推 Ayowaya:第二段......XD 10/08 15:13
Wolves are swimming in guards
http://www.startribune.com/511/story/725560.html
MANKATO - Buckingham Palace, Fort Knox and San Quentin must be a
little shorthanded these days, considering all the guards reporting
for work daily at Bresnan Arena, site of the Timberwolves' training
camp.You want guards, the Wolves can give you guards: point guards,
shooting guards, combo guards, swingmen. Tall guards, smallish guards,
young guards, older guards. Guards who run, guards who pass, guards who
shoot, guards who post up. Guards who were hurt but are healthy
(Troy Hudson), guards who were healthy but are hurt (Rashad McCants).
Guards who will end up getting minutes at forward, guards who, like it
or not, might not play very much at all
"As long as I'm on the court, I don't mind," newcomer Mike James said.
"I can play power forward."
Nine of the 17 players in camp are guards and, with McCants rehabbing
his knee for the foreseeable future, eight of them are competing for
spots on the roster, in the rotation and, this week, on the practice
court. Getting them all sufficient repetitions in drills and scrimmages
has been a little trickier than usual.
"It may take a little longer because of the numbers," coach Dwane Casey
said. "But with guys who can play multiple positions ... they can get
enough repetitions. As exhibition season goes on, that will help, too,
as we cut the roster down some and get the numbers down."
The roster is lopsided enough that one of two remedies seems inevitable:
1. Trade.
2. Going small.
The former never is easy, but the Wolves aren't the only team in need
of better balance. Denver is loaded with forwards but is hurting at
shooting guard.
"We've talked. I don't know if there's the basis for a deal there.
But we'll see," Wolves General Manager Jim Stack said. "You're always
checking to see who other teams have brought in and who, maybe, the odd
man out will be, and whether he'd fit in your situation. Not to say we're
looking, but if the right guy became available, you always will consider it."
The alternative is to play multiple guards at assorted spots in various
combinations. Fortunately for the Wolves, a number of teams are expected
to do that this season.
Another incentive: Rule interpretations that prohibit the slightest contact
with ballhandlers on the perimeter. Quickness and ball skills are rewarded
nowadays.
"It makes sense to try to get out and run," said Fred Hoiberg, Wolves
assistant general manager. "You can try to grind it out in the half-court,
but No. 1, it's not very much fun to watch. And No. 2, it's easier to guard."
Ricky Davis, Trenton Hassell and Marko Jaric figure to be used often at
forward, and the others are capable of playing point or shooting guard.
Most of the team's big men can run, too.
"I think it's something that we can really try," Hudson said.
Putting some pace into a game is like doubling the length of Rover's leash.
Playing "like Phoenix," however, means releasing the hounds altogether.
Don't expect that degree of chaos at Target Center.
"With us, it's an interpretation of the Phoenix style," Casey said.
"We're not going to be a run-and-gun team, because then you don't take
advantage of Kevin Garnett. We want to run and flow into it, and if we
get easy baskets, we'll take them. But we're not going to be throwing
the ball all over the gym."
Tickets on sale Saturday
Single-game tickets for the Wolves' regular season go on sale at 11 a.m.
Saturday. They can be purchased at the Target Center box office and through
all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX. Seats are available
in price ranges from $10 to $200. Full and partial season-ticket packages
also are available.
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