--C Al Jefferson lost 30 pounds since his season ended last February with a torn anterior cruciate ligament that required surgery and seven months of rehabilitation. He wished he could have taken that all back Friday, when he faced Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal and this time gave up probably 80 or more pounds to him. "I wish I could borrow (those) 30 pounds back," Jefferson said, "just for (Friday night). This is one of the games I wish I would have kept my 30 pounds. Even when I was 30 pounds heavier, it was still a challenge for me." --Wolves head coach Kurt Rambis was Shaquille O'Neal's head coach a decade ago with the Lakers. On Friday, they faced each other at Target Center. "It's funny, Shaq always said when he got his first ring that he'd be done and he'd retire," Rambis said. "And I kept telling him, 'You're going to keep playing until they kick you out of the league.' I just think he has so much fun playing, so much fun competing. This environment is just so compelling to so many people."
At age 37, O'Neal just keeps going.
"It doesn't surprise me he has been in the league this long," Rambis said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he's here for several more years."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "They always tell me if a bear sleeps, keep him sleeping. You don't want to get in his head and try to talk noise to him." -- Wolves forward Al Jefferson, when asked before Friday's game if he tries to "get into" LeBron James' head.
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