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Practice report vid with Adelman and Pek - http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/pr ... 02_18.html

I started the last game thread for .500 and we got it against the Rockets, so i'll use my good luck to hopefully get us to 16-16 after tonight.

The 20-11 Sixers are visiting the 15-16 tonight at the Target center, where one team is 7-5 on the road (Sixers) and the other team is 8-10 at home (Wolves).

Notes from the Sixers-Wolves series:

Sixers averaged 109.0 points on 51.9% shooting while Twolves averaged 93.5 ppg on 41.9% FGs… Minnesota shot just 8-of-36 from 3-point range
• Minnesota outrebounded Philly by 5.5 rpg… Sixers had 16 steals with just 18 turnovers while Twolves averaged 14.5 tpg… MIN: 16.5 FTA per.
• Andre Iguodala averaged 18.5 points, 10.0 assists and 7.5 rebounds… Thaddeus Young averaged 17.0 points on 65.4% shooting from the floor.
• Kevin Love averaged 18.5 points and 18.0 rebounds while shooting 53.3% and had just 2 turnovers… Beasley had 15 points in his only GP.

Starting Lineups:
Wolves:
PG: Rubio
SG: Ridnour
SF: Johnson
PF: Love
C: Pekovic

Sixers
PG: Holiday
SG: Meeks
SF: Igoudala
PF: Brand
C: Allen

Key Matchup for the Wolves:
Pekovic: Serial Rapists of rims and destroyer of male dignity.


Key Matchup for the Sixers:
WTF at this pic doe

Iguodala has been the driving force in Philadelphia's three-game run over Minnesota (15-16), averaging 20.3 points, 8.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds with a triple-double in the last meeting. The 76ers are shooting 53.7 percent during that win streak, the same percentage Elton Brand has had while averaging 18.0 points over the three games.

Keys to the game:

Finding offense: - We haven't had a problem with scoring these last few games with Pekovic molesting the middle, but the Sixers lead the league in scoring defense (87.2ppg) and we need to find ways and players to score for us when the Sixers put the lockdown D on us.

Out rebound the Sixers - The Sixers are 11-2 when out rebounding their opponent and are 2-0 on the road when doing so. We have out rebounded our opponents 13 out of the last 14 games we have played and crushed the Rockets with a 44-26 rebounding advantage on friday. The Sixers are #26 in opponents rebounds per game at 44.6, so it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to out rebounded these guys.

Keep turnovers to under 15 - The Wolves have a problem with turnovers, it's no secret. We had 28 against Dallas on Dec. 10th (One shy of the franchise record), 23 TO against New York, 26 against Milwaukee and 25 against Miami. You get the point. We need to control the ball better, especially against a disciplined defensive team like the Sixers, who are #1 in scoring defense and #7 in steals per game at 8.4.

LETS GO WOLVES!!!! AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Also, we need to be Thunder fans for today, as the 17-14 Nuggets are visiting OKC and we play the Nug Nugs tomorrow.

This will be a very tough one. Philly is playing well and are very good defensively. However, most of their star power is in the backcourt, so hopefully we can bully them inside

Klomp wrote:This will be a very tough one. Philly is playing well and are very good defensively. However, most of their star power is in the backcourt, so hopefully we can bully them inside

+1

Klomp wrote:This will be a very tough one. Philly is playing well and are very good defensively. However, most of their star power is in the backcourt, so hopefully we can bully them inside

I am worried about this game since the 76ers seem to play a similar style of defense to Memphis. We do not do well with teams that like to pick and poke and create turnovers and run the floor because we suck at not turning it over and are horrid at transition D.

I am especially worried about Pek's turnovers in this game, because you know they are going to come with the double because I cant imagine they would leave Allen and Vuvevic to deal with Pek alone. If there is one thing that Pek has trouble with is dealing with the strip, especially a strip coming from a doubling guard. hopefully they worked on that in practice yesterday

The Wolves have struggled mightily against teams that play physical defense. That is this 76ers team in a nutshell. Winning tonight would be a big step in beating a team that we match up poorly against.

On the other hand, the pups have been shooting really well the last couple of games. If that keeps up I believe that we can beat anybody in the NBA.

Should be a good game!

Really going to be a matchup of Iggy VS Wes and our bigs vs the bigs I think.

moss_is_1 wrote:Really going to be a matchup of Iggy VS Wes and our bigs vs the bigs I think.

Don't forget about Rubio vs Holiday...

Klomp wrote:

moss_is_1 wrote:Really going to be a matchup of Iggy VS Wes and our bigs vs the bigs I think.

Don't forget about Rubio vs Holiday...

Rubio should be able to force TOs against him. Rubio just has to watch his own pockets.

Klomp wrote:

moss_is_1 wrote:Really going to be a matchup of Iggy VS Wes and our bigs vs the bigs I think.

Don't forget about Rubio vs Holiday...

Well, I was focusing on the weaknesses of each team. Iggy's their best player going against our worst. Then Love / Pek is our best asset going against Brand and whoever they are playing at center now.

Jrue / Rubio should be a good matchup to watch though.

Montenegrin duel in NBA,Pekovic VS Vucevic.Not bad for country of 600 000 people .

I have a feeling Beasley is going to have a good game

22/6/2

Time Zones be damned, this game is getting watched

it's not going to be easy, but it's winnable if we can stop their penetrations (iggy) and force some TO.

Rubio_to_Pek mode on.

I wish Lee can play

i have nothing to say, just pumped for the game

This game will be a good measuring stick for the team I think. Sixers are pretty solid team.

Mark Remme @MarkRemme
The biggest storyline from the #Twolves pregame locker room was the rookies' backpacks (Rubio: Bieber; Lee: Hello Kitty; D-Will: Disney)

Come on Wolves. We need a win.

For my birthday.