Kevin Garnett is a throwback, the perfect blend of the old-school team first, individual second with a new-school set of skills. With him, it's only about one thing — winning. He took a pay cut to prove it, and he is determined to do whatever else it takes to make the Minnesota Timberwolves champions. He finally might have the help he needs to do just that with the addition of Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell, who have helped take Minnesota to within a half game of first-place Dallas in the Midwest division entering Wednesday. "I knew they were good, but they're 10-15 times better that what I could have expected," Garnett says of Sprewell and Cassell. "Their work ethic is crazy. Their competitive nature is even crazier. The way they approach the game is similar to myself, and it's a great mix." The Timberwolves have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, a fate frustrating Garnett more and more. With his contract set to expire at the end of this season but not wanting to leave the Timberwolves, Garnett pleaded for more help. The Timberwolves obliged. Only four players remain from last year's squad: Garnett, Gary Trent, Wally Szczerbiak and Troy Hudson. Adding Sprewell at forward-guard and Cassell at guard might not have rippled around the league as much as getting Gary Payton and Karl Malone did for the Los Angeles Lakers. But in the long run, Minnesota's acquisitions could have just as big an impact come playoff time. Those moves helped prompt Garnett to sign a five-year, $100 million contract extension, taking less money than he could have earned based on his NBA-high $28 million salary for this season. And yet, he is downright giddy. "It's not about the money," Garnett says. "I want to win a championship, and I want to do it here. One person doesn't make a team. You have to have the right ingredients. We added major, major pieces and I'm ecstatic." The Timberwolves have won three in a row and six of their last seven games to improve to 15-9, and they have the best road record in the league at 10-4. "We just go out and play," Cassell says. "If we lose, we make the adjustments. We're always looking to the next play and the next game." Garnett, Cassell and Sprewell also have become the highest scoring trio in the league, combining for 60.9 points a game. "The biggest question when we acquired those guys was how they'd fit in together," coach Flip Saunders says. "We just felt because of Kevin's unselfishness and his demand for guys to practice, everything would be fine. The biggest surprise is their total acceptance of what we've asked them to do offensively and defensively." Of course, playing with Garnett makes everything easier. "His basketball knowledge is unbelievable," Cassell says. "He has an awareness, and he knows the tendencies of every player in the league. You just don't find that in guys his age (27). "He also plays with passion. He practices the way he plays, and he plays the way he practices. There is never a night off with him." With Sprewell and Cassell at his side, Garnett is playing better than ever. He entered Wednesday fifth in the NBA in scoring at 23.8 points a game, first in rebounding at 14.2 and fourth in blocked shots at 2.58. All those averages will be career highs if he maintains them, and his turnovers are at a six-year low. Adding parts that seem to fit Cassell, who has played for six NBA teams, is one of the NBA's fiercest competitors and knows how to run a team. "Sam is a gamer," former Orlando Magic head coach Doc Rivers says. "If you couldn't get Jason Kidd and you had to play a Game 7, Sam Cassell, if you polled the league, would be right at the top. He's as clutch as you get." Cassell, the team's point guard, says Saunders has given him a lot of freedom when it comes to running the team. "He's critical of me at times, but it's constructive," Cassell says. "We're always on the same page." Sprewell, never quite finding his niche with the New York Knicks the last five seasons, is relaxed and comfortable with his role with the Timberwolves. He works well without the ball, he can take his man off the dribble and he is an excellent one-on-one defender, skills that complement Garnett. Sprewell can have 37 points in a win against Sacramento and hold high-scoring Vince Carter to 5-for-15 shooting in a win against Toronto. "I'm just being myself," Sprewell says. "That's what they want. This is a very easy team to play on." Garnett loves playing with Sprewell. "Obviously because of his past, he gets a little knock here and there," Garnett says. "But you can't take away a guy's skill level, his intensity, his emotions , the way he plays the game. Everything I expected he's exceeded." Kevin McHale, the team's vice president of basketball operations, targeted S prewell and Cassell as soon as last season ended. He got Sprewell in a multi-team deal involving Philadelphia, Atlanta and the New York Knicks, with Minnesota giving up Terrell Brandon and Marc Jackson. Cassell was acquired with Ervin Johnson in a trade with Milwaukee for Anthony Peeler and Joe Smith. "For what we need right now, those two guys really help us," McHale says. "They aren't intimidated by the league, by competition, pressure or anything else. They're a good fit. They're competitive, have a real drive and have been around a long time." Perhaps most interesting about the Timberwolves this season is they haven't even been close to having their full team together. Last season's second- and third-leading scorers, forward Szczerbiak (foot) and guard Hudson (ankle), haven't played yet because of injuries. Center Michael Olowokandi, who replaced free agent Rasho Nesterovic (who went to San Antonio), has been in and out of the lineup and had knee surgery last week. Newly acquired forward-center Mark Madsen has also been in and out of the lineup b ecause of back problems. "We just have to stay focused and keep improving, and once all of our guys get back, we just have to jell," says Saunders. "How hard will that be? As long as you've got that big fella there," he says, pointing to Garnett, "it's easy to stay the course." Milwaukee Bucks coach Terry Porter agrees. "If you've got Kevin Garnett, you've got a chance to do some damage," he says. "And now they've got Sprewell and Sam in the mix. And when Wally gets healthy, they've got a lot of weapons on that team." Team chemistry fueled by Garnett Like most teams, Minnesota has been impressed with the Lakers' performance. By no means are the Timberwolves intimidated by them. "They're playing good right now, but they're playing without injuries," Cassell says. "Their lineup is set, and we haven't had our whole team yet." The Lakers' Payton has also been keeping his eye on the Timberwolves and says that when they get all of their parts back, Minnesota, indeed, could be their toughest challenge. "They'll have a starting five that's going to match with us," he says. "I think they're going to be a big rival." Garnett remains the focal point, but it is his team view that makes the Timberwolves roll. "A lot of times players try to think it's their team, and all of a sudden management hits them with obstacles that only management can deal with," Garnett says. "But on the court I am the black wolf. I'm the leader. How I go is how we go. I understand that. I try to go out and be professional all of the time. I'm a winner, and I have to make sure my teammates have the same kind of mentality. Nobody knows we're there — but they will." --

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