Game Thread: Sacramento @ Minnesota

Kings @ Timberwolves Preview


TV: TNT

Sacramento Kings(38-13) @ Minnesota Timberwolves(38-15)

Series: Tied 1-1.

Last Meeting: Timberwolves 112 @ Kings 109 OT

Previous Game
Suns 95 @ Timberwolves 110
Celtics 111 @ Kings 127

Streaks
Kings: Won 4 (7-3 in last ten)
Timberwolves: Won 3 (8-2 in last ten)

Head Coaches
vs.

Probable Starters
PG:
vs. Bibby vs. Cassell
SG:
vs. Christie vs. Sprewell
SF:
vs. Stojakovic vs. Hassell
PF:
vs. Massenburg vs. Garnett
C:
vs. Divac vs. Olowokandi

6th Men
vs. Jackson vs. Hudson

Players to Watch
vs.

Bibby: 17.7 Points (.453 FG %), 5.5 Assists, 3.3 Rebounds
Cassell: 21.1 Points (.495 FG %), 7.8 Assists, 3.2 Rebounds

Injury Lists

Sacramento Kings
Lawrence Funderburke
Brad Miller

Minnesota Timberwolves
Ndudi Ebi
Darrick Martin

Keys to the Game

<u>Sacramento:</u>
<ul>
[*]Minimize Garnett's game (keep him to humanly numbers)
[*]Don't let the Big Three get hot (The Big Three scores over 60% of the points, without them they will be nothing)
[*]Don't let the new comers get hot (Stopping Wally, Troy, and Olowokandi is a must.)
[*]Get Peja hot from the outside (Hassell is a great defender, but he shouldn't be able to stop Peja from the perimeter)
[*]Limit second chance points (Madsen and Olowokandi will be going at it all the time, so limit them as much as possible)[/list]

<u>Minnesota Timberwolves:</u>
<ul>
[*]Limit Peja (Hassell must defend him with all he has got to limit Peja to human numbers)
[*]Make open jumpers (This will be easier with Wally back in the lineup)
[*]Make the big men score (With Miller and Webber out, Vlade has a lot on his back)
[*]Rebound (We are a poor rebounding team. With Olowokandi in the lineup, that should change)
[*]Drive (With no dominating big man, the Kings defense will have no post threat. Sprewell should have fun today)
[/list]
twolvefan11's Prediction
Should be a close one all the way through. But with everyone back for the Wolves, I see them taking this one by 2-5. The Kings won't know who to guard, and if Wally is hot from the outside, they will have four big threats that the Kings are unable to defend against. Garnett will get his 24 and 12, and Cassell will get a lot of assists. Olowokandi should get a lot of rebounds without Webber or Miller there. The Wolves should take this one.

Wolves by 2-5.

 

OT OT OT OT and I say OT for the fifth time.

 

Man this is going down to the wire and ca possibly go into OT. I still think the Timberwolves can pull off the W. Wolves by 3.

 

This is going to be a close one and like Everyone said it might to OT but it might hurt the Kings that Brad is injured but They didn't have a problem winning last night.
The Wolves by 5.

 

Wolves will take this... in a close one once again... Brad Miller is out, but I think it will only effect the game down the stretch.


TW- Use the logos I use in my previews... the ones you used looked like there were ripped apart and pieced back together...

 

The wolves will hopefully pull this one out. They have a tough week, and this game will give the wolves a momentum if they can win.

I say wolves by 3

 

this could be a deep into the playoffs serie..Brad Miller is out so I'm going to go with the Wolves by 6.

 

im saying the wolves by a dozen, someone has to

 

No Webber, no Miller is definitely an issue. Unfortunately, I'll be going against my Kings and the Wolves will be taking this one at home by 8.

 

The Twolves had better take this game, since Sacramento is missing practically all of their inside game. Divac and Songaila can't measure up to a fraction of KG's play. And with Cassell and co. on the perimeter, Minny can't go wrong. Except at the 3 spot.

I expect Peja to explode for some ungodly numbers, and the Wolves to win it.

 

Even if the T Wolves don't win we will still find out if they can all play together like a team. With so much talent on both sides it will be a good game.

 

Well Mike bibby has proven in the past that he really isnt ready for Sam. Sam will give him the business early as usual. And then the Kings will switch Doug on Sam. And this will open up room for spree to do his thing against a weaker defender. And with no inside pressence to match KG, I see the t-wolves winning this one by 8-12 points. It will be no overtime like there was the 1st two matchups. I cant wait to see these two teams when everyone gets on both side gets competely 100%

 

Well, if Brad Miller doesn't play, the Wolves should come away with a close, very close squeaker win! Too tough to say..

 

Great preview, I don't have any experience of Massenburg so I don't know how well he'll play for the Kings and whether he's any good at all. They need Brad Miller on both ends, he's one of the key reasons why the Kings are so good, especially in chemistry, he would've played a major factor in this game had he played. This wouldn't have been a good first game for Webber though, too tough for a first game.

Cassell is such an awesome PG, it'll be nice to see someone of Bibby's vision and speed going up against him. I see the Big Three and Peja playing really well overall along with Bibby and Christie. Tough game to call even with Miller and Webber out. My Timberwolves by 7.

 

You have to admit you would love the victory to come in overtime though. This would make an excellent Western Conference Finals series

 

Wolves will get the win. Great to have some people back from injuries, although they'll probably play limited minutes.

 

The defense should be able to step it up. With the Kandi Man holding his own down low, it will be hard to drive, and the Kings will have to rely on Peja's jump shooting.

 

With 16 3pt baskets against the Celtics, I think they feel they can rely on Peja.....

 

Is there any question that Garnett is the best rebounder in the L... look at him persue the ball...

12 rebounds in the first quarter, 8 in the first 5 minutes.

 

Some updates: ... Wally hit his first shot from the top of the key... and is now 2/3 for 4 points...

Divac complained about a charge called on him... what irony.