http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16093617.htm Trenton Hassell has an idea of what's working for the Timberwolves: Marko Jaric. Hassell, the hard-working Wolves guard, even said he would be willing to give up his spot in the starting lineup to accommodate Jaric. Jaric had 11 points and seven rebounds, season highs, and four assists in 32 minutes Friday night during the Wolves' 86-79 win over the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets at Ford Center. He played all of the second and fourth quarters, making key plays. In the fourth quarter, Jaric shot 3 of 4 and helped the Wolves stave off the Hornets, who scored the first seven points of the quarter. He scored back-to-back layups to give Minnesota a three-point lead after the Hornets had grabbed the momentum at 68-67. "They might want to think about starting him because he's playing so well," Hassell said after the game. So, where exactly would Jaric start? "My spot," Hassell said. "What do you mean? He ain't going to take (Ricky Davis'). He's playing well offensively. He's rebounding. He's playing with great intensity on defense. He's getting a lot of steals. He brings that energy." Jaric scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in a 107-89 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday to go along with two blocks and two steals in 25 minutes. Then against the Hornets, he shot 4 of 7. Jaric has been a reserve all season. "Maybe that's something they need in the first unit," Hassell said. "I'm out there to play defense, but that's about it. He brings offense, and he plays defense. He's just playing real well." Get ready for Sam: Sam Cassell might never be an all-star again. But playing in his 14th season, Cassell is one of the oldest players in the NBA, and he's still good enough to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in scoring and assists. The former Wolf turned 37 on Nov. 18 and is averaging 18 points and 5.5 assists going into tonight's game against Minnesota at Target Center. Cassell began the season as the NBA's fifth-oldest player, younger than only Houston's Dikembe Mutombo, New Jersey's Cliff Robinson, Miami's Gary Payton, Detroit's Dale Davis and Chicago's P.J. Brown. "You get guys that want to compete, they can do it until they're 60 because they have that will," said guard Troy Hudson, Cassell's teammate with the Wolves from 2003-05. "Sam is a guy that has a lot of pride. He doesn't want to fail. When you face that type of guy, he's always going to be dangerous every time he's on the court. Until he retires, he's going to be able to play (well) out there on the court." Cassell might still be Minnesota's starting point guard if things had gone differently. He griped about the lack of a contract extension after his all-star season of 2003-04, and owner Glen Taylor soured on his attitude. Cassell was doomed never to return. It also hurt him that his production dropped in his last season with the Wolves. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists and was limited to 59 games because of injuries. But he has bounced back. He led the Clippers to the second round of the playoffs last season, averaging 17.2 points and 6.3 assists. In July, he was rewarded with a two-year free-agent contract to return to Los Angeles, the team he helped to its best record in 31 seasons. -- 外電文章請版友多幫忙了，版上需要大家共同經營 --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 59.114.192.152