Preview: Game 3 Western Conference Finals TWolves @ Lakers 5/25/04 (TNT)

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<font color="Purple"><font size="4"><div align="center"></div> </font> </font> <font size="4"><div align="center"><font color="Purple"></div></font>
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<div align="center">Minnesota Timberwolves </font> @ <font color="Purple"> Los Angeles Lakers </font> </div>
<div align="center">Time: 6:00 p.m. PT
Location: Staples Center
TV: TNT</div>


Head Coaches:
Flip Saunders/Phil Jackson

<u>Probable Game 3 Starting Lineups:</u>

Sam Cassell/Gary Payton
Trenton Hassell/Kobe Bryant
Latrell Sprewell/Devean George
Kevin Garnett/Karl Malone
Ervin Johnson/Shaquille O'Neal

Sixth Men
Wally Szczerbiak/Derek Fisher

Injury Report


Sam Cassell (probable)


No injuries to report

<u>Laker_Fever's Game 3 Prediction Matchups:</u>

<u>Point Guards</u>


With Sam Cassell only playing for 43 seconds in Game 2, and practicing on Monday, he's saying his back won't be too much of a factor and that he'll start for tomorrow night's game Game 3. Something that the Minnesota Timberwolves wanted to hear because as long as Cassell is in there playing for about an estimated 30 minutes a night, they'll live with that. They need Cassell to be the main catalyst for their offense, setting the offensive tempo for each and every Wolve possession, and just with himself being out there, it'll bring confidence to this Wolves team that they wouldn't feel as shorthanded after all. I don't really see Cassell doing much on the offensive side because of how fragile he is right now, but as I already mentioned, his presence will be huge. As for Gary Payton, what else is new with this guy? Doesn't do much on the offensive end, but when it comes down to trash-talking, that's when he's up for the task. This is Gary's moment to use Cassell's injuries to his advantage, and make a name for himself in this series so that the critics can stop pointing fingers at him. The Staples crowd will be supporting him for 48 minutes, so if he can get going and penetrate to the basket and hit shots at an early pace, it'll fire himself and the Staples Center crowd up.
Advantage Tuesday: Lakers

<u>Shooting Guards</u>


The task looks very difficult for Trenton Hassell to acheive, and that's stopping one of the premier players in the league who is Kobe Bryant. Hassell will just have to try his very best on slowing him down. Making him work very hard for his field goal opportunities, and being very physical with him from start to finish. What Kobe has to do is the complete opposite. He has to keep doing what he's been doing throughout this series and that's to have his way with Hassell everytime up and down the court. Scoring field goal opportunities when he has a good percentage of making that particular shot, providing that spark for his teammates, penetrating to the basket and drawing contact at all times, and most importantly, being that team leader he's capable of being and instructing his teammates on certain possessions. Nothing wrong with scoring 25 points a game in this series and creating shots for your teammates as well.
Advantage Tuesday: Lakers

<u>Small Forwards</u>

Latrell Sprewell definitely was the main reason why the Minnesota Timberwolves went ahead and took Game 2 to spilt this series at a game apiece. He was very active on the offensive end especially in the halfcourt game, and while the TWolves ran out in their transition game, he made himself look very dangerous in the open court especially by the perimeter. Some of these traits he must continue for Game 3. If Cassell's injuries still remain a factor, he'll have to team up along with Garnett if the TWolves want any chance of winning this game. He has to be streaky, hitting his shots at a consistent pace from the field and also the perimeter when he's feeling it, and lastly playing relaxed. You don't want to come play a game on the road where you struggle. It brings your confidence down as a player, and it brings your team's confidence down. As for Devean George, he has to be aggressive. He must build confidence and start hitting some shots just like the glimpse of Game 5 in the semifinal series against San Antonio. If we can get that type of performance from him tomorrow night, I'm sure all of us Laker fans will be happy with that.
Advantage Tuesday: TWolves

<u>Power Forwards</u>


If there is one man on that Timberwolves team that plays like he's broke, plays with passion each and every night, and plays with energy that makes his teammates better, it's the MVP Kevin Garnett. This guy comes prepared and ready to go, and like he said earlier this past week, ready for war he's up for any challenge that awaits him on that basketball court. Karl Malone will definitely have his hands full on this matchup. In terms of Kevin Garnett's game, I just expect him to get himself well positioned in the low post, drible and spin his way to his trademark fallaway shot. It doesn't matter if the Lakers isolate him with Malone, or just simply double team him. That shot cannot be stopped. I also expect him to really have a battle with Malone in the rebound categories. Who'll be more hungrier to provide rebounds and second chance opportunities for their respectable team? As for Karl Malone, it's simple. STOP TRYING TO INTENTIONALLY INJURE PEOPLE AND HIT SOME SHOTS! Doesn't it feel like Malone's 30 point performance in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals was just a distant mirage? I'm slowly getting fed up with this man's performance with his erratic shot selections, and his ability to take cheapshots at our opponent instead of getting his offensive game together. Hey Karl, 2/5 from the field for five freakin' points won't cut it, and as a 19 year veteran who's hungry for a ring, should step up and play like you want to earn a ring.
Advantage Tuesday: TWolves

<u>Centers</u>

Not much to say on Johnson's offensive capabilities, but he is a great defender overall, and he'll have a huge task laid out in front of him to contain the dominant center in this league, Shaq Diesel. I really don't feel Johnson can do it alone. Not only will he get himself in foul trouble, Flip Saunders will just have to do the typical rotation of Olowokandi, Miller, and Madsen to see if they can each have a legitimate shot to slow him down a bit. It won't be easy, but seeing their success in Game 2 against him, why would they stop with that working gameplan? For Shaquille O'Neal, it's pretty simple. Get yourself in the low post, not at the top of the key, but the low post and get yourself into great positioning. Get the quartet of centers on your back and take those lean bodies on a ride to the basket. Shaq weighs a ton more than those guys, he has more power and strength than they do, and he can easily have his way with them whenever he wants, and whenever he feels like it. Something else he has to work on is his typical lousy free throw liabilities. One day he can be spectacular from the stripe, and there's other days when he can just flip a switch and return to his horrific free throw woes. Shaq, get those huge knees bended, use that right hand of yours and put some sort of a Shaq rotation to that basketball, and flick your wrists. Plain and simple. If you need to be taught the fundamentals of basic free throw shooting skills, so be it. But if you constantly brick and clank from the line, you give the TWolves an opportunity to steal one in LA and we can't have that if you want a chance to return to the Finals for the 4th time in five years.

Advantage Tuesday: Lakers

<div align="center">Players To Watch Game 3
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<div align="center">Latrell Sprewell & Kobe Bryant</div>

<div align="center">Sprewell: 20.0 pts, 4.50 rebs, 6.5 assists, 1.00 steals
Bryant: 25.0 pts, 4.00 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.50 steals</div>


Laker Fever's Prediction

The Lakers did what they had to do on the road. By spliting the series 1-1 and stealing homecourt advantage, and playing in the friendly confines of Staples Center. With the scuffles that went on in the final minutes of play in the fourth quarter that featured cheapshots, technical fouls, and one ejection, I really feel the Lakers will put all of that to heart, and play 48 minutes of quality Laker basketball from start to finish. Lakers by 9.

 

No Cassell, no win.

Either way, 93-87 Lakers.

 

Great Preview Emo,

The Lakers by 8...I Forsee the Lakers to get a little bit of revenge from the other night?

 

I won't give any total score but honestly, I don't see this being a blow out. Everyone expected Minnesota to get blown out by Sacramento in game 3 and we ended up winning that game.

If we have another game like we did against LA like we did Sunday night, I see no reason that we don't have a chance. If we don't keep the pressure on Shaq like we did and we can keep Malone/Payton at bay for most of the game, we'll be also ok.

If we don't do those things, I don't think we can win.

 

Well Minny should be expecting to get alot of Shaq deep in the low post, so Ej, Kandiman, Mad dog better be ready for the most psyhical game of the series so far in the paint.

Hopefully, Kandiman will have a very active game like he had in game 1. He has played in Staples Center so many times so he should be most comfortable there.

And Minny needs to keep making kobe work to score his points. In game 2, kobe took 24 shots to score 27pts. That isnt a very effecient game. That what the t-wolves need to do to kobe in this series take away his effeicency. The more shots you make kobe take to get his points, the more you disrupt the Lakers offense from going thru Shaq, where they can really kill the Wolves.

Also you got to limit the open looks for Fisher & Malone, they pretty much need wide open looks to score nowadays. So after helping to doulbe shaq in the post or stop kobe pentration, t-wolves defenders must recover quickly back to the role players to take away their good looks.

I think the Lakers will let GP freelance a little more early in the game to see if they can take advantage of Sammy injuries, so he must hold his ground on defense early in the game.

I think the Wolves need another big shooting game from Wally S., but he need not try to over due it like when he has a tendacy to start forcing things which leads to turnovers. Limiting turnovers will be key for the wolves tonight.

Spree & KG will have to lead the way for the Wolves once again. Also I would like to see Fred get a few more good looks from the perimeter tonight,since Wally returned against the Kings. It seems like Fred doesnt get anymore open looks. And his shooting was a big part of what the wolves did early in the playoffs. And it would be nice if the could get their two best spot up shooters(Fred & Wally) going in the same game, that would provide a big offensive boost.

KG needs to have his best performance of the series tonight. I think the Wolves role players have alot of confidence right now and thats big, so I will be taking the wolves tonight to regain the homecourt advantage in the series.

But energy at the start of the game will be key for the wolves, And they must make this a scrappy, up & down type of game.

 

I think it'll be a case of injury getting the better of Cassell, sort of like how it took it's toll at times on Kidd and certainly reduced his offensive capabilities. I think Hassell can pull it off in this game, he has the effort, plus if he adds in his offense it'll be an even bigger plus.

It'll also be a battle of the benches, you have a good one, so do we, but we have many scorers and a good defender and hustle as found in Fred Hoiberg. However he won't be enoug, Madsen will probably play an important part in this. Cassell runs the court well but pretty slow, but I think we need exactly that, a slow and easy game. We won't be getting that though, Martin needs to be at his best again and show why he was the chosen rookie for Minnesota.

Mixed feelings, happy yet not, I see the Lakers taking this, I don't think KG can do Kings Game 7 and Lakers Game 2 type Games twice in a row. Lakers by 5 in an offensive struggle and good defense from both teams.

Edit: OT(Off-Topic), sorry but I found it pretty funny and I thought I'd share. Doesn't it look like in his photo that Devean George is trying to look badass? Reminds me of that Devean Gump photo. Good times.

 

Great preview as always, Emo.
This is going to be a very competitive game IMO. I expect Shaq to play at his best since last game the TWolves centers did pretty well defending him. If Shaq can make those shots in the paint and is consistent with his free-throw shots, then the Lakers can win it. Also, Karl Malone needs to start shooting baskets and not foul players. He made my day with that 30 point game against the Spurs in the Western Conference Semis, but now, it seems like a dream.
Anyways, I see the Lakers winning by 7.

 

No matter if Cassell plays or not. Its @home for the Lakers. Correct me if im wrong but the Lakers are 10-0 @Staples Center in this playoff?

The Lakers by 9.

 

All good things must come to an end sometime theclown1 and that streak could be in danger during this series.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Minny should be expecting to get alot of Shaq deep in the low post, so Ej, Kandiman, Mad dog better be ready for the most psyhical game of the series so far in the paint.</div>

While I completely agree that we'll see heavy doses of Shaq in the low post with the ball, it's a double edged sword, IMO.

Minny has the bodies to get him in foul trouble and early. If that happens, this game isn't going to be a Laker romp, in fact it won't even be a Laker win, IMO.

If Shaq gets ferocious and doesn't get called alot, he's going to be a steamroller, especially with the way the last game ended, this game being the first of the series in LA and this whole "it's personal" crap.

I'm sure you all know that I'm rooting for Minny, but I'd have to honestly say that I don't expect them to win this game. Game 4 maybe.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting theclown1:</div><div class="quote_post">No matter if Cassell plays or not. Its @home for the Lakers. Correct me if im wrong but the Lakers are 10-0 @Staples Center in this playoff?

The Lakers by 9.</div>

Word, even if Sam was healthy the Lakers should win regardless when playing at home especially.

Lakers by 7.

 

The key factors for the Wolves in order to win is; commiting few turnovers, Penetration, going to the line and making those free-throws, KG, defense and Shaq.

It's always good to not turn the ball over numerous times but for the Wolves it is going to be very important to take care of the ball. When they get alot of turnovers, they lose. It has been that since the beginning of the playoffs.

When the team goings to the foul line to attempt free-throws, they have a high chance of winning. They can't just be a perimeter oriented team and take jump shots. The players have to be aggresive and penetrate into the paint. Spree has been almost the only player that has been penetrating into the lane. KG has to go to line more often. There is a big difference when he attempts more free-throws.

KG will have to play like a MVP. He will have to be aggresive and take more shots and make them. The team will need a great performance from him in order to win. Even if Sam will play in this game. He won't be able to play at full strengh and might not play alot of minute due to his injuries.

Defense, is very important to the team. If they can play aggresive defense and not let the Lakers get into any offensive rythme, that will help alot. Los Angeles finished at 36.8% from the floor on Sunday, Minnesota's fifth sub-40% defensive outing of this year's playoffs. Defense has been a very important part of the team when they struggle to score.

Shaq will have his way in the paint if Johnson, Olowokandi, Madsen and Miller can't stop him. The Lakers will be feeding him the ball and the man who is defending can't let him dunk, he has to make Shaq shot over him or foul Shaq. They have a total of 24 fouls they can commit on Shaq, so they will have to when the moment arises.

I predict the Wolves win by 3.

 

The lakers playoff home streak will end tonight.

 

Garnett's defense will be a big key. His help defense between Shaq and Malone is a big key to this game. They did a real good job on Shaq last game, and Ervin Johnson certainly cannot guard him alone.

On Cassell, I doubt he can give a great effort for 35 minutes. The bench play will be very key. Wally Szczerbiak is going to have to knock down some more jumpers.

Hassell cannot get in early trouble like he did last game going after Kobe's jump shot.

 

Solid game so far - T-Wolves hanging tough.

 

Yeah Kobe has done this before he did this versus Sacto during the regular season,he takes a shot in the whole first half,usally he'll try to get things going in the third and fourth quarter,man Sam Cassel is playing really good he is hitting all his open shots,I want to see how he plays in the forth quarter when he team really needs him.