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Issue link: http://dimemagazine.epubxp.com/i/56522
Dime: After you missed 11 games with the foot injury, you came off the bench, scoring 34 against Houston. Is that a role you're okay with? MB: I'm just trying to find my rhythm individually. As a team, we go with our camaraderie and we're meshing well together. Individually, we have to find our rhythm. Dime: On a team as young as Minneso- ta, you're a bit of a veteran now. So how did the lockout affect your preparation? MB: The only thing that's different is the road trips and you only get a one-day trip. The fact we're playing every day is cool for me because I love to play. At times, yeah it feels like summer. Right now I honestly still feel fresh. I sat for 11 games so that has a lot to do with it, but you work hard in the summertime conditioning-wise and you play every day to get in shape. We're only six or seven weeks in. Dime: Coach Rick Adelman likes to run, but do you still feel like you're learning his system as a team? MB: We're still learning it. We're not going to get it overnight. So far we've 60 progressed and we definitely got better since the first day of training camp. Dime: It has to be fun in that system, or any other, to play with guards like Ricky Rubio, Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea. MB: It's different. I've always been a create-my-own-shot type of guy, but when you got guys like that with Ricky and Rid who have six-plus assists it's kind of different. You don't have to wait for them to do something but be ready. Early on I got caught off guard a couple times, but I'm trying to get some time with Rubio.