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Wally is worlds better. (NBA Insider).(basketball)(Brief Article)
If you listen to Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders, it all was blown out of proportion, the much-rumored summer trade that would have sent Wally Szczerbiak to the Bulls for a package featuring Marcus Fizer. Minnesota had hoped all along to reacquire Joe Smith as its power forward, meaning there would be no room for Fizer. Plus, Saunders was not quite ready to give up on Szczerbiak.
"We never said we were going to pursue that," Saunders says of the supposed deal. "I think we were all expecting big things from Wally this year."
Saunders has not been disappointed. No player in the league has lifted his game more this season than Szczerbiak. The Timberwolves did indeed sign Smith and were able to move Kevin Garnett to the small forward spot. That meant sliding the 6-7 Szczerbiak to shooting guard, not his usual position.
But playing the shooting guard spot allowed Szczerbiak to focus more on, well, shooting. He also has tried to toughen up. In his first two seasons with the Timberwolves, Szczerbiak was known as much as the whipping boy of the coaching staff as he was as the team's second-best player. Bad passes, turnovers, defensive lapses--they all somehow managed to be Szczerbiak's fault.
"That's just part of being the young guy, the new guy," Szczerbiak says. "A lot ...
- Szczerbiak-Hassell competition could create discord for T-Wolves.(Knight Ridder...
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Wells, Mike October 24, 2004 700+ words
...shooting Friday night. Saunders gave Szczerbiak credit but was quick...specialist Ron Artest. Saunders won't tip his hand...indications are that Szczerbiak has a slight edge over Hassell. Saunders said he prefers to have...
- Szczerbiak-Hassell competition could create discord for T-Wolves.
- Newspaper article from: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN) October 23, 2004 700+ words
...shooting Friday night. Saunders gave Szczerbiak credit but was quick...specialist Ron Artest. Saunders won't tip his hand...indications are that Szczerbiak has a slight edge over Hassell. Saunders said he prefers to have...
- Szczerbiak still in day-to-day mode.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Pickeral, Robbi November 8, 2002 700+ words
...back on its heels." Szczerbiak participated in the...the treatment room. Saunders said he doesn't think Szczerbiak returned too soon...many minutes. And if Szczerbiak is hurting today, don't expect Saunders to rush him back...
- Szczerbiak finds his range.
- Newspaper article from: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) February 27, 2003 700+ words
...There are facets for Szczerbiak to improve upon. Although Szczerbiak says he feels 100 percent healthy, coach Flip Saunders said his swingman might...not a great move," Saunders said, smiling. Szczerbiak smiles, too, when...
- Szczerbiak finds his range.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Pickeral, Robbi February 27, 2003 700+ words
...There are facets for Szczerbiak to improve upon. Although Szczerbiak says he feels 100 percent healthy, coach Flip Saunders said his swingman might...not a great move," Saunders said, smiling. Szczerbiak smiles, too, when...
- Szczerbiak finds his legs.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Pickeral, Robbi November 6, 2000 700+ words
...first round of the playoff. But Saunders said last week that Szczerbiak's defense "wasn't as bad as Pippen made it out to be." Saunders seemed confident that the 23-year-old Szczerbiak would improve. Szczerbiak, as...
- Szczerbiak's another wolf who can step up.
- Newspaper article from: The Dallas Morning News (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service) April 23, 2002 700+ words
...easily come from Wally Szczerbiak. A second straight...passed with coach Flip Saunders playing goalie in another...scarcely a mention of Szczerbiak. The other half of...approach what Magic or Saunders or the Minnesota fans and punditry expected. Szczerbiak is itching for touches...
- Szczerbiak's another wolf who can step up.(The Dallas Morning News)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Stein, Marc April 23, 2002 700+ words
...easily come from Wally Szczerbiak. A second straight...passed with coach Flip Saunders playing goalie in another...scarcely a mention of Szczerbiak. The other half of...approach what Magic or Saunders or the Minnesota fans and punditry expected. Szczerbiak is itching for touches...