Something weird is going on with Wolves center Nikola Pekovic. Now, it might just be a series of strange coincidences or circumstances, but whatever it might be it strikes us as strange. Let’s follow the bouncing ball (or, more aptly, the big man not bouncing a ball):
For those asking… checked with Wolves training staff and Pek okay to play. Coaches decision.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) November 16, 2014
That was during the Dallas game Saturday, after Pekovic had just two points (and zero field goals made) in 12 first-half minutes an then sat the entire second half in what appeared to be a benching. That followed a four-point, minus-24, 19-minute appearance in Friday’s blowout loss to New Orleans.
But after that Dallas game, Pekovic said his ankle had been bothering him — yes, the same one that kept him out of 28 of Minnesota’s final 38 games a season ago.
On Monday, Pekovic missed practice because of what was deemed a “personal situation” by head coach Flip Saunders, though the notion that he had an ankle injury was still being offered up.
On Tuesday at practice, Saunders reportedly said Pekovic hurt his wrist during the Dallas game and that the ankle isn’t the issue.
So we went from Pek being fine to play Saturday, per trainers and that tweet from the Wolves’ official PR staff … to Pek saying postgame his ankle was still hurting … to him missing practice Monday but for a personal situation while his ankle still hurt … to Tuesday, where we learn he apparently had a wrist injury in that Dallas game that will keep him out until next week.
Weird. Again, not sure what to make of it. But definitely strange.
We will say this: We had concerns about how Pekovic would fit into a Kevin Love-less team, and how his style of play would fit with the new Wolves in general, and there have been games this season where those concerns have been validated. He has a hard time passing out of double teams. He doesn’t protect the rim. He scores down low and works the offensive boards like a beast, which are valuable things, but he hasn’t topped 20 points in any game this season for a team that could use established scorers.
If he’s hurt, that could be an explanation, but it would be nice if the pieces added up in a more tidy fashion.
Michael Rand started RandBall with hopes that he could convince the world to love jumpsuits as much as he does. So far, he's only succeeded in using the word "redacted" a lot. He welcomes suggestions, news tips, links of pure genius, and pictures of pets in Halloween costumes here, though he already knows he will regret that last part. Follow @randball on Twitter.
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