Reed makes most of rare chance

By Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune

Last update: April 12, 2007 - 9:45 PM

Since Randy Wittman took over as coach of the Timberwolves, he has tried very hard to give just about all of his players an opportunity to show what they could do.

The key phrase: just about.

By his own admission one fellow who didn't get that chance was Justin Reed. Before Wednesday's game with Dallas, Reed had been a regular loser in the Wolves' numbers game.

He was muscled out by Craig Smith and Mark Madsen when it came to being a big guy off the bench. Small forward? Get in line. Who on the Wolves roster can't play that position? As a result, Reed had appeared in less than half of the team's games.

But Wednesday, with Smith in the starting lineup and Kevin Garnett in the process of having his sore right leg tended to, Reed got his chance.

In a season-high 22 minutes Reed scored a team-high 17 points, with five rebounds and three assists.

"Like I told him today, he went out and busted his rear end, played hard and it showed," Wittman said. "That's what I'm looking for. I haven't given him, probably, as much opportunity [as others on the roster]. But he waited patiently and he took advantage of that opportunity when it came. I was happy for him."

Reed can expect more minutes in the Wolves' final four games. Especially if Garnett does not return.

"It's like Coach has been telling me, continue work on my game, be ready to play," Reed said. "I feel I got a little of the rust off, got a little in the rhythm."

The 6-8 Reed, in his third season out of Mississippi, is a high-energy player who has shown a decent mid-range shooting touch. But his game still has some rough edges. On Wednesday he put himself in some bad situations by being overaggressive on the defensive end.

He saw significant time at the end of last season, after Garnett and Ricky Davis were shut down because of injuries.

He said it has been hard to wait all year for his chance to play.

"I think it's tough for any guy who is a true competitor," Reed said. "But one thing about me is I'm a big team guy. They didn't have a role for me this year. I stayed in the gym, stayed ready to play. Now there is an opportunity and I'll try to take advantage of it."

Etc.

• Wittman had no update on Garnett's sore right leg. Garnett is scheduled to visit a specialist in California and the results of that visit could be available today.

• Guard Troy Hudson missed practice again because of a sure knee, the result of a injury from a recent practice. He will not be available tonight.

Kent Youngblood • kyoungblood@startribune.com