A Bigger Role for Big Man

Michael Olowokandi, mostly a disappointment in his first season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and all but forgotten in the Western Conference semifinals, could play a more active role against the Lakers.

With the Clippers, the 7-foot, 270-pound center enjoyed some success against Shaquille O’Neal, and the Timberwolves need reinforcements inside.

“Michael’s going to have to play,” said Coach Flip Saunders, who buried the backup center deep on his bench after Olowokandi committed three turnovers in three minutes in Game 4 against the Sacramento Kings. “Last series was a bad matchup series [for him].

“This can be a series where it’s a building block not only for us and for him in the playoffs, but for him as far as next season.”

Said Olowokandi, who averaged 6.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in 43 regular-season games: “Whenever you feel needed, it’s a good thing. Even though I wasn’t playing in the last series, it was in the back of my mind to prepare myself and get ready and I think I’m definitely up to the challenge.”

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Because of recurring back spasms, Sam Cassell wasn’t expected to be much more than a decoy in Wednesday’s Game 7 victory over the Kings.

Instead, he scored 23 points, 11 in the first quarter, to help the Timberwolves to a big early lead and two on free throws with 16.2 seconds to play, the final points in an 83-80 victory. He played 38 minutes, making 10 of 11 free throws.

“He showed the type of heart he had,” Saunders said. “A lot of guys would not have been able to play. They wouldn’t have been able to play at the level that he did. He just said, ‘I’m going to give everything I have.’ That’s why I was afraid to take him out. I was afraid once I took him out he might not be able to go back in.”

Though he’s hurting, Cassell is not expected to sit out now.

“We’ll be able to get him enough rest between games, get him enough treatment that he’ll be able to keep on playing for us,” Saunders said.

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Kevin McHale, the Timberwolves’ general manager, on the Lakers’ aura: “Auras don’t win basketball games. Execution, rebounding, blocking out -- all that stuff wins. I’m not a big believer in the other stuff. Good basketball players win games. If you have good basketball players, your team has an aura. I don’t think this year anyone was talking about the Boston Celtics’ aura, were they?”

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Said Saunders of Trenton Hassell, who is expected to guard Kobe Bryant after checking Carmelo Anthony in the first round and Peja Stojakovic in the second: “He’s been the best defensive player in the playoffs.”