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Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
Email / Twitter

Voice of the Opposition DOWNLOAD MP3 Kurt Rambis DOWNLOAD MP3 Al Jefferson DOWNLOAD MP3 Corey Brewer DOWNLOAD MP3

Wolves vs. Celtics 7 PM - Target Center
WHERE TO WATCH: KSTC-45
WHERE TO LISTEN: KFAN AM 1130

Scouting Report:
Big Picture:
The NBA championship is not won in the first month of the season. Good luck telling the Boston Celtics that notion. Through one week of action, Boston is already displaying championship-type of basketball with a 5-0 start. Not only are the Celtics winning games but they are destroying the competition. Defense has returned to Beantown as Boston ranks No. 1 in points allowed while featuring one of the most balanced offensive rosters in the league. The Big Three was expanded to the Big Four over the summer. The Celtics acquired Rasheed Wallace and guard/forward Marquis Daniels in an aggressive attempt to reach the Finals.

Backcourt:
So much for chemistry issues between Rajon Rondo and the veteran stars in Boston. The front office decided to not let Rondo become a restricted free agent with a lucrative 5-year deal worth 55 million. Rondo earned the cash by playing a crucial role in the Celtics run to the title in 2008 and posting triple-doubles in the playoffs last year. The 23-year old continues to grow from an offensive standpoint, especially from the perimeter. Most teams look to give Rondo space and make him into a jump shooter. Rondo shines on the defensive end of the court by streaking through the passing lanes with his long arms. At the shooting guard spot, Ray Allen enters the game as the second leading scorer for the Celtics. The 34-year old is out to prove that his smooth stroke will not deteriorate throughout the long season. In the first five games, Allen is averaging 15.2 points a game and knocking down 42.9 percent of his attempts from the 3-point line. Wolves guard Corey Brewer earns the defensive assignment on Allen tonight, fresh off another sparkling performance on Monday night. Brewer is tied with Kobe Bryant at the top of the league for steals per game. This year, Brewer has shot the jumper with confidence and looked comfortable at the shooting guard spot. Minnesota will rely on his productivity on both sides of the floor to pull out an upset win.

Frontcourt:
If you can't find Wallace tonight, there is one place to pay attention. Wallace camps out at the 3-point line where he has drained 15-of-33 long bombs this year to help lift Boston to the second-best percentage from the arc. The former Pistons forward/center is most effective off the pick-and-roll, sliding to the 3-point line for an unstoppable jumper. Sheed is also a terrific weak side defender when teamed with Garnett in the frontcourt. Garnett returning to the Target Center is no longer a story, considering the new-look Wolves never played with him in Minnesota. This contest is more about the fans and their positive or negative feelings towards KG. There is no question that Garnett is the lifeblood for the Celtics defense. His 48-minutes of non-stop intensity fuels Boston and intimidates the opposition. The Celtics are only allowing a jaw-dropping 79.8 points per game, including 38.5 percent shooting. Offensively, Garnett is not necessarily lighting the world on fire, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league. This scouting report has yet to mention Boston's best player, Paul Pierce. The Truth is averaging 21.6 points per game and loves to hit mid-range jumpers just outside the free throw line. Wolves small forward Ryan Gomes is the best defensive option due to his strength. Al Jefferson's numbers are increasing with each game this year. After scoring 24 points on Monday night, Jefferson must score and set up teammates when the double team collapses in the post. This year, teams are suffocating Jefferson soon as the ball arrives in his hands. If the big man quickly passes out of the double team, the guard or forward can re-post Jefferson for better position on the blocks or an open man will be somewhere on the floor.

What To Look For:
The Wolves were resilient on the road in Los Angeles by battling back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter. Oleksiy Pecherov scored 13 points while playing in the starting lineup for the second straight game. Minnesota's frontcourt and Pecherov need to hedge on the high screens in order to limit Wallace at the 3-point line. On Sunday night, Suns center Channing Frye drilled a demoralizing six 3-pointers in the victory. The Wolves should feature a relentless offensive attack to wear down the aging Celtics tonight.

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