Kevin McHale's Houston Rockets beat Flip Saunders' Timberwolves in Mexico City last night, and the two meeting reminded me of something.

Glen Taylor, owner of the Wolves, once told me the biggest mistake he probably ever made was firing Saunders as coach during the 2004-05 season after Saunders took the team to eight consecutive playoff berths and the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers just nine months earlier.

For some reason, McHale, who was then the Wolves vice president, and Saunders had their great friendship on rocky ground. Taylor was told by either McHale or the general manager, Jim Stack,that Kevin Garnett said that Saunders had lost control of the team. The Timberwolves had just dropped below .500 and were ninth in the Western Conference.

Garnett, in a later conversation, denied ever telling anybody that. In fact Garnett and Saunders had a great relationship that has continued to this date. For a long time, Saunders and McHale didn't talk. But after Wednesday's game, Saunders was off to shake McHale's hand, indicating they are back on good terms.

What McHale has going for him right now is two of the best players in the NBA in Dwight Howard and James Harden. For the Timberwolves to become a contender they will have to get at least one player of the caliber of Howard or Harden. Right now, those two players make Houston one of the favorites to win the NBA title.

And the Timberwolves, without injured Ricky Rubio, and with No. 1 draft choice Andrew Wiggins still developing, are bound to struggle for a while.