ducks
10-16-2005, 05:00 PM
Long-shot Lucas turning heads
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
DETROIT — Point guard John Lucas might not make the Timberwolves' regular-season roster, but it sure won't be for a lack of effort.
Lucas, the scrappy guard from Oklahoma State, drew praise for his performance in the Wolves' exhibition game Friday night at Indianapolis. He played six minutes in the fourth quarter, sank two-three pointers and energized a team that had trailed by 22 points before losing 93-84.
"He changed the game," coach Dwane Casey said.
Lucas is known for his quickness and midrange jump shot, which he displayed for Minnesota's summer league team before being invited to training camp. His lack of size, generously listed at 5 feet 11, was among the biggest reasons he was not drafted in June.
He must make the Minnesota regular-season roster the hard way, by earning a spot without the benefit of a guaranteed contract.
"That's what drives you to be competitive and go hard," Lucas said.
Remembering Collier: Timberwolves players were stunned by the news that Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier, who participated in Minnesota's 2003-04 training camp, died early Saturday.
Wally Szczerbiak and Mark Madsen remembered Collier, 28, as a "great guy" and a good "family man." Collier had trouble breathing at home and died in an ambulance on the way to a hospital, his father, Jeff Collier, told the Associated Press.
Szczerbiak said he was devastated.
"We were really close a couple years back when he was in camp," Szczerbiak said. "I was happy to see him get an opportunity in Atlanta. That's just horrible news."
Collier's wife, Katie, was pregnant with the couple's daughter when he played in Minnesota's training camp, Szczerbiak recalled.
"He was a great guy," Szczerbiak said. "He came to work and came to play hard every day. He was a real family guy."
Said Madsen: "I just remember how nice of a guy he was and what a class act."
Briefly: Casey's father, James, remained hospitalized Saturday in Indianapolis with heart and kidney troubles. James Casey, 79, was not responsive, Dwane Casey said after practice at Oakland University in suburban Detroit.
• Szczerbiak said he's optimistic that he will miss less than two to three weeks with a right midfoot sprain. He said he will attend every practice and is not worried that the injury will be a significant setback.
"I think as long as you stay in tune with what the team is doing," he said, "when you get injured, you don't forget how to play."
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
DETROIT — Point guard John Lucas might not make the Timberwolves' regular-season roster, but it sure won't be for a lack of effort.
Lucas, the scrappy guard from Oklahoma State, drew praise for his performance in the Wolves' exhibition game Friday night at Indianapolis. He played six minutes in the fourth quarter, sank two-three pointers and energized a team that had trailed by 22 points before losing 93-84.
"He changed the game," coach Dwane Casey said.
Lucas is known for his quickness and midrange jump shot, which he displayed for Minnesota's summer league team before being invited to training camp. His lack of size, generously listed at 5 feet 11, was among the biggest reasons he was not drafted in June.
He must make the Minnesota regular-season roster the hard way, by earning a spot without the benefit of a guaranteed contract.
"That's what drives you to be competitive and go hard," Lucas said.
Remembering Collier: Timberwolves players were stunned by the news that Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier, who participated in Minnesota's 2003-04 training camp, died early Saturday.
Wally Szczerbiak and Mark Madsen remembered Collier, 28, as a "great guy" and a good "family man." Collier had trouble breathing at home and died in an ambulance on the way to a hospital, his father, Jeff Collier, told the Associated Press.
Szczerbiak said he was devastated.
"We were really close a couple years back when he was in camp," Szczerbiak said. "I was happy to see him get an opportunity in Atlanta. That's just horrible news."
Collier's wife, Katie, was pregnant with the couple's daughter when he played in Minnesota's training camp, Szczerbiak recalled.
"He was a great guy," Szczerbiak said. "He came to work and came to play hard every day. He was a real family guy."
Said Madsen: "I just remember how nice of a guy he was and what a class act."
Briefly: Casey's father, James, remained hospitalized Saturday in Indianapolis with heart and kidney troubles. James Casey, 79, was not responsive, Dwane Casey said after practice at Oakland University in suburban Detroit.
• Szczerbiak said he's optimistic that he will miss less than two to three weeks with a right midfoot sprain. He said he will attend every practice and is not worried that the injury will be a significant setback.
"I think as long as you stay in tune with what the team is doing," he said, "when you get injured, you don't forget how to play."