MINNEAPOLIS -- Everything about Nikola Pekovic is big. Big muscles. Big scowl. Big tattoos. Now he has a contract to match. In giving the 27-year-old Pekovic a five-year deal that could be worth more than $60 million with incentives, the Timberwolves are bucking a trend that has started to take over the NBA. While so many other teams are starting to play small ball, the Wolves are going big. Theyve decided to jump on Pekovics broad shoulders and see how far the Montenegrin centre can carry them in a league that is getting smaller and smaller by the day. "A lot of people have asked me about centres in this league and whats happened is theyre almost a dinosaur," Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders said Friday. "Many teams have gone to stretch-type playing and theyve done that because they dont have the ability to have somebody that they can put down on the block that has the ability to score on the block on a consistent basis. Thats something that Pek can do. With Peks physicality and along with Kevin Love we feel like we have two power players that can really be forces around the basket." The Miami Heat have won two straight titles with undersized Chris Bosh playing the bulk of the minutes at centre. Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman often used 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes at centre when he coached the Houston Rockets. The Boston Celtics stayed relevant in large part thanks to Kevin Garnetts willingness to move from power forward to centre. In Pekovic, Saunders sees an opportunity to create mismatches against teams that try to go small against them, to punish them in the paint and pound them on the glass with the burly big man and Love, perhaps the leagues best rebounder. "I know the league is getting smaller and many teams in the (centre) position are playing guys from (power forward) ... So Im just happy to be here and be maybe one of the few old-fashioned centres who are going to play in the low post," Pekovic said. "Im just going to keep being that." Saunders called Pekovic one of the top two or three low-post centres in the game, and the numbers would support that. In his third season, he averaged 16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds and shot 52 per cent from the floor while shooting an impressive 74.4 per cent on free throws. Tim Duncan was named All-NBA first team centre during an incredible season for the San Antonio Spurs last year, but his career is entering the twilight phase. That may leave Marc Gasol from Memphis and Houstons Dwight Howard, who isnt as polished in the post but remains a tremendous force, as the other players who could be above Pekovic in the centre pecking order from an offensive standpoint. And despite the trend to go small, three of the four teams in the conference finals last season -- Indiana, San Antonio and Memphis -- had a huge presence in the post. In Minnesota he will team with Love and Ricky Rubio to form the core of what many consider to be an up-and-coming franchise. The Wolves havent made the playoffs since 2004. But if they can stay healthy -- Pekovic has missed 39 games in the last two seasons due to injury and Love only played 18 last year -- they believe that dubious skid will come to an end this year. Pekovic said his goal is to play in all 82 games during the regular season and Saunders said the team is looking at some of its training practices to try and reduce the wear and tear on a players body. Saunders believes Pekovic has trained too much at times and spent too much time in the weight room and that a more efficient program could help him. "I think there has to be a meeting of the minds of getting all people together and really getting a good plan and good format that players are doing the right thing and theyre not over-training parts of their body," Saunders said. Negotiations with Pekovics agent Jeff Schwartz dragged on for about a month and a half before Saunders added the fifth year on Tuesday to get the deal done. All of a sudden, Pekovic had gone from an unknown big man who appeared lost at times during his rookie season to a $60 million centerpiece of a franchises quest for redemption. "My agent asked me when we closed the deal, he asked me how do you feel," Pekovic said. "I said I still dont know. I still feel like unbelievable. I came like three years ago and I was basically not even a backup centre, nothing. I was kind of fighting for my position. ... I know that I was really fighting and pushing for this. Im really happy that all this happened." He also made it clear to Schwartz from the day the market opened on July 1 that he wanted to remain in Minnesota. While many other players have left smaller markets for more glamorous locales, Pekovic has warmed to Minnesotas icy climate and feels at home while fishing on one of the states 10,000 lakes. "People asked me, where do you want to live," Pekovic said. "I dont want to go to a bigger city. I just like it here. I like everything. I know its a little cold in the winter but you just get used (to it.). Its my fourth year here. Im basically a Minneapolis guy." ------ Cheap Adidas Shoes Wholesale .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Adidas Superstar Slip On Outlet .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. http://www.wholesalefashionsuperstar.com/cheap-adidas-superstar-black.html . 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ELMONT, N.Y. -- After suffering some tough beats, Stallwalkin Dude finally earned his first graded stakes victory, parlaying a perfect trip under Irad Ortiz Jr. to a 1-1/2-length victory in Saturdays Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park.The win was not only Stallwalkin Dudes first in a graded event - this was his 10th try in such a race - but the $120,000 first-place purse pushed the 6-year-old geldings career earnings to $1,088,352. Not bad for a horse trainer David Jacobson claimed for $16,000 in September 2014 at Gulfstream Park.Its very rewarding, said Jacobson, who owns the horse along with Head of Plains Partners. I didnt realize he didnt win a graded stakes; he won so many races for us.The Bold Ruler was Stallwalkin Dudes 16th career victory from 46 starts. He has 12 wins from 31 starts and earned $1,008,150 since Jacobson claimed him.Stallwalkin Dude worked out as clean a trip as one would could hope for in an 11-horse field sprinting. He broke alertly, but was quickly taken in hand by Ortiz and settled in fifth position, three to four lengths off the pace set by Green Gratto.Stallwalkin Dude saved ground down the backstretch, tipped three to four wide at the three-eighths pole, took the lead three-sixteenths from home, and was kept to his task as he tired late. Threefiveindia, under Javier Castellano, rallied along the rail to get second by two lengths over Economic Model, the 2-1 favorite. The second- and third-place finishers are both trained by Chad Brown.Following Economic Model in the ordder of finish were, in order, Mylute, Green Gratto, Dannies Deceiver, Amis Flatter, Cadeyrn, Touchofstarquality, Face of Winner, and Farhaan.dddddddddddd. Liberty Holiday was an early scratch while Gentrify was scratched by the stewards on the advice of the track veterinarian at the starting gate.Stallwalkin Dude, by City Place, ran seven furlongs in 1:21.66 and returned $10.80 as the second choice.At the three-eighths pole he wants to go and he just does it on his own, Ortiz said. At the quarter pole, he was moving great, I let him go do his thing. I wait as long as I can and when I asked him he responded pretty good.The win was one of three on the card for Ortiz, who tied Javier Castellano atop the Belmont jockey standings with 47 wins apiece with one day remaining in the fall meet.Though hes at the end of his 6-year-old season, Stallwalkin Dude is as consistent as ever. He entered the Bold Ruler off a second-place finish behind Breeders Cup bound Joking in the Grade 1 Vosburgh.Hes real good right now, Jacobson said. The key to horses like him that love to run and are very sound is go easy in the morning and let them do their running in the afternoon.Jacobson mentioned the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct on Thanksgiving as a possible next start for Stallwalkin Dude. There is also the Grade 3, $250,000 De Francis Dash at Laurel Park on Nov. 19. Both races are at six furlongs. ' ' '
