Long on strength http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/15690384.htm Undersized rookie Smith still expects to haul down rebounds MANKATO, Minn. — Undersized power forwards are everywhere in college basketball. Few make it big in the NBA. Craig Smith is fighting that battle. For him, the good news is that the Timberwolves will need every rebound he can provide. That's why he shouldn't have to worry about making the team as a second-round pick. With his rebounding skills and the NBADevelopment League as a fallback, Smith isn't in jeopardy of being cut. He will have to prove himself to earn minutes, but so far, he has made a favorable impression. Coach Dwane Casey said Smith has been a pleasant surprise in training camp and summer workouts. Smith's strength is rebounding, a major concern for the Timberwolves, who opened training camp Monday in Mankato. The Wolves finished 27th in the NBA in rebounding last season, despite the fact that Kevin Garnett led the league. Smith knows that's where he can help. The Wolves won't need any scoring from Smith this season. Rebounding will be the best way for Smith to earn playing time. "My strength has always been rebounding," he said. "I'll try to hopefully come in and grab as many boards as I can." A 6-foot-7, 250-pound power forward from Boston College, Smith's lack of size prevented him from going in the first round of the draft. And there were skeptics who wondered whether Smith was drafted too high when the Wolves selected him early in the second round, 36th overall. On draft night, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas had this assessment of Smith: "An undersized power forward. He uses his body well, but he's an in-between size in the NBA. He's kind of a classic tweener. But I think with a 6-9 wingspan, he's got a chance because he can score and he can rebound. "I just have some questions about his ability to get shots off in the interior in the NBA, playing against bigger guys. He doesn't have a whole lot of lift, and I wonder if he's a little bit too small to be really competitive at the four spot. But I'll tell you what, the guy is tough as nails. Can he play in the NBA? Absolutely. Should he have been drafted this high? … Maybe not." Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said he remembered going to a Boston College game when Smith was a freshman in 2002-03. "He had 18 points and 12 rebounds and was just a man," McHale said. That game left an impression on McHale. Three seasons later, Smith averaged 17.6 points and 9.4 rebounds as a senior at Boston College. The Associated Press selected him a third-team All-American. McHale doesn't seem worried about Smith's height and sees other positives. "Years ago, 6-7 was impossible to play power forward, but now that's nothing," McHale said. "He has a very high basketball IQ. … He's a rugged dude. He's big and strong." --

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