Murphy’s Back; Timberwolves Are, Too : Basketball: Former UC Irvine forward returns from injury to find a positive personality change among his Minnesota teammates.

While Tod Murphy’s back was being poked and prodded, teased and tested, massaged and manipulated, the Minnesota Timberwolves were also undergoing some contortions.

“A lot of things have changed, that’s for sure,” said the former UC Irvine player, who has played five consecutive games after missing 29 of the previous 30 with a back injury. “There’s been a change in the personality of the team, both in individuals and collectively. I never thought I’d see it.”

Seventeen games ago, Coach Bill Musselman opened up Minnesota’s conservative attack with what he calls an “early offense,” featuring fewer set plays and more free-lancing.

The Timberwolves (15-28) won six of their first 10 games while employing the new offense and several players flourished, including Pooh Richardson and Tony Campbell, who had complained about their roles earlier in the season.

Richardson has become the team’s quarterback and Campbell has increased his scoring.

“It’s nice to come back into a happy situation with the team being more successful on the court and people not grumbling off it,” Murphy said.

Murphy, a 6-9 forward, is a graduate of The Bill Musselman School of Basketball, where tenacious defense and rigidly structured offense allow for little creativity.

In 1987-88, with Murphy as most valuable player, Musselman coached the most successful team in CBA history. The two were reunited last year, when Musselman guided the Timberwolves to one of the best expansion records ever.

Never expected to contend for a playoff spot, the Timberwolves accepted the small victories of playing tough, playing together and, occasionally, outplaying a superior opponent.

But there was trouble earlier this season, when the Timberwolves lost by some uncharacteristically lopsided margins.

“The team needed a change and the coach saw that,” Murphy said. “You have to give him credit for recognizing that and going against his basic beliefs. Consequently, the attitude of the team has been a lot better.”

While he was sidelined with back problems, Murphy attended games and was especially impressed with Richardson, rookie center Felton Spencer and Sam Mitchell, who replaced him in the lineup as power forward.

Richardson averaged 22.7 points in January.

“He came from a running program at UCLA and he flourishes in an offense like this,” Murphy said. “He’s obviously much happier and that shows in his performance. He’s one of the top six or seven point guards in the league.”

Murphy said Spencer, who is averaging more than 10 rebounds per game in the new offense, has “a great instinct for the ball and the strongest hands I’ve seen. The team obviously needed a rebounder and he could easily average double figures over his career.”