http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16539025.htm One thing was immediately clear at the Timberwolves' practice Tuesday and their shootaround Wednesday morning: new coach Randy Wittman wants to conduct business a little more seriously. These Wolves players might need more discipline, a different voice to enforce philosophies and expectations. The Wolves didn't respond as well as they could have under Dwane Casey, fired Tuesday and replaced by Wittman. Wittman's direct communication and approach could be a strength in Minnesota, though it was perceived by some Cleveland Cavaliers players as a detriment during his two seasons as the coach there. There is a fine line when it comes to relating to players. As Wittman looked back Wednesday on his time in Cleveland, he said he learned much from the experience. "Dealing with people and trying to figure out the ones you can kick in the rear end and the ones that you have to put an arm around, you learn through those experiences," he said. Wittman won't turn into a softie, though, and Wolves management prefers a stricter style. When Ricky Davis refused to re-enter Friday night's game against Detroit, it was evidence he quit on the team. It also was a direct affront to Casey and something that foreshadowed Tuesday's coaching change. The up-and-down play the Wolves exhibited led to the coaching change, vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said when he explained the decision. Davis and Casey shot down the notion that there was a rift, but it's clear that something was amiss. Those types of player-coach issues arise frequently in pro sports, when millionaire athletes with egos as big as their wallets run headfirst into coaches put in a position of authority. Wittman isn't afraid to communicate his views. At Tuesday's practice and Wednesday morning's shoot-around in preparation for the Portland game, Wittman demanded more focus and attention from the players. "He's aggressive," Wolves veteran Trenton Hassell said. "He lets you know what he wants, what he expects out of you. He's very vocal." Kevin Garnett said Wittman would be a good fit because of his straightforward approach. Garnett added that his directness doesn't come across in a negative way. "It doesn't take a scientist to know when something's wrong," Garnett said. "He's real good at letting you know when something's wrong." McHale said Wittman is a "very exacting and demanding guy," and that personality should help solve the issue of inconsistency. "He wants us to be, you know, less joking around and more serious," forward Craig Smith said of Wittman. "He wants us to be game ready." Wittman has plenty to deal with. He's taking control of a roster overloaded with guards, and lack of playing time for everyone is an issue that can lead to problems on any team. The Wolves are no different. Figuring out how to divvy up minutes will become a bigger challenge once guard Rashad McCants, rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee since last summer, returns in the next few weeks. Wittman isn't holding open tryouts, but he wants to re-evaluate what players can do. "They've still got to go out and prove to me that they're worthy of more minutes, that they're worthy of starting," Wittman said. "It's my job to get them in better positions to take advantage of their talents. That's what a coach tries to do." In Cleveland, Wittman was fired after he went 62-102 over two injury-plagued seasons. Cavaliers players Wes Person, Jim Jackson, Cedric Henderson and Robert Traylor said they believe his inexperience hurt the team, and they expressed frustration with playing time. They didn't know where they fit in the rotation or how much they would play, the Akron Beacon Journal reported at the time. They all had issues with their roles and were unhappy with decisions Wittman made, though they all certainly weren't model players when it came to their attitudes. Months later, Bimbo Coles, a team captain who once appeared to be a Wittman supporter, backed Wittman's dismissal, the paper reported. Communication between Wittman and the players was a big problem. Coles said Wittman was "distant." "When Randy may have jumped your (butt), it would stick," Coles said. "It wouldn't be just like, 'OK, you (messed) up. It's over with.' " Said center Chris Gatling: "You don't have to yell. There's a way to pat a person on the back, and that makes players want to perform every night. You can't yell, yell, yell. Guys are going to rebel." Wittman said Wednesday that second-guessing and criticism are part of coaching. "I've just got to make sure that I do what's fair for the team," Wittman said. "That's all you can do. Some guys aren't going to like that. You aren't going to have 12 guys all the time happy with the coach because there are going to be three or four not playing. If you have any kind of competitive spirit, you want to play. That is not even in my thinking. My thinking has to be how I can get this team playing at a level that it needs to play at to be consistent." --

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