Practice Report: Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012

No question the biggest change with Pekovic’s presence in the lane will be an added advantage on the boards as well as a physical player who forces the opposition to account for him on both ends of the floor. “They don’t handle us on the boards like they did [with Pekovic in the game]; he’s a handful around the basket that they would have to guard,” Adelman said. “But yeah, he’s a big part of what we’re going to do, and you add the other pieces we’re missing, it just kind of, we’re trying to make due right now. But getting back to the way we’re playing in Dallas, Brooklyn, those types, that’s what we have to do.” Resting Ridnour Adelman said his biggest challenge with the current injured personnel is figuring out ways to rest Luke Ridnour, who, without Barea and Ricky Rubio healthy, is the lone true point guard on the roster. Malcolm Lee is more of an off guard, and Adelman prefers to play Shved off the ball as well. That leaves Ridnour as the primary ball handler, and even he is a guard Adelman likes to play occasionally at the 2 because he’s the team’s best spot-up shooter. So how does Adelman get Ridnour some rest? “It’s a real quandary for me because I take him out, it’s not the same,” Adelman said. Adelman said he’s working on getting newly acquired forward/guard Josh Howard prepared to play both the 2 and the 3, which will help in moving either Lee or Shved over to the point during certain offensive sets. But Ridnour is a veteran who Adelman trusts, so it’s a balance between not over-using him but also keeping him on the floor regularly. Ridnour has played at least 31 minutes in each of his last six games. He’s averaging 37 ½ minutes in his last five games and played 41 against Dallas on Monday. “He’s probably going to have to play 36 minutes a game,” Adelman said. “There’s just no getting around it until JJ gets back. “But I gave him a break today,” Adelman joked. “He didn’t do the five-on-none.” Quick Hits