<div align="center"><div align="center">http://www.nba.com/media/act_kevin_garnett.jpg"> Thursday <u>Center:</u> Shaquille O'neal Ervin Johnson The Wolves centers will have to do everything in their power to stop Shaq from dominating the post. The Hack-a-Shaq can't be used too much. The Wolves will have to hope that Shaq doesn't have a great game at the free-throws. Ervin, Olowokandi, Miller, Madsen will have to not let Shaq get the ball in the post or it's all over. Shaq will be a big factor but they can't just stop Shaq or players like Kobe, Karl and Gary will hurt you. Shaq will have to be dominant force in the post and has to make those free-throws. When the Wolves foul him and send him to the line, it's almost like a turnover.</div> <font color="Purple">Lakers' Game Notes</font> The Lakers have never squandered a 3-1 playoff lead, dating to their 1948-89 NBA debut in Minneapolis. The last time they dropped three consecutive playoff games was in the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals, when San Antonio recorded a four-game sweep. Los Angeles has won its last 12 playoff games when afforded the chance to eliminate an opponent. <font color="DarkGreen">Timberwolves' Game Notes</font> The big 80's: The Wolves were limited to 85 points on Thursday, the eighth consecutive game they've come up short of 90. That dates to a 114-113 OT victory in Game 3 at Sacramento (May 10); Minnesota's scoring at an 86.0 ppg clip over the past eight games, after tallying 97.4 ppg in its first eight postseason starts. Despite the lull, Minnesota ranks 3rd in playoff scoring (91.7 ppg) and is the lone remaining team scoring 90+ ppg (L.A. Lakers 89.2, Indiana 88.8, Detroit 88.6). The Wolves also rank 2nd in FG accuracy (44.1%) The Big 3 combined to score 65.0% of the Wolves' points (953 of 1467); all three rank among the NBA's top 25 playoff scorers this season. Second and long: The Wolves misfired on 12 of their final 14 FG attempts in the 1st half Thursday, turning a 35-30 lead into a 45-40 halftime deficit. Minnesota hasn't scored more than 20 points in the 2nd quarter in any of its last eight postseason games, averaging just 17.8 points and hitting 36.1% during that stretch. Defense: The Lakers bounced back from Sunday's 36.8% shooting effort to hit 51.5% in Game 3, their fifth 50%+ outing of the postseason. Minnesota gave up 50% accuracy in its previous road outing. The Wolves are 1-4 when permitting 45% or better this playoff season, and 0-5 when being outshot from the floor. Los Angeles' 71-point effort in Game 2 last Sunday ties a club playoff singlegame low (shot-clock era only); their regular-season low came in an 85-72 loss at Indiana on Feb. 2. The 71 points also ties Minnesota's all-time best playoff defensive night. The board report: The Lakers outrebounded Minnesota 52-41 on Thursday, the fourth straight game they've held the edge. The Wolves had just three offensive rebounds in Game 1, one off the all-time NBA Playoff single-game low. The Wolves racked up a +3.4 rpg edge (44.7-41.3) vs. the Kings in the semifinal round, but are facing a -5.5 rpg deficit (38.0-43.5) thus far against the Lakers? 3 pts: The Wolves are shooting an NBA-leading 40.3% from three-point range in the 2004 Playoffs. Three Wolves rank among the league's top 10 in accuracy this playoff year (Hoiberg 46.7%, Cassell 41.7%, Sprewell 40.4%)? Free-Throws: The Lakers have virtually doubled Minnesota in free-throw attempts (126-69) for the series, including Tuesday's 43-14 margin as the Wolves were whistled for a club playoff-record 36 fouls. Taking it one step farther, Los Angeles has missed almost as many free throws (48) as Minnesota has made (58) to date. Los Angeles went to the FT line 43 times Tuesday -- 40 in the 2nd half alone -- the most ever by a Wolves opponent in the playoffs (42 by San Antonio, May 15, 1999). Minnesota set a playoff single-game club record for FT accuracy with the 14-for-15 (93.3%) Game 1 effort, surpassing their 24-for-26 (92.3%) outing at Staples Center in Game 3 vs. the Lakers a year ago (a 114-110 OT victory on Apr. 24). Los Angeles went 15-for-29 (51.7%) last Sunday, while the Wolves were 16-for-19. Minnesota is 7-0 when scoring 20+ points from the line (2-7 when tallying fewer than 20). My prediction The Wolves win by 6. <font size="1">Sorry if this isn't as great of a preview as the ones made by Emo and Kobe 8 Ball</font>
Thank you man for making this for me, I was busy all day. Great Preview, just as good as Mine and Emo's. I like L.A. to close it out this game. Minny has lost almost all of their confidence, L.A. is on a high streak. They can see the championship in their window, and are will put Minny behind them today. I take L.A. by 6
Great preview, Just-Magic. This is a must win game for the TWolves if they want to stay alive in this series. But like Kobe 8 ball said, they've lost almost all of their confidence. I think the Lakers are going to close out this series tonight by 7 points.
The Lakers have complete control of the series but I'm guessing they'll give the Timberwolves Game 5. Not to dis the Wolves but Garnett was right when he said, "you can't be down 1-3 to the Lakers". He knew that realistically Wolves don't have a chance. Here are the reasons why I think the Wolves are going to win this game: 1.) By the Wolves winning, the Lakers (and necessarily the NBA) let MVP Kevin Garnett be convinced that he has had a great season despite not reaching the Finals as the team's first seeder in the West conference. 2.) Ending the Laker series at 2-4 would be much juicer for the MVP and the historically-playoff-haunted Wolves than exiting the series 1-4, all this while serving as a sign to the Timberwolves that they are actually playing to get to the Finals instead of playing just to get out of the first round or second. 3.) The Lakers can't resist drama. 4.) Sure nothing is a guarantee, but the Lakers are as 100% sure as Karl Malone's Game 2 intention to floor Darrick Martin that they can win Game 6 at home against the Wolves. 5.) It is great business for both teams and the NBA: TV ratings are going up with the series approaching the final Game 7. Again, it is not to disrespect the Wolves, I just do not see how they can win another game against the focused Lakers in this series. My prediction the Wolves by 9. Peace out. :thumbsup:
The Wolves ain't gonna just fall over and die. The Lakers need to come out with the killer instinct and put them away. Minnesota is tired, and Sam Cassell is hurt, so go right at them and utilize their weakness. Lakers by 3 on the road TOP PLAYERS= Shaq: 22 pts, 12 rebs, 2 blks Kobe: 24 pts, 5 ast, 6 rebs Payton: 8 pts, 5 asts, 3 rebs, 2 stl Malone: 10 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts George: 5 pts, 5-5 free-throws Fish: 9 pts, 2 asts, stl Garnett: 24 pts, 13 rebs, 3 asts, blk Spree: 20 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stl Wally: 12 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts Cassell: 4 pts, stl in 10 mins Madsen: 5 rebs
Thanks a lot Just-Magic for having my back on this preview. Now to all the Laker fans here, I am one juiced up fan tonight because our Lakers are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the 4th time in 5 years. What the Lakers have to keep doing is Shaq must receive as many touches as possible. He has proved to himself and his teammates that he can easily take advantage of the centers that Minnesota throws at him. I look for him to not waste any time, but to take excellent positioning in the low post, and just make his way to the basket at all times. Secondly, I look for Kobe Bryant to get going. He must penetrate to the basket, draw contact and get to the free throw line, and must importantly create other field goal opportunities for his teammates. Kobe plays so much better within the triangle offense where he can set up shots for his teammates, and still go out there and contribute 25-30 points a game. Thirdly, Karl Malone must play ferocious defense on KG. Garnett will feed off the loud and boisterous Target Center crowd, so Karl will definitely need to come out with his A performance if he wants to limit Garnett's scoring tonight. Lastly, Gary Payton really needs to step up in this game. I really don't know how many times I'm going to be saying his name for him to step up, but this guy definitely is riding coat-tails. Sam Cassell obviously isn't 100%, so why are you going to let Derrick Martin get the best of you? Gary must hit shots to develop confidence in himself, he must use his advantage well in the low post because that's where he operates best, and most importantly lock down on defense. This man has been getting burnt so many times, isn't it about time he makes a statement tonight?? My prediction is simple. If the Lakers can shoot in the 50% category for 48 minutes total, then we have a chance to advance to the Finals and be the Western Conference Champions. Lakers by 3.
I think the Lakers will close out the series tonight. Though, Minnesota will make it very tough due to the fact that they won't want to be beaten at home in the decisive game. But, the way the Lakers have played lately, throwing out game 2 where they didn't look focused at all, they have just played at such a high level. The first two games of the Spurs series was a wake up call for this team. They're playing very well and I don't see Minnesota slowing them down again tonight. I think that the one win is the only win they'll get against Los Angeles. Plus, just a thought, I do believe that, under Phil Jackson, the Lakers have never lost a game in which they had a chance to close out the series. They're going to get this over with tonight. Lakers by 12.
TimberWolves are fighting back now. I really have no clue who's gonna win this game, but it's a nice comeback by the Wolves. Even though I want the Lakers to win, I wanna at least see Minny fight and never looked like they gave up or anything because of the respect I have for the big 3. Now it's 2 but you know what I mean. But the Kandi man, what can I say. He looks lost like me on the court.
Getting a little bit more from the Wolves then I bargained for. Minny is in the position to win now. Lakers still can comeback, but they need to hurry up.
T-Wolves playing desperate and want this series to continue. Sprewell/Garnett are having fantastic games between the two of them. I don't really think we can realistically win the series but it's great to see them not back down from the Lakers. Great job so far T-Wolves.
Dissapointed with the Lakers effort, hopefully they can put on a run. Shaq wasnt given the ball early, they quit on D at the end of the first half, which ultimately lead to the loss (if they loose). Garnett and Spree are having nice games. We better close this out in Game 6.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">Timberwolves are winning this by 10. 96-86</div> My prediction would of been correct if the intentional foul phase didn't occur.
Lakers Lost This Game by 2 points... but lakers will be lifting the West Conf Finalz Trophy By 2mmorow... GO LAKERS!!!!
Unfortunatly I didnt get to watch the end of the game, eating seafood at 11 at night, bad idea. I kind of expected this loss, we were on the road and we knew trhat Garnett was going to go hard. We will be hoisting the trophy tomorrow though, and then move on to the NBA FInals.
Very Close,But Not Enough to finish the Job the T-Wolves played the Lakers excellently,so maybe this series will go to all 7??
Ahh, I'm not really disappointed by this loss. The TWolves came out on their home floor and played with a lot of urgency knowing they didn't want to go home yet. We played very well in the first quarter, I believe the Lakers were firing on all cylinders, and they really took the Wolves and the Traget Center crowd out of the game. However, that 14-0 spurt late in the second quarter really gave the Wolves a ton of momentum and it got the crowd back in the game, we couldn't capitalize on that, and we played from behind throughout the second half. The TWolves may be able to live for another day, but I'm very confident this series is over tomorrow night in front of us Laker fans at Staples Center. We will be the Western Conference Champions, and we will go back to the NBA Finals for the 4th time in 5 years.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Emo:</div><div class="quote_post">We will be the Western Conference Champions, and we will go back to the NBA Finals for the 4th time in 5 years.</div> I'd think so...In my Opinon the T-Wolves are good,but there not quite as good a team as the Lakers are So you are right Emo,I'd bet the Lakers will be in the NBA Finals this year! And why did i a Kings fan say that
