[外電] Jaric must stop Bryant
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16926792.htm
Marko Jaric said he isn't going to keep his distance from Kobe Bryant tonight.
He's not scared or worried about the next errant elbow from Bryant, who was
suspended a game after landing a shot on Jaric's face last time the
Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers met.
Looking back on it, Jaric almost seemed proud he did something to help his
team win.
"We got a foul from that, right?" Jaric said Saturday, referring to a
personal foul called against Bryant during a 117-107 double overtime victory
March 6.
How well Jaric does this time defending Bryant will be a key to the Wolves'
success. The Wolves are in the midst of a nine-game road losing streak, and
Jaric's performance against Bryant could be important to end that skid.
Bryant scored 65 points, the second-highest total of his career, Friday night
in a 116-111 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles.
That marked the same night the Wolves were hammered at Golden State, 106-86.
The Wolves started a five-game road trip with a thud and want to get on track
against the Lakers.
With Trenton Hassell still limited because of a sore left ankle, Jaric will
be the primary defender on Bryant. The Wolves need Jaric to pester Bryant as
much as he did last time, when Bryant was held to 13 of 30 shooting and only
three three-pointers.
Late in the fourth quarter of that game, Jaric blocked Bryant's shot late in
the fourth quarter. Bryant made contact with Jaric on his follow through, a
play the NBA later reviewed, issuing a suspension.
Jaric said he will try to deny Bryant the ball as much as possible. It's his
preferred approach with Bryant, who's dangerous scoring or setting up
teammates.
"I think he changed his way of playing this year," Jaric said. "Yes, he
scored 65 in the last game. Yes, he's the first or second scorer in the
league. Definitely there's a lot of other (Lakers who) are much more
dangerous and playing much more free than they used to do."
Jaric said when Bryant gets teammates involved, that draws defensive
attention and opens more space on the court for the all-star to score.
The Wolves don't have a great plan for Bryant, so they'll just do their best
to deter Bryant's comfort level. They even tried Kevin Garnett on Bryant in
their previous meeting.
Said Wolves coach Randy Wittman: "He's a big rhythm guy. He makes three or
four in a row, then he can go for eight, nine in a row from anywhere."
Briefly: Jaric re-emphasized he doesn't think Bryant is a dirty player.
"There's a lot more players we need to be concerned about," Jaric said. "I
don't think he's one of them. … To be a dirty player, you try to hurt
somebody when the referee doesn't look."
‧ Randy Foye practiced Saturday and showed no ill effects after he tweaked
his right ankle during Friday night's loss at Golden State. Foye said after
the game he will play tonight and that it was no big deal.
‧ Rex Kalamian on Friday became just the third Wolves assistant coach in the
past 10 years to be called for a technical foul, joining Jerry Sichting
(once) and Wittman (four times).
"Maybe that's why he didn't get mad at me," Kalamian said.
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