Free throws (yawn) are about as unsexy as basketball gets.

Nine players stand around, everyone else in the building sits around and one guy goes through some quirky little personal routine before launching an uncontested shot from an unimpressive 15 feet away. Maybe he makes it, maybe he doesn't. Then, most of the time, the clock stands still while he does it again.

Oooooh, thrilling stuff. No wonder Shaquille O'Neal sneers at free throws.

Then again, if you want sexy, consider this: When the Timberwolves shoot more free throws than their opponents, they are 17-3. When they don't, the Wolves are a far more pedestrian 23-16.

Clearly, with those sort of results, they need to make sure it happens more often, exciting or not. And it is: In their first 30 games, the Wolves only had the edge five times in free-throw attempts. Over their past 29, though, they have done it 15 times.

They rank 24th out of 29 teams in the NBA in getting to the line, averaging 20.9 free throws per game. But the higher they boost that ranking, the better their chances become for survival in the postseason, when halfcourt offenses, slow-down tactics, physical play and cheap points rule.