Wolves wait for leader to emerge

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: November 8, 2009 - 8:07 AM

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WOLVES NOTES

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The Timberwolves take a 1-5 record to Portland tonight looking for their first victory since the season opener 12 days ago.

They also enter the Rose Garden looking for a leader.

Two days after they took Boston down to the final play before losing by a bucket, the Wolves on Friday led Milwaukee by nine points early, then wilted in a third quarter when the Bucks applied defensive pressure and outscored them 31-14.

After that 87-72 loss, Wolves coach Kurt Rambis was asked if a team that's still learning the triangle offense and his defensive concepts has had the time to develop a leader for occasions such as Friday night.

He said he admires veteran forward Damien Wilkins. He said Brian Cardinal is "stepping up and saying the right things." He said Corey Brewer "even had moments."

Then he said: "There isn't a real, true defined leader on this ballclub. That's one of the things we're trying to work ourselves through and get that person to step up. The makeup of our team might not be conducive to that."

Rookie point guard Jonny Flynn said that issue will solve itself with time.

"I think it's a collective leadership on this team," Flynn said. "We have good veterans on our team. We have young guys all around the same age. It's like a committee. There's going to be a time in the season when that guy is going to step up. I'll try my best to put input into things like that."

Looking for Al

After Friday's loss, Rambis suggested his team tried too hard to get the ball to Al Jefferson near the basket, against a Bucks team that denied Jefferson at every turn. Jefferson suffered through a 3-for-12 shooting night for eight points -- his first single-digit scoring game since opening night -- and the Wolves' passing offense completely stalled in the third quarter.

Rambis said he screamed his throat raw from instructing his team to swing the ball all night.

"I don't think you can look for Al too much," Flynn said when asked if his team did so Friday. "He's a proven guy in this league, a proven scorer. Whenever we get the ball to him, most of the time good things happen. I don't think that was the main thing."

Play hard

Jefferson played 35 minutes Friday and Rambis said he still needs to get into better condition while he returns to full strength from February knee surgery.

"We talked to Al the other day about this," Rambis said. "We don't want him to coast for 30, 35 minutes. I'd rather him play really hard in shorter bursts. He's frustrated with himself, but he's not in condition. I'm very pleased with his defensive commitment. He's trying to rebound. He's trying to defend the post. These are things I was told he wouldn't do, and he's clearly making that commitment."

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