Ray Richardson, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
In his thick Montenegro accent, Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic says he is planning to speak up more in games this season, even yell if necessary.
The message will be much clearer than last season: Pekovic wants the ball when he’s got good position in the lane for a post-up move.
“You don’t want him to get mad at you,” Wolves guard J.J. Barea said after practice Monday, Oct. 29. “Every time you see him in the paint and he’s open, you have to get it to him.”
The Wolves have told the soft-spoken Pekovic to be more vocal on the floor this season in demanding the ball. As the team’s most physically imposing player, Pekovic is taking on a more assertive role in the middle, especially with power forward Kevin Love out until at least mid-December because of a broken right hand.
Love’s absence puts most of the Wolves’ inside load squarely on Pekovic’s muscular shoulders.
“The guys are smart enough to see me if I’m in good position,” Pekovic said. “They will pass me the ball, but sometimes if they don’t see me and I’m open, I might yell or something.”
Wolves coaches encouraged Pekovic to open up more in exhibition games and practice. Whenever he is able to seal off a defender, the Wolves would like the ball to go inside, not just for Pekovic to make a move but to create scoring opportunities for teammates when he draws a double team.
The plan, however, works better when Pekovic makes sure his teammates know he wants the ball.
“We had a stretch in
the Detroit game last week where Pek went four minutes without touching the ball,” Wolves assistant coach Bill Bayno said. “Some of that is on the guards. Some of that is Pek not demanding the ball. That’s a four-minute period where he can get six or eight points, command a double team or get somebody else a shot. He’s got to be more vocal. But he’s such a humble kid.”
Bayno believes Pekovic is ready to turn up the volume with his communication. Bayno traveled to Montenegro in August to work out with Pekovic for two weeks. Bayno helped improve the center’s footwork and post-up moves, and perhaps equally important, raised his confidence to become more of a leader.
Pekovic speaks English well enough to get his point across, but the third-year NBA player understands that he will have to do more than just raise his arm when he’s open in the lane.
“I know they’re expecting a little more from me with Kevin out,” Pekovic said. “Everybody is pushing to do more. I will try to do my best. Every day I am working on new things and trying new moves.”
Bayno said Pekovic has developed a jump hook and a right spin move that could help improve his scoring average. Pekovic averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 2011-12 before bone spurs in his left ankle slowed his production late in the season. He had surgery in May to remove the spurs and has had no lingering effects from the injury.
Wolves backup center Greg Stiemsma can vouch for that. Stiemsma battles the rugged Pekovic daily in practice and hasn’t noticed any problems with his mobility or strength.
“We’ve had a few drills where I’ve hit him as hard as I can hit somebody, and he just absorbed it,” Stiemsma said. “I feel like I run into a wall every time. He knows it’s part of the game, and he takes it.”
In six exhibition games, Pekovic averaged 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 26.3 minutes, and shot 52.7 percent. Wolves coach Rick Adelman said Monday that he has added some plays designed specifically for Pekovic to help compensate for Love’s absence.
The Wolves remember how effective Pekovic can be after an impressive eight-game stretch last February during which he averaged 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds and shot 61.3 percent from the floor.
“He understands where his strengths are, and he’s a quick learner,” Adelman said. “He’s going to get doubled. It’s going to happen, but he’ll find the open people.”
Adelman and Bayno are looking forward to the day when Pekovic will be able to confuse defenses. Bayno spent a lot of time in Montenegro working with Pekovic on going to his left. Becoming more versatile in his post-up game will be vital for Pekovic, who is expected to attract more attention after his strong performance last season.
“His IQ is as high as anybody on the team,” Bayno said. “Once he gets more comfortable going to his left, he’ll be even harder to defend.”
And maybe harder to keep quiet.
