11/16/2009 - 23:25
Big Al to Return Wednesday
by
Matt Martino
After missing two games for a family matter, Al Jefferson, the Minnesota Timberwolves' leading scorer and No. 2 rebounder is expected to be back in the lineup on Wednesday when the Wolves host the Houston Rockets (8-4).
Al has paced the team with 15.1 points per game and trails only Ryan Gomes in rebounds per game. Al is averaging 6.1 per contest.
During Al's two-game absence over the weekend, Nathan Jawai earned his first career starts in the NBA. He did a serviceable job, but the Wolves were unable to win, losing to both the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies.
No. 25's presence in the paint was especially missed on Saturday when the Grizzlies pulled away during the final quarter, as Minnesota was unable to keep their frontcourt off the glass and out of the paint. Memphis out-rebounded the Wolves by ten and shot 49 percent from the field.
The Timber Wolves are now 1-10 on the year.
Minnesota President of basketball operations David Kahn sent out an open letter to Minnesota's fans. He addressed what he expects in the immediate and distant future from his young team, as it appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
Specifically, I am eager to determine if the team: Starts running and attacking more on offense, as Kurt and I envision this team playing in the long term. On that last point, it has been hard for us to sustain a running game without our best rebounder, Kevin Love, and with Al Jefferson still not all the way back from his ACL knee injury. And our defense has been poor at times. It is extremely difficult to run when you are taking the ball out of the basket. But make no mistake — this will become a running team and that will be our identity.
I also don't want to use Kevin and Al as excuses. Everybody has injuries. Everybody has tough parts of the schedule. Everybody has adversity. We will not be a team that makes excuses.
RELATED STORIES
Grizzlies end 7-game slide, extend Wolves' to 10 games (AP, November 14, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291114029
Timberwolves boss David Kahn tells fans that losing will not be accepted (St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 14, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13786203?source=rss
Timberwolves' Jawai will make his first NBA start tonight (St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 13, 2009)
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13780755?source=rss
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