Game Thread :Miami @ Minny <div align="center"> @ <font color="Red">Miami Heat</font> (5-2) @ <font color="DarkGreen">Minnesota Timberwolves </font> (3-2) Time: November. 16,2004; 8:00pm Arena: <font color="DarkGreen">Target Center</font> TV: NBATV</div> Preview: The Miami heat got off to a quick start, winning their 1st three games to start the 04-05 season. But with the injury to Dwayne Wade the Heat have hit a low early in the season, lossing 2 of their last 3 games. The recent losses to Western conference contenders Dallas & San Antonio, have some wondering are the Heat as really good as their early record shows. They look to answer a few critics questions tonight as they vist the Target Center, to take on another expect championship contender, the Timberwolves. Like the 03-04 season, the Wolves have gotten off to a slow start in 04-'05. The Wolves enter the game sitting on a 3-2 record. But the thing that stands out about their record has been the fact the Wolves are yet to win two games in a row. The Wolves are looking like a .500 team, win one- lose one. The Wolves are looking to have their 1st two game win streak of the season. <u>Projected Starting 5 </u> <u><font color="DarkGreen">Timberwolves</font></u> PG: <font color="DarkGreen">Sam Cassell</font> SG: <font color="DarkGreen">Wally Szczerbiak</font> SF: <font color="DarkGreen">Latrell Sprewell</font> PF: <font color="DarkGreen">Kevin Garnett</font> C: <font color="DarkGreen">Micheal Olowokandl</font> <font color="Red"><u>Heat</u></font> PG: <font color="Red">Damon Jones</font>* SG: <font color="Red">Eddie Jones</font> SF: <font color="Red">Rasual Butler</font> PF: <font color="Red">Udonis Haslem</font> C: <font color="Red">Shaquille Oneal</font> <font size="1">*expected to make the start for the injured Dwayne Wade</font> --------------- <div align="center"><u>Players To Watch</u> <font color="Red">Shaquille Oneal (Heat)</font> / <font color="DarkGreen">Kevin Garnett (Wolves) </font> </div> The Franchise When the Heat acquired Shaquille Oneal during the offseason from the Lakers, it automatically shifted the face and direction of their franchise. The Heat went from an upstart team to an immediate contender out in the East. But Shaq has gotten off to somewhat of a slow start due to an injured foot. And the fact that Dwayne Wade was their to carry alot of the load. But with Dwayne Wade out, you can fully expect Shaq to step it up. The Timberwolves are a favorible matchup for the leagues most dominate post player. Shaq ran thru the Wolves frontline last season in the Western Conference while still apart of the Lakers. Shaq will look to dominate Kandiman, Ervin Johnson and Mark Madsen again tonight. Tim Duncan was the last player to win back to back mvp's. But Kevin Garnett is putting his name in the hat early, to be the next back to back MVP. KG has pick up right where he left off last season. With the slow start to Latrell Sprewell & Sam Cassell, Kevin Garnett has been forced to shoulder much of the load early for the wolves. The 03-04 MVP leads the Wolves in all major categories including points, rebounds, & assist. KG will look to carry alot of the load for the Wolves again tonight, but the win may ultimately come down to the help he gets from the other members of the Big 3, cause you know KG's production will be there. --------------------- <font color="DarkGreen">Keys To The Game Minny</font> Make Shaq Work on Defense . If the Wolves just let Shaq play one side of the basketball, then Shaq is going to eat them up. Shaq's stamina and conditioning isnt where it should be at the start of the season due to his foot injury. So the Wolves definately need to attack Shaq, put him in Point Guard pick & roll situations. Make him step out the paint to defend. Also a productive offensive night from the Kandiman will be needed to keep Shaq busy. The Wolves need to focus on keeping Kandi out of foul trouble and involved in the game from the opening tip. Team Rebounding . The Wolves much like most of 03-04, have gotten off to a poor rebounding start. Simply put the Wolves are not doing a good job at team rebounding. Guys like Sprewell, Wally, & Cassell are not help the Wolves bigs on the backboard. When a team puts up a shot they all are running back on offense but not helping to secure the defensive board. The perimeter players must go back & help the bigs out on the board. Strong offensive game from the Wolves perimeter players. The Wolves rely on strong perfomances from Sprewell, Cassell, & Wally inorder to beat the better. But they havent gotten the consistent output from those guys these guys this season. Mainly Cassell & Sprewell are in Minny to lighten the load of KG, they need a strong game from them. But Flip Suanders most also take the handcuffs off Cassell & Sprewell's game. And let them play their style. <font color="Red">Keys To the Game Miami </font> Establish Shaq early. Whether Wade plays or doesnt play, the Heat will still be most effective playing inside-out thru Shaq. Establishing Shaq againt the weakness for Minny at the Center spot will be key. Once Shaq gets going he will open up the floor for guys like Damon Jones, Eddie Jones out on the perimeter. Strong game from Eddie Jones. Eddie Jones has got off to a slow start to the 04-05 season, but with Wade not 100%, the Heat need Eddie Jones to step up to have a strong game. Time for Ej to carry his weight. Making Perimeter Shots With the Wolves expected to do alot of doubling down on Shaq, guys like Rasual Butler, Damon Jones etc most losen up the post by making open perimeter shots, when Shaq swings the ball out of the double teams. If the Heat perimeter players dont make their shots the Wolves will just sit in Shaq's lap down low in the post. Pick & Roll Defense. The Wolves are one of the league's most effective teams in Pick & Roll situations. You can bet that the Wolves will try to Shaq in the Pick & Roll situations. Shaq must be willing to comeout and help the point guards effectively defend the Pick & Roll. --- <u>Closing Statement</u> This is somewhat of a big game for the Wolves. They need to get a winning consistency going for 04-05 especially with the defending champs coming up on the schedule. If the Wolves dont get it together before you know it they may drop below .500. I know its early. And the Wolves got off to a slow start last year. But if they are going to have the focus to be champions this year, you want to send messages to the other top teams not only in the West but east as well. Games against the Heat, Pacers, & Pistons are as big as games against the Spurs, Mavs and any other West contender. as far as making a statement to the rest of the league.
I expect this to be a good game that will go down to the wire however, the crucial loss of Dwayne Wade for the Miami Heat will prove costly. I'm predicting a 100-92 loss T'Wolves.
Hellified preview Henacy. Niccceee. Anyway, sometimes it's not about knowing specifics and such, but I expect the Wolves to pull this one out 92 - 85.
Well, Dwyane Wade isnt injured and that ankle doesnt seem to be bothering him looking at the facial he served up in the first quarter and his level of play is amazing for coming back from an injury. When I tuned out of the game Minnesota was up by 5 I think, dont remember but I think that Minnesota is going to take this one and KG is going to have a triple-double.
I didn't think the Wolves were gonna come out like this. KG had a helluva game. I like the fact the Griffin can hit the 3, but I hope he can get a mid-range game because he won't get all of those open shots later in the season. The starting 5 looked pretty good, but the starting 4 (Garnett, Szczerbiak, Cassell, and Spree) looked great. Spree didn't have all of the shots, but he made his presence felt. Great game by the Wolves.
This was mos definately the best performance by the Twolves, so far this year. The PIck & Roll with Sam & KG looked very effecient. Wally S. shot the ball extremely well from the field. He even looked good in situations putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket. The Wolves controlled this game from the start, the Heat made a run at the end, when both teams had the subs in the game. And the wolves were up by 20, they cut it to ten. But then Flip entered KG & Sam back in the game for a few plays in the 4th. And the Wolves took back complete control of the tempo in the game. I hope the Wolves can come out and play that effiecent against the Pistons tonight.
