<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As the Timberwolves practiced Saturday afternoon, starting point guard Sam Cassell sat in the corner in street clothes. Cassell's sore back and hip make his status questionable for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at Target Center. Cassell said he's going to play, but others weren't so sure. "If he's going to hurt himself more, then he's not going to play," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said Saturday. "If he's able to play and not hurt himself anymore, no matter what, even on one leg, even yesterday he was able to make shots early. There's no question the extended timeouts and long halftimes have hurt him." Cassell has fought off nagging injuries through most of the playoffs, but he was unable to play in the fourth quarter of the Wolves' 97-88 loss Friday. Saunders wanted to use him, but Cassell's back was too stiff. Cassell's absence was significant because he has been the Wolves' best fourth-quarter player. "It was tough," he said. "There was five minutes to go and I pride myself in helping my teams take over games with five minutes to go. I couldn't get up and down the court comfortably. I knew it wasn't a good time for me to go back in the game." Cassell said he hurt his back when he tipped a pass in the third quarter and when he tried to take a charge against Lakers star Kobe Bryant. The Wolves' playoff future depends on Cassell because they don't have a suitable alternative. Saunders can go with a big lineup, which features Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell or Fred Hoiberg playing point guard the majority of the game. The Wolves simplify the offense and run fewer sets when one of those three plays the point. "It does set up a situation that is unknown, kind of uncharted for us," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We don't know exactly how to play them with Garnett as a 7-foot point or Sprewell handling the ball or Hoiberg or whomever. Sam is a very potent weapon. He was very successful against us early. So it will change up a lot of what they do." The downside to that lineup is Garnett and Sprewell are forced to exert so much of their energy bringing the ball up along with scoring, rebounding and defending. Garnett suffers the most by Cassell's absence. Saunders said Garnett handled the ball too much and the league's most valuable player started to tire.</div> <div align="center">Link</div> This is very good news for T'Wolve fans. After being questionable for Game 2, Cassell confirmed that he will be in uniform tonight against the L.A Lakers. Sam Cassell had a superb first quarter against the Lakers and looked like he was going for a third consecutive 40 Point-game in a Game 1 series. But his injury slowed him down. Sam Cassell is a soldier, and if he thinks he could play he'll play. Hopefully, his decision won't slow down the team, but just having his presence on the floor makes things that much better.
Tonight's game is a must win for Minnesota. If they lose, then they lose home court advantage. Cassell is a huge part of the team, and if he can give them a solid 35 minutes, that would be huge.
i hate Sam...but he's an important part of this team...and if he doesn't play they have no chance..he's there "make em when we need em" player...and without him its gonna even more tough then it already is...i think Sam will play tonight...
i dont see that he is the go to guy for this team. they cant win without the points he puts up thats for sure. but garnett is the guy that is going to have to be clutch in this series. if he cant play then they are going to have to get the best performance ever from hoiberg and hassell to make up for it.
Health is always a huge issue in the playoffs.This is wear Troy Hudson comes in he could come in if Sam was hurt nut he is injured to.IF Spree,KG,and Hoiberg is running point this will make the T-Wolves offense very sloppy.If Cassel feels that he is limited than I wouldnt start him and I would use him off the bench throughout the first half of the game and play him a lot more in the 3rd and 4th quarter.
I knew he would play no matter what. He has a big heart and will play thru aches and pains to help his team when they need him. The injury will bother him but I hope it doesn't affect his game too much. If Sam can't be himself, Kg has to take over and play like a true MVP. He has to be a dominant force or the Wolves will lose game 2, a must win game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting STCBBall3:</div><div class="quote_post">Tonight's game is a must win for Minnesota. If they lose, then they lose home court advantage. Cassell is a huge part of the team, and if he can give them a solid 35 minutes, that would be huge.</div> They already lost home court advantage when they lost Game 1. Cassell's production would be much needed for the Timberwolves to win this game. If they don't win, the series is over, sadly.
