Timberwolves, Cassell Backed Into a Corner

OK, if Sam Cassell can play in only one half, how about making it the second, so the Minnesota Timberwolves can have him in crunch time?

Coach Flip Saunders tried that, too, Thursday night, but it didn’t work either. By the time Cassell, listed again as a “game-time decision,” got in early in the third quarter, the Lakers were nine points ahead and it would take more than a cocky little sharpshooter with a bad back to overhaul them.

This has been Mission Impossible all along, playing the mighty Lakers with their leader in crunch-time not available in crunch time. This is like David facing Goliath without his slingshot.

“He really wasn’t comfortable,” Saunders said of Cassell after the Lakers’ 92-85 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. “Didn’t start him....

“So he thought then in the second half he wanted to give it a go. We were struggling a little bit. He came in, hit a big three ... but after a while, he just couldn’t go.

“So you [media] guys have to ask me the question every time, as far as Saturday, it’s going to be a game-time decision. So, it’ll make it easy for you.”

The Timberwolves don’t make excuses or give up so in desperate situations such as this, they don’t have much to say, except it’s a one-game series, it’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings, their backs are against the wall and they just have to make a few more plays.

In real life, they’re out-gunned, and no matter how stubbornly they resist, one game from vacation.

“I just felt like, you cannot be down, 3-1, to the Lakers,” said Kevin Garnett after scoring 28 points with 13 rebounds and nine assists in 47 minutes.

“It was a situation where I was a little tired but I didn’t want to come out. But it’s Flip’s show and it’s part of the act, so to speak. He makes the calls so I’ve got to respect that.

“But I think it was only a couple of seconds [on the bench]. He was trying to give me a breather whatever way he could but in my book, there’s no tomorrow. I think that phrase sort of applies even more now.

“I think [Game 5] is bigger than the Game 7 against [Sacramento]. This is for all the marbles. I feel like if we can win this game at the Target Center, we sort of take over the momentum a little bit, so it’s a huge game.”

A Game 5 victory would be bigger for the Timberwolves if Game 6 weren’t back at Staples Center, so no matter what happens Saturday, their marbles are still in jeopardy.

Somewhere there must be a way to find those few plays they’re always talking about, and the Timberwolves are still looking. Before Game 4, Saunders seemed to try to get away from the Cassell problem, noting that Sam, no defender in the best of times, was now so limited, it canceled out whatever he did on offense.

“Sam can make shots,” Saunders said. “He can sit on a chair and make shots. But he’s very limited on defense. That makes it difficult. It puts too much pressure on the rest of our defenders. The Lakers are a veteran team. If you have someone even 80%, they’re going to take advantage and go at him.”

There were more issues, such as Cassell gunning one shot up after another, desperate to make the most of his time on the floor. In Game 3, a TV replay showed Latrell Sprewell yelling at him to pass the ball.

Between games, Sprewell said Cassell’s defense was “a concern,” noting, “We would much rather have the stops.”

Cassell played only five minutes Thursday and they still didn’t get the stops, so they’ll have to think of something else before the biggest home game in franchise history.

Late Thursday, Garnett was asked if he ever thinks about what might have been with a healthy Cassell.

“Have I allowed myself to go into what could have been?” Garnett said. “No. I go off reality and what’s in front of me.”

What’s in front of him is the Lakers, who have one more chance to close them out here, and more advantages than that.

Before the game, Saunders was talking about the importance of the Laker role players in this series -- Derek Fisher, Karl Malone and Gary Payton.

“It’s pretty tough when we’re resorting now to calling Payton and Malone role players,” Saunders said, “but that’s kind of where they’re at.”

That’s kind of where the Timberwolves are, too, surrounded, outnumbered and running out of chances.