Thursday Practice Notes
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After a heartbreaking 129-125 double overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night at the Target Center, the Wolves were back in the practice facility Thursday preparing for a five day, three game west coast road trip.
Today Coach Wittman took the glass half full approach to last night's loss saying, "You have to, we did a lot of good things. Offensively that was as good as we played this year, in terms of everything; sharing the ball, (we had) 35 assists, taking care of the ball, (only) 10 turnovers. We did a lot of good things; our energy was high the whole night I thought. We made 12-14 just great hustle plays."
One area that Coach Wittman wants to see the team improve on is getting off to a better start. Last night the Wolves went scoreless for the first four-plus minutes and while the Spurs struggled as well, getting off to a good start can make all the difference.
"Well, we gotta do a better job of that. That is one thing that I am discouraged about and don't like...I don't like our starts. Last night it could have easily been 8-2 or 10-2 I mean they couldn't score either. That's a big difference when it comes down to a game like that," said Wittman.
The Wolves welcomed Sebastian Telfair back to the line up last night after he was forced to sit out the first three games of the season and Coach Wittman said he brought the Wolves some good energy off the bench.
"He was at a fever pitch last night, it was his first game since he missed opening ceremonies on the 29th (of October) and that's how he plays and that gives us energy."
Telfair played just over 30 minutes, scoring eight points, handing out 10 assists and grabbing three rebounds. Another member of the Wolves bench brigade who impressed Wittman last night was Kevin Love.
The rookie out of UCLA played over 36 minutes, scoring 14 points, grabbing nine rebounds and played with a tough, mean streak down the stretch according to Wittman.
"We gotta get a little nastier too at the end of games. Hitting people, they're hitting us, and we gotta hit them, Kevin brings that."
Love knocked down his first three-pointer of the season last night and Coach Wittman would like to see him continue to look for his shot.
"He's a good passer, but he can't turn down open shots. I thought he turned down some (shots in overtime) wide-open at the free throw line. That's his shot, whether it goes in or not, you gotta have confidence to shoot those."
The first game of the Wolves west coast swing is in Sacramento at Arco Arena Friday night. The Wolves knocked off the Kings 98-96 in the season opener, getting 21 points and 10 rebounds from Al Jefferson while holding Sacramento's leading scorer, Kevin Martin to just 17 points.
The Kings are 1-4 and coming off their first win of the season 100-95 over Memphis, Kevin Martin poured in 33 points. The Kings will have Brad Miller back in their lineup after he missed the first five games of the season due to an NBA suspension.
The Wolves split two games at Arco Arena last season, falling 100-93 and winning 111-103.
Friday's game can be seen on KSTC 45 and heard on 1130 KFAN and the Timberwolves radio network. Tip off is set for 9:00 p.m.
Today Coach Wittman took the glass half full approach to last night's loss saying, "You have to, we did a lot of good things. Offensively that was as good as we played this year, in terms of everything; sharing the ball, (we had) 35 assists, taking care of the ball, (only) 10 turnovers. We did a lot of good things; our energy was high the whole night I thought. We made 12-14 just great hustle plays."
One area that Coach Wittman wants to see the team improve on is getting off to a better start. Last night the Wolves went scoreless for the first four-plus minutes and while the Spurs struggled as well, getting off to a good start can make all the difference.
"Well, we gotta do a better job of that. That is one thing that I am discouraged about and don't like...I don't like our starts. Last night it could have easily been 8-2 or 10-2 I mean they couldn't score either. That's a big difference when it comes down to a game like that," said Wittman.
The Wolves welcomed Sebastian Telfair back to the line up last night after he was forced to sit out the first three games of the season and Coach Wittman said he brought the Wolves some good energy off the bench.
"He was at a fever pitch last night, it was his first game since he missed opening ceremonies on the 29th (of October) and that's how he plays and that gives us energy."
Telfair played just over 30 minutes, scoring eight points, handing out 10 assists and grabbing three rebounds. Another member of the Wolves bench brigade who impressed Wittman last night was Kevin Love.
The rookie out of UCLA played over 36 minutes, scoring 14 points, grabbing nine rebounds and played with a tough, mean streak down the stretch according to Wittman.
"We gotta get a little nastier too at the end of games. Hitting people, they're hitting us, and we gotta hit them, Kevin brings that."
Love knocked down his first three-pointer of the season last night and Coach Wittman would like to see him continue to look for his shot.
"He's a good passer, but he can't turn down open shots. I thought he turned down some (shots in overtime) wide-open at the free throw line. That's his shot, whether it goes in or not, you gotta have confidence to shoot those."
The first game of the Wolves west coast swing is in Sacramento at Arco Arena Friday night. The Wolves knocked off the Kings 98-96 in the season opener, getting 21 points and 10 rebounds from Al Jefferson while holding Sacramento's leading scorer, Kevin Martin to just 17 points.
The Kings are 1-4 and coming off their first win of the season 100-95 over Memphis, Kevin Martin poured in 33 points. The Kings will have Brad Miller back in their lineup after he missed the first five games of the season due to an NBA suspension.
The Wolves split two games at Arco Arena last season, falling 100-93 and winning 111-103.
Friday's game can be seen on KSTC 45 and heard on 1130 KFAN and the Timberwolves radio network. Tip off is set for 9:00 p.m.
