Wolves: Griffin acknowledges problem with eyesight http://www.startribune.com/511/story/289724.html Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin might be seeing some light at the end of his playing-time tunnel, although it probably looks a little fuzzy. Lots of things, frankly, look a little fuzzy these days to Griffin -- literally and figuratively. He admitted after the team's practice Monday that he will be seeking laser eye surgery this summer, after playing two seasons for the Wolves and much of his basketball career without the corrective lenses he apparently needs. "My eyes ... it's a little bit of fuzziness. Close, distance," Griffin said, gazing across at the team's practice gym. "I can't wear glasses because it bothers my face, and I can't wear contacts because it bothers my eyes. So laser surgery is probably the best thing for me." The Wolves wanted Griffin to fix it before this season but, like any other NBA team, they can't mandate procedures or prescription lenses. No matter how badly Griffin might need them. "I've always had bad eyes," he said. "I've always needed glasses. I wore 'em in, like, the fourth grade. My mom made me wear them. Other than that, that's it." Refrain, for the moment, from making cracks about Griffin's cockeyed three-point shooting (12-for-69, 17.4 percent) or how he can't find his way into coach Dwane Casey's rotation. Focus, instead, on the eye-crossing season Griffin has had overall, from valuable role player to out-of-place starting center to milk-carton candidate through four months. After a solid October, Griffin slipped into the reserve role he held in 2004-05 and averaged 4.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.20 blocked shots as the team went 13-12. On Dec. 28, the 23-year-old natural forward took over from Michael Olowokandi as the Wolves' starting center. That night, he scored 22 points with 12 rebounds and, over 21 starts, averaged 6.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.48 blocks. But Minnesota was 8-13 in that stretch and Griffin's production, despite a 30 percent bump in minutes, changed only slightly. But on Feb. 6 at Phoenix, Griffin never took off his warm-ups. Since then, he has played a total of 46 minutes, sitting out seven of 10 games before a 10-minute stint Sunday against Golden State. And now? Much as guard Marko Jaric has worked himself back into the rotation lately, Griffin has caught Casey's eye again in practices and with his play Sunday (four points, four boards, two blocks). "Eddie had a nice week," the coach said. "Again, I don't have a doghouse. There's no such thing. If you want to play and work your way in, I'm going to play whoever is going to help the Timberwolves win. Doesn't matter who he is, how many years he's got in the league ... it's a democracy." Meritocracy, even. "Eddie gets here early, he stays late, he works with [assistant] Bob Thornton a lot," teammate Mark Madsen said. "Coming in, practicing hard, never complaining. Nothing [bad] off the court. I don't think Eddie's ever been late." Griffin maintains that he never was told where he had failed or how he could fix it. "I was kind of stressing me a little. They just stopped playing me," he said. "They didn't come to me and tell me what I did wrong or what they wanted me to do different. It was [left up to me]. All I can do is work hard when I'm out there in practice. If you work hard, you're going to get minutes, so keep working hard." Casey said there still is room for Griffin, in however large a role he earns. The Wolves were on an adrenaline high the last time they faced Houston, beating the Rockets 96-92 on Jan. 27, one day after the seven-player trade with Boston. Newly acquired Ricky Davis scored 26 points in his Minnesota debut. Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Rashad McCants showed a glimpse of the player he has been lately with 16 of his 18 points in the second quarter. . . . Davis, still recovering from a groin pull, took part in more than half of Monday's practice and is expected to log regular minutes. . . . Houston is hot, having won 12 of its past 16 games, including victories over Denver on Friday and Portland on Sunday. The Rockets have been better on the road (15-15) than at home (12-18). --

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