Tim's Game Preview: Game 55, Portland Trail Blazers
by TimAllen on Feb 14, 2011 4:56 PM CST
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Tonight is the start of 28 consecutive must-win games for David Kahn and the Minnesota TImberwolves.
Minnesota Timberwolves (13-41) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (30-24) at Target Center
This is it, Minnesota. If the Timberwolves lose tonight, they will no longer be able to have a .500 record this season. It's also important because Portland is 17 games ahead of Minnesota for the 8th and final playoff spot. They already own the tiebreaker but a win tonight would help to close the margin to the playoffs.
Some of the Blazers have, admittedly, had pretty good games against us this year. LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 33.7 points on 62% shooting and 10.7 rebounds in three games against Minnesota. Wesley Matthews is averaging 26.7 points in the season series, which is 10.4 points better than his season average. The Blazers are 14-6 when Matthews scores more than 20 points.
None of that matters tonight. It's a new game and the Wolves are undefeated on games played on February 4th, 2011. Let's break down tonight's matchups:
Do you think Pekovic weighs twice as much as Cunningham or three times as much?
Nikola Pekovic vs. Dante Cunningham
Dante Cunningham graduated from Potomac High with a 3.8 grade point average. So, he should be smart enough to know that he doesn't have the size or the strength to take on a player like Nikola Pekovic. Cunningham is getting more minutes this season and is putting up similar numbers to his rookie year, although he's only shooting 42% (compared to 49% last season). Some might say that isn't bad for a second round pick...
...but Nikola Pekovic was a second round pick. And I don't think its outrageous to say that Pekovic's worst case scenario is a couple of All-Star and NBA 3rd Team appearances. Pekovic will muscle Cunningham around tonight and should have an easy time scoring in the post.
Winner: Nikola Pekovic
22.3% of people watching this show felt sorry for LaMarcus Aldridge.
Kevin Love vs. LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge is not a good basketball player. He didn't deserve an All-Star appearance. If Love, Blake Griffin, Paul Millsap, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Lamar Odom, Jeff Green, Hakim Warrick and Al Jefferson all got the flu, Aldridge still wouldn't deserve an All-Star appearance. He barely deserves a roster spot. He is, quite frankly, the worst NBA player in the league.
Okay, I'm exaggerating. He's had some decent games. But he's no an All-Star.
Kevin Love is an All-Star. He's not part of the problem in Minnesota. He's part of the solution. And that means that he is above any type of criticism, whether minor or major.
He's certainly above LaMarcus Aldridge.
Winner: Kevin Love
Nicolas Batum was such a celebrated prospect that they didn't even spell his name right.
Michael Beasley vs. Nicolas Batum
The Wolves hope that Michael Beasley will be back for the Wolves tonight. Against the Blazers, Michael Beasley is averaging 20.7 points on 48% shooting (along with 2 blocks a game). While Wesley Johnson and Lazar Hayward have played well the past few games, it'll be great to have Beasley back on the court.
Nicolas Batum is averaging 23 mispronunciations of his last name per game in Minnesota, which is up from 20 across the rest of the NBA. Against the Pistons last game, Batum had only 7 points on 2-of-9 shooting. Remember when people wanted to trade the #4 pick for Batum? Wes Johnson had 6 points on 2-of-10 shooting last game. Wouldn't it have been great to have that extra point? That would've been awesome.
Winner: Michael Beasley
Jim Peterson's favorite new sports tradition: the Blazers '3' goggles.
Corey Brewer vs. Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews had 23 points against the Wolves on January 17th and 36 points on January 7th. If that trend keeps up, Matthews will score 10 points tonight.
Meanwhile, Corey Brewer went from 10 points against Houston to 12 points against Indiana to 15 points against the 76ers. That means Brewer will score between 17 and 18 points tonight.
See, I can do advanced stats, too. My logic is undeniable.
Winner: Corey Brewer
Just step back and enjoy the view, Andre.
Luke Ridnour vs. Andre Miller
Luke Ridnour came back to play against Philadelphia and one would have to believe that he'll get the start tonight against the Blazers. No offense to Jonny Flynn, but Ridnour is the better option and has played far better for most of the season.
As for Andre Miller, has he won anything ever? Not in Portland. Not Philly. Not Denver. Not with the Clippers and not with the Cavs. Not even with the Utah Utes, where he lost to Kentucky. Plain and simple, Miller is not a winner. Including tonight.
Winner: Luke Ridnour
The best and most culturally diverse fans in the NBA.
My Prediction: Timberwolves 109 - Portland Trail Blazers 99
# of Wins Needed for a .500 Record: 28
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Darko took Aldridge for most of the last matchup, didn't he?
We aren’t going to be asking Nikola Pekovic to do the same, are we?
LaMarcus had pointed stuff to say about the All Star thing, too. Wonder how this is going to play. Anthony Tolliver defending LMA off the bench? Love losing height to him in the post?
"Those things about which we cannot theorize, we must narrate." – Umberto Eco
I'd rather have Love guard Aldridge and put this "he can't guard LMA" nonsense to rest
Everything in the computer need my face on it. Mega Gigabytes, son!
I'd rather have Pek guard him for at least a few possessions
That way LMA will know his “place.” That place is in that pile of skulls. Good write up by the way.
by running with Twolves (and scissors) on Feb 14, 2011 5:15 PM CST up reply actions
i think this would be a good idea
if he could guard Aldridge
by Rain Dance on Feb 14, 2011 5:21 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
This is what I'm hoping for too
Love guarding Aldridge anyway.
From Portland, with Love
Hilarious writeup.
Congrats to KLove on his All-Star selection. He deserved it.
This should be a really fun game. Accuscore says the game is basically a crapshoot. In terms of battle of the fanbases, we have Love vs. “Allstardridge:” another matchup whose outcome doesn’t mean much statistically, but which each fanbase will try to use as a spear through the heart of the other. Adding to that, Aldridge is on record as feeling snubbed by Love’s selection, so both players should be highly motivated.
For two teams laboring under disappointing seasons, matchups don’t get much better than this!
Great write up
I’m guessing a certain someone will be investing ever fiber of his being into preventing a double double tonight. Should be interesting.
I doubt Aldridge will try to prevent Love from getting a double double. For one thing, this may lead to fouls.
And LMA will not want fouls.
Now Joel Pryzbilla may try to prevent Love from getting a double double, or the MARVELOUS Sean Marks may try to prevent Love from getting his double double…
But I am guessing without the STARTING CENTER…Marcus Camby…the Wolves will be able to get as many boards as they want.
This is a trap game for Portland
They’ve looked pretty lackadaisical is wins against Toronto and Detroit on this trip and are on the second day of a back-to-back.
If getting snubbed for a meaningless exhibition game in favor of Tim Duncan motivates Aldridge to score 30+ in games that actually matter, I’m all for it.
wow, i almost forgot we were talking about the wolves for a second!
They are so dominating at every position!
and then i remembered…
whew
since we are back to reality now it will be nice picking up this season sweep.
oh yeah, just fyi…no Beasley tonight
Part of the fun we've had
is when fans of opposing teams show up and don’t get the joke. I think it’s more fun for me now that so many fans of other teams have seen these before and can laugh along with us. This is the most fun I have all week.
I am a sad man.
You are a little soul carrying a corpse. --Epictetus
by Cynical Jason on Feb 14, 2011 10:00 PM CST up reply actions
I hope Love doesn't embarrass Aldridge too much
LMA wants to be an All-Star next year and getting dominated by Love probably wouldn’t help.
It's nice to know
When you’ve got nothing left, you still have irony and humor. Well played sir.
"My shoulder is OK. And away we go." -- Nic Batum
"wang-dang diddly wubba SPROING wow-wow" -- Dave
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