[外電] Jaric keeping focus on winning

看板Timberwolves (明尼蘇達灰狼)作者jerod (KG4MVP)時間19年前 (2007/01/18 07:49)推噓1(1推 0噓 0→)

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http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16476554.htm Injured Timberwolves veteran Marko Jaric is doubtful to suit up tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Whether he plays for anyone else in the coming days remains to be seen. He's taking trade talk in stride, even as reports had him linked to the Detroit Pistons in a possible swap involving center Nazr Mohammed. Jaric isn't happy with his role in Minnesota but doesn't want to get caught up in the idea of switching teams. "I don't even want to think about it until a general manager or my agent calls me and says, 'Marko, you are traded,' " Jaric said. "That's when my mind-set (would) start shifting. Until that moment, I can't think about going somewhere else or being part of some other team. I've been breathing the same air with these guys for the last year and a half. We're spending more time together. We're like family. I can't think about somebody else being interested in me until that moment comes." The Wolves are winning — 10 of the past 13 games, to be exact — and Jaric said that should be the focus. But he said Wolves management understands his thoughts. Jaric told owner Glen Taylor he's unhappy and wants a trade, a source said last week. "They know how I feel very well," Jaric said. "My agent knows how I feel very well. I might talk to media in the future, but so far we're winning and everything's going well for us. I don't want to be like the black sheep of the family. I don't want to concentrate on that." Jaric said his sprained right thumb might take a couple more days to heal. He participated in Tuesday's practice but was limited defensively, he said, though shooting apparently wasn't much of a problem. His teammates are trying to keep the focus on the court as well. Captains Kevin Garnett and Trenton Hassell claimed ignorance when asked about Jaric's situation. Both insisted they hadn't read the recent newspaper reports. Hassell said he understands that trade talk is a part of the NBA. But whether the Wolves need a trade at this point is another subject altogether. "We're playing good right now," Hassell said. "We're working with what we've got. What they do is what they do. We can't control that. We've just got to keep on playing no matter what." The Wolves were 19-21 last season when management made a big multiplayer trade that sent Wally Szczerbiak to the Boston Celtics. Minnesota went 14-28 after the deal, in part because of a commitment to developing young players such as point guard Marcus Banks. But their recent surge has them in a much better position this season. On New Year's Day, the Wolves were 7? games behind first-place Utah in the Northwest Division. Minnesota is three games back as it prepares for home games tonight against Atlanta and Friday against Detroit. Then a five-game road trip looms. "At first, it was going to be hard to catch Utah with the way (the Jazz) were playing," Hassell said. "But they're kind of in a little mini-slump, which all teams go through. And we're right there. We just have to take care of home and try to win these two games and get ready for this big road trip." McCants to start practicing: Injured guard Rashad McCants said he is ready to resume full-scale practices with the team this week, presumably on Thursday. It represents another step in his rehabilitation from microfracture surgery on his right knee in June. Wolves coach Dwane Casey wouldn't put a timetable on McCants' possible return, but McCants said he hopes to play during the coming five-game road trip, though that goal seems ambitious. Still, McCants said he's in the best shape of his life thanks to the grueling rehab. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 220.131.154.92