Details: Who: (27-36) vs (44-19) Where: Key Arena When: Tuesday, March 9th, 7pm TV: KONG, NBALP Projected Lineups: PG: Antonio Daniels/Luke Ridnour SG: Ray Allen/Ronald Murray/Richie Frahm SF: Rashard Lewis/Vladimir Radmanovic/Ansu Sesay PF: Reggie Evans/Vladimir Radmanovic/Calvin Booth C: Vitaly Potapenko/Jerome James/Calvin Booth Coached by Nate McMillan PG:Sam Cassell/Troy Hudson SG: Trenton Hassell/Wally Sczcerbiak SF: Latrell Sprewell/Gary Trent PF: Kevin Garnett/Mark Madsen/Gary Trent C: Michael Olowokandi/Ervin Johnson Coached by Flip Saunders Injury List: Nick Collison: shoulder, season. Brent Barry: broken finger, on IL. Injury List Ndudi Ebi: right patellar tendinitis, on IL. Notes: The season series is tied at 1-1. Flip Murray hit the gamewinning jumper over Latrell Sprewell at the buzzer in the first match-up of the season, on his way to a career high 31 points. Seattle come in off tying a franchise low with 65 points in a loss to Detroit, while Minnesota suffered a shock three point loss to the Boston Celtics. Kevin Garnett is the clear choice for MVP this season, as the Timberwolves look to get out of the first round for the first time in their short history. Ray Allen missed the loss to the Pistons with the flu, but should be back for this one. Brent Barry joined full practises this week, Seattle are 4-16 in the duration of his finger injury. Post your thoughts, comments and predictions for the game here.
I am genuinely scared for this one. Garnett will be too much alone, Olowokandi's return to form is a timely one and I can't see anything less than a double digits win for Minny. EDIT: Ray Allen is still bedridden with the flu, Ronald Murray has a sprained big toe and Antonio Daniels is still feeling the effects of bruised ribs. All three are unclear as to whether they will take the court, moving Nate to explore the possibility of playing big with Rashard Lewis at SG, and Vlade Radmanovic at SF.
I dont know this should be a win for the wolves. But with the way things have been going lately I dont know. Flip needs to take the shackles off of Sam's game. He sitting on the bench way too long when he goes out. Sam's game has had no rhythm lately. Its like as soon as he gets on a role.And starts knocking down shots Flip subs him out. So if Sam's on the court 35plus minutes as the floor general, t-wolves win. But if Flip in one of those moods like he was on sunday where he wants to split the point guard minutes right down the middle between troy & Sam then the wolves offense will struggle. Also go to Spree early in the 1st quarter, try to get spree off early. And if he doesnt get off then Flip should put him on the bench earlier then he did on sunday. I think he waited to late in the game on sunday to decide to bench Spree for the rest of the game. But I think the wolves are going to have to find away to keep Spree involved in the offense over the long hall. As playoff time nears, Sprewellls offense will be needs. Basically the big 3 has to get back to being the big 3. They have seem kind of passive since the return of Wally, Thud, & Kandiman. The big3 needs to remember that they are Minnys moneys players. If they get back to there aggressive style of play then they will get back on the successful track.
If Flip plays I think it will be the same thing that happened, buzzer beater game winning shot. If he dont play im gonna have to side with the Timberwolves after all they got the big ticket on their side.
If Ray and Flip doesn't play,the Wolves should have a higher possiblity of winning this game but they haven't been playing like themselves lately.They have just lost 2 in a row for the third time this season.Sam will need to play better in this game to help his team win.He hasn't been playing great recently.The Wolves will need him to guide them to victory.We will also need Trenton's defense to help the team.They will need great defense and will need to have ball mouvement. And the Big 3 will all have to play great together.They haven't played like that since Wally, Troy and Olowakandi.They will need to play aggresively. I predict the Wolves win by 7 and that KG will dominate in this game.
It was already a tough game before, now Ray, AD, and Flip might not play? I don 't see how the Sonics can win this... T-Wolves by 10.
blagh I'm sick too...since Saturday...maybe I got it from Ray Allen...haha...hmmm this really bites...Flip...Ray......and AD.....not even cool...TWolves by 5...unless a miracle.
Sprewell was determined to get out of his slump tonight he made sure he got up his 20plus shots. At least he got most of them going toward the basket instead of taking long jumper swith a defender hand in his face(even tho he took a few off those too.)
^ It was a great battle between Spree and Ray, who seemed determined to break a mini slump of his own. The difference tonight was there were other Wolves that stepped up when it counted. Garnett, Hudson and Cassell all stepped up in the second half and particulary the final quarter, while Ray had no help whatsoever, particularly from guys like Lewis and Radmanovic who are counted upon to pick up some slack.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">^ It was a great battle between Spree and Ray, who seemed determined to break a mini slump of his own. The difference tonight was there were other Wolves that stepped up when it counted. Garnett, Hudson and Cassell all stepped up in the second half and particulary the final quarter, while Ray had no help whatsoever, particularly from guys like Lewis and Radmanovic who are counted upon to pick up some slack.</div> Yeah, Ray didnt have any help. There was alot of opprtunites for AD to score against Sam & Troy but he didnt take advantage. I know AD isnt a noted offense player as far as scoring, but against troy& Sam you have to be aggressive to take advantage of the fact that they play no defense. When playing the wolves the opposing point guard has to look to score going toward the basket, its there weeakest defensive position. Luke Ridnour tried to get some things done tho. And another thing Rashard Lewis really needs to develope a post game. He needs it to take advantage of smaller forwards like Sprewell. Sprewell had so much energy on offense because he didnt have to use ant on D. With Rasdard standing around shooting jumpers/doing nothing at all night, Sprewell had plenty of energy to go to the basket strong all night. I think if Rashard had a post game that required Sprewell to use energy trying to guard, Spree would have slowed down/become less aggressive as the game went on. But Spree's energy only got stronger. If Rashard wants to take that next step I think a post game is what he needs to develope. If he adds a post game like Masburn has.With Rashard's size at the small forward spot combined with the fact that he can knock down the outside jumper, he could really start to do some serious damage.
yeah...I wished that there was some help...Ray did REALLY GREAT last night, even Kevin Calaboro noted, "I wished he had the flu more often...." haha... when's the next game? (and whose it against?)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post"> And another thing Rashard Lewis really needs to develope a post game. He needs it to take advantage of smaller forwards like Sprewell. Sprewell had so much energy on offense because he didnt have to use ant on D. With Rasdard standing around shooting jumpers/doing nothing at all night, Sprewell had plenty of energy to go to the basket strong all night. I think if Rashard had a post game that required Sprewell to use energy trying to guard, Spree would have slowed down/become less aggressive as the game went on. But Spree's energy only got stronger. If Rashard wants to take that next step I think a post game is what he needs to develope. If he adds a post game like Masburn has.With Rashard's size at the small forward spot combined with the fact that he can knock down the outside jumper, he could really start to do some serious damage.</div> Sure it would be nice for Rashard to develop a better post game, but if the Sonics would acquire some legit post players to play C or PF, then Shard can just play his game and not have such dire consequences if he personally doesn't help in the paint. Shard should work on his post game for sure, but he's not alone in that category.
Daniels is still feeling the effects of his rib injuries, that much is clear, otherwise there's no doubt he would be aggressive.
