Ok, if we end up playing one of these teams in the first round, here's what the lineups would be like and how we match up to them. Here we go: Kings: Center - Olowokandi vs. Divac Summary- Divac is good, but his age is now a factor. Kandi takes this one, but not by much. Advantage: Timberwolves Power Forward - Garnett vs. Webber Summary- This is going to be the best matchup. But Garnett takes this one, he is just to dominant for Webber to handle. Advantage: Timberwolves Small Forward - Szczerbiak vs. Stojakovic Summary- Another interesting matchup. They are both great perimeter shooters, but Peja is the better defender, so the Kings get this matchup. Advantage: Kings Shooting Guard - Sprewell vs. Christie Summary- Well, well, another interesting matchup. Christie is the better defender, but Sprewell has more of the all-around game. Sprewell takes this one. Advantage: Timberwolves Point Guard - Cassell vs. Bibby Summary- Yet, another close matchup. Bibby is a great driver, but Cassell can just do it all on the court. This is one of the harder matchups to choose from, so I'm going with the Timberwolves on this one. Advantage: Timberwolves 6th man - Hudson vs. Jackson Summary- Man, there is just not enough close ones between these teams. Jackson has the award as of right now, so he gets it. Advantage: Kings Official count: Timberwolves 4 - Kings 2 ________________________________________________________________ Lakers: Center - Olowokandi vs. O'Neal Summary- Let's see here, who would win this one? Advantage: Lakers Power Forward - Garnett vs. Malone Summary- Malone is to old to keep up with Garnett, KG gets this one. Advantage: Timberwolves Small Forward - Szczerbiak vs. George Summary- George is the better defender, but Wally will be to much for him when his shot is on. Advantage: Timberwolves Shooting Guard - Sprewell vs. Bryant Summary- Not much explanation needed. Bryant gets this one, but Sprewell puts up a fight. Advantage: Lakers Point Guard - Cassell vs. Payton Summary- Former teammates and former partners in crime go at it. Payton beat him for the spot in Milwaukee, I don't see that changing here. Advantage: Lakers 6th man - Hudson vs. Fisher Summary- Hudson lit him up in the playoffs, and well, Hudson gets this one. Advantage: Timberwolves Official count: Timberwolves 3 - Lakers 3 ________________________________________________________________ Mavericks: Center - Olowokandi vs. Fortson Summary- Olowokandi wins this one, Fortson may have good defense, but so does Olowokandi. Kandi has a better offensive game, therefor, he gets the advantage. Advantage: Timberwolves Power Forward - Garnett vs. Nowitzki Summary- One of the better matchups between these teams. With the lack of defense from Dirk, KG gets the advantage. Advantage: Timberwolves Small Forward - Szczerbiak vs. Walker Summary- Lets just leave it at Walker wins it. Advantage: Mavericks Shooting Guard - Sprewell vs. Finley Summary- Sprewell and Finley are both very good, but Finley has the offensive advantage on him. Advantage: Mavericks Point Guard - Cassell vs. Nash Summary- You guys are probably are going to chew me out for this one, but Cassell has the better all around game. I have to give him the advantage here. Advantage: Timberwolves 6th man - Hudson vs. Jamison Summary- Very hard to say, but I will have to say Jamison on this one, mainly because he has averaged 20 points at least once in his career, Hudson's career high was around 14. Advantage: Mavericks Official count: Timberwolves 3 - Mavericks 3 _______________________________________________________________ Spurs: (Saved the best for last) Center - Olowokandi vs. Nesterovic Summary- Ok, this is going to be a rivalry, but Rasho wouldn't know defense if it slapped his mom across the face. Kandi man gets this one. Advantage: Timberwolves Power Forward - Garnett vs. Duncan Summary- I'm going to discard this one, it basically cancels eachother out. Advantage: David Stern Small Forward - Szczerbiak vs. Bowen Summary- Szczerbiak gets this one, anyone have a counter argument for this one? Advantage: Timberwolves Shooting Guard - Sprewell vs. Ginobili Summary- Ginobili is going to be good, but as of right now Sprewell has the advantage. Advantage: Timberwolves Point Guard - Cassell vs. Parker Summary- Parker isn't at Cassell's level yet, yet alone Troy Hudson's. Advantage: Timberwolves 6th man - Hudson vs. Mercer Summary- Hudson, ok? Advantage: Timberwolves Official count: Timberwolves 5 - Spurs 0 ______________________________________________________________ Thoughts and opinions?
Yes I have some comments...comparing match-ups is not the way it decide how you stack up against teams....Teams always used to matching up better with L.A but were never better than them..you have to take into account the defence the top teams have compared to others..which is why Spurs and Lakers rise ahead above...
These kinds of comparisons are neat, but the bench is as much a factor, as any starter I guess. Comparing our bench to either the Spurs or the Kings they clearly have the advantage. I guess not many teams have an all-star player on the bench. Besides bench matters in times of injury, which seems to be pivotal point in the West. As far as starters go, the Wolves have the chance to win it all, still, as much as I would want it, I'm not 100% convinced that they will.
All this information is nice to know, but we don't need this to know that the T-wolves are going to win
You forgot to even mention Brad miller, Josh Howard, and Hedo. All currenty starters on theier respective teams i beleieve. Bowen would absolutly lock Wally down but he won' guard him, he'd guard Spree i'd say. I wouldn't even start to put Kandi into the mix bc i think there might be a good chance he don't come back.
Great stuff, very unique, and very interesting. A refreshing thread on JBB, thanks for sharing. It's always been hard for me to believe how good a center Olokowandi is, him being top 5 at that. He just loooks so goofy, however I know he's great. Man KG seems to be better then everybody except Duncan. I do not agree too much with the Bowen comparison. Everyone knows how great a defender Bowen is, you should give him that much.
I think the TWolves have great. I don't think they will win the title but I'm really biting my tongue when I say that because of the fact that they are so talented. The only thing that I see as a major weakness is at the 5 with Olowokandi. Thats a bigtime disadvantage. Especially in the playoffs their weakness would be exposed. Shaq would have a field day, Neseterovic would own him, Divacs is not really a threat but he gets his at times...he's used more for working the ball with his passing skills, I can even see Nowitzki taking this dude. Add in the fact that he may not even play due to his wonky knees and the Wolves have a glaring weakness
You said it CourtVision i totaly agree that not having Olowokandi can be a very big disatvantage, but i'm hoping the T-wolves can pull it out until the end.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting twolvefan11:</div><div class="quote_post">People, I made this thread like before the season even started.</div> Haha... I was wondering why they brought this thread back up. Olowokandi isnt as big a liability when hes heathly as you guys make him sound. It has been shown that Olowokandi plays Shaq the best, by the numbers. Olowokandi is a 10 pt 10 rebound player and has post up talent. The only problem is, is his health. Although Rasho is playing better than Olowkokandi, Kanid has the talent, and has shown he can be leaps and bounds better than Rasho.
