Milwaukee (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0) Preview Game Info: 8:00 pm EST Wed Oct 29, 2003 TV: MIL, FSNo The Minnesota Timberwolves may finally have enough talent around Kevin Garnett to end their streak of seven straight first-round playoff exits. Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi team up with Garnett with the hopes of making a serious playoff run in the talent-laden Western Conference. The retooled Timberwolves begin their season against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Target Center. Since Flip Saunders was hired as coach in December 1995, the Wolves have been consistently competitive in the Western Conference only to lose in the first round of each of their seven playoff appearances. ``I want to win a championship here,'' said Garnett, the six-time All-Star and perennial MVP contender who signed a five-year $100 million contract in the offseason. Garnett's huge salary, and the league-imposed penalties for Minnesota's illegal negotiations with Joe Smith have hindered the team's quest to find the right nucleus around Garnett since 1998, before Tom Gugliotta left as a free agent and Stephon Marbury forced a trade. The defending champion San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Lakers have all made significant offseason moves, so winning won't be any easier this year. The Timberwolves appear to have better addressed their needs as well, if not better, than any of the top contenders. Sprewell, who arrived from the New York Knicks in a four-team trade, is a career 19-point scorer and a proven playoff performer. He should also be quick enough to defend the West's best shooting guards, something Wally Szczerbiak couldn't do. ``They kicked Wally's butt last year,'' Minnesota GM Kevin McHale said. Szczerbiak will be out at least two weeks with a sore left foot, and could be placed on the injured list if the team finds a suitable free agent, coach Saunders said Tuesday. Cassell gives Minnesota their most talented point guard since Marbury, and Troy Hudson -- coming off his best season -- becomes the sixth man. ``I understand Kevin's never played in the month of June,'' Cassell said. ``I've played in the month of June. ... This organization had to step up and make changes. They were not getting where Kevin wanted to get. Hopefully, we'll get there.'' Olowokandi, who left the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent, should toughen up the interior and play better defense than the departed Rasho Nesterovic. Veteran Ervin Johnson, who came with Cassell in a deal with the Bucks, provides depth up front with former Lakers grinder Mark Madsen. Cassell and Johnson may not recognize their former team on Wednesday. Two seasons ago Milwaukee made it to the Eastern Conference finals behind the ``Big Three'' of Cassell, Glen Robinson and Ray Allen. All three of those players have since been traded away paving the way for youth movement. The Bucks fired George Karl in a tumultuous offseason that also saw the departures of general manager Ernie Grunfeld and veterans Cassell, Johnson, Gary Payton and Anthony Mason. Rookie head coach Terry Porter takes over the coaching reigns for Milwaukee. Porter, 40, worked last season as an assistant with the Sacramento Kings, his first season in coaching after a 17-year playing career. ``He is a proven winner in the NBA who played the game with dignity, confidence and intensity, skills that will translate directly to the improvement of our team,'' general manager Larry Harris said. Porter inherits a young team that features Desmond Mason, Dan Gadzuric, Marcus Haislip, rookie T.J. Ford and Michael Redd. ``The vision is to be competitive every night and compete for a playoff spot,'' Porter said. ``I wouldn't call it rebuilding. We have a good mix of players, a good foundation. We have some youth, we have some experience.'' Mason signed a three-year contract extension with the Bucks on Monday after being acquired by Milwaukee last season in a trade with Seattle. Mason, whose extension runs through the 2006-07 season, averaged 14.8 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds in 28 games after the trade. 2002-2003 STANDINGS: Bucks - 4th place, 8 GB, Central Division. Timberwolves - 3rd place, 9 GB, Midwest Division. PROBABLE STARTERS: Bucks - F Mason, F Joe Smith, C Brian Skinner, G Ford, G Redd. Timberwolves - F Garnett, F Sprewell, C Johnson, G Fred Hoiberg, G Cassell. 2002-2003 TEAM LEADERS: Bucks - Redd, 15.1 ppg; Mason, 6.5 rpg; Toni Kukoc, 3.7 apg. Timberwolves - Garnett, 23 ppg, 13.4 rpg and 6.0 apg. 2002-2003 SEASON SERIES: Timberwolves, 2-0. 2002-2003 ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Bucks - 17-24 on the road; Timberwolves - 33-8 at home. INJURIES: Bucks - C Joel Przybilla (knee); F Tim Thomas (calf). Timberwolves - G Hudson (ankle); G-F Szczerbiak (foot).
