Howlin' T-Wolf

From Marc Stein’s Weekend Dime: Games to watch – ESPN.

Q: Obviously your team is starting over, but how do you evaluate this first season individually?

A: I put a lot of pressure on myself to try to bring the best out of my teammates. As a point guard I like to judge myself by winning and when I judge myself like that the year isn’t going too well.

Q: That seems a little harsh, doesn’t it, considering you’re running the triangle offense for the first time?

A: It’s tough. It’s like learning a foreign language. You sit in class and you think you’ve got it and then there’s one verb you left out or something and you pronounce it the wrong way. It’s definitely difficult. It’s new to all of us, but definitely tough for me because I have to make sure everybody’s on the same page.

Q: What kind of grasp do you have on the triangle at this point?

A: I would say I’m at a C right now. … It’s really tough doing something your whole life and then switching. It’s been a humbling experience. But I think I’m making strides. There’s so many different wrinkles [in the offense]. I don’t think we’ve really even scratched the surface.

Q: I would think the fact that you had to learn a new offense on the fly would make you prouder of what you’ve achieved in your first season.

A: I think so. I don’t think any other rookie is in a position like this. You look at a lot of the top rookies and they have a tremendous amount of freedom. They can go out and really almost do whatever they want. But Kurt [Rambis] is really teaching me the game of basketball. He’s teaching me how to play in a system. And if you look at all the great point guards in this league, they know how to run a system and they can play pick-and-roll basketball. I already know how to play pick-and-roll basketball. Now I’m learning how to run a system.

Q: Who would get your Rookie of the Year vote and how disappointed are you that you’re not getting much consideration?

A: Tyreke Evans. Has to be [Rookie of the Year]. He’s averaging 20 points a game in the NBA as a rookie. … I don’t think I’m doing as much as all the rookies that are mentioned [for Rookie of the Year]. I’m just looking forward to getting better with time.

and…

One addendum to the Jonny Flynn chat in Box 2: Flynn admits that he hasn’t been closely tracking Ricky Rubio’s work with Spanish giants Barcelona this season.

The last time they spoke? Draft night.

Flynn, though, insists that he has never approached his bosses to ask for more insight into why the Wolves drafted point guards with the No. 5 and No. 6 picks in the 2009 draft.

“I was just happy to be picked that high in the draft,” Flynn said.