Game 6: Sacramento @ Minnesota

CelticBalla32 · Nov 14, 2007

<table border="1" class="gamePreview">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="center" colspan="2">
November 14, 2007 @ 8:00pm ET
Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
Game aired on CSN-West (SAC) FSNNHD (MN)

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="center">


Sacramento Kings
 (2-5)


</td>
<td class="center">


Minnesota Timberwolves
(0-5)


</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4 align="center">Projected Starters</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="roster">
<td>


PG Garcia SG Martin

SF Artest PF Thomas C Moore


</td>
<td>
 

PG Jaric SG McCants

SF Gomes PF Jefferson C Ratliff

 
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4>Team Stats</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="seasonStats">
<td>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Scoring</td>
<td>94.3 PPG (22nd)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Field Goal %</td>
<td>43.3% (19th)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">3-Point %</td>
<td>32.6% (20th)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Rebounding</td>
<td>35.4 RPG (30th)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Assists</td>
<td>14.4 APG (30th)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Scoring</td>
<td>94.6 PPG (21st)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Field Goal %</td>
<td>43.2% (21st)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">3-Point %</td>
<td>36.8% (14th)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Rebounding</td>
<td>42.0 RPG (21st)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Assists</td>
<td>19.4 APG (21st)
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4>Team Leaders</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="seasonStats">
<td>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Scoring</td>
<td>Kevin Martin (27.0 PPG)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Rebounding</td>
<td>Brad Miller (8.3 RPG)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Assists</td>
<td>John Salmons (4.0 APG)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
<td>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Scoring</td>
<td>Al Jefferson (19.6 PPG)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Rebounding</td>
<td>Al Jefferson (12.4 RPG)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="strong">Assists</td>
<td>Sebastian Telfair (4.6 APG)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4>Key Matchup
</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="prediction">
<td colspan="2">
<div align="center">

Kevin Martin vs. Rashad McCants

</div>

Whether McCants starts or not, he's going to get a lot of run. A lot of run at the 2 against the Kings means your going to be matched with with Kevin Martin quite a bit. Martin has established himself over the past year (plus) that he is one of the better scorers at the SG position in the entire league. McCants isn't quite as proven, but he surely has shown massive improvements in a short amount of time. He went from a prospect the team was bringing along steadily to the go-to perimeter scoring option in a matter of months. Hopefully, Rashad can step up tonight on both ends.

</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4>Keys to the Game</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="keyStrategy">
<td>
<ul>[*]Rebound - Please: The Sacramento Kings may very well be the softest team, outside of Ron Artest respectively, that I have ever seen. This team needs a Udonis Haslem-like player, or even a Craig Smith, that is not afraid to get physical and bang around. There's a reason why they are the worst rebounding team in basketball right now. They really better make sure they grab some boards tonight, especially against a 20/12 guy like Al Jefferson.

[*]Help Defense: Tim Duncan has some problems shutting down Al Jefferson in the post, as he should. With that said, the Kings have aboslutely no shot at stopping him straight up. They need to play good help defense, double him, and force turnovers out of the back-down or face-up position.

[*]Limit Turnovers: The Wolves are full of young energetic athletes that will run at any opportunity. The Kings are averaging over 16 turnovers per game, and if they don't take care of the ball in this one, the Wolves could hurt them by getting a ton of fast break buckets. Granted, the Kings don't have a point guard right now, but they need to make sure they take care of the ball.
[/list]
</td>
<td>
<ul>[*]Perimeter Defense: The Kings may be missing Mike Bibby for the time being, but they still have three pretty damn good perimeter scoring options in Kevin Martin, Ron Artest, and even John Salmons. Then you've got guys like Francisco Garcia who can stroke it with the best of them and has a size advantage over most PG's (not Jaric, but definitely Telfair). .

[*]Outrebound Them: As mentioned before, Sacramento is one of the softest teams I've ever seen. There's no reason why the Wolves shouldn't be able to outrebound this team. Come on Wolves, own the boards and muscle them around inside.

[*]Go to Big Al All Game Long: Sometimes, it seems as though the Wolves go away from Al and don't get it to him enough. I don't know how much of it is the players' fault and how much of it is Wittman's fault, but there's no reason to go away from Big Al against this Sacramento team. They're soft and terrible defensively inside. If they get it to him, Al Jefferson should undoubtedly be able to have an absolute field day for 25+.
[/list]
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4 align="center">X-Factors</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="x factor">
<td>

 John Salmons

Salmons has been superb as of late, averaging 20.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and four assists per game. How much of it is legitimate and how much of it is a typical early-season spurt is uncertain, but if he can keep his play up, Minnesota is going to have a tougher time defensively than they already do.

</td>
<td>

 Sebastian Telfair

Telfair needs to develop some form of consistency offensively. He has been consistently moving the ball well, pushing the ball, and setting his teammates up for open shots - but I'm talking about his own offense. One night he shoots 50% and the next night he shoots 20%. He needs to finish at the rim.

</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4 align="center">Injury Report
</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="x factor">
<td>

Mike Bibby: Thumb injury.

Brad Miller: Bruised thigh (questionable).

Justin Williams: Personal reasons.
</td>
<td>

Randy Foye: Left knee.


Mark Madsen: Sore shoulder.



</td>
</tr>
<tr class="sectHeader">
<td colspan="2">
<h4>Prediction</h4>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="prediction">
<td colspan="2">The 0-5 Wolves need something to make them smile. This is a very winnable game, especially at home. Sacramento is one of the worst teams in the league, as are the Wolves - but if Minnesota can play defense, limit turnovers, toughen up inside, and establish Big Al in the post throughout the game, they have a chance at getting their first win. For some reason, I'm going to be optimistic and predict a victory.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

CelticKing · Nov 14, 2007

I see the Kings winning this one now that Artest is back.

So they're still starting Jaric at pg?

tim · Nov 14, 2007

I'm going tonight, should be fun! The Woles have a chip on their shoulder and I'm hoping that they will really bring it tonight. I have a good feeling we are going to see a huge night from both Al and McCants. Although Artest is back, and will improve the Kings dramatically on both sides of the ball. But not too many people can stop Al in the post 1-1. We'll see, but my biased opinion is taking my T'wolves. And I really hope they put Bassy back in the starting five. He was playing well whan they pulled him. It was a really pointless move.

CelticBalla32 · Nov 16, 2007

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tim)</div><div class='quotemain'>

He was playing well whan they pulled him. It was a really pointless move.

</div>

Well I think they did it for a little change of pace off the bench, but even then - I agree it was pointless. Bassy did a great job in this game distributing the ball as well. He can't finish to save his life, but he can run the offense better than anybody else on the roster - including Foye. He should start tonight.

Log in or Sign up

Game 6: Sacramento @ Minnesota

CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

CelticKing The Green Monster

tim Respect JPJ

CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Game 6: Sacramento @ Minnesota

CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

CelticKing The Green Monster

tim Respect JPJ

CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

Share This Page

Useful Searches