<table class="gamePreview" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="center" colspan="2"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana">November 22, 2007 @ 8:00pm EST Target Center, Minneapolis, MN KSTC-45 FSOhio </font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Minnesota Timberwolves (1-7)</font></p> </td> <td class="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"> </font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana">Cleveland Cavaliers </font><font face="Verdana">(5-6)</font></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4 align="center"><font face="Verdana">Projected Starters</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="roster"> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"> </font> <font face="Verdana"><font size="2"><font color="#0d588d">PGMarko JaricSG Rashad McCants SFCorey BrewerPFAntoine WalkerC Al Jefferson </font></font> </font><font color="#0d588d"><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p> </td> <td> <p align="center"><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font> <font face="Verdana" color="#b90456" size="2">PG Daniel Gibson SG Sasha Pavlovic </font><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456" size="2">SF LeBron James PF Drew Gooden C Zydrunas Ilgauskas </font><font color="#b90456"><font face="Verdana"> <font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font><font face="Verdana"></font></font></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Season Stats</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Scoring</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">94.0 PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Field Goal %</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">44.1%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">3-Point %</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">38.2%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Rebounds</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">41.4 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Assists</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">18.4 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Scoring</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">100.3PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Field Goal %</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">43.9%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">3-Point %</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">35.6%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Rebounds</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">46.0 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Assists</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">19.5 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Team Leaders</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="seasonStats"> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Points</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">Jefferson19.5 PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Rebounds</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">Jefferson11.1 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#0d588d">Assists</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">Telfair4.6 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> <td> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Points</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">James 29.6 PPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Rebounds</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">Ilgauskas 12.1 RPG</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="strong"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">Assists</font></td> <td><font face="Verdana">James 7.9 APG</font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Key Matchup:C -<font color="#0d588d">Al Jefferson</font>v <font color="#b90456">Zydrunas Ilgauskas</font></font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyMatchup"> <td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana"> v Al Jefferson is most certainly the key player for the Timberwolves. If he fails to produce, they lose. And even when he does produce, they still invariably lose. The youngster will likely face a couple of torrid seasons whilst the T'Wolves build around him. Ilgauskas has had a great start to the season, even though the Cavs' start has not been great. If Ilgauskas can slow Jefferson by taking away rebounds that the Minnesota C would otherwise get, the Timberwolves stand almost no chance of victory. </font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Keys to the Game</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="keyStrategy"> <td> <ul>[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#0d588d">Stop LeBron- It is very difficult to work out how they might be able to do this, but it is the only way they will be able to win. And even if they do stop LeBron, they stil have to hope for the other guys to have off-nights, else they'll still lose. </font></font> [*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#0d588d">Outrebound the Cavs- If Al Jefferson is an absolute beast on the boards tonight, it is possible that they can outrebound the Cavs. This will help them towards possible victory, but they still need other things to go their way too. </font></font> [*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#0d588d">Play with intensity- What they lack in ability at present, the Timberwolves will have to make up for with energy and intensity. If they can do so, it increases their slim chances of winning tonight's ballgame.</font></font>[/list] </td> <td> <ul>[*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#b90456">Win the ReboundingBattle-The Cavs ought to win the battle comprehensively, such is their arsenal of rebounders. LeBron James, Drew Gooden and ZydrunasIlgauskas often combine for at least 35 rebounds, and the trio should be able to muscle out Jefferson between them. </font></font> [*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#b90456">Play sensibly-The Cavs have a tough week ahead of them with the Pistons, Celtics and Raptors awaiting them next week. They need to do all they can to win, but also ensure that they are at their best for the aforementioned games. </font></font> [*]<font face="Verdana"><font color="#b90456">Make Free-Throws- LeBron's shooting from the charity stripe has increased vastly recently. If he, and the rest of the team, can keep this up, they should be able to minimalise the physical effort required to win tonight.</font></font>[/list] </td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">The Cavs since 2003 v Minnesota</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="since03"> <td colspan="2"><font face="Verdana" color="#b90456">There have been three meetings between the two clubs, evenly split between the two. The Cavs average 93.1 PPG whilst the Timberwolves average 91.9 PPG. LeBron James averages 27.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists against the Minnesota-based team. The Cavaliers have won each of the last three meetings between the two teams.</font></td> </tr> <tr class="sectHeader"> <td colspan="2"> <h4><font face="Verdana">Prediction</font></h4> </td> </tr> <tr class="prediction"> <td colspan="2"> <font face="Verdana">I can't look past the Cavs tonight, their players simply outclass their Minnesota counterparts, and anything other than a comfortable, 10+ point victory would be not only a disappointment, but probably a hinderance to their preparation for next week.</font></p> <font face="Verdana" size="4"><font color="#0d588d">89</font>- <font color="#b90456">106</font></font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p>
