Lakers Return to the City of Lakes to Face the T-wolves by Jeff Little

It is March 9, 2012 and the (23-16) Los Angeles Lakers are in Mill City for a matchup with the vastly improved (21-19) Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers return home to the ‘twin cities’ where the franchise began in 1947 in what was, at the time, the NBL (National Basketball League). The Lakers, with basketball pioneer George Mikan, won five championships calling Minneapolis, Minnesota home.

Earlier this year, the Lakers had the appearance of a team turning the corner, playing with some momentum and swagger after a huge win at home over the Miami Heat. At 17-2, the Lakers had tied for the second best home record in the league. But after 39 games played this season – 20 away from Staples Center – L.A. has come out on top only six times.

The Lakers are not the same team on the road as they are at home. Their shot selection wavers, their execution falters and the reserves don’t play with confidence. L.A. is playing in the finale of a forgettable three-game road trip. The team has had two terrible back-to-back performances including a disappointing overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons and a defeat by the Washington Wizards, the latter after surrendering a 21-point lead.

Guard Kobe Bryant is not solely to blame. He is merely one of the culprits, shooting 17-57 over the last two games.

The Lakers could greatly benefit from going back to running the triangle offense. This would greatly improve the shot selection, offensive execution and offensive rebounding as well as accentuating the strength of the team of center Andrew Bynum and forward Pau Gasol. The above statement is not a slight on Kobe Bryant; the reality is that a move back to the triangle offense would increase the production of the entire team. The bad shots that the Lakers have taken from the field and behind the arc have affected them just as much as a turnover would in providing more scoring opportunities for their opponents.

The Timberwolves are a vastly improved team that has won eight of their last 11 games. Forward Kevin Love has placed his name in the MVP conversation by averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds. The Lakers – after a win at home and surprisingly, one on the road – currently lead the season series against the T-wolves (2-0). L.A. has swept each of the last four season’s series versus Minnesota and is in the midst of a 17-game win streak.

The Lakers are 9-1 in their last 10 trips to the Target Center and have won eight straight. One occasion where things were going well for them, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined for a 72-point, 38-rebound performance on January 3rd of this year. This type of production is possible with increased shot attempts for Bynum and Gasol. This increased production would force the opponent to double-team both Laker bigs and provide more space for shooters on the perimeter.

The Lakers need to play a full 48-minute game with a high energy level, intensity, better defense, controlled tempo, transition movement, excellent ball movement, excellent player movement and a sense of urgency.

Starters
Lakers: D. Fisher, K. Bryant, M. Barnes, P. Gasol, A. Bynum
T-Wolves: R. Rubio, W. Ellington, D. Williams, K. Love, N. Pekovic

Tip-off: 5:00 PM PST

Television –

• Los Angeles: KCAL 9 (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:

• Steve Blake (Costochaondral fracture) Probable
• Kobe Bryant (Nasal Fracture) Probable

T-Wolves:

None