<font color="Green">Minnesota Timberwolves</font> vs <font color="Red">Atlanta Hawks</font> Timberwolves: 22-19 Hawks: 8-31 January 26, 2005 7:00 Central Time <u>Timberwolves Starting Five</u> PG- Sam Cassell SG- Latrell Sprewell SF- Trenton Hassell PF- Kevin Garnett C- Ervin Johnson <u>Sixth Man</u> SF- Wally Szczerbiak -------- <u>Hawks Starting Five</u> PG- Tyronn Lue SG- Josh Smith SF- Al Harrington PF- Antoine Walker C- Jason Collier <u>Sixth Man</u> SG- Josh Childress <u>Star Power</u> Kevin Garnett- 23.0 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 6.1 apg Antoine Walker- 20.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.7 apg Keys to the Game-<ul> [*]Don't let Antoine Walker get hot. He is a very streaky player, and if we allow him to shoot his jumpshot without contention, we could be in for a long night. [*]Contain the speedy guards. I think most of us have seen some amazing highlights, both offensively and defensivle from rookie guard Josh Smith. We can't let the quick Tyronn Lue penetrate and kick, or Smith will put someone on a poster. [*]Play the paint strong. Unless their guards drive, they really won't be a threat. They aren't the greatest of shooters, so we can concentrate more on the frountcourt players. Antoine Walker and Al Harrington both must be watched, closely. [/list] What Could Hurt Us-<ul> [*]Over-Confidence. I know a lot of the guys are really hyped up because we are playing some great basketball again, and winning ball games. But, we can't come out to confident, because that's when easy games get lost. [*]Is Cassell Healthy? He is back and playing, but can he produce? He should get down and post up the much smaller Lue, and we will see how his injury is treating him. [*]Rotation. With a healthy lineup again, and our bench playing amazing, it will be hard to find the suitable amount of minutes for everyone. Wally Szczerbiak, Eddie Griffin, Troy Hudson, and Fred Hoiberg all deserve honorable minutes. [/list] Pure's Prediction- I see the Wolves taking this one quite handlily. We are a hot team, and Atlanta just plain out isn't that good.
Hey this will be a great game for the Wolves. On the other hand, my home team will be getting killed. Josh Smith 20 points, 7 assits, 10 rebounds Wolves- 109 Hawks- 89
Yea i feel really good about this game I think we will win easily and the score might not reflect how the game goes. Wolves 99 Hawks 81
we really can't allow ourself to get to confident we are nearly half where we need to be...we neek to fight hard every game from now on. the fight for the right! minny half to get a W and wanted not to lose a big lead if we get one ! once we get we need to keep pushing, detroit almost stoll that game from us in crunch time-thank god for E.G!
Nice preview Pure, looks good. I think we win this one. The combo of Harrington and Walker has been the only thing really working for them, along with Josh Smith, the rookie who has been playing great and putting up some great highlights. As mentioned, we can't be overconfidence. But I honestly feel we win this in convincing fashion. Thus, extending our win streak to four games in a row. 'Wolves:100 Hawks:80
it really don't look like were gonna win it by 20...leading only by one point at half time 46-45...maybe cause sprewell is playing to much ohh and cassel got in second quarter made 4 points and 5 asista thus far... GO WOLVES!
OHHHH MYYYY GOOOOD! I take my words back about sprewell this night at least! he entered the third quarter with 5 pts. and gizzz he has 27 at the end of the third WOW! he was the big piece of a 35-19 quarter run...we lead 81-64 it's so fun!!!
Nice victory by the Wolves, they need the Hawks on the schedule more often lol. Anyway, first I have to touch on the return of my man Sam. I think it was pretty successful. He cam in the 2nd quarter and really help the Wolves get over a little bit of a hump and take their 1st lead of the game. At first, he was really looking for his shot off screen & rolls. But then he seem to look to be exclusively a distributor as he passed on some good looks to create opportunites for others. He finished the game with only 4pts-8assist. But there was stretches where you really seen the importance of Sammy. Spree preformed well tonight. It some ways it is strange to see Spree & Wally preform well in the same game cause it doesnt happen that often. But Spree took over the game for the Wolves in the 3rd. And Wally made some plays in the 4th. Freddy shot the ball well from deep also. Anyway, Utah next up then the Kings. And that is when you'll get a clear chance to see if the Wolves finally made the turn for good.
Wow, talk about lighting it up. This game was just so fun to watch. Everyone had their share of dominating times. Garnett started it all out, followed by Szczerbiak, and Sprewell to end. Seeing all those guys working in unison was awesome. Was it just me, or was our ball movement amazing tonight? I don't know if the new coach stressed it, but I think there was at least three possessions in a row that all five players touched the ball before a shot went up. Now after I see Henacy's post, here we go. I think Cassell being out there just changed the game. He may not have put up huge numbers, but doesn't everyone just seem to be more in the game when Sammy comes in? I know Garnett is pumped, and the fans seem to be too.
Another great win, I really hope we can keep this going. Sprewell has been playing excellent lately, it makes it hard for me to want to trade him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GarnettKG21:</div><div class="quote_post">Another great win, I really hope we can keep this going. Sprewell has been playing excellent lately, it makes it hard for me to want to trade him.</div> He's still not that consistent. Either you love him or hate him. Right now, the major trade pieces would be Spree or Wally. Wally's been alot more consistent, but the contract is the major problem for me. Spree is streaky (which really showed last night), but his statements have really disrupted chemistry, not only from the team, but the whole T-Wolves fan base. Really, had he not said what he did, we wouldn't be thinking about the possibility of losing him and his streakiness would have been dismissed. Can the trust be saved, that should be our question. Because how much love can you have for a person you deem as greedy and will leave you in a lurch for $100 more from team XYZ?
Good job by the Timberwolves last night. They did what they had to do and that's beating up a very bad team. They showed no mercy which I liked. I love that killer instinct. They exposed the Hawks for what they are. A lousy, soft defensive team. Hawks gotta work on that D if they ever want to be a respectable team. Hawks rookie head coach Mike Woodson did not mince words after the game as he called his team out for the lack of defense. I thought Randy Wittman, who filled in for Flip, did a great job managing minutes and he use Latrell pretty well. Latrell was raving about Wittman after the game. As for Latrell, Sid Hartman reported in Thursday's Strib that Latrell apparently cursed at Flip Monday night hence why he did not play much in the game Monday night. It was so bad that Glen Taylor apparently had to talk to Latrell. This is getting ugly, folks. Latrell has not had a great year as a Timberwolf on and off the court. It's a shame he will be remembered for his antics of this year when he leaves the team either this year or as a free agent.
