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Current Quotes
"Steroids, the human growth hormone, is not going to help you in the game of basketball. It's a game of dribbling, it's a game of really finely-tuned things. ... Being heavier is not going to help you."
Mark Madsen as quoted by Kent Youngblood of the Starribune (12/15/2007)
"Mad Dog got Duncan a little frustrated. Mad Dog is not going to back down from anything. He goes out and plays hard."
Coach Randy Whitman on Mark Madsen's defense on the Spurs Tim Duncan (11/30/07)
"Ever since he started dating Adriana Lima, he's a new man. He's flying all over the court. He dunked! I've never seen him dunk."
Mark Madsen on Marco Jaric's new found zeal (11/27/07)
"I can see sometimes during play that he has limited range with it (shoulder). I’d like to see him get more range before we go forward."
Randy Whitman on Mark Madsen's prgress since injury (11/9/07)
"The coolest one to me was the Hagia Sophia Mosque. For one thousand years, it was actually the largest Christian Cathedral in the World. Then, it was taken over by the Ottoman Empire (I learned all of this from our guide today!) and converted into a Mosque. Today it is a museum! So it's been a Christian church three times (Replaced once then burned down a second time, finally rebuilt a third time), a mosque, and now it's museum! How cool is that!"
Mark Madsen in his blog from Turkey
"Mark is such a hard worker. When he didn't have to listen to a teaching point, he was running sprints on the sideline, doing defensive slides and a host of other things to make sure that he is in shape when his shoulder is ready to go. Even from the sidelines, he is a team leader."
Rob Babcock, Wolves Assistant GM, from Istanbul, Turkey
"Eddie Griffin is someone who was never a super loud or boisterous guy in the locker room," Madsen said, "but he was someone who everyone loved in the locker room. When he was doing well on the court we were all so happy for him. And when he was struggling we were all struggling right there with him."
Mark Madsen quoted by AP 8/22/07
"This was an unfortunate accident that I have put behind me. My focus now is to concentrate on my rehabilitation with the goal of returning to the basketball court as quickly as possible."
Mark Marsen on his shoulder injury from a jet ski accident
“I never would have believed that this would happen. It’s tragic. I never thought I’d be hearing this in 100 years, about any official in any sport.”
Mark Madsen commenting on the Donoghy referee betting scandal
"I never thought it would happen, ever. Even before I entered the NBA, when I thought of Kevin Garnett I always thought of Minnesota. But at the same time in this business, we all know that anything can happen.''
Mark Madsen on the KG trade
"One thing is for sure, if the trade happens] there will be a lot of opportunity for guys to step up. In one fell swoop we'd go from being an older team to being one of the youngest."
Mark Madsen on the KG trade by Kent Youngblood, StarTrib 7/30/07
"Clearly we're all being evaluated, from players to management to coaches, and we can all improve, But the biggest thing is look at ourselves in the mirror. If each man in the locker room looks at himself in the mirror, good things are going to happen. ... If we can't be motivated off the frustration of this year, then something's wrong."
Mark Madsen as per Rick Alonzo post-game Grizzlies
See MORE Quotes |
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Timberwolves trade...
Mayo heads to Memphis, Love to Minnesota in blockbuster trade
O.J. Mayo selected in draft |
(MN 6/27/08) The Wolves have reached an agreement in principle with the Memphis Grizzlies that sends the draft rights to O.J. Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner to the Grizzlies in return for the draft rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins. The blockbuster deal for both teams wasn't completed until past 2 a.m. ET, some two hours after Boston made the 60th and final pick of the draft, according to The Associated Press.
ESPN.com reported on Tuesday that Wolves GM Kevin McHale was infatuated with Love, but felt that the team had to select Mayo and use him to acquire more assets. Love, a fundamentally-sound post player, should mesh well with the Timberwolves' budding star Al Jefferson. |
This summer...
Mad Dog Summer Basketball Camps at Area High Schools
Mark Madsen to personally conduct |
(MN 5/27/2008)
The Timberwolves announced today they will host eight coed youth basketball camps and the Lynx will host an all-girls camp in the Twin Cities metro area this summer.
Two-time NBA champ and Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen, former first-round NBA draft pick and Timberwolves assistant coach Ed Pinckney and Timberwolves radio voice Billy McKinney will co-host camps in select communities. Participating communities in the summer 2008 Timberwolves and Lynx Basketball Camp schedule include: St. Louis Park, Champlin, St. Paul, Bloomington, Osseo, Farmington, and Mahtomedi.
Tuition for each Timberwolves camp is $210 and includes five days of skill development instruction with at least three competitive games per day. Also included in the tuition cost is a reversible Wolves or Lynx practice jersey, a basketball, a Jay Wolf shooting strap, as well as four tickets to the 2008 Timberwolves home opener and four tickets to a select 2008 Lynx game.
Boys and girls from grades 2-8 can join Timberwolves forward Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen at Champlin Park High School from June 23-27 or at Bloomington Kennedy High School from July 7-11 for a week of instruction straight from an NBA veteran. Madsen leads an outstanding staff in providing campers with a week of high-level basketball instruction, stressing a positive on and off court philosophy.
Timberwolves and Lynx 2008 Basketball Camp Schedule...
June 23-27—Champlin Park High School (Coed grades 2-8)
July 7-11—Bloomington Kennedy High School (Coed grades 2-8)
All those interested can get a registration form at www.timberwolves.com, call 612-673-8444, or e-mail landrum@timberwolves.com. |
At Memphis...
Timberwolves Whip Grizzlies 114-105
McCants 23, Jefferson 21 |
(Memphis 4/12/08) Kirk Snyder had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Al Jefferson added 21 points and 10 boards, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-105 on Saturday night in a game between two of the NBA's worst teams.
Ryan Gomes finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Rashad McCants led Minnesota with 23 points and Randy Foye scored 16. Snyder's rebounding total was a career high. |
At Orlando...
Wolve edge Magic 102-101
Foye 25 |
(Orlando 4/11/08) Ryan Gomes made a pair of free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining to give the Timberwolves a 102-101 victory over the playoff-bound Orlando Magic on Friday night, snapping a six-game losing streak.
Minnesota's Randy Foye had a game-high 25 points and reserve Rashad McCants added 19.
"It's just motivation for us to compete through the end," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "We've kind of set up little goals for ourselves; our little playoff thing. Sometimes it's hard playing these last three or four games knowing you don't have anything at the end." |
Back home...
Wolve defeat Jazz 110-103
Jefferson 22, Boozer 25 |
(MN 3/30/08) Al Jefferson had 22 points and eight rebounds and Rashad McCants scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half of Minnesota's 110-103 victory Sunday over a Utah team that just can't seem to win on the road. Corey Brewer tied a career high with 16 points and had seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have now beaten the Jazz at home twice this season, losses that are inexcusable for a team that hopes to contend for the Western Conference crown.
The Timberwolves have shown improvement in recent weeks, and they're not the easy win they used to be. They won six of nine before dropping two games in Texas -- to Houston and San Antonio -- last week.
"We're getting better and better," Jefferson said. "To beat a team like this [at home] two games in a row, that says a lot."
Minnesota grabbed a nine-point lead with an 11-2 run to open the fourth quarter. McCants had seven points during the spurt, including a jumper from the corner that gave Minnesota an 89-80 lead with 8:30 to go. |
At San Antonio...
Spurs defeat Wolves 99-84
Gomes 17, Ginobili 26 |
(San Antonio 3/28/08) Manu Ginobili, the Spurs' super-sub, scored 16 of his 26 points in the final period to lead his team to a 99-84 victory Friday night and their sixth straight win. Ryan Gomes led the Timberwolves with 17 points and 10 boards and Al Jefferson added 14. Reserve Rashad McCants scored 13.
Ginobili has made a habit this season of playing well against Minnesota, which lost the season series to the Spurs 0-4. In the other three games against the Timberwolves, Ginobili scored 31, 22, and most recently 44 points -- two shy of his season high.
"He's explosive. He can score in multiple ways," said Minnesota coach Randy Wittman. "It's not like he's just a shooter. He gets to the line, he gets in the lane, he can make 3s. So he's probably as good as there is. For a guy off the bench who played 25 minutes and scored 26 points, that's a pretty good sixth man." |
At Houston...
Rockets over Wolves 97-86
Jefferson 21, McGrady 23 |
(Houston 3/26/08) Tracy McGrady scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Luis Scola had 18 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the Rockets' 97-86 victory Wednesday night.Al Jefferson had 21 and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which had won four of its last six games.
"They beat us pretty good on the boards," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "Our defense wasn't bad, but we gave up too many second-chance baskets." |
New York here...
Wolves blast Knicks 114-93
Gomes 26, Madsen back in action |
(MN 3/22/08) Ryan Gomes scored 26 points, reserve Rashad McCants had 24, and Minnesota beat New York 114-93 on Saturday night to win for the sixth time in nine games. The Knicks have lost 11 of their last 12.
"This was a huge win for us, if we want to leapfrog them in the standings," Timberwolves coach Randy Wittman said. "Hopefully there can be lessons learned from that."
The Wolves (18-51) and Knicks (19-50) are both in the NBA's bottom five, fighting for draft position and figuring out which young players are keepers over the season's final weeks. But Minnesota fans hoping for a prime spot in the lottery should probably start to phase out that hope.
"We play the way we play tonight, it's hard to beat us," said Al Jefferson, who had only eight points, just his third single-digit scoring game of the season for Minnesota. "We ain't trying to lose games for no pick or nothing. We're trying to win. We're trying to fight it out. That's what we doing." |
Off to Indiana...
Pacers get by Timberwolves 124-113
Jefferson 29 points and 13 boards |
(Indianapolis 3/21/08) Danny Granger scored 32 points to lead the Pacers past Minnesota 124-113 Friday night for their third straight victory. Timberwolves guard Randy Foye was impressed with Indiana's ability to hit 59 percent of its attempts from long range.
"They were really hot," Foye said. "It seemed like no matter what we did, they always had an answer offensively."
Rashad McCants had 22 points, Foye scored 16 and Kirk Snyder 15 for the Timberwolves (17-51), who were trying to win three straight games for the first time this season.
"It was a tough loss," McCants said. "Coming in, we thought we had a chance to win, but we had a lot of problems defensively."
Trailing by 20 points late in the third quarter, Minnesota cut the deficit to 96-88 following Craig Smith's two free throws with 10 minutes left in the game. Indiana answered with the next seven points, including Granger's 3-pointer, to open a 103-88 lead. |
Grizzlie visit...
Timberwolves chew up Grizzlies 98-94
Jefferson 29 points and 13 boards
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(MN 3/19/08) Down 14 at halftime, Al Jefferson delivered with 22 of his 29 points in the second half of a 98-94 victory over lowly Memphis on Tuesday night. If the Grizzlies were playing any defense in the second half, Jefferson certainly didn't see it.
"Tonight was one of them nights where I just didn't see no defense," Jefferson said. "I was in that type of zone. Nobody could get in front of me."
After hitting just one of his first 11 shots, Ryan Gomes made two free throws and then a jumper with 52.8 seconds left to help seal it and hand the Grizzlies their 18th straight road loss.
Rashad McCants had 19 points off the bench and Gomes finished with 14 for the Timberwolves (17-50), who have won five of their last seven games to move ahead of the Sonics and Grizzlies in the standings. |
Clippers in town...
Timberwolves dispose of Clippers 99-90
Jefferson 22 points and 14 boards |
(MN 3/17/08) Al Jefferson had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Ryan Gomes added 19 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 99-90 Monday night. Minnesota won for the fourth time in six games and moved past Seattle into fourth place in the Northwest Division. Jefferson has 48 double-doubles, trailing only Orlando's Dwight Howard, who has 60, for the league lead.
Three nights earlier in Seattle, Jefferson was pulled out of a game by coach Randy Wittman for poor defense.
"He took me out because of my weakside help, and I don't like to sit on the bench because of my mistakes," Jefferson said. "It was something I had to just get better at. By me doing it tonight it showed him that I can do it. He'll been looking for that every game and I need to take the challenge."
Wittman agrees, calling the game the best he's seen Jefferson play defensively all season.
"He's proven he can score and play at the offensive end. To be a complete player he's got to do what he did tonight, and the things that he's capable of. I'm not going to ask him to do anything more than he's capable because of his feet, his quickness and his smarts he can convert that into solid play at the other end," he said. "It's not so much playing one-on-one with the man you're guarding, I'm talking help-side defense, recognizing a breakdown and coming over and making that guy make the next pass, challenging at the rim." |
At Portland...
Blazers down Wolves 107-96
Jeric 19, Aldrich 26 |
(Portland 3/15/08) LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points, Brandon Roy had 25 points and eight assists, and the Blazers beat the Timberwolves 107-96 Saturday night to sweep the four-game season series.
Marko Jaric scored 19, Al Jefferson had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Ryan Gomes had 16 points for the Timberwolves, who are last in the Western Conference but had won three of four entering the game.
Corey Brewer had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Randy Foye, traded for Roy in a 2006 draft day deal, had nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Timberwolves.
"We didn't bounce back and that's where they got us," Jaric said. "Roy and Aldridge are very confident players. They play well together. It's very tough to double-team those guys because they have a good shooter [Jones] who sets up in the corners." |
At Seattle...
Timberwolves third quarter defeats Sonics 121-116
Gomes 23, Durant 24 |
(Seattle 3/14/08) Ryan Gomes led seven Minnesota players in double figures with 23 points and 15 rebounds, and the Timberwolves pulled away in the final 16 minutes to beat the Seattle SuperSonics 121-116 on Friday night.
"Coach spoke to us at halftime and said we had no problems on offense, our problem was on defense," Timberwolves guard Randy Foye said. "We picked it up."
Foye scored 21 points and Al Jefferson added 16 as the Timberwolves moved closer to the Sonics, trying to climb out of last place in the Northwest Division. Minnesota won its third straight road game, after winning just two of its first 28. It's another sign of improvement for a team whose marketing slogan back in the Twin Cities has become "Let's Build It."
It was also another lesson in Wittman's education of the young, rebuilding team. The Timberwolves ignored the defensive end in the first half, content to try and win a shootout with the equally struggling and rebuilding Sonics. But Minnesota proved in the second half that sometimes just a little defense is enough.
"There are lessons to be learned in these final games and that's what I'm trying to do here," Wittman said. "We're not just going to ride this out. ... We've got to learn and grow." |
Portland visits...
Blazers blow by Wolves in 4th quarter for 102-96 win
Jefferson 20, Roy 27 |
(MN 3/11/08) Brandon Roy had 27 points and nine assists, playing biggest during a game-deciding 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to lift the Trail Blazers to a 103-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Al Jefferson had 20 points for the Wolves.
Al Jefferson scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth and Rashad McCants had 18 off the bench for the Timberwolves, who hovered around 55 percent shooting for most of the game but couldn't come up with the big shot down the stretch.
"It was the quickest I have seen in a long time," Jefferson said of the double teams. "Man, it was crazy." |
At Los Angeles...
Wolves win second in a row; down Clippers 99-96
Jefferson 30, Maggette 29 |
(Los Angeles 3/8/08) Al Jefferson had 30 points and 12 rebounds, Randy Foye tied a career-high with 26 points -- six in the final 1:15 -- as the Timberwolves rallied back from a 13-point third-quarter deficit for a 99-96 victory on Saturday night.
"Two wins back-to-back -- it's little goals that we're setting for ourselves. That is what we are trying to strive for," coach Randy Wittman said. "When you are in our position, with a lot of young guys, you are trying to teach them what it takes. And they are responding."
Playing for the fourth time in five nights, Minnesota used its 24th different starting lineup. Jefferson -- the only player on the team to start all 62 games and the only one averaging more than 15 points -- was 13-for-22 from the field. |
At Sacramento...
Wolves whip Kings 111-103
McCants 22, Martin 48 |
(3/7/08) Al Jefferson had 21 points and 13 rebounds Friday night to help the Timberwolves record a rare road win and snap a five-game losing streak with a 111-103 victory over the slumping Sacramento Kings. Kevin Martin scored a career-high 48 points and tied the Kings' Sacramento record by hitting 22 of 24 free throws. Despite Martin's record evening, the night belonged to the Timberwolves, who picked up only their third road victory all season.
"It's been a tough year on the road and at home," said Minnesota point guard Randy Foye, who had five of the team's 25 assists. "Tomorrow we'll try to get another one in Southern Califorinia against [the Clippers]. That was the best we moved the ball all year, especially on the road. Sometimes when you play before a hostile crowd it gets you out of your game." |
In Salt Lake City...
Utah trounces Wolves 105-76
Foye 18, Williams 21 |
(SLC 3/5/08) The Utah Jazz avoided another upset by the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 105-76 for their 17th straight home victory. Randy Foye scored 18 points and Al Jefferson had 11 points and 10 assists for the Timberwolves, who are midway through playing four games in five nights. Minnesota visits Sacramento on Friday and the Clippers on Saturday. The Wolves are 2-26 on the road.
"This game is over. We can't think about it going into Sacramento," Foye said. |
Charlotte visits...
Bobcats claw Timberwolves 109-89
Jefferson 18 |
(MN 3/4/08) Jason Richardson had 25 points and eight rebounds, Emeka Okafor added 19 points and 11 boards, and Charlotte snapped a nine-game road losing streak with a 109-89 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Al Jefferson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who seemed to be turning the corner in Year One of the Post-KG Era early last month when they won five of seven.
"Tonight we tried to have a nonaggression pact with the other team, from the first play of the game to the last play of the game," Randy Wittman said. "That's disappointing."
Ryan Gomes had 17 points and six rebounds, and Randy Foye scored 16 points for the Wolves, who outscored Charlotte 38-28 in the paint, but were lackluster on defense all game long.
"We just didn't come to play," Jefferson said. |
At home...
Sonics over Timberwolves in Overtime 111-108
Jefferson 30, Durrant 25 |
(MN 3/2/08) Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Chris Wilcox added 18 points and 15 rebounds, and the Sonics snapped their four-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-108 in overtime on Sunday night. Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 30 points and 12 rebounds, while Rashad McCants had 18 points.
Jefferson, who recorded his 41st double-double, struggled to find his rhythm early, but Minnesota got a nice lift from McCants and improving rookie Corey Brewer. Brewer, who's been showing more confidence lately, went 5-for-10 from the floor for 14 points, hustled for some key turnovers and hit some timely shots to help the Wolves keep pace with Seattle as the game wore on.
Wolves coach Randy Wittman blamed the loss on his team's lackluster play in the first half.
"We just went though the motions like it was a Sunday afternoon," he said. "We didn't move the ball the way we are capable of moving it and we defended nobody." |
At Cleveland...
Cavaliers sock it to Timberwolves 92-84
Jefferson 22, James 30 |
| (Cleveland 2/29/08) LaBron James had 30 points and 13 assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 92-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Brewer added 15 points while Ryan Gomes scored 13. |
At Toronto...
Raptors bury Wolves 107-85
Jefferson 23, Bosh 28 |
(Toronto 2/27/08) Still buzzing from a 111-100 home win over Utah the night before, Minnesota looked good early, taking a 10-point lead midway through the first quarter. Six minutes later, the lead was all but gone and the Timberwolves were headed for another dispiriting defeat.
Coach Randy Wittman scolded his team for failing to match the effort it showed against Utah.
"If you want to get to the position of being a playoff team, a win like that you have to back up with an effort the next night," Wittman said. "That's going to be the difference on whether you're going to make it in the league or not. That's what we're trying to find out here, who are we moving forward with while we're rebuilding this? If you can't understand that for 82 games, we'll find someone who can."
Al Jefferson scored 23 points and Rashad McCants had 19 for the Timberwolves, who have lost eight of their past 10. Randy Foye added 18 points as Minnesota dropped to 2-24 on the road and 1-11 in the second game of back-to-backs.
"We've only won 12 games," Foye said. "You can't be satisfied with one night. You've got to keep trying to win every night." |
At home...
Jazz top Wolves 111-110
Nowitzki 29, Jefferson 22 |
(MN 2/26/08) Al Jefferson and Rashad McCants scored 22 points, Foye added a season-high 20, and the Timberwolves beat the Utah Jazz 111-100 on Tuesday night.
"We just have to be patient," Minnesota coach Randy Wittman said. "There's probably going to be another down before there's another up with Randy. This game is all rhythm and confidence and he hasn't really had any until tonight."
Minnesota forced 24 turnovers and held the Jazz to 6-for-21 shooting in the final quarter to snap a two-game losing streak and get its first win against the Northwest Division. |
Dallas visit...
Wolves fall to Nets 99-83
Nowitzki 29, Jefferson 22 |
(MN 2/24/08) Jason Kidd's 17 assists tied his season high in his third game with Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points to lead the Mavericks to a 99-83 win over Minnesota on Sunday night.
Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 22 points, while Rashad McCants had 17 and Ryan Gomes added 12. Despite Kidd and Nowitzki, the Timberwolves were able to hang in with the Mavericks for most of the game. Then, Dallas opened the fourth quarter with a 16-6 run while Minnesota missed some wide-open looks. The Wolves struggled to catch up the rest of the way.
"We were pretty solid defensively, but when we missed those easy ones, it kind of deflated us a little bit," coach Randy Wittman said. " |
World Champs in town...
Spurs win narrow one on Ginobili's jumper 100-99
Jefferson 28, Ginobili 44 |
(MN 2/21/08) Manu Ginobili hit a jumper from the top of the key with 6.2 seconds left for his final points, leading the Spurs to their fourth straight win with a 100-99 victory over Minnesota on Thursday night.
"Manu is a top caliber player, he's an All-Star caliber player," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's been on fire for a while now."
Ginobili dribbled behind his back and rose up over Randy Foye on the winning shot.
"I always try to get to the rim, but Foye took over my left pretty good and my counter move is always step back right," Ginobili said. "I got lucky there, took a good shot and it went in."
Minnesota had a chance to win, but Sebastian Telfair's long jumper clanked around the rim and out as the buzzer sounded.
"I ended up wide open and took the shot," Telfair said. Ginobili helped carry the Spurs to their eighth win in their last nine games and seventh in their last eight road contests. |
76ers in town...
Timberwolves blow out 76ers 104-88
McCants 20 |
(MN 2/19/080) Reserve Rashad McCants scored 20 points, Al Jefferson had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and the Timberwolves snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 104-88 on Tuesday night.
"These 30 games are important for us," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "In my mind, and probably in management's mind, this is important to see how we're going to build this." |
Back home...
Lakers down Wolves 117-92
Jefferson 19, Kobe 29 |
(MN 2/13/08) Bryant scored 29 points, Gasol pitched in another well-rounded game, Lamar Odom patched together a triple-double, and the Lakers breezed past the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-92 on Wednesday night. Al Jefferson scored 19 for the Wolves.
"They just outworked us and played harder than us," said Randy Foye, who had a season-high 18 points. "A team like us, we can't take off any nights on defense." |
In New Jersey...
Nets over Wolves 92-82
Telfar 24 |
(New Jersey 2/12/08) The New Jersey Nets held off the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter to win 92-82. Sebastian Telfar had 24 for the Wolves.
Minnesota made a couple of runs in the fourth quarter, getting within five points three times and eventually cutting the margin to 82-78 on a 3-point play by Telfair with 2:25 to play. A late 3-pointer by Randy Foye made the final score close.
"It was one of those games where we didn't hit shots," coach Randy Wittman said after the Timberwolves shot 37 percent in losing their fourth straight game. "We turned some shots down which made it a little more difficult." |
Raptors visit...
Raptors down Wolves 105-82
Jefferson 18 |
(MN 2/10/08) Andrea Bargnani scored 16 points and Jose Calderon had 15 points and 10 assists for his second consecutive double-double to help the Raptors beat the Wolves 105-82 on Sunday night. Al Jefferson had 18 for the Wolves.
Jefferson entered the game averaging 30.2 points and 15 rebounds in his last six games in Minneapolis. But Toronto threw multiple defenders at Minnesota's big man, and the Wolves offense sputtered two nights after taking league-leading Boston down to the final seconds. Jefferson and Marko Jaric were 13-for-22 from the floor, but the rest of the Wolves went 19-for-56. |
KG in town...
Boston takes 2 point victory from Wolves 88-86
Jefferson 18, 9 boards |
(MN 2/8/08) Kevin Garnett's old town gave him an emotional welcome on his return to Minnesota. Then KG's new team delivered a thrilling victory for its injured superstar. Leon Powe made a layup as time expired to lift Garnett's Boston Celtics to an 88-86 victory over the Timberwolves on Friday night. It was a wild ending to a memorable night -- even though the guy everyone came to see was unable to play.
The Timberwolves had the ball with the score tied 86-86 with 28 seconds left. Marko Jaric missed a 3-pointer and teammate Craig Smith rebounded the ball and tried to kick it back out.
"It's tough, this is a tough one," said coach Randy Wittman, whose team lost by one point in Boston last month. "We had 'em beat twice and we're 0-2. That's the bottom line." |
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From Hoopsworld...
Madsen named one of top 10 coaching prospects in NBA
Ability to motivate cited |
(See Hoopsworld, by Bill Ingram) The recent coaching controversies got us here at HOOPSWORLD thinking about the future, and who we might be watching today that could be the part of the next class of former players who become coaches. So I polled our team, which has been courtside for more games than not this season, and here are the results.
Darrell Armstrong, who spent most of his early career with the Orlando Magic and then moved on to Dallas and now New Jersey got the most votes from our team.
Eric Snow was second in our voting, which was partially inspired by Larry Brown's expressed desire to have him as part of his coaching staff in Charlotte this season.
Sam Cassell was next, owing to his continuous discussion of how much he wants to coach now that his playing days are nearly at an end.
The Duke connection brought us Shane Battier and Grant Hill. Both are as intelligent as they come, and have a great understanding of the fundamentals of the game.
Often times point guards make the best coaches because they've already spent a career running a team from behind the ball. Armstrong has already been mentioned, but the Lakers' Derek Fisher and San Antonio' Jacque Vaughn made our list.
A couple of guys who always seem to be in demand are Malik Rose and Mark Madsen. It's not that they bring amazing things to the basketball court, though they are both hustle guys. It's more that they bring intangibles off the court. They push their teammates, cheer them on, and set a great example with their work ethic. Players like that often find they can do the same thing from the bench . . .because that's where they've been doing most of their in-game work anyway.
And finally . . .the last pick was somewhat of a surprise to me, but it does make a degree of sense. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace has had the kind of career that young players will respect, and he has an amazing knowledge of the game.
Honorable mention: PJ Brown, Adonal Foyle, Pat Garrity, and Coby Karl. |
Mark looks at NBA finals...
Lakers win game 3
From Mark's Blog |
(See Mad Dog Blog 6/11/08) The other day someone said to me, "Who do you want to win the championship...the lakers or the celtics?" That's one of the hardest questions I could answer, but the truth is that I want the Lakers to win. I am a Timberwolf first and foremost, but I gave three years of blood sweat and tears to Phil Jackson and the Lakers. I have to pull for my old team even though I do want Kevin Garnett to get a ring.
I cannot believe that Flip Saunders was fired. I cannot believe it. This man can flat out coach and while I hope that the Pistons have success in the future, let's not forget that Flips tenure as head coach of Detroit took the Pistons deep into the playoffs every year. Coaching is not an exact science and it's not easy at the NBA level with mature and grown men all of whom have strong competitive natures. I wish Detroit well, but they lost a gem with Flip.
My summer is going well... continued on Mark's Blog. |
Mark's view of Cal...
Mike Montgomery to Cal Berkeley!
From Mark's Blog |
(Mark's Blog 4/4/08) Sometimes even the unthinkable can happen. When I arrived at our NBA shoot-around today I learned that Mike Montgomery was going to be name head mens basketball coach at Stanford archrival: UC Berkeley. Of course I called him to congratulate him but it went to voicemail right away so I left him a message--I left that message grudgingly.
All I can remember about UC Berkeley is hostility. One time one of our walk on players from the East Bay almost got into an altercation with a UC Berkeley fan even before the game started! I think the fan threatened a lawsuit or someting. Then last year someone actually hijacked my Gmail email account! The sad thing was that I could see when he was online through the "Chat" functionality from another one of my gmail accounts. I "chatted" with him online to my "old" account and threatened to get the FBI, CIA and every law enforcement agency possible on his tail unless he gave me back my account. Finally he releneted and sent me a message: "You can have your email account back, the new password is "UCBerkeley."
So maybe you can see why I'm confused about Mike going over there. It's just a bunch of low lifes over there at Cal. Of course I'm kidding. While I'm serious about the email hijacking, Cal is an awesome place and a world class institution. I was excited about maybe going there myself, but then... (continued on Mad Dog Blog) |
Team Bonding...
Dinner at Green's House
From Mark's Blog |
(See Mad Dog Blog) It's always nice to have a team bonding event during the middle of a long season. The most recent one took place at Gerald Green's apartment near the Mall of America. Gerald hosted the team, and Antoine Walker had some great food catered in from one of the best Italian restaurants in the twin cities, Vescio's Cucina. I guess it was technically a super bowl party but it was also just a time to bond, relax, and hang out.
This friday we have the Boston Celtics coming into town for one of our biggest games of the year. All the fans here in Minnesota keep on asking "Is Kevin Garnett going to play?" or "If he doesn't play, will he be here at the Target Center?" I think the issue right now is (continued on Mad Dog Blog) |
From Mark's Blog...
Current State of the NBA
Mark discusses the Celtics and Mikes |
(See Mad Dog Blog) Current State of the NBA I knew the Boston Celtics were going to be good this season, but we haven't seen an NBA team go 20-2 for a very long time. Tonight Kevin Garnett and Paul P. and the rest of the Celtics play against another great team in the Detroit Pistons. If I didn't have a game of my own tonight, I would be watching the Detroit vs. Boston game. Flip Saunders knows Kevin as well as anyone in the league and Kevin Garnett may know most of Detroit's offense like the back of his hand. Needless to say, it's going to be a great matchup.
I guess the are putting microphones on NBA coaches... continued at MAD DOG BLOG. |
The current roster...
How the Wolves were built
Madsen now senior on the list
*Wolves plus minus ratings |
Mark Madsen was signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 2003, and now the senior member of the squad. He leades all players with a positive plus/minus game score rating (+3.5) when averaged out over a full game.
July 28, 2003 -- Mark Madsen, signed as free agent
June 28, 2005 -- Rashad McCants, NBA Draft (1st round, 14thl)
Aug. 12, 2005 -- Marko Jaric, acquired via trade from L.A. Clippers
June 28, 2006 -- Randy Foye, acquired via trade from Portland
June 28, 2006 -- Craig Smith, NBA Draft (2nd round, 36th overall)
June 28, 2007 -- Corey Brewer, NBA Draft (1st round, 7th overall)
June 28, 2007 -- Chris Richard, NBA Draft (2nd round, 41st overall)
July 31, 2007 -- Ryan Gomes, acquired via trade from Boston
July 31, 2007 -- Gerald Green, acquired via trade from Boston
July 31, 2007 -- Al Jefferson, acquired via trade from Boston
July 31, 2007 -- Theo Ratliff, acquired via trade from Boston
July 31, 2007 -- Sebastian Telfair, acquired via trade from Boston
Sept. 28, 2007 -- Greg Buckner, acquired via trade from Dallas
Oct. 24, 2007 -- Antoine Walker, acquired via trade from Miami
Oct. 24, 2007 -- Michael Doleac, acquired via trade from Miami |
From Yahoo...
Techie Diva reports "Mad Dog" Madsen Mad About the iPhone
Mark talks about his favorite gadgets
*Mark Mad about the iPhone, Yahoo Tech
|
(Yahoo 12/15/2007) The Techie Diva, Gina Huges, in her Yahoo column today reports that "NBA player Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen of the Minnesota Timberwolves is a real down to earth kind of guy who's mad about his high-tech gear." In a recent interview, Mark told her the iPhone is the one gadget he can't live without, and despite his celebrity status in the sports world, the 6'9" basketball player stood in line just like everyone else to get one!
Find out what other gadgets he'd love to see under the Christmas tree. Read the Techie Diva's article at Mark Madsen Mad About the iPhone. |
From Kent Youngblood...
Madsen says steroids not an issue in pro basketball
"Guys in this league try to lose weight" |
(MN 12/14/2007) With the controversy surrounding performance-enhancing drug use in baseball dominating the news, Mark Madsen -- the Wolves team representative to the players union -- was asked by Kent Youngblookd of the StarTribune for an NBA take on the issue.
"It's not an issue in basketball," he said. "And I can tell you why. Steroids, the human growth hormone, is not going to help you in the game of basketball. It's a game of dribbling, it's a game of really finely-tuned things. ... Being heavier is not going to help you. Guys in this league are trying to lose weight."
Youngblood said Madsen also cited the NBA's drug testing policy.
"They've always tested for drugs, but it used to be in training camp," he said. "Now they're spread out, four times during the course of the season. I believe the NBA is one of the cleanest leagues, in terms of drug use, hands down." |
From Mark's Blog...
One Win, and many more to come
McCants/Jefferson show moves
|
(From Mark's Blog 11/16/2007) We finally won our first game and it happened to come in front of our home fans in Minnesota. We had a lot of guys step up in the win. Rashad McCants had 30 points, Al Jefferson had his normal dominant performance and Antoine Walker had a huge game in crunch time to put us over the top. Marko Jaric made a ton of hussle plays. I wanted to talk a little bit about the game.
We were in Turkey for training camp which was going long and hard. Late in one practice session, Rashad McCants stole the ball and then took off down court for a dunk. All of a sudden, he stopped dribbling and staggered off the court in obvious pain. He strained his hamstring and then was on the injured list for a few days. Even earlier this season, he tweaked his ankle and had to sit out. I watched Rashad work tirelessly in the training room to get healthy to come back ASAP to help the team. Rashad is mentally tough and has a huge heart and he showed that once again tonight. Rashad is a team player first whose intelligence about the game reminds me of my old Lakers teammate Robert Horry.
In all my years of playing basketball you're always taught not to go for pump fakes of opposing players. Especially when an opponent is trying to post you up, you never want to jump in the air to block the shot. It just puts you too much at risk for a foul. I've only been on the same team with Al Jefferson for two months, but I have never seen a post player get so many of his defenders up in the air and then just drive past them. Each game, I know it's going to happen that he gets his post defender jumping in the air like a pogo-stick. The other day in practice I told Al, that I've never seen a player get so many defenders to go for his fake as does. Al told me that he learned his fake from Paul Pierce and their years together in Boston. Tonight was no different as Al got people in the air and utilized his signature, go-to move of the soft jump hook that seemed to be unstoppable.
Continue on Mark's Bog... |
Injury report...
Mad Dog return "round the corner" as per coach
Foye and Madsen on inactive list |
| (NY 11/5/07) The Wolves placed the injured Randy Foye and Mark Madsen and rookie Chris Richard on their inactive list for the game. Madsen has practiced with the team fully for almost a week and Wittman said his game return from summer shoulder surgery is "around the corner."He's another guy who brings energy," Wittman said. |
He's back? ...
Madsen declares that he is ready to go
Practices fully for 2nd straight game |
(MN 10/30/07)
Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune reports that Mark Madsen's summer personal-watercraft accident which was supposed to keep the Wolves forward sidelined until mid-November because of a shoulder injury that required surgery may not keep him down that long.
Zgota reports that on Tuesday, Mark practiced fully for the second consecutive game and declared himself, subject to matchups and lineup opportunity, ready to play.
"I feel great, I feel rejuvenated," Madsen is quoted by Zgota as saying. "If tomorrow was a playoff game, I'd be out there." |
Mad Dog shoulder update...
Mark says he will return in 5 to 6 weeks
Wolves play exhibition game today
*Mark to return in 5 to 6 weeks, Rick Alonzo |
(Instanbul, Turkey 10/7/07) Mark Madsen reported to Rick Alonzo of the Pioneer Press that he will be back in action in 5 to 6 weeks.
"It's tough to not be out there with the guys, but I'm doing my best to learn the plays, the new plays that (coach) Randy Wittman's putting in, and staying in shape running on the side," Madsen told Rick on Friday.
The Wolves will play an exhibition game against Turkish club Efes Pilsen today in Istanbul, Turkey. |
Mark blogs from Turkey...
Hello Again!!!!
Talks about Juwand Howard
*Hello Again!!!, Mad Dog Blog
*Madsen Entusiasm No Bounds, AOL Sports |
| (See Mad Dog Blog for full text) Today we had some time off, so John Edwards (My current teammate who has played for the Hawks and the Pacers) and I went over to see some sites here in Istanbul, Turkey. The coolest one to me was the Hagia Sophia Mosque. For one thousand years, it was actually the largest Christian Cathedral in the World. Then, it was taken over by the Ottoman Empire (I learned all of this from our guide today!) and converted into a Mosque. Today it is a museum! So it's been a Christian church three times (Replaced once then burned down a second time, finally rebuilt a third time), a mosque, and now it's museum! How cool is that! The Muslim emperor at the time of conquest ... Click on BLOG to continue plus read Mark's comments on Gerald Greene and Juwand Howard, and more on Turkey. |
Successful surgery...
Mad Dog shoulder surgery successful after boating injury
Will be out for three months...
*Madsen Injured, Mark Wollemann, StarTrib
*Madsen to miss 3 months, Rick Alonzo
*Madsen has shoulder surgery, SBRforum.com
*Madsen out after boating accident, NBA |
(8/17/2007 MN) Mark Madsen had successful shoulder surgery after a Monday boating accident on a local lake. He will be out of basketball action for three months, and is expected to recover fully.
The team reports that the injury occurred when Madsen had an accident on a jet ski. The operation was performed by team orthopedic surgeons Dr. David Fischer and Dr. Brad Nelson at the TRIA Orthopaedic Center.
"This was an unfortunate accident that I have put behind me," Madsen said. "My focus now is to concentrate on my rehabilitation with the goal of returning to the basketball court as quickly as possible."
"Mark is one of the most determined and hardest-working players in our league, and we expect him to make a full recovery," said Kevin McHale, Vice-President of Basketall Operations said. "I look forward to him returning to the court and filling his role as one of the team's veteran leaders." |
From the Mad Dog Blog...
Mad Dog on KG farewell...
Some light moments and reflection... |
(MN 8/1/07) See the Mad Dog Blog posted today "Saying Goodbye to a good friend: Kevin Garnett"...
"Today I got the unimaginable news that Kevin Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics. Being out here in Minnesota and hearing this news was interesting because it is the most talked about thing in almost every circle in which I move. Friends from out of state are emailing me about it. A non-sports radio station "wished Kevin safe travels to Boston" tonight at 10pm while I was driving home.
Here are a few memories of the Kevin Garnett that I know. This is the side that the public doesn't see every day.
One Cardinal rule in our locker room is this: Never wear gear from another NBA team. So when our new assistant trainer from Oklahoma had a Dallas Mavericks screensaver on his cellphone, Kevin Garnett found it and enforced the penalty. When I say penalty, Kevin made him sprint two hundred yards from our team bus to a pickup truck parked in the distance and then yell out “I love the Timberwolves!” three times.
When Craig Smith came into practice wearing some Golden State Warriors practice shorts, Kevin brought out the entire team and had Craig go to center court and hold up the shorts and say “I will never wear these shorts again,” while he held the shorts up and walked around three times. Everyone was laughing. Craig was laughing too. KG loves Craig on and off the court. I’ve never seen a rookie big man like Craig come in and win over the trust and confidence of Kevin so quickly.
Our offense calls for two “big men” to be on the court at the same time and it takes quite a while to learn all of the defensive rotations. Kevin Garnett expects nothing short of perfection on defense. Mark Blount is one of the smartest veteran centers in the NBA and he and Kevin read each other all the time. Where I have been impressed with Craig is that he's beyond his years on defense. On offense, he’s been tearing up the other team’s interior and scoring in bunches. But in some ways he’s been even better on defense.
But getting back to the theme of this blog. I never thought Kevin Garnett would be apprehended by our own locker room fashion police. But ...(continued on Mad Dog Blog) |
This summer 2007...
Mark Madsen Basketball Camps sold out for June and July
Camps in Champlin and Eden Prairie
*Picture of Mark at camp with kids
*Mark Madsen basketball camp details |
(7/4/07 MN) Both Mark Madsen 2007 summer basketball camps have been sold out. The first camp was held 25th to the 29th at Champlin High School. The second camp will be held at Eden Prairie High School July 9th to the 13th.
The camps run from 9am to 3pm daily for kids grades 2 through 8. The price is $199 for the each camp. The kids receive hands on instruction from Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen.
The camp's goal is "for all campers to have fun and learn basketball skills in a positive and nurturing environment." They focus on "self-esteem, fair play and fundamental skill development while playing three games per day."
A formal awards ceremony is held each Friday to celebrate the successes for the week. Jr. Wolves and Lynx Summer Camps are sponsored by Gatorade. |
Timberwolves lose a friend ...
Former T-Wolfe Eddie Griffin dies in SUV-train crash
Madsen says Griffin will be missed
*Griffin dies in SUV-train crash, AP |
(Houston 8/22/07) Eddie Griffin, former Minnesota Timberwolves forward died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Houston area county medical examiner’s office said Tuesday.
Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March.
Born in Philadelphia, Griffin was one of the nation’s top freshmen at Seton Hall in 2000-2001 and was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team in 2002. Not long after he left college, Griffin became more known for his troublesome, off-the-court behavior.
Mark Madsen, one of Griffin’s teammates in Minnesota, said Griffin was well-liked, despite his problems, and said Griffin was a mild-mannered person and "one of the best shot blockers and defensive rebounders I've ever played with." He said Griffin will be missed.
"Eddie Griffin is someone who was never a super loud or boisterous guy in the locker room," Madsen said, "but he was someone who everyone loved in the locker room. When he was doing well on the court we were all so happy for him. And when he was struggling we were all struggling right there with him." |
London, England...
Celtics down Timberwolves 92-81 in preseason game
KG meets his old team
*Signing off from Europe, Mark Madsen
*Celtics 92-81 over Timberwolves, Canadian |
(London, Endland 1010/2007) The Boston Celtics defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 92-81 in a London, England, preseason game today. Keving Garnett wore the Celtic green in their victory, but scored only 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, with 3 blocks in 30 minutes of play. Ray Allen, former SuperSonic, scored a game high 28 points. Ricky Davis was high scorer for the Timberwolves with 18 points.
"I'm pleased with what came out of Turkey and London, but we still have a lot of work to do," Wolves Coach Randy Wittman said. |
From Istanbul, Turkey ...
Timberwolves take training camp to the Middle East
Mad Dog writes diary from Turkey
*Helping to hear, Pioneer Press
*Mark reports from Turkey, Pioneer Press
*Europe Live 2007, NBA
*Wolves team picture from Turkey
*Madsen pic from AOL sports |
(Istanbul, Turkey 9/28/2007) The NBA continues its international focus with the Timberwolves now in a training camp in Istanbul, Turkey, with a side scouting trip to Serbia on the way. Wolves coach Randy Whitman ran the second practive of the year there.
All of the Wolves players made the trip, including Mark Madsen (shoulder injury) and Craig Smith (sprained ankle).
"We landed in Turkey a little after 3 p.m. [local time] and basically went straight to practice after a brief hiatus at the hotel," reported Mark Madsen in his Pioneer Press Diary entry. "That was a hard practice. Guys' bodies were very stiff and guys were tired from the flight. We were in a plane almost 15 hours [delayed a few hours before leaving the Twin Cities and again in London]. But practicing was probably the best thing we did, just to get the blood flowing and beat the jet lag right away."
"Mark is such a hard worker," wrote Rob Babcock, Wolves Assistant GM, in an email from Istanbul. "When he didn't have to listen to a teaching point, he was running sprints on the sideline, doing defensive slides and a host of other things to make sure that he is in shape when his shoulder is ready to go. Even from the sidelines, he is a team leader." |
First preseason game...
Timberwolves win preseason opener in Turkey 84-81
Defeat Efes Pilsen team
*Boxscore
*New Teammates Bring Energy, Pioneer Press
*Kevin, Craig, Diana, Pioneer Press |
(Istanbul, Turkey 10/7/2007) The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Efes Pilsen in the Europe Live debut Saturday 84-81. Ricky Davis and Ryan Gomes scored 12 points. Al Jefferson scored 11 points and Randy Foye scored 10 points. Jefferson had 17 rebounds.
"We won the game by three points, 84-81, but Al Jefferson played a great game," reported Mark Madsen in the Pioneer Press. "He grabbed 17 rebounds. Ryan Gomes had a bunch of rebounds, many that he converted into baskets. I felt like Sebastian Telfair gave us some great energy. Another key person in the game for us was Gerald Green. He came in and played with such energy and such emotion."
"Obviously, we played a very good Turkish team," said Mark. "It's interesting because their coach, David Blatt, also coaches the Russian National Team, which for the first time ever won the European Olympic qualifying championship. Coach Blatt is a very distinguished coach. He is an American coaching over here in Istanbul, Turkey. So, I figured that everything that they'd do would be in Turkish, but it wasn't. It was in English. The coaches were yelling out plays in English to the Turkish team. I guess most of the Efes Pilsen must speak English, or at least understand it. They also had a good number of Americans playing for them." |
Major Trade...
Garnett Traded to Celtics
Involves 7-for-1 deal |
(BOSTON 7/30/07) Kevin Garnett has been traded to the Boston Celtics, giving Boston a new Big Three that brings the Celtics much closer to what their old Big Three delivered -- an NBA title.
Boston sent the Minnesota Timberwolves forwards Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes and Gerald Green, guard Sebastian Telfair and center Theo Ratliff, two first-round draft picks and cash considerations. Besides Ratliff, 34, the other four are 24 or younger.
With Paul Pierce and Ray Allen already on the roster, the Celtics have been transformed from a promising collection of youngsters who had the NBA's second-worst record last season into an instant contender in the mediocre Eastern Conference.
"This is probably my best opportunity at winning a ring," Garnett said. "It was a no-brainer."
"It was just kind of a process and it seemed to be by far the best alternative, if not the only alternative," Timberwolves owner Gen Taylor said on Tuesday night.
It was a gut-wrenching move for an emotional owner who had befriended Garnett during the player's 12 years in Minnesota. Taylor watched Garnett grow up from a scrawny, 18-year-old high school kid drafted in 1995 to one of the best forwards in the history of the game. |
San Antonio visits...
Timberwolves drop last quarter decision to Spurs 106-91
Mad Dog frustrates Duncan
*Photo: Madsen guarding Duncan, AP |
(MN 11/30/07) Manu Ginobili scored a season-high 31 points for the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs with a 106-91, comeback victory Friday night. Ginobili shot 11-for-16 from the field. Tim Duncan had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, who didn't lead until early in the fourth quarter. Al Jefferson had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota, and Sebastian Telfair scored 17 points.
Minnesota withstood injuries into the second half, but the final 85 seconds of the third quarter were devastating. The Wolves built their biggest lead, 80-66, before that spurt and didn't fall behind until Duncan's free throw with 9:05 remaining made it 83-82. Duncan was held in check by Mark Madsen most of the game until Mad Dog left the game with 4 fouls late in the third quarter. Duncan then found himself and the Spurs comeback was launched.
AP reported that Mark Madsen spent much of the game upsetting Duncan. Madsen drew a foul on the nine-time All-Star with an Oscar-worthy flop following a light forearm to the chest in the first quarter in front of San Antonio's bench, angering coach Gregg Popovich to the point of drawing a technical foul.
In the third, according to the AP account, Madsen was called for his fourth personal foul for some rough stuff around the basket involving Duncan, who got mad and directed an expletive at Madsen. Madsen walked away with his back turned, and Duncan was whistled for a technical. Duncan had only two field goals over the first 31 minutes, but he warmed up and finished strong.
"Mad Dog got Duncan a little frustrated," said Coach Randy Whitman. "Mad Dog is not going to back down from anything. He goes out and plays hard." |
Atlanta visits...
Hawks over Timberwolves 94-87 in 4th quarter surge
Jefferson scores 23 with 16 boards
*Picture: Mark watches Al stuff, AP |
(MN 11/24/2007) The Atlanta Hawks overcame a 21-point deficit in a comeback win over the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-87 Saturday night. Josh Smith scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter for Atlanta. Al Jefferson scored 23 points with 16 rebounds in a losing cause.
"We can't dig ourselves these types of holes and expect to get out of them every game in the second half," Johnson said. "I think we still have a lot to work on and we need to start games off right." |
LaBron time...
James with 45 leads Cavs to 97-86 win over Wolves
Jefferson scores 30, Madsen back |
(MN 11/22/07) LaBon James had 45 points, eight rebounds and five assists to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 97-86 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Al Jefferson had 30 points and 8 rebounds.
"We've got guys [who], when we get punched in the mouth, we quit, we stop playing," Wolves coach Randy Wittman said. "Whether it hits or doesn't hit, we have to throw something back."
Mark Madsen, who has missed the first seven games after having offseason shoulder surgery because of an accident on a personal watercraft, played for the first time on Wednesday night. He entered the game with 4:40 to go in the first quarter and finished with three rebounds in 13 minutes.
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