Tuesday Practice Report
Jonah Ballow
The Wolves returned to Minneapolis for practice on Tuesday afternoon. After a spirited scrimmage session, the team looks focused on improvement this week. Minnesota also requested waivers on guards Alonzo Gee and Jack Mclinton, trimming the preseason roster to 16 players.
Head Coach Kurt Rambis
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Rambis on the rotation for the preseason:
"For the early games in the preseason but as we get towards the first regular season game we'll get truer and truer to a regular season rotation, and not that it will stay that way throughout the season but it will just give us a starting point for how we are going to start the season."
Rambis on the focus for the team this week:
"Learning not to force things, learning to play within the offense, learning more to pass the ball, do things off the passing and cutting more than just dribbling, they are starting to get that but there has to still be a willingness of everybody to execute and sacrifice themselves for their teammates. It's not about them, it's about their teammate, and if it's your turn to shoot you shoot, if it's your turn to cut you cut. If you circumvent what's supposed to happen you'll then that's when they'll end up getting themselves into trouble."
Rambis on Jefferson and Love working together:
"Al has a center's game and a power forward's body and Kevin, I think, in some point in time is going to be able to stroke long shots with great consistency whether it's three point shots or midrange jumpers, I also think he'll be able to put the ball on the floor he's going to be able to make plays for his teammates passing wise and he'll be able to post up. So with all of those capabilities, whether a team puts him against a big guy or a small guy I can see where he can take advantage of that."
Al Jefferson
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Jefferson on Love's improvement:
"He improved in a lot of ways this year in this offseason. Of course he is a great rebounder, he's a scorer. He made my job a lot easier when I'm not there, he's a great passer. All I have to do is make eye contact with him and the ball was coming. So he made my job a lot easier in the first half i played."
Jefferson on Tuesday's practice:
"We went over a lot of small things that we messed up in the game, he hasn't added any more option to the offense yet, we have two more practices before Friday, so you never know what might happen."
Jefferson on his improved jump shot:
"At one point in time that is all I could do, was just shoot jumpers when I was rehabbing. Like I said, it was something I always wanted to work on and get better at, there's always room for improvement."
Quick thoughts from practice on Tuesday:
--It's hard to believe Al Jefferson was so effective in his first live game action last Sunday night. The Wolves center posted 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in only 16 minutes of court time. A majority of the points Jefferson accumulated came from 16 feet and he showed no hesitation on the jumper. On Tuesday, Jefferson displayed the same type of production in a scrimmage against Kevin Love. Jefferson even drilled a fadeaway step-back jumper over the second-year forward. His craftiness is remarkable to watch on a daily basis and a consistent perimeter shot will elevate his game to the next level.
--Love's demeanor on the court can only be summed up in a word: determined. The power forward does not crack a smile during practice while pounding the glass with a perceived chip on his shoulder. Love recorded a sparkling stat line on Sunday night with 17 points and 13 boards in 21 minutes. He is expected to be one of the most efficient players in the league this year and displays a relentless attack on a nightly basis. However, do not sleep on the skill set that Love possesses. At 21 years old, Love has not unleashed his ability to hit outside jumpers and find open teammates in the half court offense. Love connected on a strong jump hook just outside the lane over the fingertips of Jefferson. The two big men will battle one another in practice everyday, which should only increase their confidence and chemistry this season.
For complete coverage, visit Training Camp Central 2009.
For more news and notes on the team follow the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jonah on Twitter.
Head Coach Kurt Rambis
DOWNLOAD MP3 Rambis on the rotation for the preseason:
"For the early games in the preseason but as we get towards the first regular season game we'll get truer and truer to a regular season rotation, and not that it will stay that way throughout the season but it will just give us a starting point for how we are going to start the season."
Rambis on the focus for the team this week:
"Learning not to force things, learning to play within the offense, learning more to pass the ball, do things off the passing and cutting more than just dribbling, they are starting to get that but there has to still be a willingness of everybody to execute and sacrifice themselves for their teammates. It's not about them, it's about their teammate, and if it's your turn to shoot you shoot, if it's your turn to cut you cut. If you circumvent what's supposed to happen you'll then that's when they'll end up getting themselves into trouble."
Rambis on Jefferson and Love working together:
"Al has a center's game and a power forward's body and Kevin, I think, in some point in time is going to be able to stroke long shots with great consistency whether it's three point shots or midrange jumpers, I also think he'll be able to put the ball on the floor he's going to be able to make plays for his teammates passing wise and he'll be able to post up. So with all of those capabilities, whether a team puts him against a big guy or a small guy I can see where he can take advantage of that."
Al Jefferson
DOWNLOAD MP3 Jefferson on Love's improvement:
"He improved in a lot of ways this year in this offseason. Of course he is a great rebounder, he's a scorer. He made my job a lot easier when I'm not there, he's a great passer. All I have to do is make eye contact with him and the ball was coming. So he made my job a lot easier in the first half i played."
Jefferson on Tuesday's practice:
"We went over a lot of small things that we messed up in the game, he hasn't added any more option to the offense yet, we have two more practices before Friday, so you never know what might happen."
Jefferson on his improved jump shot:
"At one point in time that is all I could do, was just shoot jumpers when I was rehabbing. Like I said, it was something I always wanted to work on and get better at, there's always room for improvement."
Quick thoughts from practice on Tuesday:
--It's hard to believe Al Jefferson was so effective in his first live game action last Sunday night. The Wolves center posted 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in only 16 minutes of court time. A majority of the points Jefferson accumulated came from 16 feet and he showed no hesitation on the jumper. On Tuesday, Jefferson displayed the same type of production in a scrimmage against Kevin Love. Jefferson even drilled a fadeaway step-back jumper over the second-year forward. His craftiness is remarkable to watch on a daily basis and a consistent perimeter shot will elevate his game to the next level. --Love's demeanor on the court can only be summed up in a word: determined. The power forward does not crack a smile during practice while pounding the glass with a perceived chip on his shoulder. Love recorded a sparkling stat line on Sunday night with 17 points and 13 boards in 21 minutes. He is expected to be one of the most efficient players in the league this year and displays a relentless attack on a nightly basis. However, do not sleep on the skill set that Love possesses. At 21 years old, Love has not unleashed his ability to hit outside jumpers and find open teammates in the half court offense. Love connected on a strong jump hook just outside the lane over the fingertips of Jefferson. The two big men will battle one another in practice everyday, which should only increase their confidence and chemistry this season.
For complete coverage, visit Training Camp Central 2009.
For more news and notes on the team follow the Minnesota Timberwolves and Jonah on Twitter.
