mike James joined McHale and the guard talked about the following subjects
and answered fan questions:

* On Signing

"Before I signed, KG called me, 'Not only do I want you. I need you in
Minnesota.' He wanted to surround himself with good players. 'Yes, I'm
happy.'"

* On Chemistry

"Everyone looks at the hype. What are you gonna do this year? Hype ain't all
that win games. It's working with one another. When everyone accepts their
roles, everyone coincides. This is a new season to be excited about. If
nobody else else gets excited, then they don't understand basketball."

* Persevering

"I take care of my body. Stick to the rules that got you this far. First in
the gym. Last to leave. Work on my game to make basketball easier. This game
is fun! You gotta separate the business. Even though it's a court, it's my
playground."

* On Small Defenders

"They're a pain, like a mosquito in your bedroom at night."

* About This Year

"One person can help the chemistry and be the missing piece of the puzzle.
I'm a winner. I'm a winner in my head. I'm a winner in my heart."

"I have the Ticket. Please stop biting your nails. We have a plan. Look at
the Detroit Tigers. Why can't we be that? Being 5 down, we still believe we
can win. Being up 10, we know we can win."

* My Game and Keeping Defenders Awake

 "Players who play against me don't go out the night before. They're in bed.
I dictate a tempo. I force you to play hard. You can't take a night off."

 * Minnesota

 "I did not come to Minnesota to lose in this cold weather."

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/power_lunch_060807.html

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