原文：http://myurl.com.tw/n9np
Three years ago, Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell bonded to
form the best Wolves team in history. If the past two games are a hint, we
could see a Part 2, with new co-stars for KG of course.
--
It was three years ago today, fittingly, that Timberwolves nation celebrated
the birth of a snarling, nasty little three-headed monster.
The night before -- Dec. 5, 2003 -- stands as one of the franchise's most
memorable and pivotal events, a spectacular 112-109 overtime victory at
Sacramento in which the essence of the best team in Wolves history took
shape. Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell combined for 96 of
those 112 points.
Arguably the team's most entertaining regular-season game ever (Garnett
forced overtime by hitting two three-pointers in the final 29 seconds), the
game was a propellant, too. Soon the three amigos were lounging and laughing
on Craig Kilborn's "The Late Late Show" set. In March, the "Three-Wolves"
smiled out from the cover of Sports Illustrated. And in May, they led
Minnesota to its most satisfying postseason run.
The obvious questions now, in 2006-07: What is the gestation period for such
a three-headed monster, and can the Wolves deliver one again?
On paper, based solely on the current candidates' scoring averages from last
season, the answers would seem to be "soon" and "yes." In fact, Garnett
(21.8), Mike James (20.3) and Ricky Davis (19.4) produced more points (61.5)
-- admittedly for three, then two different teams -- on a typical night last
season than Garnett (24.2), Cassell (19.8) and Sprewell (16.8) did three
years ago. Back then, the "monster's" combined average of 60.8 was tops in
the NBA, and far ahead of any other trio in the percentage of points scored
(64.0 percent).
The similarities don't end there. As with Cassell and Sprewell, James and
Davis are much-traveled veterans hired largely out of desperation and
frustration by a team stuck in mediocrity (or, last season, even worse). They
play the same positions, point guard and swingman, respectively.
They toted baggage into the Twin Cities, too, that easily could have been
mistaken on any airport carousel for that of their 2003 counterparts. James
was said to have played last season more for stats and contract leverage,
charges with which Cassell was familiar. Davis brought braids and a
reputation, more knucklehead than Sprewell's hothead but in need of a
makeover all the same.
The one constant: KG
Garnett, meanwhile, is the constant, as eager for scoring and leadership help
at age 27 as he is now at a ripe old 30. After the 82-75 loss at Houston last
week, the nine-time All-Star forward labeled it a priority.
"We all have to find a way to get Rick and Mike James in a better flow,"
Garnett said after those two combined for 11 points in the loss. "That will
make it easier on everybody."
How much easier? The 2003-04 team won 58 games, with Garnett topping it in
points (or tying) 50 times; that's the only season in the past four in which
Minnesota had more victories than Garnett had nights as the leading scorer.
Cassell and Sprewell led or tied as top scorer 35 times.
"That 'big three' was made up of different people," coach Dwane Casey said.
"It's taking these guys longer. They're getting to know each other. But we've
got to make it work. That's why we signed them. We've got to make them three
key components of what we do, and get them going."
There are signs. To date, Garnett, James and Davis have a combined average of
47.4 points, and have scored 51.4 percent of the Wolves' points. But in the
loss to Denver on Friday, the trio accounted for 59 points, followed by 57
two nights later at Philadelphia. That's 62 percent of their club's two-game
total.
"Who knows? Things are starting to come together," James said Tuesday. "It's
not really trying to be like they were, but understanding we do have
something good, the three of us."
Said Davis: "We just need to play like it. Kev plays like it every night, but
me and Mike have to make shots and keep the pressure on the defense, keep the
pressure off of Kevin."
Will consistency follow?
What's encouraging to the Wolves is that, three years ago, that team started
9-8 before heading to the West Coast in early December for defining victories
against Phoenix, Sacramento and the Los Angeles. Clippers. This team, at 7-9,
isn't far off, in terms of record -- even if no one expects them to go 49-16
from now into April, as the 2003-04 team did.
"It's not going to be every night, but it's got to be consistent," Wolves
assistant coach Randy Wittman said. "That was the main thing that year. It
was night in and night out. What we saw in Philadelphia Sunday, now, do we
build on that? We haven't had that consistency, for whatever reason."
The 2003-04 team had an unexpected advantage of losing several players --
Wally Szczerbiak, Troy Hudson, Michael Olowokandi -- to extended injury
layoffs. That simplified the pecking order, guaranteed the big three longer
minutes and moved two defenders who didn't require the ball, Trenton Hassell
and Ervin Johnson, into the starting lineup.
"That year, we were forced to have a streamlined lineup," Wittman said.
"That's what we're trying to establish here early in the season, what the
rotation is."
That's the crazy thing about monsters: Too many heads isn't good, but one or
two rarely are enough.
"That's definitely not a monster," Garnett said of a one-headed version --
and he ought to know. "Godzilla would beat that guy in a heartbeat."
--
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