Game Info
- Tip Off: 7:30 PM PT
- Television: CSN-BA
Minnesota Timberwolves Team Profile
- Offensive Efficiency: 100.2 (24th in NBA)
- Defensive Efficiency: 102.9 (14th in NBA)
Leaders
- Points: Kevin Love, 18.3 PPG
- Rebounds: Kevin Love, 14.0 RPG
- Assists: Ricky Rubio, 7.5 APG
- Steals: Ricky Rubio, 2.4 SPG
- Blocks: Greg Stiemsma, 1.2 BPG
- Field Goal Percentage: Nikola Pekovic, 52.2% FG
- 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: J.J. Barea, 34.7% 3PT FG
Scope the Opposition: A Wolf Among Wolves.
Preview: The Golden State Warriors recently suffered a setback. They were defeated at home by a hungrier Utah Jazz team on April 7.
The Dubs still have a shot at the sixth seed in the Western Conference standings, but in order for that to become a reality, the team needs wins.
With the Minnesota Timberwolves joining them at Oracle Arena tonight, Golden State might just get back to their winnings ways. Obviously, nothing is guaranteed, but the Wolves have had a difficult season.
Their core players have been injured for most of the year Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, Brandon Roy and Nikola Pekovic have all missed significant time and it’s crippled their season.
If not for the health issues, Minnesota might have challenged for a playoff spot, but sadly it just wasn’t in the cards this season.
The Wolves and Warriors are essentially two teams headed in completely different directions.
Golden State has an eye towards getting better and competing during the playoffs while Minnesota doesn’t even need to wait for the Inside the NBA crew’s official announcement. The Wolves are well aware they are only a mere days away from Kenny Smith immortalizing them on national television with a gone fishin’ picture.
But boy does that make Rick Adelman’s bunch deadly. Some of his players will play for pride and that makes teams unpredictable.
The Dubs will have to make an odd adjustment: after playing against the Jazz at home two days ago in what amounted to a playoff game for Utah, Mark Jackson’s unit will now be playing against a team with a much more relaxed frame of mind.
It’s not that Minnesota won’t care, but rather that they won’t be playing with the same level of desperation.
The Warriors might start out the contest playing with a fiery level of intensity and watch it progressively go down a notch or two because of the Wolves’ effort.
Make no mistake, the Dubs needsthis contest, and it’s important they play as such.
Their playoff lives may depend on it.
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected]
doron lamb is going to be better than a lot of the kids picekd ahead of him, I don’t get why he slipped so far down, monta ellis brandon jenning doron lamb and some big men ..they will make a playoff run trust me 8 seed here we come hahahha then sweep us in 4 and we rip apart the team and wind up with more trash