At first glance, rookie Wes Johnson's numbers in Saturday's loss to Memphis were unimpressive.
Once again, he struggled with his shot. Johnson played almost 25 minutes, took seven shots and made one. He was 0-for-3 on three pointers.
But, at this point in the season -- and at this point in Johnson's development -- Wolves coach Kurt Rambis sometimes looks at other things.
With injuries forcing Johnson to move from big guard to small forward Saturday, Johnson had to guard a more physical player, and he held his own. He had a team high three steals and he tied for the team lead with four assists. He blocked two shots and had just one turnover on a night when six of the 10 Wolves who played had at least three turnovers.
As Johnson's first season winds down, he has had ups and downs. Recently, he has struggled to score, especially after setting a career high with 29 points against the Lakers March 18. He hasn't scored in double figures in four games, including being shut out against Chicago on Wednesday. He still isn't getting to the line enough. Johnson hasn't attempted a free throw in four of his past five games and in 45 games overall.
But Rambis sees potential.
"You're right, he's been inconsistent," Rambis said Saturday. "But I think he feels, in a lot of ways, overwhelmed with all the things he was trying to absorb and learn this year."
Yes, this is a familiar theme coming from Rambis, who has been talking about the inexperience of his team all season, even as the Wolves' losing streak reached 10 games after losing to the Grizzlies. But, even on nights when Johnson's shots aren't falling, Rambis sees glimpses he likes.