We covered Kirk Snyder's strong play, Al Jefferson's improving defense and passing and Sebastian Telfair's progress in a Monday roundup of all things Timberwolves.

Snyder Showing His Stuff
When Minnesota traded Gerald Green to Houston for Kirk Snyder and a second-round pick, Wolves fans, players and coaches weren't quite sure what to expect. Fourteen games and seven Wolves wins later, as Snyder continues to impress, it's almost safe to say that he's exceeded what were modest - at best - expectations.

"He's made a very significant (impact) to where he has my confidence in a short period of time," said head coach Randy Wittman after Monday's practice. "He's playing within himself, he's not trying to do too much. He's been good."

Perhaps most importantly, the Wolves are 7-7 with Snyder in the lineup, and 5-3 when he starts. He feels like all he needed was a chance.

"As much preparation and hard work as I did in Houston, and the basketball knowledge that I've learned, all I needed was to be in another situation," Snyder explained. "The team I played for is in the top five in the NBA right now. But my basketball IQ, the things that go unnoticed (were seen) as soon as I got here."

Snyder had arguably his best all-around game in a 114-93 victory over the Knicks on Saturday, as he made 4-of-6 shots and 7-of-7 free throws for 15 points, grabbed a season-high eight boards, tossed two assists and grabbed three steals ... All without a turnover.

But it's the things that don't show up in the box score upon which Snyder has prided himself - such as engaged rebounds, when a player tips the ball to a teammate for a rebound - and that have helped Minnesota win 6-of-9 games.

"Little stuff like that, the unseen things, the things it takes to win basketball games but only a coach can appreciate," said Snyder, who also noted how comfortable he's become in Minneapolis. "It's a family, and these guys have been figuring me out as a player and a person."

Snyder is a free agent at the end of this season, but said that he would like to be in Minnesota next year if possible. The 13 remaining games will be particularly important for him (and other free agents) as the Wolves continue to evaluate what they'll do in the offseason.

Jefferson Developing Passing, Defense
A career-high six assists in his last game, 13 blocks in his last four and even a drawn charge have been direct indicators that Al Jefferson is stepping up his defense and passing. While he hasn't swayed from his double-double ways (he still trails only Dwight Howard in double-doubles and averages 21 points and 11.6 boards), it's been great to see the continued all-around development of the 23-year-old future All-Star.

Wittman explained in part why Jefferson's passing has improved: knowledge of double-teams.

"He hadn't seen any of that (double-teaming) in November," said the head coach. "He wasn't getting doubles then. He's grown in those areas of recognizing double-teams and knowing where guys are now. We got to a point earlier where he recognized he was doubled, but he had no idea where to throw the ball. But now he's taken that next step of recognizing where the double is and where that pass has to go out of the double ... It's going to make it easier on him."

Telfair Shoots, Might Travel
Sebastian Telfair was going through shooting drills when media was granted access at the end of practice on Monday, but Wittman said that Telfair wasn't able to do much of "anything else." However, Telfair couldn't even do that last week, and he is clearly continuing to improve. In fact, he might join the Wolves on the trip to Houston and San Antonio this week.

"We might take him with us," said Wittman. "We will see where we're at tomorrow."

After a Wednesday-Friday swing through Texas, Minnesota returns home for a Sunday game against Utah at 2:30 p.m.

Courtesy of Wolves Stat Guru Paul Swanson
*Minnesota is now 13-17 (.433) in its past 30 games, after beginning the season 5-34. The Wolves have won six of their past nine, and are 5-3 with the current starting lineup (Snyder, Gomes, Jefferson, Jaric, Foye).

* The Wolves have won three straight at Target Center, one shy of their longest home winning streak this year (four, Jan. 23-Feb. 1). They've now surpassed 50% from the floor in five of their past six (and six of the last nine) contests. They're hitting a combined 50.0% during the current 6-3 run, and have also increased their free-throw accuracy to 79.8% in that stretch.

* Minnesota set a franchise record for points in a first quarter with Saturday's 42-point effort vs. New York. The previous mark was set on Feb. 7, 2001 at Target Center, when the Wolves rolled to a 41-10 first-quarter lead vs. Sacramento en route to a 117-88 victory.