Jonny Flynn has seen it, heard it, read it.
That's what he does. The second-year Timberwolves point guard is a product of the digital age. You know how most athletes and coaches tend to deny ever reading what's written about them? Not Flynn. When he's not working out or practicing, he can be found surfing the Net, reading everything he can find on himself. And that includes articles, columns, blogs, even those snarky comments by folks at the end of such stories.
So he knows.
"I'm a guy who reads everything. Everything," Flynn said. "I hear everything. People are saying, 'We want to see more out of Jonny Flynn.' That's why you have to put your blinders on and remember what your goals are. That's one thing that has helped me get through."
Since returning to action with the Wolves on Dec. 14, Flynn's comeback has been slower than everyone would have liked. He wasn't used to playing at less than 100 percent. His limited playing time forced another adjustment for a player not used to coming off the bench.
"It's tough knowing you can't go out and play the way you want to play," he said. "You're not playing a lot, so you feel you can't get back as soon as you would like. So it kind of got frustrating. But we have good guys in this locker room that kept at me to keep working hard to get back to being the Jonny Flynn you've always been. I'm inching towards that. It's just taking awhile."
He's been at it for more than a month now, working to get back, reading what people thought about the process. His performance has been critiqued. His future -- which some believe includes a trade -- has been much discussed.
"It will make it that much better when I come back 100 percent and do what I'm doing," Flynn said.
Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said Flynn's practices during the team's four-day break between games have been his best of the season.
"Jonny is gaining confidence with every game he's playing in," Rambis said. "He's getting a better rhythm out there on the floor. He's looking more and more physically comfortable."
Getting healthier, with those blinders on, Flynn approaches the second half of the season knowing a lot of questions about him will be answered in the coming weeks, including that of his future with the Wolves.
He will keep the hammer down on the court and his finger on the pulse of opinion while he's off it.
"It's cool," he said. "People are going to have their opinions. There will be good ones, bad ones. Everybody has one, and you can't change 'em. You just have to keep doing what you're doing."
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/114461214.html
