Wolves trying to stop slide

Basketball Betting Lines

02/06/2007 -

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -The struggling Minnesota Timberwolves might lead the league in lethargic losses.

The latest example came in Monday night's 105-77 defeat at Houston. There was no shame in losing to the Rockets, but a 50-30 halftime deficit was enough to prompt interim coach Randy Wittman to bench guards Ricky Davis and Mike James for the start of the second half.

For a team capable of beating Phoenix 121-112 on Jan. 29 and losing 94-93 to Dallas on Saturday (the Suns and Mavericks had the NBA's two best records at 38-10 and 39-9 entering Tuesday's games), losses like the one in Houston sure stand out.

Just like the 100-98 defeat at home last week to struggling Sacramento fueled by a flat first half. Just like the 105-88 loss on Jan. 17 against Atlanta, which is near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

``It's human nature, I guess,'' said rookie Randy Foye, when asked after Tuesday's practice to explain all the letdowns.

Wittman's takeover for Dwane Casey following the coach's firing two weeks ago has done nothing to change the team's performance. Wittman is 2-6, and Minnesota has lost 10 of its past 12 games to drop to 22-26 and fall into 10th place in the Western Conference.

The most troubling trend for the Timberwolves is the frequency with which they've exhibited little energy on the court. Though he criticized the lack of effort after that defeat to the Kings, Wittman insisted Tuesday that it's not a matter of players quitting.

``I don't think anybody's not trying to do what we want to do. I don't believe that, no. We've got to have a tougher mental team,'' he said.

Foye agreed: ``We were trying. They just jumped on us.''

Wittman has asked his primary point guards, James and Foye, to run more of the offense than Casey did. There has been some adjustment required for them to the new coaching style and philosophy, and the always-eager Foye said he spoke with Wittman after the Rockets game, before Tuesday's practice and afterward, too.

James, however, didn't sound so optimistic about the situation when he spoke briefly to reporters outside the locker room.

``We talked, and we're going to continue to talk,'' James said.

As for his benching in Houston?

``That's what he felt he needed to do, so that's what he did because he's the head coach,'' James said. ``So you follow it up with whatever his decisions are.''

The day after calling the play of his guards against the Rockets ``atrocious,'' Wittman stressed that he needs to do more to coach them.

Though he was clearly weary from a lack of sleep and yet another exasperating defeat, Wittman was positive after what he said was an upbeat practice and expressed confidence his team would be mentally and physically prepared to play Golden State on Wednesday night.

He didn't say whether James and Davis, who had three points on 1-for-5 shooting in Houston, would be in a reserve role against the Warriors. But if he feels a change is necessary, he will make it.

``We just have to play the guys that are ready,'' Wittman said.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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