ekansekans's blog: "df"

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers will give several running backs a chance to replace last seasons leading rusher, Ryan Mathews, who had surgery Friday on his broken collarbone and is expected to miss four to six weeks. "I like the guys we have here, and Im excited about what theyve been doing," coach Norv Turner said. Mathews was injured on his first carry of the preseason in the first quarter of the Chargers game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night and did not return. Mathews led the Chargers with 1,091 yards rushing and a 4.9-yard average last season, earning him a trip to the Pro Bowl. Entering training camp last month, Turner said Mathews was in the best shape of his career and should pile up bigger carry and scoring numbers this year because hed get additional snaps near the goal line. "That play could have happened on his 360th carry or his first carry," Turner said. "Ryanll come back healthy. Hes on his way to having a great season. I dont think this will deter that." Turner said several backs, including Ronnie Brown, Jackie Battle and Curtis Brinkley, will play in the three remaining preseason games. Brown and Battle are veterans who joined the Chargers in recent months. Brinkley is in his third year with the Chargers, having averaged 3.5 yards in 32 career carries. "We have backs in here who are capable of playing and playing at a high level," Turner said. "This league is crazy. You have guys who have an opportunity when somebody gets hurt and they make the most of it." MINNEAPOLIS -- Greg Stiemsma would have gladly returned to Boston, where he got his first true chance to play in the NBA. When Minnesota showed new interest in the 6-foot-11, 260-pound defensive specialist, well, he didnt exactly have to mull his decision over. "You didnt have to twist my arm or convince me too hard to come to this part of the country," Stiemsma said Thursday after signing a two-year contract with the Timberwolves to be their backup centre. Only the first season is guaranteed. "It feels good to be wanted," Stiemsma said. "It feels good to have all your hard work pay off." His hometown is Randolph, Wis., just a half-day-trip away and a bit north of Madison, where he played four seasons for the Badgers and currently lives and trains. Stiemsma was the only free agent who visited the Timberwolves this summer who was able to drive to Target Center. "It was nice, from a scheduling standpoint, that we didnt have to purchase an airline ticket," Timberwolves president of basketball operations and general manager David Kahn said, smiling. Stiemsma was in the background his entire career at Wisconsin, averaging a little more than 11 minutes per game even as a senior. He played in Turkey and South Korea the following season, then moved on to the NBA Developmental League. There, behind the guidance of a coaching staff that understood his game, he began to build confidence that he could indeed become an NBA player. He was named the 2010 NBADL Defensive Player of the Year after he averaged 9.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game for the Sioux Falls Sky Force. Stiemsma actually signed with the Wolves that April annd played on their summer league team but was waived before training camp in the fall.dddddddddddd He returned to Turkey for the 2010-11 season and then finally stuck on an NBA roster, with the Celtics. Fighting plantar faciitis in his left foot and a bone bruise in his right foot, he appeared in 55 games, averaging 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 13.9 minutes. His blocks-per-minute average was second in the league behind Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Playoff experience this past spring was invaluable, as was the time spent listening to and watching former Timberwolves great Kevin Garnett. "He was always willing to teach. Hes got such a high knowledge of the game," Stiemsma said. Stiemsma said his feet are feeling fine these days. Hes eager for his second full NBA season to see how much further he can take his game -- and help a playoff-calibre team try to get into the post-season for the first time in nine years. Finding his niche has certainly helped his confidence, which he said is at an all-time high. "Theres always those coaches whod be like, You dont do this well. You dont do this well," Stiemsma said. "Well, how about we forget about what I dont do well. How about we focus on what I do well?" The Wolves used the amnesty clause to waive Darko Milicic, creating the opening behind Nikola Pekovic. Stiemsmas past season with the Celtics was enough to catch Minnesotas attention again. "Because of his proximity to this market and the fact that we did have him for a summer ... we did kind of know who he was," Kahn said. "But I must confide that he really opened our eyes as well." ' ' '