<div align="center"> Minnesota Timberwolves: 16-13 Charlotte Bobcats: 7-21 Date: Wednesday, January 5th Time: 7:00 PM TV: C-SET, NBALP Previous Games: Suns @ Timberwolves 122-115 (LOSS) Cavs @ Bobcats 94-83 (LOSS) <font color="navy"><font size="1">(Coach Flip Saunders)</font></font> C - <font color="navy">Michael Olowokandi</font> (4.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.3 APG) PF - <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> (23.9 PPG, 14.6 RPG, 6.3 APG) SF - <font color="navy">Wally Szczerbiak</font> (15.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.2 APG) SG - <font color="navy">Latrell Sprewell</font> (12.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.9 APG) PG - <font color="navy">Sam Cassell</font> (15.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 6.0 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="orange"><font size="1">(Coach Bernie Bickerstaff)</font></font> C - <font color="orange">Primoz Brezec</font> (11.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.2 APG) PF - <font color="orange">Emeka Okafor</font> (15.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.0 APG) SF - <font color="orange">Gerald Wallace</font> (10.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.7 APG) SG - <font color="orange">Kareem Rush</font> (5.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.7 APG) PG - <font color="orange">Brevin Knight</font> (7.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 9.4 APG) WOLVES - <font color="navy">Eddie Griffin</font> Predicted Stats: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist BOBCATS - <font color="orange">Kareem Rush</font> Predicted Stats: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists WOLVES - <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> Predicted Stats: 23 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists BOBCATS - <font color="orange">Emeka Okafor</font> Predicted Stats: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists </div> The Wolves are coming off a tough loss to Phoenix, where Kevin Garnett posted a huge 47 points. However, all that counts is a win, and the Wolves were on the losing side last night. Frustrated and disappointed, Minnesota looks to take out their anger against the Charlotte Bobcats, who may not be excited about the idea in the first place. Did I say "first place?" What I meant was last place...something that the Bobcats are trying to avoid in the East. So far, they are 2.5 games ahead of the Hawks in the Southeast. As for Minnesota, second in the Northwest...but snagging the 6th seed in the playoffs, their record matching the Los Angeles Lakers at 16-13. A win here in Charlotte would not only put their away record above .500, but it will also break their 3-game skid. For the Cats, a 6-game losing streak would be nice to erase. The key matchup to this game will be Garnett and Okafor. Although Emeka's streak was put to an end against the Cavaliers, Emeka looks to start yet another double-double streak, beginning with the Wolves and Garnett, who can produce more double-doubles than the Olsen twins' photographers. These two will fight for boards...but you could see Emeka working his hardest in this game. However, if the Bobcats are blown out by the end of the 3rd, Garnett may be pulled off the court to rest. Kareem Rush is starting, and it's no surprise that this opportunity in Charlotte is exactly what the kid needed. Rush's shooting has shown a huge improvement since he's wearing a Bobcat jersey, so both Laker/Rush fans and Charlotte fans can be thankful that he's producing, and not rotting away on the bench. Kareem has a future in Charlotte...and he'll be a much greater addition to the team once this squad pulls away with a few more wins in seasons to come. Surprise, surprise, Minnesota fans...this also gives me the opportunity to bring up Eddie Griffin, who could be at home wasting away his life if it wasn't for the Timberwolves. Instead, the organization gives him a second chance...okay, maybe a fourth or fifth chance...at being in the league, and the man is amazingly talented (as if some of us basketball nuts didn't know that already). Eddie can drive, rebound, shoot the three, defend...he's living up to the hype during his rookie year...so much hype, in fact, that Rudy Tomjanovich considered him worth, guess who? Richard Jefferson. The Bobcats will be anxious to play this last home game, before taking a trip to Orlando and Cleveland for their next two games...but I doubt the Bobcats can stop the Timberwolves, especially after Garnett's performance last night. The man is on fire, and right now, he's breathing fire...not sleeping...so look for Garnett and Co. to come out strong and put away the Cats, 94-82.
Nice preview except you got Rush as a starter and sixth man. Keith Bogans or Jason Hart would be the sixth man I think.
Nice Preview. I actually think that the Bobcats are going to win. They will get a good 15 boards from Emeka and Gerald Wallace will step it up and score 20. Bobcats 100- T'Wolves 97
^^^ Yeah i could see the bobcats pulling an upset. the wolves have not been laying well at all. i believe its just too much inconsistency on the team as of late and i dont believe everyone is on the same page. as you stated in your first preview sonics1, when you look at the numbers kg is dropping you would almost think hes playing good bad ball. but i think the problem is much deeper than the numbers kg is dropping. i just dont think he's getting the help he needs. i noticed last game troy was playing the point for the remainder of the game last night during the wolves triumphant run. was sam i am fouled out? does anyone think sam and spree should get limited minutes like kidd.
Yeah...Bobcats...the "Who Dat?" part of my preview isn't necessarily the sixth man. It's more of a category for someone who's not a superstar or big-name player that fills his stats and pulls through for the team when they need him. That man is the new starter, Kareem Rush.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Quickness:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah i could see the bobcats pulling an upset. the wolves have not been laying well at all. i believe its just too much inconsistency on the team as of late and i dont believe everyone is on the same page. as you stated in your first preview sonics1, when you look at the numbers kg is dropping you would almost think hes playing good bad ball. but i think the problem is much deeper than the numbers kg is dropping. i just dont think he's getting the help he needs. i noticed last game troy was playing the point for the remainder of the game last night during the wolves triumphant run. was sam i am fouled out? does anyone think sam and spree should get limited minutes like kidd.</div> ^To answer your questions, no Sam wasn't fouled out. Sam is okay as their starting PG and getting about 30mins, but sometimes they need the energy from Hudson, and I think after the recent talk about him all looks fine again and seems to be settled. And Spreewell, well we need his energy and emotional playing, he started the late run with his T. But I think his minutes need to decrease and Hassell needs to replace him more often. Now the game, the Wolves are horrible this season in back-to-back games, but I think they need to prove some things and are in for a big win tonight, I expect some kind of a blowout.
I think that they are missing a puzzle piece. They really need someone to step up and play that second role behind KG. I really think that is their problem. It is not that they arent playing ball well it is just that they need someone else to step it up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sonics1:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that they are missing a puzzle piece. They really need someone to step up and play that second role behind KG. I really think that is their problem. It is not that they arent playing ball well it is just that they need someone else to step it up.</div> Flip Suanders needs to losen the strangle hold he has on Cassell's game right now. They T-Wolves accouners said it perfectly last night the Wolves are struggling they need to live & die by Cassell-KG pick & rolls all day but Flip dont want to do that. He wants to run plays to get everyone other then KG egual amount of shots that is why you see Sprewell, Cassell, Wally all bunched up at 11-13 shots a game. Flip Suanders is trying to win with an equal opporunity offense but I dont think the Wolves can win like that. For the Wolves not win they need KG to get his 18-20 shots per game. And Sam to get no less then 15 per...not 12 shots one night then 7 or 8 the next. They need to run enuff plays for Sam to establish him as their every game 2nd option. But Flip's to scared certian guys will get mad if they arent getting their 10-13 shots per.
^^^^ well maybe flip will flip his game plan when the playoffs start. He could just be getting guys accustomed to scoring. I mean considering they are going to need help form everyone when the playoffs start due to diffrent defensive schems they will see during the playoff time. I guess we'll just jave to see how flips plan pans out.
Wow with that kind of performance by KG, you'd think the Twolves would win. Its pre-2004 all over again it seems for Garnett.
disgusting how the wolves are playing. i feel sorry for k.g. He just cant seem to get help. But in his helps defense, Martin here at justbball says flip is running an offense which is focused on getting everyone equal shot opportunities. which could be the biggest problem of the wolves.
It just seemed like the T-wolves quit playing there at the end of the 4th quarter. The Bobcats got a little momentum and the wolves just let them have it. The game was close until Minnesota's meltdown. Anyway, this is definitely the Bobcats biggest win in their short history, and the 2nd time I have been able to see them live.
That was an awesome game. Did anyone see when Gerald Wallace blocked Wally? That was a pretty nice block. It's nice to see Wallace doing so well, he stepped up his game completley(sp?) and he's going to be dangerous in a couple years.
Man the Wolves are playing terribly. Good game by the Cats though. I think this was one of there best Offensive games
