[外電] Ready to role: Five Wolves role players
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The Timberwolves have their impact players, but these five will be key
components to any sucess the team might have this season.
RYAN GOMES: The glue guy
Expect Gomes to keep it together on the court, no matter what position he's
playing. Gomes has played both forward spots in his three years in the NBA,
and through the preseason was a good fit whenever and wherever he happened to
be in the lineup. He started four games in the preseason, averaging 21
minutes and nine points on 40 percent shooting. He signed a multi-year
contract in the offseason and has a team-first mentality that has rubbed off
well on teammates and coaches. "Starter, coming off the bench, defense,
posting up -- whatever it entails," Gomes said of his lineup spot. "I'm glad
to be back, glad a deal got done for me to play here."
SEBASTIAN TELFAIR: On the point
A good start to any offense is a dynamic player running the floor. Telfair
has that ability. Though he averaged just under 19 minutes per game mostly
off the bench in the preseason, he made his time on the floor count by
averaging 5.6 points and three assists per game. "Coming in off the bench
right now, I bring energy," Telfair said. From there, "I try to get the lead,
extend the lead or keep the lead. That's what you have to do. That's the fun
part of the game. Keep that excitement." There will be a bit of a delay for
that excitement. The Timberwolves will be without Telfair for the first three
games of the season. He was suspended by the NBA stemming from a 2007 weapons
charge, three months before he was dealt to the Timberwolves in the Kevin
Garnett trade. He has had no off-court incidents since arriving in Minnesota.
CRAIG SMITH: Big off the bench
Following a lengthy weightlifting session last week, Smith flashed a smile
when asked what it will mean for the Timberwolves to get a healthy Jason
Collins back on the team sometime next month. Collins, a 7-foot center, has
been out of action since elbow surgery in September. So for now, Smith, at
6-7, 250 pounds, will be counted upon to provide extra muscle off the bench.
"I've kind of molded into a banger guy," said Smith, the Wolves' most
physical player this preseason. "But I'll do what's needed of me. One day
it's rebounding, another it's scoring. In size, I can match up with just
about anybody, so I try and keep myself in the best [shape] possible."
RASHAD McCANTS: Instant offense
Even in a forgettable game, McCants showed he can bring it. Down by as many
as 22 points against Chicago in a home preseason loss last week, McCants'
skills made the game respectable. He came off the bench with 4 minutes, 27
seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Wolves down by nine. By the time
7:47 remained in the fourth, it was a one-point game. McCants scored 15 of
Minnesota's 18 points in that span, including a pair of three-pointers. In
seven preseason games, coming off the bench in all but one, McCants was
second on the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game.
COREY BREWER: Defense
Though his numbers declined a bit in the final games, Brewer still finished
the preseason shooting 40 percent from the field. That's a good thing,
because when Al Jefferson gets double- and triple-teamed, Brewer will need to
hit open shots. But his work as the team's top defender will be at least as
important to a team that has been stressing defense since training camp
opened. Now if only Brewer can stay patient. "He gets himself in trouble when
he's going 100 miles per hour," coach Randy Wittman said. "But I have been
pleased with what Corey's done, the plays he's made. Now he's just got to
make sure he stays at that level."
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