Ollie knows Wolves need to get physical

Jerry Holt, Mct

Veteran guard Kevin Ollie, here with Wolves coach Kevin McHale admits the Wolves could be “tougher” in games.

The guard always has played with a bit of an edge and knows players have to get in opponents' faces to make them uncomfortable.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: December 20, 2008 - 10:07 AM

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By playing with 11 different NBA franchises since breaking into the league in the 1997-98 season, Timberwolves guard Kevin Ollie has seen a little bit of everything.

His first taste of the playoffs came in 2000 with Philadelphia. Led by Allen Iverson, the 76ers went 29-12 at home en route to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Iverson's clutch shooting was a big part of that team's success. So, too, was the overall scrappiness of such players as Iverson, Eric Snow and Aaron McKie.

"That's what I grew up with," said Ollie, who played 40 games for Philadelphia that year.

"Back in those days, we were tough defensive teams. A lot of hungry guys. That's how I came up -- playing tough defense, playing hard. That's what I do."

Now if only his Timberwolves teammates would follow suit.

Among the many things plaguing the team during its 11-game losing streak is the lack of anger, at least in a physical sense. More of it is what breeds winners, those who have been there say.

"They gotta be more physical," coach Kevin McHale said.

He would know. Playing for the Celtics, McHale's foul on the Lakers' Kurt Rambis in Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals is still highlight-reel material.

Boston won the game in overtime and eventually won the series.

It's unlikely that a borderline clothesline play on an opponent is in the cards for the Timberwolves. But anything beats the tired-out mentality shown by the team in recent games.

"It could possibly help," said Craig Smith, one of Minnesota's most physical players.

"Going out just trying to be aggressive could work in our favor to where we could get more calls in that area. Getting riled up, getting scrappy, I think, motivates a lot of guys. Guys are ready to go and battle."

Ollie, who has played more than 25 minutes in each of the Wolves' past two games, admits they could be "tougher" in games. That, he said, is how teams earn their success.

"You see the Celtics, one of the top teams in the NBA, and they do it," he said. "They play physical, they make the offense uncomfortable. And that's what we have to do a little bit more of. We're just going to go out and make that happen each and every day."

It won't happen overnight, however.

Younger players, particularly rookie Kevin Love, have to earn their status in the league before going out and establishing themselves as a tough presence.

"I think Kevin Love gets physical and he'll be sitting on the bench in two or three minutes," McHale said. "You have to learn to play physical and still not foul."

Veterans like Ollie are the best teachers.

"[Ollie] does it all the time," McHale said. "He draws offensive fouls because he gets in guys' faces and they push him off. Some guys have played like that their whole life and other guys just haven't. The guys who have played like that their whole life, they're a step up because if you want to be a championship team, that's the level you have to play at."

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