原文：http://myurl.com.tw/er5m Star Kevin Garnett is hungry and shows no signs of slowing down. There's no doubt last season took its toll on Kevin Garnett. He didn't display his usual emotion during some games. Had Garnett lost some of his competitive fire? So far this preseason, the Timberwolves all-star forward has shown no signs of slowing down. He has shouted encouragement to teammates, pumped his fists and sworn on occasion. Looks like the same ol' Kevin Garnett. "Anybody who thinks that bear is dead better bring a long broom to poke him with because he's not dead yet," Wolves coach Dwane Casey said Wednesday before the team's exhibition season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks at Target Center. "That's what my grandfather taught me a long time ago. You don't go around kicking a bear or a dog unless you're sure he's dead. That's OK, though, let 'em think he's dead." Garnett is a former NBA most valuable player, and yet it's almost as if he has to prove he can still play at an elite level this season, though he doesn't buy into that. "I have nothing to prove to anybody," Garnett said. "I have everything to prove to myself. That's how I've always taken it. If you guys don't like what I do, turn off your TV or don't come watch." He approached this summer the way he approaches every summer, with a hunger to improve. The main difference was that he stayed in the Twin Cities for much of this summer and spent less time at his house in Malibu, Calif. Garnett enters his 12th NBA season "with a tiger in his tank," Casey said. "I've always considered myself a hard worker," Garnett said. "I worked really hard this offseason. I always like to see where I'm at as far as the things I worked on and how well they work on different opponents. The preseason is a chance to do some of that. It's not all the way polished like I would like it to be, but I have worked extremely hard." Garnett said he feels refreshed and is looking forward to this season with the Wolves, who have missed the playoffs the past two seasons but added new players this offseason. He is optimistic, especially after going through training camp. "I think we have the potential to be very good," Garnett said. "We're clicking at a very early stage, so that's very good. And we're working hard. Those are some of the key components of a strong team, so I feel very good about that." A week of training camp in Mankato, Minn., gave Garnett a chance to bond with his new teammates, including point guard Mike James and rookie Randy Foye. "We go really hard," Garnett said. "Case works us like dogs. We come in here with a no-nonsense kind of attitude. We come in here for three hours, sometimes 31/2 hours, and we get it done. That's what's most impressive." Garnett said he has been encouraged by the leadership of veterans James, Vin Baker, Mark Blount and Ricky Davis, among others. That's helped the players with their continuity and communication, Garnett said. James, who averaged 20 points a game last season for Toronto, is the centerpiece of the team's offseason acquisitions. Wolves owner Glen Taylor said last week that Garnett seems more relaxed with a veteran such as James playing point guard. "It's good to have more talent on the team," Garnett said. "I don't think relaxed is the right word. Having a lot more talent, talent that can take some of the responsibility off of (me), not just scoring but the locker room, etc. But relaxed wouldn't be a good word. Happy, confident, feeling good, bonding, those are the words I would use." --

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