We have not done very well in the second half of double-headers all year, hopefully we can pull out a win tonight. Key matchup- Chris Bosh vs Kevin Garnett. They are pretty much the same players, not the same skill, but in a couple years Bosh will be compared to Garnett. If Garnett can take him defensively, he shouldn't have a problem handling him on offense. Keys to victory- Containing Rafer Alston will be key. He is very quick, and our perimeter defense has been nothing to brag about. Don't let Vince Carter get into the game, and we should come out of it with a win. What could hurt us- Coming off a game the night before, fatigue is always the issue. But, with Sprewell not getting any minutes the night before, look for him to be sobbing, possibly jacking up shots. --- I will do this before all the games hopefully, and update throughout the game.
Since you seem like you have some time to post also, you can help me out with it. Do you have AIM/MSN?
I will try my best. I am still relatively new though so I want to blend in before I do game threads and all.
^You definately are welcome to post some game previews here. Have a look around the board how things are going and I'm sure you'll be doing a great job. The T-Wolves board can do with some more passionated fans. Concerning the game, at first glance this should be an easy one, but then again the Bulls one should've been easy as well. But I'm still thinking the Wolves win this one, Latrell is due for a huge game since he had now three bad in a row. Also KG is just unstoppable.
Thanks, Coranor. I am as passionate as I could be with the Timberwolves and the NBA in general. I am doing everything I can to make this board great. The major difference between Toronto and Chicago is this. Chicago got some young raw talent. What does Toronto have besides Chris Bosh and Matt Bonner? Chicago at least has a shot to beat anyone on a given night with that young talent while Toronto is hard-pressed to get wins with the roster they got.
Well, looks like we underestimated the Raptors. Final score- Raptors 96 Wolves 90 Leading scorer- Chris Bosh (24) Leading rebounder- Kevin Garnett (15) Leading passer- Kevin Garnett (5) It looks like my key matchup was a good one, the two combined for all the leading stats in the game. I didn't get to see the game myself, so I will have to give my input after I hear from some other people.
Yea it seemed that Bosh did a good job on Garnet defensively as Garnet only shot 33%, 9 / 27. Both had similar games Bosh 24 & 14 and Garnet 23 & 15.
If we keep up the effort, lets root for a Pacers win on Friday! I do think that our main problem was being tired, and some players playing too much in all these road back to backs. Like when Bosh and Rafer are tired, our team struggles.
Raptors played well, we just had a lot of energy and came out firing through the whole game, their wasn't much defense all through, and the Raptor commentators were saying the first team to play defense will win, and that's what happened. The Raptors started playing defense down the stretch, the offense kept clicking, and the rest which we haven't had in a while helped us. Good game, Bosh played killer, has a crossover and reverse layup on KG, and of course we ahve to give all props to MILT PALACIO THE DEAN OF LAYUPS
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Timberwolf:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks, Coranor. I am as passionate as I could be with the Timberwolves and the NBA in general. I am doing everything I can to make this board great. The major difference between Toronto and Chicago is this. Chicago got some young raw talent. What does Toronto have besides Chris Bosh and Matt Bonner? Chicago at least has a shot to beat anyone on a given night with that young talent while Toronto is hard-pressed to get wins with the roster they got.</div> That is no true, If you have watched the Raptors young season so far, you would have noticed that our wins have come against the best teams in the league. Toronto is capable of beating any team in the NBA at any given night. The bulk of looses that TO has acquired over the season comes from extremely close games, where we end up loosing by 6 pts or lower. Our poor execution in the final minutes of the 4th quarter is ultimately our demise. TO has the ability to take over in the atlantic and become a strong 4th, 5th type team in the east, and with the quality of play against high calibre teams this season proves my point. Its just playing on a consistent basis with such ability is the problem.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting king94:</div><div class="quote_post">That is a pile of BS.</div> Even though you might be right, there is not need for this kind of language here!
^ agreed. But he is right. Raps have beaten the best teams in the league and hung around in almost all the rest. Who do the raps have besides Bosh and Bonner, I dunno...Marshall, Carter, Alston
This is a dissapointing loss for the Timberwolves. These back-to-back losses may be hurting come playoff time especially when the Wolves have to play Game 7 on the road against San Antonio. They have to win their share of back-to-back games if they are going to get the #1 seed. This has to change. I thought the Wolves played well, but they just did not get the job in the fourth quarter as they always do. They did not make any shots or make the big defensive plays out there in the fourth. Nothing was working for the Wolves. Give the Raptors credit. They play hard for Sam Mitchell, a former Timberwolf. They made the big plays and they got it done. Chris Bosh was huge down the strech for the Raptors. He was the difference maker in the fourth quarter. I thought Latrell, Sammy, KG, and Wally was solid in this game. Too bad they did not get it done when it counted in the fourth quarter. What do you think of Bonner's pushing KG to the ground? I did not think Bonner deserved to be tossed. From what I saw, I thought KG lost his balance and all. I am not sure if Bonner intentionally wanted to throw KG to the ground. It's unfortunate it happened. Jim Petersen, TWolves color analyst on television, even said that KG may have overreacted. Fortunately, the ref, Jess Kersey, was able to pull KG away because KG was about to take care of Bonner. The last thing the Wolves need is KG being suspended for x amount of games.
This is the typical Wolves we have seen this year, playing down to their competion, letting lesser Eastern Conference teams hang around all game. And then trying to snap it on in the 4th quarter. I didnt like Flip's player rotation last night. I think Sammy was playing well last night, so to sit him for almost the entire 1st half of the 4th. To take Cassell out at the 11:00 minute mark and not bring him back until the 7:00 mark is putting the Wolves behind the 8 ball in my opinion. The Wolves need Cassell on the floor for the majority of the 4th. Flip needs to take Cassell out earlier in the 3rd quarter. So he can be ready to play extended 4th quarter minutes, cause that is when they really need him. They need to let Cassell use the early 4th quarter minutes to find his shooting touch and then coming down the stretch you can rest a sure he will be light's out most nights. Anyway, Flip's rotation wasnt the reason the Wolves lost the game. They lost the game because they(the Wolves) felt content with letting the Raptors hang around. They would push the lead up to 7 or 8 points at different parts of the game. And then they would fall asleep & the Raptors would cut it right back down to 2 or 3 points. The Wolves never had the feel of trying to go up dopuble figures in that game at all. So they just let the Raptors gain more confidence as the game went along. And then the Raptors go more inspired by the Matt Bonner/KG foul then the Wolves. And that really put the losing stamp on the game Mo Pete made some big plays for them in the 4th.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the typical Wolves we have seen this year, playing down to their competion, letting lesser Eastern Conference teams hang around all game. And then trying to snap it on in the 4th quarter.</div> WOW, I guess the Wolves and the Pistons have alot more in common than I thought.
Great game by the dinos. Matt Bonner didn't deserve the ejection, no way. On the other hand, Bosh schooled KG in crucial parts of the game, he took right at him and Kev didn't have an answer.
The Rapts are an nice squad. Bosh, Marshall, MO Pete, and Skip-to-my-lew, loo, lue whatever. I've seen some of their games and they do have some fire power. It's a disappointing loss for the Wolves and I know it's early in the season, but they need to think this: We're supposedly one of the contenders for the title. We supposedly have a better squad than last season. The Lakers were dismantled and were supposed to be scraping to get wins. Why is our record a mere shade better than theirs? Why is it that it seems so hard for us to get it going? They have Wally and Spree who should be able to help when the other isn't. So far, it seems that the change is at the point. Troy wasn't around much so Sam had to carry the load. What else can we reflect on that can work? Oh yeah, Bonner should not have been tossed. Sam Mitchell came to the rescue as soon as it happened. That was cool to me.
The Wolves are a better team on paper then they were last year but Iam not so sure they realistically are...the two parts they have returning this year healthy(Wally & Hudson) take away from alot of what made them successful last season. Wally takes away minutes & shots from Sprewell. And minutes from Trenton Hassell which effects the Wolves ablity to spot or contain wing players this year. Hassell defense isnt as effective on wing scorers this year, because it isnt there at the start of the games. With Sprewell or Wally checking a top scorer in the 1st quarter, it is allowing that guy to get confidence & a rythm to a point it rarely matters, whom the Wolves put on him later in the game cause the player is already in their comfort zone. I dont think the Wolves will be able to start containing legitimate wing scorers until Hassell is back in the starting lineup. And Hudson returning mainly effects Cassell in the 4th quarter. Cassell is only playing slightly above half the 4th quarters, now. You see Cassell checking into the game at the 6:00 or 7:00 minute mark almost every game, now. And he isnt getting his 4th quarter shooting rythm that he is used too. Cassell's minutes & shot attempts are both down, so its hard to expect the same Sammy you got last year, when he is playing 30 minutes & Hudson is playing almost 20. They are almost splitting minutes at the point. I dont think that is a good thing, but I guess Flip is just trying to preserve Cassell for the playoffs. But I think the change that has to be made by the Wolves,is like I said.... has to be putting Hassell back into the starting lineup..but its going to take some heart from Flip Suanders to make the chance cause either Sprewell or Wally S. probably get p'd off. But realistically Hassell as a starter is best for this team.
