http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16754096.htm Whoever inscribes the tombstone for the Timberwolves' 2006-07 season should include a picture of Wednesday's executioner, Adam Morrison, and a transcript of coach Randy Wittman's postgame rant. Morrison, Charlotte's shaggy-haired rookie sensation, cold-cocked the Wolves with a lights-out shooting performance in the second half that single-handedly lifted the lifeless Bobcats to a 100-95 comeback victory at Target Center. But Morrison's 26-point smackdown was nothing compared to the character blows Wittman landed on the dysfunctional Wolves in concluding a rocky first month in relief of fired coach Dwane Casey. Wittman accused his team of being outhustled and quitting during a selfish fourth-quarter meltdown in which the Bobcats outscored Minnesota 26-14 to complete their rally from a 17-point second-quarter deficit. "Our frame of mind is more focused on 'me' rather than 'we.' If that wasn't more evident tonight..." Wittman railed. "We're up 17 and really in control of the game and got caught up in 'am I getting enough shots?' And we quit playing." Wittman played prosecutor and addressed the media as if it were a jury. He used damning statistics (two second-half assists and none in the fourth quarter compared to 19 in the first half) and cutting observations for a convincing closing argument that accused his players of several egregious offenses in the realm of professional sports. "I'm tired of guys pouting on the floor during the game because of whatever — not enough minutes, not enough touches. You cannot do that and win games!" Wittman thundered. "Give me five guys that have no talent and you're going to lose the game but you're going to go down fighting. "We didn't go down fighting tonight. C'mon!" No doubt Wittman's radioactive comments ricocheted throughout the Wolves' locker room moments earlier. But few players hung around long enough to acknowledge or address them. Kevin Garnett (22 points, 11 rebounds) stormed out the back door and down the corridor hallway before reporters were allowed access. Ricky Davis (eight points) and Trenton Hassell, who were torched by Morrison, were unaccountable. So it was Mike James (17 points) and rookie Randy Foye (3 for 9, nine points) sifting through the rubble to find plausible deniability. "It was a tale of two halves," James understated. The disparate assist totals were rattled off, the dearth of which in the fourth quarter seemed to surprise him. "I guess it's just... the ball was sticking a little more," James said. "If you have two, that's everybody. It was probably one or two passes, shot goes up, and really not thinking about making the play for the next person." Was it because they were selfish? "You can't ever say selfish," James insisted. "Guys are trying to make plays, not just for themselves, but to help the team win." James, the demoted point guard who might have played his last game in Minnesota as today's trade deadline looms, sidestepped a question about whether Wittman was right to doubt the Wolves' character. "Sometimes we're focused on the wrong thing. Then, a guy who was quiet for maybe three quarters, all off a sudden he can't miss a shot." Whatever the rationale for the Wolves' demise, their collapse only reinforced the Jekyll-and-Hyde stigma of an inconsistent season. They are spinning their wheels with a 25-29 record and facing a brutal stretch after losing the opener of a five-game homestand, their longest of the season. Four straight games against first-place opponents over the next 10 days starts Friday against Phoenix, followed by Washington, league-leading Dallas and Utah. At least Morrison will be out of their hair. After shooting 0 for 5 in the first half, Morrison started draining shots from everywhere in the third and fourth quarters. He made 10 of 19 from the floor, including 4 of 7 from three-point distance, accounting for 47 percent of Charlotte's second-half offense. The Wolves also had no inside answer for Emeka Okafor, who grabbed 19 rebounds, including 11 from the offensive glass. In a Wolves season full of upheaval, expect more changes before the run-and-gun Suns roll into town. Wittman, who is 5-9 since taking over for Casey on Jan. 23, is not worried about alienating his team if he unleashes too much fury. "I'm not worried about losing my team. I'm worried about finding guys who are going to play the way you're supposed to play," he said. "We're 25-29. We're not 35-20. I want five guys who are going to play for the team and their No. 1 goal is not to score 16 points and get 10 rebounds. It's to win the game." --

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