<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>
Nice preview Just-Magic, Hopefully, Sam will be ready to go tonight. KG really needs his scoring & his ability to create plays for other people to lighten the load on KG offensively. And Cassell needs to be on the floor in the 4th quarter Also I would like to see Fred Hoiberg get some good looks early in the game, since the return of Wally, Fred hasnt been getting any perimeter looks. I think the wolves need both Wally & Fred shooting the ball well from the perimeter inorder for them to beat the Lakers. Sprewell needs to stop settling for the perimeter shot & go to the basket. His best game was game 2, when he drove the ball to the basket & got out in the open court for easy points. Sprewell going to the basket not only makes him a scorer but it also makes him a playermaker. He can drive the lanes & hit the perimeter shooters like Wally &Fred. And he can also get a few Lakers in foul trouble, when he goes to the hoop. The Lakers seem to never be in foul trouble, the wolves need to start being aggressive. And get a few Lakers on the bench with foul trouble, so you can expose the Lakers lack of depth. Defensively, The Wolves need to cut down on the open looks of the Lakers role players like Fisher & Devean George, etc. I mean Fisher is looking like John Paxson or Steve Kerr out of the triangle right now. I know the wolves defense is geared to stopping Kobe & Shaq, but they still have to rotate back to the shooters better. Make guys like Fisher & George put the ball on the floor & have to create their own shot. Iam also going with the Wolves by single digits maybe by 6 or 7 pts
Great post! All I can say is "It's win or go home" If the Wolves can pressure and score, while keeping the turnovers down, then we go back to Staples for game 6.
