It’s February 29, 2012 and the (20-14) Los Angeles Lakers start the second half of the season by hosting the (18-17) Minnesota Timberwolves. Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant scored 27 points in the All-Star game and passed Michael Jordan to become the leading scorer in All-Star game history with 271 points.
Another distinction that Bryant received was a blatant cheap-shot foul by Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade, resulting in a broken nose and a concussion. This is arguably, the first time one all-star has fouled another and drawn blood in an exhibition game.
This leads to an obvious question: what was the intent of the flagrant foul? Is it time for Laker’s Coach Mike Brown to dust off Ron-Ron when the Lakers host the Heat on Sunday, March 4?
Kobe Bryant has played in all 34-games this season and is leading the league in scoring at 28.4 points per game. He has been an iron man throughout his career and has played through injuries that would cause other players to sit out. There is a strong chance that the Lakers, seeking their 17th consecutive victory over Minnesota, will face the T-Wolves without their All-Star shooting guard.
L.A. leads the current four-game season series against the T-Wolves (1-0) after a 106-101 road win this past January 29th. The T-Wolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center yesterday 109-97. The T-Wolves scored 58-points in the paint and their bench outscored the Clipper bench by an impressive mark of 72-11.
Minnesota rookie forward Derrick Williams and teammate Michael Beasley combined to score 51-points and grab 10 rebounds. The two shot 20-25 from the floor and an impressive 7-of-7 from behind the arc. The Timberwolves are seeking their sixth win in seven games.
The T-wolves are a talented young team with several weapons. Point guard Ricky Rubio has proven to be a solid floor general, forward Kevin Love is an All-Star and if two players on your bench can combine to score 51-points your reserves will be tough to contain. It is imperative that the Lakers’ defense steps up to the challenge.
L.A. has to communicate on defense, defend well, play solid against the pick-and-roll play, stop the penetration of the guards, get back in transition quickly, control the tempo, contest every shot and quickly rotate out to open shooters. They must take care of the ball and limit their turnovers, out-rebound and out-work Minnesota.
The Lakers have to do a good job of moving the ball and moving bodies to find a high percentage shot. They need to establish both Andrew Bynum (center) and Pau Gasol (forward) in the post and give them enough touches in the paint to affect the outcome of this game.
Starters
Lakers: D. Fisher, K. Bryant, M. Barnes, P. Gasol, A. Bynum
T-Wolves: R. Rubio, L. Ridenour, W. Johnson, K. Love, N. Pekovic
Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Television –
- Los Angeles: FS West (Bill Macdonald & Stu Lantz)
- Minnesota: FS North (Tom Hanneman & Jim Petersen)
Radio –
- Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (John Ireland & Mychal Thompson)
- Minnesota: 1130 AM KFAN (Allan Horton & John Focke)
Injuries –
Lakers:
- Kobe Bryant (Nasal Fracture) Probable
- Steve Blake (Costochaondral Fracture) Probable
T-Wolves:
- Darko Milicic (Abdominal Strain) Out
- Malcom Lee (Torn Meniscus, Left Knee) Out