Time: 5:00 p.m. Location: Target Center TV: Los Angeles: KCAL, Minnesota: FSN, NBALP ---------------------- Probable Starters: Gary Payton/Sam Cassell Kobe Bryant/Trenton Hassell Devean George/Latrell Sprewell Horace Grant/Kevin Garnett Stanislav Medvedenko/Ervin Johnson ---------------------------------- Injury Report: Lakers- Jamaal Sampson-Out Brian Cook-Out Rick Fox-Out Karl Malone-Out Shaquille O'Neal-Out Timberwolves- Michael Olowokandi-Out Wally Szczerbiak-Out ------------------- Keys to the game: Lakers- The Lakers are coming off consecutive road losses, and Karl Malone and Shaquille O'Neal will not be playing because of their injuries they are suffering. Which means that the two stars that they have remaining, Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton will have to step up, and together they'll have to shoot an increased number of shots to allow the team to stay in the ballgame throughout. Kobe Bryant is coming off a 44 pt effort against the Clippers, and I'll expect him to be the leading scorer for the Lakers in this game. Now that Shaq is out for however long it may be, Kobe will have to probably bring back the 40 point efforts he made last year, because with the substitutes the Lakers have, they're not capable of scoring at a consistent basis. With our frountcourt, Slava and Horace will have to be able to provide an edge on rebounds, and second chance opportunities. Because if the Lakers fail on these two categories, it'll be a long night. Timberwolves- Clearly one of the biggest talents in the already LOADED Western Conference with the acquisitions they've made this year. With their front-court talents of Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, they can score points at any given time and are very dangerous players both on offense and defense. So you can watch for Minnesota's backcourt attack as they try to wear down both Gary and Kobe. Then of course, you have Kevin Garnett. Perhaps so far, the MVP of this league. He can score, rebound, dish to his teammates, and play excellent defense. And with his scoring average so far, it tells the whole story. (24.5 ppg) It will be a tough task for Horace Grant. Because as we have seen last year in the playoffs, he was just unstoppable. Laker Fever's prediction- With Karl and Shaq out of the lineup, the Lakers just look beatable. They allow too many points on defense, and if you have Horace and Slava starting, you won't get too much production from them. The T-Wolves are slowly starting to get healthy again, and another man I forgot to mention: Troy Hudson, and Laker fans know all about him. The T-Wolves should win this game by 10.
Well, troy hudson still injured so he wont be playing. If Latrell comes to play then the backcourt slots are pretty much a wash, their evenly matched. So that leaves KG/gary trent vs the Lakers front court with out Shaq& Karl. Thats just to easy.But if Derek Fisher comes off the bench to give the lakers some scoring punch then the game will be a nail bitter. I say the T-wolves by 7.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Look for Minnesota to put KG on Kobe if he lights up Sprewell early on.</div> they'll go with trenton Hassell, he is a very underratted defender & probably the t-wolves best perimeter defender.
I'm going to be straight up honest in this one, I have never predicted the Lakers were going to lose, but I have to take the T-Wolves in this one, with the way the Lakers played last night. KG will simply dominate Horace Grant/Medvedenko, and the Lakers will have no kind of post presence at all, everything will be done from the backcourt, Kobe will have a big game, but T-Wolves take it by 9. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post">Wolves by 6. I would say Lakers but no Shaq and no Malone= no win... </div> Yep, we need you Shaq!
The Lakers are vunerable on the road, plus no shaq and malone, I'll take the Timberwolves in this one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">KG is going to straight up abuse the Lakers....30,20 and 7 are likely numbers.</div>30,20,10, Triple Double tonight baby!
Unless Kobe goes for 50+, the Lakers won't win this one. KG and Trent are going to abuse Horace and Slava on the boards. I love the Lakers, but I don't like their chances here.
This can easily turn out to be the Lakers first 3 game losing streak....And just watch how the media will be talking.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">This can easily turn out to be the Lakers first 3 game losing streak....And just watch how the media will be talking. </div> Yep, it's going to be bad. They should be more mature about it though, we have Shaq and Malone for a reason.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with ya. BTW, Nice avatar and signature.</div> Thanks, I'm adding to it right now. BTW: Good Preview <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">30,20,10, Triple Double tonight baby</div> Your probably right, game is tommorow though. We still have a day before the beating.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post"> Your probably right, game is tommorow though. We still have a day before the beating. </div> My bad...I guess I got carried away. :mrgreen:
the shear knowledge that KG is gunning for your team is enough to make you suffer so much you think your already down by a dozen points. :mrgreen: *joking joking please dont flame me* wolves by 11. i hope its a good game. never seen GP live before, id rather see him in green though
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OgShowtime:</div><div class="quote_post">Unless Kobe goes for 50+, the Lakers won't win this one. KG and Trent are going to abuse Horace and Slava on the boards. I love the Lakers, but I don't like their chances here.</div> Did you see the Clippers game? IF kobe goes for 50, the lakers will still probably lose
Timberwolves by 8. I think Kobe will start Forcing Shoots early in the game and never get in his rhythm and will have a horrible shooting game notice i didnt say pts game . Hassell is a very good defender and will play good d on kobe. Seeing what Brand did to grant and slava i expect a-lot more from kg. Cassell and GP will be trash talking to whole game, this is gonna be a exciting one.
