He points. He gestures. Occasionally, he yells.

Backup point guard Robert Pack, just six days into his 10-day contract with the Timberwolves, may have missed the first 66 games of the season, but he isn't afraid to take charge of his new team ? even of six-time all-star Kevin Garnett.

"Oh yeah, if I'm not in the right spot, he'll let me know," Garnett said, cracking a smile. "Robert Pack's a natural-born leader. Everyone respects that. Everyone knows that Rob ? either from knowing him personally or playing against him ? doesn't take any (stuff). And at the end of the day, that's what we want.

"Terrell (Brandon) was that guy, Chauncey (Billups) is becoming that guy, but Pack is an 11-year veteran. He's supposed to know where everybody's supposed to be."

Where Pack thinks the Wolves should be is higher in the playoff seedings ? something he hopes to help Minnesota accomplish during the final four weeks of the regular season. Tonight's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, tied for fifth place with the Wolves, will be quite a test. Both teams are 42-26 after Portland's 109-93 victory at Chicago on Friday night. Tonight's duel not only will decide their head-to-head tiebreaker, but perhaps ultimately who finishes the season ahead of whom.

"Everything now we have to do with a playoff mentality," said Pack, who has played in 26 career playoff games. "Hitting down-the-stretch free throws, winning by a little or a lot ? everything's going to prepare us."