This time the trouble begins on the outside

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: January 6, 2008 - 11:21 PM

There was a moment in the first half of the Timberwolves' 101-78 loss to Dallas when the fans at Target Center saw a spark of life from the home team.

The Wolves were down 17 early in the second quarter when Marko Jaric made a running hook shot, which started an 8-0 run that pulled the team within nine with nine minutes left in the half.

It didn't last. Eddie Jones hit a wide-open three-pointer from the right corner. Jason Terry hit another wide-open three-pointer. Then another Jones three-pointer, again wide open, again from the corner. The Mavs were off on a 13-0 run that had the Wolves down by 22 just more than two minutes after having cut it to nine.

The problem? The perimeter defense, according to coach Randy Wittman. He has taken issue with his guard play more than once this season. But usually he has focused on problems with offensive execution.

Not Sunday.

"Our perimeters couldn't defend to start the game off the dribble," Wittman said. "So we had to go with a lot of zone."

It happened from the start when Josh Howard scored two of the Mavs' first three baskets by simply driving to the hoop.

"He went right by us," Wittman said. "No pick-and-roll, just right by us. ... Those were blow-bys."

So Wittman went to the zone, which is usually something he would avoid against a team that shoots the way Dallas can. The Mavs responded by shooting over the top of it, as they did during that 13-0 run.

"We have to be able to guard our guy more than one dribble," Wittman said.

Decision today

One fellow who could help in that department is Randy Foye. And the Wolves should know today whether Foye is cleared to begin practicing.

Foye will have another CAT scan to see whether the stress reaction in his left kneecap -- which has kept him out of action all season -- has healed. Foye has been tested twice since the season began, and both times he has been told to wait.

The good news? Foye has been slowly ramping up his workouts, and he remains pain-free.

"It hasn't been anything close to being full activity, but he's been doing a little shooting, a little running," Wittman said. "Things of that nature."

The bad news? Foye was convinced a few weeks ago that he'd be cleared to play only to be disappointed. "I'm convinced," he said. "I've been working out well. At the same time you have to see what the scan shows."

If Foye is cleared, how long would it take to get into a game? Foye has said he'd need five good practices, but Wittman isn't going to put a number on it.

"We have to be smart here," Wittman said. "He has to be in good shape. In this game, you go out there and you're not in very good shape, you'll reinjure yourself or hurt something else. We don't want to see that."

Etc.

• The Wolves have lost by more than 10 points 15 times this season, and five of those have come in the current eight-game losing streak.

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