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Posted June 20, 2007
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Coaching Great Praises Howard Trade
Bill Fitch, who coached five NBA teams over three decades and is one
of the league’s winningest coaches ever, gave a thumbs up to the
Timberwolves recent acquisition of 34-year-old Juwan Howard.
Fitch, 73, told Sports Headliners on Monday that trading guard Mike
James and forward Justin Reed to Houston for the 6-foot-9
Howard adds much needed leadership to the Wolves. Fitch, who lives part
of the year about one hour away from Houston near Montgomery, Texas,
watched about 75 percent of the Rockets games last season on TV and said
Howard is “a missing link in your chemistry and your locker room.”
Howard’s presence will help Kevin Garnett with team leadership.
“He’s great in the locker room,” Fitch said about Howard. “He’s a great
aide to a coach. His attitude is exemplary. He’s a winner all the way
around. … I saw Minnesota play a lot last year and I thought they
needed another leader out there, and he’s certainly that.”
Wolves vice president Kevin McHale was
quoted about Howard’s value after the trade last week. "Juwan is a
veteran low-post player who is a proven scorer and rebounder," said
McHale. "He will add needed depth to our front court, and with this move
we are balancing out our roster. Juwan also provides a solid locker room
presence. …"
Howard averaged 9.7 points (.465 field goal percentage, .824 free throw
percentage), 5.9 rebounds and 26.5 minutes per game in 80 games (38
started) last season with Houston. He increased those averages to 13.6
points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game during the 32 games that
Rockets’ center Yao Ming missed due to injury. Howard finished
the season with nine double-doubles and recorded 10 or more rebounds in
11 games.
Fitch
said Howard didn’t play much early in the season but when Yao was out
Howard became a starter and “carried” the team. “I know Howard was
worth every penny that Houston gave him last year,” Fitch said. “They
wouldn’t have been in the playoffs without him.”
Fitch
described Howard as a “scoring machine” when he was a younger player.
Drafted fifth overall by Washington in 1994, Howard averaged 22.1 points
per game during the 1995-96 season and made third team all-NBA. He has
career averages of 16.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
“He
can still shoot the basketball and he can go to the foul line with the
pressure on and make free throws,” Fitch said. “He can guard big
people. He can take the center (spot). If you got somebody in foul
trouble he can guard the power forwards and the centers. …He’s a
utility player now instead of being the go-to guy. But if you’re
bringing him off the bench at Minnesota, he could be like (Robert)
Horry was to the Spurs.”
Fitch said Howard
is capable of playing minutes at center, power forward and small
forward. Howard might be used most effectively off the bench,
where needed in game situations, Fitch added.
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Juwan Howard
"He’s a utility player now instead of
being the go-to guy. But if you’re bringing him off the bench at
Minnesota, he could be like (Robert)
Horry was to the Spurs.”
Bill Fitch on Juwan Howard
Kevin Garnett
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Two Different Junes for Twins Kubel
June
was a special month for Twins left fielder Jason Kubel
last season. He had an eight game hitting streak where he was
14-36, a .389 batting average. He hit .333 for the month with five
home runs and 16 RBI. With
the Twins’ lack of hitting among the most popular sports topics in this
town, it’s been difficult to see Kubel struggle of late, with three hits
in his last 22 at-bats. For the season Kubel is hitting .235, with five
home runs and 22 RBI.
Kubel’s 2007 June problems include a minor injury to his right knee that
caused him to miss a few days. Talk about the 25-year-old’s career
often includes the full year he missed in 2005 recovering from surgery
on his left knee. He also had a less serious right knee surgery
following the 2006 season.
Kubel
told Sports Headliners his knees are okay and earlier this week he had
an outstanding catch in the field, diving for a ball near the foul line,
against the New York Mets.
Kubel
said he stretches to minimize further knee problems.
Kubel
came into this season determined to be a success at the plate.
“Everything felt good so I was expecting a lot more,” he said.
Admired for his ability and potential in the
minors, Kubel hit .321 in 2002 and .298 in 2003. In 60 at-bats with the
Twins in 2004 he batted .300, and at two minor league stops that year
compiled averages of .377 and .343. Last season playing for the Twins,
he had a .241 average, with eight home runs and 26 RBI.
Manager Ron Gardenhire suggested last
month that Kubel needs to hit with more confidence. “Yeah, that’s all I
need to get is confidence and then I will feel a lot better…,” Kubel
said.
Can he become a .300 hitter in the major
leagues? “Eventually, next year,” he said. “It’d be kind of tough this
year to do it now.”
What about home runs? “I hit 24 a couple of
years ago, so hopefully (I’ll) get back to around there,” he answered.
(In 2004 he hit eight home runs in the minors and 16 with the Twins).
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“It’d be kind of tough this year to do
it now.”
Jason Kubel talking about hitting .300
Jason Kubel
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Worth Noting
A
good humored Bill Fitch talking about whether he ever regrets
leaving college coaching, going from the Gophers in 1970 to take over
the expansion Cleveland Cavs and beginning an NBA coaching career that
ended in 1998: “No, I never look back. … I stumble when I look
forward. I look back at my days there (Minnesota) and they were great
days. …”
Fitch
on the Wolves trading guard Mike James to Houston: “James was not
a happy camper and I’ve always said, ‘get rid of unhappy campers.’
They’re not going to help you. …”
Look
for the Timberwolves to make at least one more major roster move
involving one of their veterans before
next season.
Two highly regarded NBA draft prospects,
Georgetown University forward Jeff Green, Big East Conference
Player of the Year, and University of Florida forward/center Al
Horford, a third team All-American, were scheduled to work out
for the Timberwolves earlier today.
Michael Cuddyer has put runners on notice they need to be cautious
about trying to take an extra base on him. The Twins right fielder has
used his strong and accurate right arm to cut down the daring or
foolish. Cuddyer never played the outfield until 2001 in the minor
leagues. He played first base, second base and third base in the lower
minors. He told Sports Headliners playing the infield encourages habits
like throwing accuracy and getting rid of the ball quickly that help
when making the transition to the outfield. “Also, you have to focus a
little more in the infield,” Cuddyer said. “I think that’s allowed me
to take that focus level out to the outfield. …”
Any
guess about improvement from Viking players beginning their second
season in the NFL could include defensive end Ray Edwards. He
showed exceptional pass rushing skill last season as a 21-year-old who
had skipped his senior season at Purdue to enter the NFL draft.
TCF
Bank Stadium, scheduled to open in 2009 with a capacity of 50,000, could
be expanded to approximately 80,000 based on future need, according to
Tom Wistrcill, Gopher associate athletics director.
Andrew Zimmern,
local food critic and Travel Channel TV host, is now hosting an
afternoon show on WFMP- FM107.1. Canterbury Park jockey Lori Keith
was a guest today.
Saint
Mary's University's Amanda Weinmann has been selected as the MIAC
representative for the 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The award
honors senior student-athletes for their cumulative collegiate
achievements in service, leadership, athletics and academics. A
national winner will be announced in October. Weinmann was chosen by the
MIAC Executive Committee after reviewing nominations from conference
schools.
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Photo Courtesy of Minnesota Twins
Michael Cuddyer
John M. Williams, DDS
Cosmetic & Family Dental Care
612-521-7611 |
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