<div align="center"> @ <font color="DarkGreen">Minnesota Timberwolves</font> (5-3) @ <font color="Blue">Dallas Mavericks</font> (8-3) Time: November.21,2004; 8:30pm Arena: <font color="Blue">American Airlines Center, Dallas Tx</font> TV: NBATV</div> Preview: In Saturday's 99-94 win over the New Orleans Hornets, Minny's Kevin Garnett left the game, after injurying his forearm attempting a dunk on a fastbreak in the 2nd quarter. Garnett eventually returned in the 3nd half to help lead the Wolves to the victory, contributing 20pts. He is expected to play in tonight's matchup vs Dallas. But the biggest story in the wolves victory over the Hornets, was the play of Eddie Griffin. Griffin came off the bench to provide the Wolves with 23pts & 7rebs. Griffin is expected to be a big part of the Wolves success this season. Cassell also contributed 20pts & 5ast in the victory. The Wolves,who have won 3 of their last 4 games, look to continue a winning trend as they vist the American Airlines Center fot the 1st of 4 regular season matchups against the surprising Mavs. Tonight's game is a back to back situation for Dallas. Dallas is coming off a blowout loss in Denver on Sunday, 110-82. The only bright spot for the Mavs was the return of Jason Terry back into the lineup, along with Erick Dampier returning as well.So both should be available for tonight's matchup vs Minny, as Dallas looks to get back to the play that got them off to an early 8-3 start. <u>Projected Starting 5</u> PG: Sam Cassell(wolves)/Devin Harris(Mavs) SG: Latrell Sprewell(wolves)/Marquis Daniels SF: Wally Szczerbiak(wolves)/Josh Howard(Mavs) PF: Kevin Garnett(wolves)/Dirk Nowitzki(Mavs) C: Kandiman(wolves)/Erick Dampier(Mavs) --------------- <div align="center"><u>Matchup To Watch</u> <font color="Blue">Dirk Nowitzki (Mavs)</font> vs <font color="DarkGreen">Kevin Garnett (Wolves)</font></div> Star Power at the 4 If there is one bigman in the league getting more attention for his early season play then the the league's MVP Kevin Garnett, it has to be Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki offense game is stellar as usual. But the thing that has made him a better player this season, is the effort he is giving on the defensive end & on the backboards. While Dirk will never be a KG, when it comes to defending, it is clear that Dirk has given more attention to the defensive side of the court at the start of the 04-05 season. Dirk Nowitzki has also took more assertive role at making his teammattes better, averaging a career high in assist with 3.1apg. Dirk Nowitzki is on pace to have a career season. And maybe actually taking the step up from all-star level to MVP level. While Dirk is taking his 1st step to MVP level, that is a level of play that is very familiar to Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett seems to get better & better every single time he steps on the floor. Many wondered how would KG follow up his MVP season. Well, how about leading a team with plenty all-star talent on it in all major statical areas. Kevin Garnett leads the Wolves in Points (24.7ppg), Assist(6.7apg), & rebounds(15.9rpg). Kevin Garnett looks to continue to prove,he is the league's best bigman as he faces off against Dirk Nowitzki. -------------- <div align="center"><u><font color="DarkGreen">Timberwolves Keys To The Game </font> </u> </div> <font color="DarkGreen">Effective Pick & Roll Play</font>. The Key to success for the Wolves offense always come down to the effectiveness of the pick & roll play between Sam Cassell & Kevin Garnett. When the Wolves are effectively running the pick & roll, it creates great floor spacing for the offense. And opens up alot of easy opportunites/shots for guys like Wally S. Fred Hoiberg etc due to the attention it attracts from opposing teams defense. <font color="DarkGreen">Limiting Dallas' bench.</font> Even tho guys like Devin Harris & Marquis Daniels get the start in Dallas, alot of the teams point production comes from their bench mainly guys like Jerry Stackhouse & Jason Terry. Stackhouse comes off the bench but with Mike Finley out with an injury, Stackhouse has step in to fill the role of the teams 2nd option behind Dirk. So it is important that the Wolves defense doesnt get lazy when Dallas'2nd unit enters the game because their play is what is really seperating the Mavs from everyone else ,right now. If the Wolves can limit Dallas' bench and get key production off their bench from guys like Hoiberg, Hassell, Griffin, it will put the pressure on Dallas to get point production from their young starters,who arent really scorers, like Harris & Daniels. <font color="DarkGreen">Team Rebounding</font><ul>[/list].When the Wolves struggle on Defense, it is usually when they give up alot of 2nd chance points to their opponents due to poor team rebounding on the defensive boards. Dallas is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league. The Wolves are going to have to make sure to send everyone to the defensive boards to secure rebounds. Giving a high scoring team like Dallas 2nd & 3rd chances to score will be costly to the Wolves D. -------------- <div align="center"><u><font color="Blue">Dallas Keys To the Game </font> </u></div> <font color="Blue">Transition Points</font>. While Minny maybe view as some as an underatted defensive club, their is definate areas a team like Dallas can exploit against this Wolves D. One area is in the transition game. The Mavs have better athletes getting up & down the floor, they must use this to their advantage. They must push the ball in opencourt situations, & catch the wolves defense napping, so to speak. The Wolves defense has shown in the past that they are susaccpetable to getting beat up the floor when opponents point guards push the ball. If the Mavs let the Wolves continously set up their defense in the half-court then Dallas will be playing to Minny's defensive strenght. You give Minny's strong on ball defensive players like KG & Trenton Hassell a chance to take Dallas' two best offensive options Dirk & Stack out of their games. While Dallas can score in almost any situation, they can make point production much easier by pushing the basketball. <font color="Blue">Smart Perimeter Defense</font>. Smart Perimeter D mainly deal with the way the Mavs handle pick & roll situations. Cassell loves matchups against rookie, because he can put them in Pick & Roll situations, where he uses his veteran savy to cut thru seems & draw plent of fouls on the rooks with an assortment of pump fakes. So Devin Harris is going to have to be smart with the way he defends in those situation. And avoid picking up a bulk of silly fouls. <font color="Blue">Containing Kevin Garnett </font>. Containing KG will be a difficult task for the Wolves, as they dont really have anyone that matches up well with Garnett. Dampier will probably see the most minutes match up against KG. But it will ultimately come down to the Mavs team defense. They have to throw alot of different looks at the MVP. Maybe even send two or three different players running at him during certain spots. And force guys like Wally S. and Trenton Hassell to beat them from the perimeter. ------------------------- <u>Closing Statements </u> Eddie Griffin had an extremely effective game on Saturday, it should be interesting to see if he can carry that preformance over to tonight's game. If he can I think thats will be a major sign for the wolves in the future. Also I think it will be Key to have both Sprewell & Cassell involved in the game early. Sammy & Spree have yet to have a strong preformance during the same game this season. It has pretty much been an either/or situation with those two. If the Wolves are really going to get on a role they are going to need both to play well at the same time. Anyway, Enjoy the game
Great Preview Henacy. I have not time to read through all of it but I want to add one point: Dirk left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and it is not sure whether he will play against Minnesota. Without Dirk, we should be able to win this one.
strangely , even though im a big T-wolves, i would love to see dirk come back, as it makes the matchup more interesting. if minny can hold off dirk and the Mavs, i don't see why they can have a possible championship season
Yeah, they have Dirk Doubtful for tonight's game. But even if he doesnt play Dallas has alot of guys capable of stepping up. Erick Dampier has always given this t-wolves team problems, especially last year. He good be the type ot step up and have a big game tonight, so the Wolves cant fall asleep on Dallas even if Dirk is unavailable. Jerry Stackhouse will probably step up & take over the role as the teams main go to guy. And he has look strong this year. So Dallas is still going to be a difficult matchup playing at home, even with Dirk no being 100%.
damnnnnn what a game! i was biting my fingers off watching th PBP screen the mavericks are such a great team to think all of that without nowitzki and finely as well they played great especially josh howard... maybe it shows how much the t'wolves gotta come together...they almost lost it it was so close to come to that near the end! were so lucky to have our superstar damn KG 21 points 17 rebounds 9 asists 3 blocks! cassel contributed 16 points with no asists... hudson with 11... NEXT MISSION: supersonics come to the twin cities today!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the main event:</div><div class="quote_post">damnnnnn what a game! i was biting my fingers off watching th PBP screen the mavericks are such a great team to think all of that without nowitzki and finely as well they played great especially josh howard... maybe it shows how much the t'wolves gotta come together...they almost lost it it was so close to come to that near the end! were so lucky to have our superstar damn KG 21 points 17 rebounds 9 asists 3 blocks! cassell contributed 16 points with no asists... hudson with 11... NEXT MISSION: supersonics come to the twin cities today!</div> Cassell should have had an assist on the and 1 play by Sprewell in the 4th quarter run. Anyway I think Cassell's assist # are kind of fooling because he is getting alot of pass that lead to the assist & that isnt an official stat. But Kevin Garnett is the guy getting alot of the assist. But in the Pick & roll what happens, KG sets the screen then moves to the top of the key. And Cassell drags the double team with him(which is KG's man) then Cassell swings the ball back to KG open at the top of the key in the free throw area. And then KG whats for either Sprewell or Wally's S man to rotate toward him. And then he kicks it to the open player. But it all starts with the attention Cassell gets coming off the screen in the Pick & Roll situation. But KG gets the assist. Its probably about 5 or 6 of those situation, at least, a night. Anyway, I am still not impressed with the way the Wolves come out to start 2nd half's off games. They come out extremely flat, no lift in their game. So they end up turning the ball over alot. And taking some bad shot attempts. Teams are starting to realize that, and alot of clubs are using the start of the 2nd half/3rd quarter as the point to seperate themselves from the Wolves. They made up the poor start to the 2nd half tonight, but this is a very poor habit they are getting themselves into. It was a problem last year, but it got corrrected before it could become a serious problem. But it seems like they are falling back into the same trend again to start this season. And Wally S. needs to go back to the bench. I dont understand what Flip Suanders is doing in that situation, Trenton Hassell defense is so key to start games. And its wasting away over their on the bench to start games. By not starting Hassell, Flip is letting wing players like Howard tonight, Crawford in the Knicks game, Rip in the Piston game etc get off to good starts to the game. And by the time Hassell checks in the game, his defense isnt as effective at containing those players because they are already got it going. And Cassell sat way to long in the 4th, he didnt check into the game until about the 6:00 minute mark. And that almost cost the Wolves a victory tonight.
