[外電] Coach rips Wolves after meltdown
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16754096.htm
Whoever inscribes the tombstone for the Timberwolves' 2006-07 season should
include a picture of Wednesday's executioner, Adam Morrison, and a transcript
of coach Randy Wittman's postgame rant.
Morrison, Charlotte's shaggy-haired rookie sensation, cold-cocked the Wolves
with a lights-out shooting performance in the second half that
single-handedly lifted the lifeless Bobcats to a 100-95 comeback victory at
Target Center.
But Morrison's 26-point smackdown was nothing compared to the character blows
Wittman landed on the dysfunctional Wolves in concluding a rocky first month
in relief of fired coach Dwane Casey.
Wittman accused his team of being outhustled and quitting during a selfish
fourth-quarter meltdown in which the Bobcats outscored Minnesota 26-14 to
complete their rally from a 17-point second-quarter deficit.
"Our frame of mind is more focused on 'me' rather than 'we.' If that wasn't
more evident tonight..." Wittman railed. "We're up 17 and really in control
of the game and got caught up in 'am I getting enough shots?' And we quit
playing."
Wittman played prosecutor and addressed the media as if it were a jury. He
used damning statistics (two second-half assists and none in the fourth
quarter compared to 19 in the first half) and cutting observations for a
convincing closing argument that accused his players of several egregious
offenses in the realm of professional sports.
"I'm tired of guys pouting on the floor during the game because of whatever —
not enough minutes, not enough touches. You cannot do that and win games!"
Wittman thundered. "Give me five guys that have no talent and you're going to
lose the game but you're going to go down fighting.
"We didn't go down fighting tonight. C'mon!"
No doubt Wittman's radioactive comments ricocheted throughout the Wolves'
locker room moments earlier. But few players hung around long enough to
acknowledge or address them.
Kevin Garnett (22 points, 11 rebounds) stormed out the back door and down the
corridor hallway before reporters were allowed access. Ricky Davis (eight
points) and Trenton Hassell, who were torched by Morrison, were unaccountable.
So it was Mike James (17 points) and rookie Randy Foye (3 for 9, nine points)
sifting through the rubble to find plausible deniability.
"It was a tale of two halves," James understated.
The disparate assist totals were rattled off, the dearth of which in the
fourth quarter seemed to surprise him.
"I guess it's just... the ball was sticking a little more," James said. "If
you have two, that's everybody. It was probably one or two passes, shot goes
up, and really not thinking about making the play for the next person."
Was it because they were selfish?
"You can't ever say selfish," James insisted. "Guys are trying to make plays,
not just for themselves, but to help the team win."
James, the demoted point guard who might have played his last game in
Minnesota as today's trade deadline looms, sidestepped a question about
whether Wittman was right to doubt the Wolves' character.
"Sometimes we're focused on the wrong thing. Then, a guy who was quiet for
maybe three quarters, all off a sudden he can't miss a shot."
Whatever the rationale for the Wolves' demise, their collapse only reinforced
the Jekyll-and-Hyde stigma of an inconsistent season. They are spinning their
wheels with a 25-29 record and facing a brutal stretch after losing the
opener of a five-game homestand, their longest of the season.
Four straight games against first-place opponents over the next 10 days
starts Friday against Phoenix, followed by Washington, league-leading Dallas
and Utah.
At least Morrison will be out of their hair.
After shooting 0 for 5 in the first half, Morrison started draining shots
from everywhere in the third and fourth quarters. He made 10 of 19 from the
floor, including 4 of 7 from three-point distance, accounting for 47 percent
of Charlotte's second-half offense.
The Wolves also had no inside answer for Emeka Okafor, who grabbed 19
rebounds, including 11 from the offensive glass.
In a Wolves season full of upheaval, expect more changes before the
run-and-gun Suns roll into town. Wittman, who is 5-9 since taking over for
Casey on Jan. 23, is not worried about alienating his team if he unleashes
too much fury.
"I'm not worried about losing my team. I'm worried about finding guys who are
going to play the way you're supposed to play," he said. "We're 25-29. We're
not 35-20. I want five guys who are going to play for the team and their No.
1 goal is not to score 16 points and get 10 rebounds. It's to win the game."
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