Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

Wally Szczerbiak, partly because of his contributions and partly by default, ranks among the top handful of players in Timberwolves history more than two decades after the franchise entered the NBA. That said, the KG-and-Wally Era rarely seemed to mesh on or off the court. Despite playing parts of seven seasons together, there was barely any chemistry between the two. For whatever reason, and we'll leave speculation to the wind, they were mismatched. Let's not forget, too, that in the Wolves' one breakthrough season (2003-04), Wally was largely relegated by injuries to a bit role, playing just 28 games and starting none. When either elicited a positive reaction from the other, it was a surprise -- and that's a strange feeling when you are watching two teammates.

KG, of course, is now at the tail end of a magnificent career and is trying to help will the Celtics past the mighty Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. But if there is one on-court trait that has defined him in a negative way for much of his career, it's his apparent distaste for taking big shots in the fourth quarter. His monster night in Game 7 against Sacramento in 2004 helped wipe away some of that angst in Minnesota and some huge games en route to an NBA title in 2008 did the same nationally, but he has also greatly benefited from having teammates more willing to pull the trigger in crunch time (Sam Cassell, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, etc.)

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