<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="1">The topic was nothing new. Even in the best of times the Timberwolves rarely get to the free-throw line. When McHale took over the team, he promised his team would drive to the basket. In his first news conference McHale made a reference to smash-mouth basketball. He talked about controlling the paint, drawing a line and getting to the line. "We have to get better at that," McHale said. "And we addressed that in the film session and in practice." In the seven games since McHale took over, the Wolves have averaged 18.3 free throws per game, making 14.1. Both numbers are below their season averages (21.3 and 17.2), where they rank 29th and 25th in the league. Which begs the question: Can a jump-shooting team change its stripes? "You have to play however you play," said Wally Szczerbiak, one of the Wolves players who does attempt to draw contact on occasion (he ranks second on the team, behind Kevin Garnett, in free throws made and attempted). On Wednesday, Szczerbiak made all six of his free throws. But he was the only Wolves player to go to the line until Garnett got there in the fourth quarter. "I think we can't get caught up in playing one way or another way," Szczerbiak said. "We have to go out and play basketball and take what the defense gives you. If they're giving you open shots, you can't turn them down to drive into a lane packed with four guys."</font></div> Link
