Minnesota transition is going slow

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/7381303.htm

"We let some games slip away that we probably should have won, so
we're a little disappointed about that," said Sprewell, who averages
15.4 points. "But overall I think we're playing hard, and that's the
key -- giving a good effort every night."

"Like anybody who has injuries, you're always going to be better when
you get your main guys back," Saunders said. "For us, that's two guys
[Szczerbiak and Hudson] that give us close to 40 points."

"We really like the moves that they made," Mavericks coach Don Nelson
said. "On paper they look great, and I think they're starting to pay
dividends now."

Part of those dividends start with Garnett. The perennial All-Star is
the glue that holds the Timberwolves together.

"He's been maybe the best in the league for quite awhile," Nelson
said. "I'd vote for him almost every year. If not for Shaq, he's
deserving of the MVP every year."

"KG is the keyboard, and I'm one of the keys -- me and Spree," Cassell
said. "It makes it easier where I know the ball is going through one
particular guy and we work off him, and we do a magnificent job of
working off him."

"This team is close, and that surprised a whole lot of people,"
Cassell said. "There's no finger-pointing around here. When we do
lose, we lose as one.

"All the guys have been great with each other, and we hang out
together. We talk to each other on the phone. I've been on teams where
I never talked to guys on the phone."