First, forward Joe Smith helped stymie Utah's pick-and-roll near the top of the key. Then he dropped back to the block to help defend the lane. Finally, when Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko drove hard from the corner, Smith sped toward him and made what appeared to be a clean two-handed block.

Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale dubbed that five-second span on Dec. 12 "unbelievable" ? something he would show to his other big guys and say, "This is how you do it." Except for one thing: Smith was called for a Flagrant (2) foul and was ejected because of the roughness of the collision. The Jazz, who went on to lose the game, got two free throws and possession of the ball.

"It doesn't make sense," McHale said Thursday.

He was talking about that particular whistle ? and the NBA's and officials' propensity lately for making those particular calls.

"They've given out so many flagrant fouls, it's ridiculous," McHale said. "It's like in football saying, 'We're not going to hit anybody. The linemen are going to stand up and shadow each other.' (Contact) is part of the game ? but not in the 'new-and-improved NBA,' it's not. ? It's like they're saying, 'Play hard, but not that hard.' "

The Wolves have been called for 10 flagrant fouls this season. Half of them have later been changed, including that call on Smith, which was downgraded to a Flagrant 1. (A "1" is considered "unnecessary." A "2" is considered "unnecessary and excessive.") Three other flagrants were rescinded completely, and another was upgraded.