Game Details: @ Monday, Jan. 19 5:00 pm NBALP Club Records: <font size="1">[23-17] Road [11-10] [26-12] Home [12-5]</font> Probable Line Ups: <u>New Orleans</u> <u>Minnesota</u> Injuries: <u>New Orleans</u>: David Wesley <u>Minnesota</u>: Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi Analysis: Seems like just last week these 2 clubs matched up. Last tuesday the Timberwolves went to New Orleans to play the entire game down, to rise in the 4th quarter and steal the game from the New Orleans Hornets propelling the T'Wolves to a first place spot in the Midwest Division. Look for New Orleans to keep the same strategy as in the first game, play Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell one on one. The Timberwolves will start this game off as the finished the last game, having Latrell Sprewell gaurd Baron Davis instead of Trenton Hassell. Baron Davis and some other source must pick up the scoring as David Wesley went down in the loss to Toronto. Key Match Up: PJ Brown gaurded Kevin Garnett one-on-one for the majority of the previous game and forced Garnett into a bad shooting night (9-24). Look for the same strategy from the Hornets to play Garnett with one man instead of using a double team. If Garnett forces the Hornets to double team him with a good game, it could create wide open shots for Trenton Hassell and Fred Hoiberg who must knock them down. X-Factor: Again, PJ Brown must be able to keep Garnett buckets limited. If Brown can keep Garnett to a low FG %, the rest of the Hornets can play their man without worring about double teaming.
I say Timberwolves, but another close one to the Hornets. Sprewell goes off again, and Cassell will have his usual games. I'm not sure about Garnett, though. It looks like he is being bugged by that sprained ankle he suffered last week against New Orleans. We'll see how he fairs though. Should be another good one. EDIT: Troy Hudson will play in this game, just so you can take him off that injured list.
I think my Timberwolves take this one, they have the better defense in my eyes. I just hope PJ doesn't contain KG, also if that is the case, hopefully Spree and Cassell will rack us up the win. Wolves by 5, I think we're going to have a hard time.
I think that it is important that Evrin Johnson, & Miller finish easy opportunties around the basket. The last three games vs Rockets, Spurs,& hornets all of the low post focus has went only to KG, leaving easy tip in & layup opportunites for the other t-wolves bigmen. Madsen did a good job of finishing around the basket against the spurs(I dont know what happened to his minutes against the Rockets? Seems like he didnt play the second half). But if the t-wolves role playing bigmen can just finish easy opportunities it will really loosen things up for KG to work. I agree with the Preview, Spree really made it hard for Davis to get a good look in the 2nd half, He should be on Davis again tommorrow. I think with David out the Hornets wont really score alot of points from their primary offense, so their bigmen will really be trying to work the offensive boards for 2nd chance points. This will be Miller & Johnson job to keep them off. Robert Traylor & PJ Brown did an excellent job on the boards last game. 2nd chance points will be the only way the Hornets can keep up with the t-wolves on the road without wesley. but I think if Spree, Sam, & KG get out to an early start the t-wolves can win by double digits.
Well, the Wolves defeated the Hornets last week in New Orleans, so I think they will take it again---but not if they play like they did against the Rockets. This should be a close game..
After losing big to Houston I am starting to doubt the Wolves. I think that Bdiddy will do everything in his power to outplay Cassel. But the Wolves will win by at least 7.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">After losing big to Houston I am starting to doubt the Wolves. I think that Bdiddy will do everything in his power to outplay Cassel. But the Wolves will win by at least 7.</div> Is a team not allowed an off day? We were due, granted it was a big margin, but it's just one loss.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">After losing big to Houston I am starting to doubt the Wolves. I think that Bdiddy will do everything in his power to outplay Cassel. But the Wolves will win by at least 7.</div> Sam wont be guarding Davis, sprewell &/or Hassell will be guarding him. but in the past when Sam' teams play the Hornets. Sam usally has the better game. Davis will toss up alot of shots but by the end of the game Sam & Davis will be neck to neck in points scored.
David Wesley isn't much of a scoring threat... His offense is terribly inconsistent, so it's not a big blow to the Hornet's scoring. However, Baron Davis is, and, as of late, he hasn't been doing it. For the last three to five games for the Hornets (since the loss to the Wolves at home), he hasn't been breaking 20 points, nor 10 assists, which is something the Hornets must have to win this game. The Wolves are coming off to that bad loss in Houston and are looking to avenge themselves at home. KG won't be as effective as usual, but he'll still post a double double, and Cassizzle will drop his shots like his life depends on it. Sprewell is really an X-Factor for the Wolves. Depending on how well he plays, it could spell and win or a loss for Minnesota. I'll take the Wolves by 2.
Timberwolves 97, Hornets 90 Good game by the Wolves. Trent was the only one not to score today, but he only played 7 minutes. Hudson scored 6 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, and added 2 assists to that. Garnett had a good game today, scoring 29 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists. Cassell chipped in with 22 points, 9 of those points came in the fourth quarter, and had 4 assists. Sprewell also contributed with 15 points and 4 assists. Mark Madsen came off the bench to score 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. On the other side of the ball, Baron Davis scored 25 points and dished out 5 assists. Davis also sprained his ankle, so we are going to have to see how that comes out. Glad to see the Wolves leaving behind that loss to Houston, and Garnett's slump seems to be over. Good overall games for the Wolves. Recap Box Score
Good win for the Wolves, but they were lucky Baron got injured. KG got away with a travel IMO, and that is all I have to say..
I don't think he traveled. I can't remember if it was on that play, i think it was, but was it cassell or thud looked like they stepped out of bounds before hand.
Yea he traveled, but how were the Wolves so lucky that Baron got injuried MDE? They could have still won the game. Wolves just know how to execute down the stretch.
