short takes
Homecoming, sort of
Less than two weeks after he left, San Antonio guard Andre Miller returns to Target Center on Tuesday with his new team and renewed hope of winning an NBA title at age 39.
The Wolves granted his request to be released so the NBA's oldest player — 37 days older than new teammate Tim Duncan — could finish the season with a title contender.
"I'm still kind of shocked," Miller told San Antonio reporters last week. "You play against these players for a long time and know the tradition here, then come over here and it's kind of shocking. I'm still dealing with it."
Chuck changes mind
Apparently, it's TNT analyst Charles Barkley's prerogative to change his mind. And he has, switching allegiances after supporting Oklahoma City's chances to upset mighty Golden State in the Western Conference all season. The Thunder's defensive liabilities have him reversing course.
"I'm off the Oklahoma City bandwagon," he said during Thursday's studio show. "You know whose bandwagon I'm on? The Los Angeles Clippers. If Blake Griffin comes back and dominates down low, the L.A. Clippers [have] a chance of winning the world championship."
Did you know?
Even Miller's return Tuesday couldn't convince NBA TV to keep that Spurs-Wolves game on its schedule. The network will show Washington at Portland that night instead.
