<div align="center"><font color="Red"><font size="2">Cleveland Cavaliers</font></font> @ <font color="Teal"><font size="2">Minnesota Timberwolves</font></font> Minnesota Timberwolves: 26-27 Cleveland Cavaliers: 30-20 Game Info Date: Thursday, February 17th Time: 8:00 EST TV: TNT(nationally televised) Previous Games Nets @ T'Wolves 82-71(W) Hawks @ Cavs 111-89(W) <font size="2"> Starting Lineups</font> <font color="Teal"><font size="2">The T'Wolves</font> Coach Kevin McHale PG: Troy Hudson (8.7ppg, 1.2rpg, 3.6apg) SG: Trenton Hassell (5.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.6apg) SF: Latrell Sprewell (12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.2apg) PF: Kevin Garnett (22.2ppg, 13.8rpg, 5.8apg) C: Ervin Johnson (1.4ppg, 2.6rpg, .1apg) Sixth Man Wally Szczerbiak (15.9ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg) <u>Injuries</u> G Sam Cassell F Mark Madsen G/F Ndudi Ebi </font> <font color="Red"><font size="2">The Cavs</font> Coach Paul Silas PG: Jeff McInnis (14.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 5.5apg) SG: Sasha Pavlovic (4.8ppg, 1.3rpg, .7apg) SF: LeBron James (25.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 7.7apg) PF: Drew Gooden (14.7ppg, 9.7rpg, 1.3apg) C: Zyrdunas Ilgauskas (17.3ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.4apg) Sixth Man Eric Snow (4.4ppg, 1.9rpg, 3.7apg) <u>Injuries</u> G Ira Newble F/C Anderson Varejeo G Dajuan Wagner G/F Luke Jackson </font></div> Keys to the game <ul>Stop the passing: Well, this Cleveland Cavaliers team, when effective in passing, is unbeatable. Statistic show that when the Cavs dish out more than 25 assists in each game, they are 17-0. If we can cut down the good passing, mainly from LeBron and McInnis, then we should be in good shape. Knowing how good of a player LeBron is, it might be difficult to stop this from happening.[/list] <ul>Michael Olowokandi: In his last game, Michael Olowokandi scored 17 point and grabbed 12 rebounds. He tied Garnett for the highest scoring player on the team during that game. Can he keep it up? I think he might be able to. Besides him, they have Ervin Johnson, and John Thomas who plays only a couple minutes per game. We know Olowokandi is a bust in his career so far, but maybe this is his time to shine.[/list] <ul>Don't give up!: We have had the tendency to just seem to give up in games. We find ourselves making dumb passes, being lazy, letting up on defense and just giving up. In this game, we better not do that. The Cavs are one of the premier teams in the league and if we are lazy and give up in this game, we can kiss our chances of winning good bye. We know LeBron is a highflyer and likes to run, so we cannot give up on defense against this team.[/list] New Coach, New Look So as we all know, our former headcoach, Flip Saunders, was fired on Saturday. It was news that saddened all of the Minnesota Timberwolves fans because of how long he has been with this team and the success he has had. Many thought it was a very bad move, and that Kevin McHale should have been the one gone, myself included. Can McHale succeed as headcoach? So far, he has one win and one loss. In my opinion, I don't think he can succeed. He now has the responsibility of two jobs and has no head coaching experience what so ever. CUSA Fan's Prediction I think you can mark another loss and give another loss to McHale, putting him at 1-2 as a head coach. I think the Cavs will be too much for us. They beat us in the previous meeting this season, and I don't see the end result being any different. Wolves: 86 Cavs: 95
Isn't Ervin starting? Well as much as I want the Wolves to win, the Cavs are playing better than them right now. The Wolves are 1-7 against central divsion teams and 1-2 at home against them. This game is at the Target Center, so that helps the Wolves' cause because their 4-1 at home for the last 5 meetings and the Cavs still aren't a great road team. The Cavs are a high scoring team, the Wolves need to limit them under 100 points because they are 4-16 when allowing 100+. They have to play defense. They need to defend Z the best they can and hope that Lebron doesn't burn them. They have to rebound the ball and not get outrebounded because they will likely lose if they do and the Cavs are one of the best rebounding teams in the league. The Kandi man needs to play as well as last night because the team needs help in the paint. My prediction is the Cavs win by 1.
It will be fun watching The Ticket vs. The Gift (KG's nickname for Lebron) at Target Center. Fans that are going to the game should feel priviledge to see two future Hall-of-Famers on the court. Oh and that idiot Barkley will be spewing on the Timberwolves tonight on TNT. He let everyone know about it in a conference call with the Timberwolves beat writers on Tuesday night. Oh and I expect a loss tonight and I don't see the Kandi Man perform an encore tonight.
As Linkin said, the Cavs are a pretty good rebounding team with LeBron, Gooden, Z and Traylor coming of the bench. Also I don't see Kandi perfoming this well against Z. KG might have a great night, since Drew isn't that great of a defender. We would need a great perfomance from Sprewell on both ends of the floor and a good defensive effort from Hassell, in addition, Griffin needs to get going again, what happened to him recently? We need a strong rebounder off the bench. The Cavs come from an easy win against the Hawks, so I see them perfoming just as well and we're going to lose another one. @ CUSA, it's February, not January
lol, I was a little out of it, meant February. I thought Kandi was starting since his numbers were getting better. I'll fix both problems.
A key will be Trenton Hassell's ablity to effectively stay infront of Lebron without getting in foul trouble. I think a underline struggle of this team this year, has been the rule changes in the league taking away Trenton's style of defense. He cant seem to get threw the first quarter without picking up 2 cheap fouls against the top perimeter players. If the Wolves can get quality defensive minutes from Hassell against Lebron I think they can hang in there. He wont come close to stopping James, but make him work for his points as a means of keeping Lebron from getting those other guys involved cause the rest of those Cavs really need Lebron to create for them. So if Hassell can just force LBJ out of his comfort zone then I think the Wolves can hang around. Last game vs. Cleveland the Wolves really struggle early. And eventually lost the game but in the 2nd half mainly in the 4th, they did a good job of figuring out this Cavs team. And was able to pick up their defensive intensity. I think along with focusing on Lebron, you definately have to keep an eye on McInnis. Anthony Carter is going to have to a good job of keeping McInnis out of the seems around the free throw area. McInnis isnt a guy that goes all the way to the basket on penetration, he is very similiar to Cassell in the fact he does much of his scoring & playmaking in the 15-18 foot range. And he & Z are solid in their pick & roll play. So the Wolves definately have to pay close attention to McInnis. I'll buck the trend and pick the Wolves. Even in the chi-town loss they showed up on the defensive end in the 2nd half, carried it over to the game vs. Jersey. So maybe they can carry it over tonight. And get some momentum going into the all-star break giving Mchale something to build on, when guys comeback next week, So I'll take the Wolves by 4.
The win doesn't mean anything without consistency. If they consistently lose and then win, it still means struggling. I think the Wolves should start A.Carter. When KG started at C (finally) I didn't like the fact that they didn't start Griffen at the 4. If they are going to go with KG at the 5, they need some rebounding height to help him out. I don't have a problem with Erv because he shows heart (he gets little time becuase refs call bogus fouls). I believe the Wolves will take this one. I don't care how (unless their up by 20 and win by 2).
Wow, great game. I'm lovin this "new" TWolves team. If they can give this much effort every night I think they can sneek into the playoffs. Time 2 turn it up!!
G-R-E-A-T W-I-N i loved the game so! we blocked 14 shots! they did only 3. we fought hard and controlled the glass...Griffin came to help with 10 rebounds and 4 blocks out of the 14. KG had a great night contributing 20,18,6 that's what he is-great!!! Wally played very good leading the squad with 26 and important points when we needed those. Hoeibrg had 13 points and two blocks to illgauskas damn that's good. i loved the fact that sprewell didn't took so many shots and was busy in assisting(6)and rebounding(6). there were others but this is the leading squad tonight! were 500% again and we gotta look towards a strike now,hold on here it comes!
This game was plain out awesome for me. If we keep playing at this level, I see us advancing in the playoffs. That is right, you heard it here. What McHale has brought to the table is pure energy. Did you see how many times we broke up easy plays, hustled for loose balls, fought for offensive rebounds, and did all the intangibles that win a game. I saw it all tonight. Garnett and Szcerbiak pretty much dominated. Garnett was playing like a true warrior tonight. He said before the game in an interview that he was really hurting. Then he said something that is going in my profile: "It doesn't matter if I am thirty percent or one hundred percent. It's all in my heart, and you can't touch that." That just sums up how Garnett is. Also I think we are going to keep seeing Olowakandi strive with McHale. In two games he has already played better then he has his whole career. McHale is really focusing on big men, and it seems to be having a positive affect. Awesome team win by the Wolves. McHale has really gotten some energy flowing. Go Wolves!
Sounds like a great win, i wasnt able to see it cause i was at work I missed a chance to see them play on TNT, damn. Anyway, I'm so happy we won. Now people are believing in Mchale and the team. I sure hope we can keep this going. Nice job tonight WALLY
<font size="11">MCHALE IS 2-1! HELL HAS FROZEN OVER!</font> Did anyone had McHale at 2-1 after 3 games in their wildest dreams? If anyone did, he or she is lying. No way could anyone prognosticate that. I sure didn't feel that way and Sunday's mail-in game did not help me think otherwise. I did not even expect a win tonight. WOW! This is amazing for McHale. Something McHale can go tell his children and grandchildren about how he went 2-1 as coach after 3 games on TNT against Lebron and the Cavs. Heck beating Lebron's team would make his children and grandchildren blush. WOW! I tip my hat to him. I am proud of him. This is something I can tell everyone one day about how I saw McHale go 2-1. I tell ya what. McHale must have done a good job waving the magic wand on the players because these players are producing. I am seeing emotion. I am seeing passion. I am seeing hustling for loose balls. I am seeing guys getting offensive rebounds and executing with their second chance points. I am seeing guys passing and finding the open man. I am seeing well-run offense. I am seeing guys wanting to take contact and go to the free throw line. What the hell has happened to Latrell? He has really excelled under McHale. Latrell decided to finally bust his rump and started to go to the paint and score. When I see this, it makes me mad that these guys never decided to play like that for Flip. I am sure Flip wanted to do the things that McHale wanted to do. but the players decided to listen to McHale than Flip. While it's good that the players are heeding the message, That's sick and disgusting that they prefer to listen to another guy. I would like to think as players that they would have the pride to perform no matter who is the coach and Flip is a guy that any player should play for. Timberwolves got down n dirty and they really executed all the basketball principles that McHale stressed. They played great in the fourth quarter especially on defense. KG was solid, but he looked he was in pain as soon as the game was over. He was limping the way old people would limp as they are in their seventies. Wally was fantastic. I love the fact that Wally and KG acknowledge each other and how they pass the ball to each other. I really like the chemistry between Wally and KG tonight. The Kandi Man did not have a breakout game like last night, but he was solid tonight. Good way to finish in what was an awful in the first-half. Big test for McHale and the guys next week in the West Coast. Boy it's great to talk about wins instead of losses.
I really didn't expect this, they dominated the boards, they played great defense and hustled like never before this season. Everyone stepped up his game und proved why he's playing in the NBA and tonight they played like the No 1 team of last year, I hope they continue to play like this and don't get distracted with the upcoming break. Somehow I feel that Sprewell has changed his attitude, I thought he played quite selfish for a lot of the time this season, but I think this changed recently: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Wally has the hot hand right now," Minnesota coach Kevin McHale said. "I tried to run a set for Spree (Latrell Sprewell), but he said, 'No, no. Wally's hot. Keep going to him.' That's great unselfishness." </div> http://www.nba.com/games/20050217/CLEMIN/recap.html
Great game. Since the Cavs are my hometown team, it's hard to root against them, but I had a bet on this game with my buddy at school. I chose the Cavs in this thread, but he convinced me to make a bet with him at school. Good thing I did Great game though. The team overall played with so much intensity and the hustled on every play. You could easily see, Garnett was in so much pain. Did you see when he went for a rebound and landed on it? His whole right leg just collapsed on him. I'm wondering how he could have stayed in there, must have been very painful. Wally had a huge game and Hoiberg hit some clutch three's to extend the lead at different times in the game. And did you see LBJ? Wide open breakaway and he does a layup? I was a little surprised. I heard the crowd booing. Great game though.
i am pleasantly suprised at this new-look T-wolves. wow the players are actually playing with heart and effort, especially the once crappy bench. 60 points by the role players is an incredble sight. great over the Cavs, the Timberwolves deserved it! still i have to see some consitency, its only 3 games after all
Big win for the TWolves heading into the break. The team has responded to McHale's challenge and as Kevin Garnett said, "We are starting to take on McHale's persona." McHale did a good job of creating mis-matches on the court with his bench players. The bench responded by providing offense and defense to put the Cavs away. Wally led the charge with 26 off the bench, Hoiberg added 13, and Griffin had a near double-double, to go along with 4 blks in only 24 minutes on the floor. The TWolves interior defense was the difference in the game. The TWolves had a block party with 14 blocks, including, two "return to sender" blocks by KG on Gooden.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sabretooth:</div><div class="quote_post">The win doesn't mean anything without consistency. If they consistently lose and then win, it still means struggling. I think the Wolves should start A.Carter.</div> I agree totally, guys are starting to smell that trade deadline, so of course their effort level & unselfishness is going to pickup to insure that they dont get sent to New Orleans or Portland, or some other franchise that is in a total mess. I will be convinced of the turnaround once the trade deadline is long & gone. And guys jobs on this team are secure for the rest of the year. If they still give the same effort level then I will tip my cap, so to speak. I think this team is going to turnaround. But Iam not ready to say they have after only 3 games under Mchale. And the trade deadline a week away. As bad as Minny played in the 1st half of the season, the turnaround they will need to have must be extended & expanded on over a long period of time. Nice win but still alot of change must come about....
I just have to add that Lebron is fantastic. He is a winner. Great guy off the court and a great player on the court. He is amazing at 20 years old. For him, he had 26 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. That's darn good and he was sick last night. He went to the locker room since he was dehydrated. He still came out and played well in the fourth quarter. This guy is going to be special. NBA is lucky to have this type of caliber in this league and fans in Cleveland and nationwide are lucky to see this guy. I hope he keeps acting like this. He is a breathe of fresh air.
I am going to say that if this Timberwolves team can play like they did against Cleveland and New Jersey, especially with Olowakandi finally playing like a good true center, then they will be better then the team from last season with Spree and the alien healthy. This team, although it has been a worse defensive team throughout the season, has far more defensive potential then last years team. Cassell can't guard people, he just isn't capable of it, Anthony Carter is much more capable and guarding the point, and Hudson is better at it aswell, even if he isn't a specialist or anything. This team has more size then last years team, with EG and Olowakandi playing well. This year they are actually capable of outrebounding other teams and blocking shots and scoring in the paint, and we have seen it the last few games. The team has plenty of shooters like it did last year. Hudson, Hoiberg, Wally, Cassell, Spree, Eddie, KG, all those guys can hit shots from the three point line with relative consistency. This means that they don't necessarily need Cassell in there as a scorer, take him and his whining self out and stick in some D, let Spree play, but only because he can play D unlike Cassell. If we keep Spree in a position like Hoiberg, perimeter shooter with D and rebounding, but with some court leadership and some cutting, then he will be able to be effective without being a liability either. He did this against Cleveland, he scored some, but mostly he was passing and rebounding and playing some D. I just think McHale knows what to do with this team, its got size and McHale is one of the all time great big men so he knows everything there is to know about playing C or PF. He knows everything from post moves, to some trickery, to the general attitude that big men can get in certain situations, how to motivate them, and what attitude they need to have to be sucessful. Flip didn't know that stuff, he was a college PG. Not that Flip wasn't a good coach, he was a great coach. But everyone knows that not all coaches are able to coach the same teams. Flip may be the best Xs and Os coach that there is, but he doesn't seem to be able to be the greatest motivator. This team is a great team talentwise. They know how to play ball, they don't necessarily need all that micromanagement that Flip does. But they do need to be in the right mindset to execute, and I think McHale will do a better job at that then Flip did. He already has done it three times, resulting in two wins, one against a very good young team. I see this team going on a run for the rest of the year, and maybe getting as far up as #6. But regardless of the seeding, they will advance. Besides the Spurs, who is to be afraid of? Dallas? They are a good team, but with KG on Dirk and Hassell on Finley they won't be able to execute as effectively as they would like to. Seattle? Not enough D, too young. They have lots of talent, but the Wolves would beat em like they beat Denver last year. (remember, Denver was coming on at the end of the season last year. They were playing at a much higher level then their #8 seeding implies) Phoenix? NO D. They have replaced Dallas as the Dless offensive dominating regular season machine. The Wolves have nothing to fear from them. The Spurs are the only team in the West besides the Wolves that are built for the postseason and if the Wolves do get the #8 seeding and they have to play the Spurs then it will be an interesting series.
