http://www.startribune.com/511/story/1103897.html Trenton Hassell didn't want to talk Thursday, but he spent his time during practice speaking volumes. He worked hard, ran hard, tried hard to show coach Randy Wittman that he's still in the game, mentally, even if he's out of the starting lineup. This is exactly what Wittman is hoping to see. Perhaps in the near future he and Wolves fans will see how other players react -- to fewer minutes, and to more. Earlier in the week Wittman talked about using the final eight games as an evaluation period -- for everybody in the organization. But how will that play out on the court? What will people see when they turn the game on or sit down in their seat at Target Center? Wittman doesn't know yet for sure. But expect to see some interesting combination of players in the closing days. "All the minutes will be dictated to me when the ball is jumped up," Wittman said after practice Thursday, before the team left for New York for tonight's game with the Knicks. "If we see people not coming with energy and effort, we'll put other people in." Already the team has, slowly, worked in that direction. Randy Foye's minutes have continued to rise; he has averaged better than 31 minutes over his past four games, well above his season average. Ditto for Craig Smith, who played 24? minutes on Tuesday and Rashad McCants, who has averaged 19 minutes over his past three. It is clear the team is looking to the future by playing its younger players, and showing it wants to do what's best for the organization without giving the appearance around the league of tanking the remainder of the season. But it's more than a youth movement. Wittman is looking for energy, which is why Mark Madsen, for example, could see more minutes. And why Hassell, by working hard, could work himself back into the mix. Wittman does not appear ready to alter his starting lineup. But that doesn't mean some of those starters won't see their minutes drop. Especially after the way starters Ricky Davis, Mark Blount and Mike James played Tuesday against Cleveland. "We're going to play this out, and I want to play it out with guys who will show you fight all the way to the end," Wittman said. "It doesn't really matter who starts. If you're not coming with energy and effort, we'll put other people in." Already Marko Jaric, a player who has filled just about every role from key player to bench warmer, is back in the starting lineup, playing big minutes. "The unfair thing for Marko is that he's probably played out of position this year," Wittman said of Jaric, who has played mainly the small forward position rather than one of the guard positions. "Is he a three-man? No. He's a combination [point and shooting guard]. He's had to guard Ron Artest, Rashard Lewis. But he's playing." Hassell, meanwhile, has seen his playing time drop, though he appears eager to win minutes back. "That's the thing I've done, given guys the opportunity show if they deserve to play more," Wittman said. "Or play less. Everyone has gotten that opportunity. There is no better job than this, playing. Seriously. If you don't want to play?" Then you won't. Eight games remain on the schedule, and it's open season when it comes to playing time. "This is about who has heart right now," Wittman said. --

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