November 2, 2009

Stronger Every Minute

In game after game, Big Al is logging an increasing number of minutes -- a good sign for the future prospects of the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Minnesota (1-2) lost both games over the weekend, falling 104-87 at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, then 120-112 on the road to the Phoenix Suns. On the bright side, however, is this: Big Al is making his way back to last year’s 20-10 machine.

Big Al is getting better each night on the court (Getty Images).

Before Friday’s game against the Cavs, the Minnesota medical staff gave coach Kurt Rambis permission to play the big man more than 25 minutes a game. Rambis was obvious reluctant, allowing Al 27 minutes.

"Whatever it takes to win, whatever he can handle at this point, conditioning-wise," Rambis told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune before the game.

"We're just going to add a few more minutes and keep pushing him like that. We just have to be sure we're seeing what extended minutes do to him and how he feels the next day. We don't want to stress him too much that we send him backwards."

Big Al tallied 12 points and eight rebounds in those allotted minutes. He also drew two of Shaquille O'Neal's five fouls on post moves to the basket but was unable to establish a consistent rhythm throughout the game.

"My timing is still not there," Al said to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

"Every shot I took tonight, I’ve made those shots before. I didn’t make them tonight. I just have to keep working on my shot at practice and after practice."

Some of those same shots starting dropping form No. 25 during Sunday’s matchup against the Suns. Al finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. The most promising stretch was during the beginning of the game in which the Minnesota center converted five of his first eight shots for 11 points.

Al was Big Al, dominating in the post as if it were last year. Rambis, however, admitted that his center started to fatigue after the opening quarter.

"Hopefully, this is something to build upon," Rambis told the Star-Tribune.

"I gave him more minutes than I was told to give him, but that was OK. He looked good out there. Little bit winded, but sometimes you've just got to push yourself through things like that."

The Wolves trailed by 17 points with 8:43 left and rallied to within five with three minutes remaining before the Suns put them away. Phoenix big man Amare Stoudemire scored 12 of his 19 points in the final quarter.

"Amare's a fighter," Al said.

"He's been in a situation like this before, and he has fought his way through it. This is my first major injury, and it's my first time going down this road. He has been down that road before."

NEXT UP
Tonight, The Wolves travel to the Staples Center to face the Clippers (0-4).

Al will face back-to-back games for the first time in the regular season.

"I feel good," he said. "I probably won't play as many minutes [tonight]. I can't wait until that part of the game is over with, limiting my minutes. I'm ready to get back to where I was."

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