<div align="center">@ <font color="Purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (42-22)</font>@<font color="Navy">The Minnesota Timberwolves (45-20)</font> Time: 8:00 Eastern Place: The Target Center TV: Local</div> Starting Lineups Gary Payton/Sam Cassell Kobe Bryant/Trenton Hassell Rick Fox/Latrell Sprewell Karl Malone/Kevin Garnett Shaquille O'neal/Michael Olowokandi Sixth Men Kareem Rush/Wally Szxzerbiak Injury Report <u>Los Angeles-</u> Jamal Sampson Karl Malone(expected to play and start) <u>Minnesota-</u> Ndubi Ebi <div align="center">Key Players Bryant: 22.3 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 5.2 assists per game Garnett: 24.7 points per game, 13.9 rebounds per game, and 5 assists per game</div> Keys to the Game <u>Los Angeles-</u> Feed Shaq Transiton D Play own pace Contain Garnett Bench Play <u>Minnesota-</u> Feed Garnett Sprewell needs to take smart shots Double Shaq Do not let Kobe get going, injured shoulder and all Prediction I think it is a winnable game for L.A. now that all four are back, and Minny has been struggling as of late coming off a blowout out loss to Portland..If L.A. can play their own pace of offense they will win by 5+...if not they lose by 5+
The Wolves have been struggling this past few games.They will need play like better in this game.They will play even better with the Fab 4 back in action.Spree has also been struggling and will need to shot better. Actually the big 3 hasn't been playing well since everyone was healthy again. The Lakers have a great chance of winning with the Fab 4 all healthy again.They have been playing great lately. But I predict the Wolves win by 9+.
Good preview Q Rich3, I think this will be a very competetive game, and I'm really looking forward to it. I didn't know Karl was supposed to start too, but I hope we can try that lineup with George again and see how he does. I think this game will be a good one all the way down to the wire, and I believe in my team so I'll say the Lakers by 4
You have the date wrong, it's 3-12 / not 4-12. Nice preview non-the-less. I agree, the key is for the Lakers to control the pace of the game to their style. They don't want to get into an open court game, because Sam Cassell will dominate and open up the offense for the TWolves. I'm curious to see if the return of Karl Malone, will also lead to the return of Devean George. The Lakers are playing well, and they have a chance to beat the struggling TWolves and gain some much needed momentum. The defensive intensity for the Lakers has picked up the last few games, and I expect them to be amped for this game, and to bring their 'A' game. Hopefully none of the big 4 get injured in this match-up, and let's hope there are no ejections to any of the stars in this game. Full strength Lakers vs. full strength TWolves, no excuses, just great basketball!
This is perhaps the biggest game of the year for our Lakers. Lakers/TWolves with full squads? It doesn't get any better than that. What Los Angeles has to do is continue their typical gameplan. Get the Big Fella the ball. He's been dominant the last three games, so the Lakers can't ignore him every Laker possession. Kobe Bryant had an off-night at Boston shooting 4/16, but I feel if he can get better shot selections, and consistently hit a wide range of jumpers and perimeter shots, he'll be fine for this one. Gary Payton has scored 20 pts in the last two ballgames so look for him not only to get his teammates involved and jumpstart our transitional game, but to be aggressive with the basketball as well. The Payton/Cassell matchup should be very interesting. Karl Malone is now back on the floor, but I think he'll be very rusty knowing all the months he has missed off the floor, but the Lakers will take #11 on the floor any damn day. Defense is also key. This team is capable of scoring a maximum high of points in the Target Center. However, this team has been struggling lately, I believe losing three out of four games. Lakers by 7. WELCOME BACK KARL!!
Long time since we've seen Karl Malone's picture on the reviews lol. I think it will end in OT, but then the Lakers will win at the end by 3. But I would expect something big from Troy Hudson. Troy came up really big last year.
I like the Lakers in this one. Karl will be back in all likelyhood, Kobe will be playing, though, his effectiveness may be lifmited due to the harness, and role players like Kareem Rush are playing very good. I also expect George to get back in the swing of things now that Karl is back cause he'll be able to get some better shots than what he has been getting. So, I predict Lakers by 7.
Nice preview. I guess the chemistry isn't there so Karl won't be a big factor in this one.. But the transition will win us the game..Fisher/Payton/Kobe/Rush/Fox will be decisive in this game..And shaq will have a lot of assists starting the breaks.(if he desides to rebound again..wich he's not been doing last couple of games) Lakers by 18
lakers by 18? hahahaha. Wolves will get fired up for the Lakers, they aren't playing boston or Philly now. Wolves by 9
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe0826:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview. I guess the chemistry isn't there so Karl won't be a big factor in this one.. But the transition will win us the game..Fisher/Payton/Kobe/Rush/Fox will be decisive in this game..And shaq will have a lot of assists starting the breaks.(if he desides to rebound again..wich he's not been doing last couple of games) Lakers by 18</div> You exaggerated little bit too much man, for sure the Lakers will not win by 18. Beside, the T-Wolves might take their anger because of the loss of previous game. they are doing for the previous game that they played. I would say the T-Wolves by 5+.
Lakers have got to be active on defense. I think the key is how well the Lakers defend the pick and rolls...and there WILL be a lot of pick and rolls. They gotta put hands up in the faces, no uncontested shots. The offense will take care of itself if they run it through Shaq. If he can make his first couple of free throws, it's gonna be a long night for the Wolves.
Wolves by 5. (I want the Lakers to win) Kevin Garnett and the Wolves will simply be too much for the Lakers to handle, and after seeing Kobe shoot 4/16 with the harness, I predict that tonight won't be any better. Should be a fun game to watch regardless.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe0826:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview. Lakers by 18</div> HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHSAHHAHAHAHAH!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Wolves by 6...Minnesota's bench will be the difference in the game.</div> Hudson's 19 leads the T-Wolves bench that outscored LA's 35-18. Note to Phil Jackson: put Kareem Rush on Troy Hudson...or something....just anybody other than Derek Fisher. It's nice to have Fish in when he's hitting 3-pointers at 60% accuracy...but that hasn't been happening this year. So please, if Hudson, or Bibby, or whoever's on the floor, keep Fish's ass glued to the bench... And Kobe needs to stop shooting so much, especially when he's got a whack shoulder.
