"I think you've got to, with what he's done on a consistent basis," said Wittman, who also said Sebastian Telfair should be considered for the award. "Being the main option for the first time in his career, sometimes it takes a person awhile to get accustomed to that. You're seeing different things from him, too. That's part of being an improved player."

--When the Lakers, Suns and Mavericks all made notable deals right before last month's trading deadline, Wolves guard Marko Jaric said he still liked the San Antonio Spurs in a suddenly ridiculously competitive Western Conference.

He still feels mostly that way.

"Definitely, the Lakers right now are playing the best basketball, but you know what?" he said. "Every year there a couple of teams -- Detroit, San Antonio -- nobody talks about and they always seem to get to the finals or the conference finals. I don't understand. Every year it's like that."

Nearly every season except maybe for this one, the Spurs increasingly have paced themselves until the All-Star break, then revved their turbines. This season, their current six-game winning streak that included Friday's victory over the Wolves was preceded by a four-game losing streak.

"They don't show the determination like they used to, but they are one of the playoff teams I would not trust," Jaric said. "They have a good foundation. They have good coaching. They are just solid."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's always 'If, if, if happens, we win the game.' If didn't happen today." -- Wolves F Kirk Snyder.