<div align="center"><font color="Teal"><font size="3">Minnesota Timberwolves</font></font> @ <font color="Green"><font size="3">Seattle Supersonics</font></font> Minnesota Timberwolves: 19-19 Seattle Supersonics: 27-10 Date: Friday, January 21st Time: 9:30 PM TV: KSTC, NBALP Previous Games: T'Wolves @ Lakers 90-93(L) Sonics vs. Nuggets 110-113(L) <u><font size="2">Starting Lineups</font></u></div> <div align="center"><font color="Teal"><font size="2"><font face="Tahoma">The T'Wolves</font></font></font> <font color="Teal">Coach Flip Saunders</font> <font color="Teal">PG: Anthony Carter (1.8PPG, .7RPG, 1.2APG) SG: Latrell Sprewell (12.9PPG, 2.7RPG, 2.1APG) SF: Trenton Hassell (5.3PPG, 2.9RPG, 1.6APG) PF: Kevin Garnett (23.2PPG, 14.9RPG, 6.3APG) C: Ervin Johnson (1.0PPG, 2.2RPG, .1APG)</font> <font color="Teal">Injuries: G Sam Cassell C Mark Madsen G/F Ndudi Ebi C Michael Olowakandi(suspension)</font> <font color="Green"><font size="2"><font face="Tahoma">The Sonics</font></font></font> <font color="Green">Coach Nate McMillan</font> <font color="Green">PG: Luke Ridnour (9.4PPG, 2.6RPG, 6.3APG) SG: Ray Allen (23.9PPG, 4.2RPG, 4.2APG) SF: Rashard Lewis (20.5PPG, 5.7RPG, 1.0APG) PF: Reggie Evans (9.4PPG, 8.5RPG, .5APG) C: Jerome James (3.7PPG, 2.3RPG, .2APG)</font></div> <div align="center"><font color="Green">Injuries: G Mateen Cleaves F Damien Wilkins C Robert Swift</font></div> Series History: In their first matchup this season, the Sonics went in and grabbed a win from the T'Wolves on November 23rd. In that meeting, Rashard Lewis scored 27 and Ray Allen scored 24 to help lead the Sonics to the W. Garnett had 16 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Last season, the T'Wolves went 2-0 on the Sonics homecourt. Minnesota trails big time in the all-time series to Sonics. The Sonics are 42-18 alltime against the T'Wolves. Keys to the game: <ul>Shut down the outside shooting: As most of us know, Seattle is a very deadly 3 point shooting team. Led by Allen, Lewis, and Radman, this team can really light it up from behind the arc. We definitely aren't as good from behind the arc as the Sonics are, but they get a whole lot of their points from there. If we can do an alright job from keeping them from making a lot of three's, we shouldn't be in too bad of shape.[/list] <ul>Crash the boards: We haven't been too good of a rebounding team. Our only solid rebounders are Garnett of course, and Griffin. We may be a better team, if we had some better centers, but we are stuck with only Johnson and Thomas. Not sure if Olowakandi is back from his suspension for this game. But the Sonics are a good rebounding team with Evans, James, and Fortson and Collison coming off of the bench. We need to do a good job hitting the boards.[/list] <ul>Production off the bench: Once again, we need to get production off of the bench. Our main bench players are Hudson and Wally and to get them involved off of the bench is very key. In their game against the Lakers, Wally and Hudson combined only had 21 points, with Hudson only getting 4 of the 21. In that game, there were only six different scorers in the game, which is pretty pathetic if you ask me. This team is very deep with Wally, Hudson, Hoiberg, Griffin, etc. off of the bench, yet, they aren't giving the production they need too. We need to get them involved.[/list] The dissapointments continue.... T'Wolves fans, I know your with me on this, this season is very disapointing. We were picked to win the division, and either finish first or second in the conference. We were even picked by many, even myself, to win the NBA championship. So far, we havn't lived up to any of that. We have the depth, but we aren't using it. We have no leadership and win attitude on this team except for our MVP an the league's MVP, Kevin Garnett. And at the center position, please don't even get me started. We finally win two in a row on the road against Portland and Denver, and then the disapointments continue as we then lose by 8 against the Raptors and then by 3 against the Lakers. This is a MUST win, we cannot lose any ground in our division, or in the conference. CUSA Fan's Prediction: So we find ourselves in another must win situation and we're on the road, where we have been flat out horrible. It's going to be very tough. I've been very optimistic so far, but it's hard to be anymore. I think we may lose yet another and fall under .500 Sonics: 100 T'Wolves: 92 Come on T'Wolves fans, root on your 'Wolves in this one. I know that we are struggling and it's getting very tough to watch, but we need some wins.
Losing this one would mean being under a .5 record. We're also out of the playoff spots at the moment, half a game behind Houston for 8th (playing tonight against Orlando, if they lose they also have a 5. record), few more games behind LA and Memphis (6th and 7th) - 5th is already way ahead of us. So I hope they'll win it of course. However, Seattle is still a force and as you said they're deadly from the 3pointer and the question is: Can we defend them? We need a top defensive game to win it. Bye the way, great preview as usual!
I feel as though we have good defensive players, but as a team, we aren't playing good defense. Our good defensive players are Anthony Carter at the pointguard position, of course Hassell at the small forward position, and Garnett plays some good defense at the powerforward position. But as a team, we aren't playing good defense at all. We have been letting up a lot of points and aren't defending the three very well, which can hurt us very badly in this game, because of how good the Sonics are from behind the arc. Tonight, superb defense is definitely needed. If not, say goodbye to an above .500 record.
The Wolves cant defend the 3, if you put a pistol to their heads. Toronto and LA killed them from the perimeter and they arent half the perimeter team that the Sonics are, so I see it extremely hard to see how the Wolves are going to contain their offense. And without Cassell, they definately dont have the scoring options to hang with the Sonics. The Wolves are going to need a monster 30+ game from both KG & either Sprewell & Wally just to keep it close. If not the Wolves probably lose this one by double figures. The only thing good the Wolves have in their favor is that last year, when Hassell matched up with Ray the game where Trenton didnt get into foul trouble early, he really locked Allen up. Ray was something like 4-15, If the Wolves can get a repeat defensive performance like that against Ray that may give them a shot. But with the new rules in place that give a huge advantage to the offensive stars, Trenton Hassell defense has been effected alot this year by such rules. They are made to get a player like him in foul trouble, cause he commits alot of touch fouls out on the perimeter. Anyway, the Wolves will probably drop under .500 for a game. And then move back to .500 on Saturday vs Portland. If they lose both friday & Saturday, then thats when worry mode hits over drive
its nasty whats going on with the wolves. I also think the wolves are going to lose by double digits. To me the wolves look like they are chickens with there heads cut off out there on the court. There game looks as if its all based on one on one. The team chemistry just does not seem to be there at all.
Reading the Star-Tribune and Pioneer Press, the article was about how lousy the Wolves have been shooting in the three-point line. Flip Saunders was imploring his guys to start taking it in the hole instead of taking stupid shots. I read in the NBA.com preview where the Wolves had 31 attempts of threes in the last two games. That's just stupidity. If the ball is not bouncing, you go to the hole and score. I hope the Wolves don't try to copy what the Sonics are doing in shooting jumpshots. Did anyone thought Seattle and Minnesota would have the record they have now going back in the summer and when the season started? I sure didn't and I expected the Wolves to be in first place by now. What a good story the Sonics are right now. Of course, that ride may end if they can't resign Ray Allen and keep coach Nate McMillan on hold. Wolves best shot of making the playoffs is winning the Northwest and they need a win here to gain a game here. Big opportunity to do that tonight.
3 Point Shooting I think one of the reasons they have been shooting so many threes lately, is because they fall behind and then they have to play from behind and come back, they feel like they have to throw up a bunch of threes even when their is like 8 minutes left and they are only down by 6. Agreeable hypothesis?
3 Point Shooting I think one of the reasons they have been shooting so many threes lately, is because they fall behind and then they have to play from behind and come back, they feel like they have to throw up a bunch of threes even when their is like 8 minutes left and they are only down by 6. Also, with Sam Cassell out, they miss having his leadership abilities and being able to calm the younger guys down out on the floor and makes sure everything is setup accordingly. Agreeable hypothesis?
Checking in, its about halfway throught the 3rd and the Wolves are up by 12, big games from hudson (18) and szcerbiak (15)
This was probably one of our best performances of the season, As a team we shot 43-74 (58%)! 10-17 from three (59%) and 16-19 FT. And of course Wally with a season high 34 points. I never would have thought we would win this game. Im not saying the ship has been turned around, but its a step in the right direction
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Hardwood Heaven:</div><div class="quote_post">I think one of the reasons they have been shooting so many threes lately, is because they fall behind and then they have to play from behind and come back, they feel like they have to throw up a bunch of threes even when their is like 8 minutes left and they are only down by 6. Also, with Sam Cassell out, they miss having his leadership abilities and being able to calm the younger guys down out on the floor and makes sure everything is setup accordingly. Agreeable hypothesis?</div> Sort of, but the thing is when a team starts making a run to cut the Wolves lead, the Wolves still shoot three-pointers as I saw last Monday night against the Lakers. They start matching the other team when someone from the other team shoots three as you saw Wednesday night when Chucky Atkins made shots. They were still making a lot of three-point attempts tonight in the game against the Supersonics. I believe in the last two games, they made 31 three-point attempts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GarnettKG21:</div><div class="quote_post">This was probably one of our best performances of the season, As a team we shot 43-74 (58%)! 10-17 from three (59%) and 16-19 FT. And of course Wally with a season high 34 points. I never would have thought we would win this game. Im not saying the ship has been turned around, but its a step in the right direction</div> The main thing that is concerning me is what are they going to do now. I know they can beat any team in the world, but consistency is their serious fault. Even down the stretch they let the Sonics creep back into the game and make it interesting for the Sonic fans.
HUGE WIN TONIGHT! They needed this in the worse way. They needed to cut the Northwest Division lead and they did that with a win. It was good to beat a first place team and it was good to play a great game. Wally set the tone tonight. He was feeling it very early and he did not stop. He even managed to toughen up when he took some shots from Reggie Evans. He was an assassin tonight. He had 34 points, 7 dimes, and 8 assists. He had a complete game. Latrell having the flu gave Trenton and Fred lot of minutes and they did very well. If that's not enough to dump Latrell, I don't know what it is. Trenton and Fred needs minutes to be effective and that's not going to happen as long as Latrell is here since he hogs up the minutes. Eddie Griffin was solid. It looked like the bench did well. Everyone contributed tonight for the Wolves which is something I have not seen this season. I know Seattle made it interesting late in the game, but you got the feeling the Wolves were determined not to lose it at all. They were on a mission. A great win against a great team. I want to see one more win tommorow to finish the week and road trip. To gain a game is huge in the standings.
I was thinking since we had a lead coming into the fourth quarter, that we would blow it. Face it, we have been blowing some big leads and have been outscored a whole lot in the fourth quarter. We really have no go to guy in the fourth quarter with Cassell out, but everyone played great tonight. We shot great from the arc making 10 of the 17 three's we took. We didn't really hold Seattle to a low number of three's, they made 48% of them, 12 total. Wally, Hudson, and Garnett all played outstanding tonight. Also, I thought we did very good on the board. Total, we had 34, they had 35. I thought that we would get out rebounded because the only good rebounder we realy have is of course KG. None the less, huge win for the T'Wolves. We BETTER keep this up. I can't take this, win two on the road, lose two on the road, win one on the road, type of thing. I think winning 3 out of 5 on the road has been pretty nice considering how bad of a road team we really are this season. I'll be able to get a preview up tonight for the T'Wolves vs. Blazers game, and I will be able to get a preview up for the Monday's game of the T'Wolves vs. Pistons. I'll work on it tomorrow and have it up by late morning, early afternoon so we can start discussion early. The Blazers thread will be up for tonight's game.
i'm glad that the wolves finally got an impressive win. Maybe this means that the wolves still have fight in them and that thae dont consider there season a complete loss. I mean i unserstand its early in the season guys, but the way the wolves have been playing is disgraceful. Though during the litlle that I did watch of this game I noticed freddy hoiberg and Wally were playing signifigant minutes. I believe Flips huge rotation of players might turn out to be a postive for the wolves after all.
This was a great win by the Wolves. To think that we could win a road game, and have it be against a very good Seattle team, it was amazing. Wally Szczerbiak most definately was the reason we won this game. He came up huge time and time again. And when the Seattle crowd started booing him, he came up even bigger. I really think fans have to learn that booing a player only makes him play better. Sprewell in Denver, and now Szczerbiak in Seattle. Garnett was his old usual self. 24 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists. Just another day in the office. But, the factor in this game. Bench production. When you get 72 points off the bench, it is really impossible to lose the game. Go Wolves!
Reading the Seattle papers, Wally was booed because he apparently showed the fans for slamming the ball at the rim after the third quarter as he threw the ball at the rim. I didn't think it was a big deal. How about Troy saying that if he has an opportunity to shoot threes, he will continue to do that. UGH!
