01/21/2010 - 18:38
Progress Is There
by
Devon Jeffreys
Several times this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have lost by painfully close margins.
For Big Al Jefferson, those near wins -- as excruciating as they might be -- show that they're building something good in Minnesota.
Al shot efficiently and frequently, pouring in 20 points on 10 of 17 from the field as the Timberwolves lost a heartbreaker 94-92 to the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. But in defeat, No. 25 found a reason for optimism, as he told the Star-Tribune:
"That is the way I like to lose," Wolves center Al Jefferson said. "If we're going to lose, we're going to go down fighting. We had many chances. We can't walk out with our head down because that is a good team right there."
Along with his 20 points, Big Al also just missed a double-double with nine rebounds, he had two boards on the offensive end and seven on the defensive glass. He added a pair of blocks, two assists and a steal in 35-and-a-half minutes.
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Though Al had a big impact when he got the ball in his hands, the biggest twist of the game may have come on a play where he didn't touch it.
Though they trailed by 10 early in the fourth, Minnesota erased the large deficit, getting it down to nearly nothing late. With 13 seconds left in the game and the Wolves trailing by only two, Al drew a charge from Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, leading the Wolves to a possession that could tie the game or take the lead.
On the other end, No. 25 took the crucial shot and it missed. But in the scramble for the rebound that followed, a loose ball trickled out of bounds. Though it was quite unclear, the baseline ref immediately ruled the ball went out of bounds off Big Al, as noted in Star-Tribune:
"We conferenced on the play and I asked Kevin Fehr, who was right on top of the play, are you absolutely certain about the call? And he said, 'Yes I am absolutely certain about the call,'" Crew Chief Dick Bavetta said. "The guideline for going to replay is if there is uncertainty. So when the official making the call has absolute certainty, there's no reason to go to the replay.
He was right on top of the play. He was right there. We conferenced afterwards. I asked him point blank and Kevin Fehr said I am absolutely certain about the call."
The Wolves thought the replay showed the ball last touched Thunder forward Jeff Green."
Though Al was obviously disappointed with the call, he took it in stride:
"They made a decision, man," Al Jefferson said. "At the end of the day, I know now they're probably kicking themselves after they look at it. But mistakes are made. They're not perfect. We're not perfect. You just can't take it personally."
NO LOVE
For the second consecutive game, Al was also without his tag-team post partner, Kevin Love, who is has been out with an illness.
Love made it to shootaround, but wasn't healthy enough to go on Wednesday and he was the one who broke the news to Big Al:
"I thought he looked pretty good," teammate Al Jefferson said. "But he said he didn't feel too good."
Love hopes to play when the Wolves take on the Hornets on Friday night in Minnesota.
NEXT UP
Looking to grow from Wednesday's tough loss, Big Al leads the Timberwolves into battle on Friday night against the New Orleans Hornets.
The Wolves have lost their previous two meetings with the Hornets this season by a combined 10 points, but No. 25 was stellar in both games. In a 97-96 loss on December 9, the big man went 8 of 12 for 17 points while hauling in 16 boards.
One week prior in New Orleans, Al recorded another double-double, dropping in 20 points and cleaning the glass to the tune of 14 rebounds, but Minnesota fell 98-89.
Tip-off of the third meeting between the two teams is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST and the game can be seen on KTSC-45.
RELATED STORIES
Brewer blooming but Wolves still losing (Star-Tribune, January 21, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/82205417.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP...
Down to the final buzzer: Thunder wins 94-92 (Star-Tribune, January 21, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/82234892.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUUUgOy9c...
Love deemed too ill to play, so Gomes starts in his place (Star-Tribune, January 21, 2010)
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/82217622.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQD...
Oklahoma City 94, Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA.com, January 20, 2010)
http://www.nba.com/games/20100120/OKCMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp002090061...
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
