Sebastian Telfair started his fifth consecutive game of the season in Monday's 113-110 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. With a slew of injuries at point guard, Sebastian Telfiar has made the most of his opportunity and may have earned himself more playing time even when Luke Ridnour and Jonny Flynn are back.In his five straight starts, Telfair has averaged 11.6 points 6.4 assists and the team is 2-3 after a 1-7 start to the season."He has done a really good job," head coach Kurt Rambis said Friday. "He has been very mindful of executing our game plan and controlling the pace of the game the way we want to play."Heading into the season, Telfair was expected to play third fiddle to Ridnour and Flynn but Rambis has shown that preseason expectations mean little to him when it comes to playing time. One must look no further than opening night when Kevin Love was benched down the stretch of a 117-116 loss to the Kings."We are still trying to figure out who we are as a ball club and where we play our best basketball," Rambis said. "(In Telfair's starts) I thought there was a pace to the game that better suited who we are as a ball club and we are going to continue to monitor that and impress upon the players that that's when we are playing some pretty good basketball."Reports out of Charlotte Monday say Ridnour will look to give it a go on Wednesday against the Clippers but Flynn is still experiencing soreness in his hip and his return may be pushed back once again, giving Telfair more opportunity to impress. Telfair, who has been in the spotlight nationally since he was a teenager growing up in New York, has never been one to shy away from an opportunity. "Absolutely (I want) to showcase myself," Telfair said. "Bring what I can to the team for us to win some games. If I was on the (bench) I'd be saying 'If I was in the game we'd be winning', so now I am in the game so hopefully we can continue to play well."Telfiar has played 37 minutes per game since taking over the starting duties Nov. 11th against LA. "My last time (playing for the Wolves)., I played 48 minutes," Telfair said. "So if I have to do that again I am more than willing to do it." The extended minutes and being the only healthy point guard on the roster—with the exception of Sundiata Gaines who was brought in off the street last week—has led to improved confidence, according to Rambis."Probably some of it too is he might be nice and relaxed too, knowing that he's going to get extended minutes," Rambis said. "He's confident out there and just playing, which is the state we want to get all of our players into."Telfair is the expected starter Wednesday when the team returns home to take on the L.A. Clippers at Target Center with Ridnour potentially returning and Flynn sometime shortly after that. It will be up to Rambis to determine if Telfair's play will continue to increase.
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