04/13/2010 - 16:21
One Chance Remains
by
Matt Martino
Earlier this year, Minnesota avoided setting a franchise-record for losses.
With one game remaining, they find themselves up against another dubious franchise record: 15 wins. Big Al Jefferson is aware of this mark but still maintains his big-picture perspective, which has helped him stay focused during a tumultuous season.
"I don't think this team doesn't care," Al replied to the Star-Tribune. "We go out every night and try to win as many games as possible. We go out every night and try to do our job. If we tie the record, it was meant to happen.
"That's how I look at it. Of course we don't want it to happen."
On Monday, the Wolves lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 133-111. The loss dropped their record to 15-66. The franchise worst was 15-67 during the 1991-92 season.
Al tallied 13 points, six rebounds, and a block in 24 minutes in the loss
"We've got one game left, and I hope for them to come out and give a positive showing. Leave with a good taste in their mouths for over the summer," coach Kurt Rambis added. "This team was not built to win this year. We knew that."
ODD COUPLE
As far as the future, it may contain an unlikely pairing of Darko Milicic alongside Big Al.
Jerry Zgoda of the Star-Tribune notes that the two have been a great, if not altogether odd, match:
Their size, their length, just about everything about Timberwolves teammates Al Jefferson and Darko Milicic differs, so much so that they often seem like opposite images of each other.
Jefferson, for example, is a feel player who's all about his right hand.
Milicic is more of a practiced technician who's all about his left hand.
What would you get if you put those two hands together on one player?
"It'd be funny looking," Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said.
Though Rambis' claim was coated in sarcasm, in reality a fusion of the two players could be a formidable post opponent.
T-Wolves President David Kahn is hoping that their contrasts in style will provide the size and versatility necessary to be successful in the NBA. So far, the pair enjoys playing with one another and they share a mutual admiration.
"I think we work well together," said Milicic, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. "He's a righty. I'm a lefty. He's got left block. I got right block. He's a talented player. I got a long way to go."
Milicic was acquired in a February trade with New York. His presence has allowed No. 25 to move from center to power forward, his natural position.
"It's a lot easier having a guy like Darko because he's a shot blocker," Al said. "He plays great D. He's more of a goaltender. We both can score on the block. I like one side, he likes the other, otherwise we'd be fighting over the same block.
"He's basically the left hand of Al Jefferson, is the way I look at it. Or I'm the right hand of Darko."
NEXT UP
The Wolves have a great opportunity for their 16th win as they host the Detroit Pistons (26-55) on Wednesday in the season finale.
Al chipped in 14 points in 24 minutes of action in Minnesota's only meeting against Detroit earlier this year.
RELATED STORIES
Big men in sync in another big loss (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, April 13, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/90684439.html?page=1&c=y
Spurs avoid 8th seed, push Wolves closer to franchise low (AP, April 12, 2010)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=300412024
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