Pinto’s Preview: Clippers at Timberwolves

By Matt Pinto | POSTED: November 7th, 2005

TONIGHT'S GAME: at Where: Target Center When: 5:00pm PST Television: FSNW2 Radio: KTLK AM 1150

The 3-0 Pacific Division-leading Clippers' best early season start in 20 years has the them flying high as they begin a four game road trip Monday afternoon (November 7 at 5pm PT) in Minneapolis against the same Timberwolves club that they outlasted in overtime Saturday night 100-99. It's a swing that takes them from Minnesota to Washington DC (for a Wednesday match-up with the unbeaten Wizards) to Atlanta (for their second collision in a week with the Hawks on Thursday) and wraps up in Philly (for a clash with Allen Iverson and the 76ers) a week from Sunday. Two of the four foes are familiar to this new-look Los Angeles squad, three of the four Eastern Conference foes. A pair of factors that could lend themselves to a successful trip for L.A.

The fact that Corey Maggette and Walter McCarty could return from inactivity due to injury to action during the swing bolsters Clippers spirits as well. Maggette's recovering nicely from a slight left hamstring strain that's kept him in street clothes through the season's first three games. For McCarty it's been a lacerated thumb that currently holds seven stitches that has been the hindrance He could have those removed at some point over the next week, which could provide the green light to game availability for him as well. Expecting either back Monday might be a stretch, what isn't is an anticipated all guns blazing effort by the T-Wolves, who left Staples Center seething after Kevin Garnett's potential game winning shot rolled off the rim in overtime on Saturday. The Wolves will be dead set on gaining a measure of revenge with the Target Center crowd in full support. And Target Center is a building that's hosted six straight Minnesota conquests of the Clippers.


:: The Clippers to employ a different, more effective offensive strategy against the Timberwolves 1-2-2 match-up zoe defense that helped lead Minnesota back from double-digit deficits on a couple of occasions on Saturday. Los Angeles was forced to fire up a number of low percentage shots near the shot clock buzzer against the zone in the first meeting. which shifted momentum. The Clips ability to handle the zone will be critical to their chances of starting 2-0 on the road this season.
:: Sam Cassell to receive a mixed reaction from Wolves fans. Some will appreciate his considerable contributions to their 58 win team of two seasons ago, others will boo him in frustration over last season's Minnesota team failure to make the playoffs. Regardless, Cassell figures to be far more efficient than the 5-19 shooting night that he suffered through on Saturday in his return to Minneapolis.
:: Elton Brand to hold his own in his individual match-up at power forward again. Brand matched KG bucket for bucket on Saturday, outscoring the 2004 league MVP while coming through with 9 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to boot.
:: And the Clippers to devise a defensive strategy to minimize Timberwolves reserve point guard Troy Hudson's effectiveness offensively. Hudson came through with an explosive 21 points Saturday off the bench. Mike Dunleavy may opt to consistently assign Daniel Ewing to shadow Hudson's every move in this one.

Cuttino Mobley

As we wind through the regular season's first week we learn more about the '05-'06 Clippers. We've seen Sam Cassell lead them, virtually single-handedly, to a road win in Seattle with a jaw-dropping 35 point, 11 assist effort and the club display impressive balance and depth in hammering the young Atlanta Hawks. On Saturday night, we saw Elton Brand and Cuttino Mobley flex their considerable offensive muscle, combining for 54 points, and this squad persevere in a nail-biting one-point triumph against a playoff caliber T-wolves team at home. Quality teams FIND decidedly different ways to win over the long haul of an 82 game regular season. The fact that L.A.'s displaying that characteristic now is a great sign.

That said, I suspect that this will be the Clippers most stern test to date. The Timberwolves got very little offensively from Wally Szczerbiak (1-6 shooting, 4 points) and Marko Jaric (8 points on 3-9 shooting), a pair of players who average 30ppg combined, on Saturday yet still nearly pulled out a big road win. If both perform to expectations in this game, it will call forth the Clippers best effort of the season to counter and remain competitive in this match-up.

Los Angeles will need to shoot better than the 43% field goal accuracy it displayed on Saturday and find a way to contain Troy Hudson to give itself a chance to hang around and win this one in the fourth quarter. I expect Sam Cassell to play better than he did on Saturday night and don't discount the possibility of a player like James Singleton or Chris Wilcox coming through with a monster effort off the bench to provide the lift necessary to keep it tight throughout.