Wes Not Satisfied

[Klomp]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=18810

At the All-Star break, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Wesley Johnson is 56 games into his NBA career. While his team is currently only 13-43, Johnson has enjoyed every moment, both the good and the bad. Averaging 8.8 points, along with 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists, Johnson also knows he has plenty of room to improve.

"I've been coming out here, playing and having fun," Johnson told HOOPSWORLD. "As far as the positive you can say, it's been that we've won the games that we've won. I'm really coming out here and learning. The negatives would have to be all the losses. I mean, my shooting percentage has been inconsistent, so I'll say that as far as individually. I'm just really trying to stay consistent and stay positive."

Johnson's season may not be going as expected of a number four pick in the draft, but his team does see the progress he has made already.

"When he first came in, he was kind of watching and seeing what was going on and now I think he's much more aggressive," said Assistant Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who works closely with Johnson. "He's looking for his shot and he has one of the purest shots on our team when he gets an opportunity to line it up. The matchups every night for him at that position, he's playing the best players in the world. You can go from team to team and at that two or three spot, it's one of the best players on the planet. Just being able to understand player's strengths and weaknesses and the ability to pick up on things like that defensively are probably the two biggest things I've seen him improve on."

After an adequate start shooting the ball in his NBA career, in recent games his shooting percentage dropped significantly. In the final three games—all home—before the All-Star break, Johnson combined for a grand total of 2 of 18 from the field.

"It really goes to mental confidence," said Johnson. "Your shot has been going and then all of a sudden you see it go out a couple times. Then you start second-guessing yourself, pulling back on it or shooting too hard, so it's really all about confidence. That's why I really am getting in the gym before and after practice, shooting a lot more and trying to get my rhythm back. I just lost my rhythm for a little while."

Is there truth to the presence of the "rookie wall?"

"You see it over and over again and guys handle it different ways, but the length and pace of our schedule is a shock to the body and a shock to your mind," said Bickerstaff. "How you handle it, how you come out of it, the preparation, the way you treat your body depends on the individual, but there is some validity to the rookie wall. For most guys, it's more physical than it is mental because they're exhausted. In college, you play two games a week and that's it. Here you play four games in five nights, so there is something to it. He has the ability to bounce back, he will bounce back and I think the second half of the season for him is going to be better than the first."

If Johnson has, in fact, hit that proverbial rookie wall, he is handling it well. It is quite rare to see the rookie without a smile on his face and he is smart enough to learn what things he can and cannot do.

"It's really just staying fit," said Johnson. "I mean, as far as physically, you have to take care of your body throughout the season. If you don't, you're going to get beat up. All of the nights that you travel that takes a toll, so you have to eat right. I was really just eating chicken fingers and stuff and cake all the time, so I really had to cut back on that. I'm really trying to stay fit."

[shangrila]

I still have faith he'll be solid, but he has to show some sort of improvement this season. Even if it's just upping his percentages a little.

[eyeteeth]

I f'n hope he's "not satisfied." How about, "going to work as hard as it takes. I know I'm not playing to my ability right now."? Can I get some of that?

[younggunsmn]

I don't know exactly what he's supposed to show in 3-5 mins per half.
We had better give Wayne Ellington 7 games in a row of 28+ mins while he shoots under 40% and plays terrible defense. Cuz that guy has starting SG written all over him.

Wes's talent has been completely wasted all year and his confidence problems have got to have a ton to do with the wild minutes rollercoaster ride he's been on. He needs some consistency. We have nothing to play for. Just play him every night from the 6 min mark of the 1st to 6 min mark of the 2nd, and same for the 3rd to 4th quarters unless he's in foul trouble, and let him show what he can do.

Ramon Sessions was wasted here running the stupid triangle, and now he's tearing it up in Cleveland and multiple teams want to trade for him. You traded the wrong PG last summer Kahn. I know Jonny probably wouldn't have passed a physical. Although I thought the ramon/telfair trade was OK at the time, in hindsight it was bad because WE were the ones holding down ramon's value, and the Sessions signing has proven to be a pretty good value-get by Kahn. Too bad we are one of the 2 teams that run the system most ill-suited to his talents.

[Peezo]

Every time I read something like this I'm just glad that our players are seemingly remaining positive.

But if we keep losing after this year, I think that is going to change quickly.

[TWInsider]

I think with Wes it has a lot to do with confidence.
This guy is so talented but is always smiling like a little shy girl out there.
I hope his strong rookiegameperformance will give him some confidence.
The Wolves organisazion should hire somone who works on his "mental game".