Prior to Minnesota's 88-87 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, coach Flip Saunders agreed with forward Kevin Garnett's assessment that the Timberwolves must concentrate on execution in preparing for the playoffs.

But he disagreed with Garnett's statements that the coaching staff's changes to the team's defense and pick-and-rolls lately have made it hard to forge team chemistry.

"We've gone predominantly through this stretch playing man," Saunders said. "Earlier, we were playing more defenses... .I wouldn't know the context of the whole question, but I would totally disagree from that standpoint. You have to change pick-and-roll defenses when you're getting beat. We changed them recently and that's helped us win four games."

Garnett said Wednesday that it's difficult for a team to gain chemistry and consistency "when you have a coaching staff that changes the plan out periodically, and you totally can't come out and be one ? one style. The coaching staff switches up pick-and-rolls and a lot of defensive schemes when really, that's how you jell."