Sebastian Telfair

He'll be the team's quarterback (while fellow point guard Randy Foye heals) and the Wolves are counting on him to deliver while avoiding off-court issues.

By Stories By Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune

Last update: November 1, 2007 - 6:18 PM

Why do you think Sebastian Telfair is about to start his fourth NBA season with his third team?

Could it be the off-court problems that have plagued the New York City legend since Portland made the high school star the 13th overall pick in the 2004 draft? He was, after all, sent from the Blazers to Boston not long after he was cited for carrying his girlfriend's firearm onto the team plane. And he was sent from the Celtics to the Timberwolves not long after he was pulled over for speeding and was found to have both an expired license and a firearm he said he didn't own.

Perhaps. But you can bet that either team would have looked the other way had Telfair's numbers on the court been better.

But now, he has another chance.

With Randy Foye on the shelf because of a sore left knee, Telfair has an opportunity to show that all of his speed and quickness can translate into effective point guard play. Listen to him, and you get the idea that he's finally gotten the idea.

"You have to be more professional about the game," Telfair said this week. "Understand what I have to do and what I can do. You know, understand that sometimes guys take an opportunity and say it's time for me to get a lot of shots up."

Telfair was probably talking about himself. In three less-than-stellar NBA seasons, Telfair has been a point guard who looked to shoot before he passed. Problem is, he didn't shoot very well, never better than 39.4 percent. The past two seasons began with Telfair in his team's starting lineup. Those seasons ended with him basically on the bench.

"I've gotten the opportunity, and sometimes I didn't respond as consistently as I should have," Telfair said.

But now, another chance. Until Foye returns, Telfair and Marko Jaric are the two most viable point guards on the roster. There is no question that Telfair brings the ability to guard on the perimeter. His quickness also suits him in the open court. But what the Wolves need from him is to run the team rather than try to run up his own point totals.

At the very least it sounds as if he understands.

"I need to stay consistent," he said. "Consistent in doing what I do best and not trying to get out of that box. That is bring energy every game, use my speed."

Run the team.

"Assists, ball movement, not searching for scores," Wittman said, when asked just exactly what that meant. "Letting the game come to him. How he played [in the team's preseason finale] is how he's got to play."

In that game, Telfair had six assists and a steal in 26-plus minutes -- and only six shots and two turnovers.

"I got away from some of the things I do best, as far as using my speed and passing abilities," he said. "Not trying to force the issue. I just have to go out and do what I do best."

Stories By Kent Youngblood • kyoungblood@startribune.com

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