SCOUTING REPORT

STARTERS

* Kevin Garnett was the runaway choice as the NBA’s most valuable player, getting 120 of 123 first-place votes. He averaged 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds and was an All-Defensive first-team selection. His scoring average was 20.5 against the Lakers, but the Timberwolves won three of four games, including both at Target Center. Sam Cassell, in his 11th season, averaged a career-high 19.8 points and was an All-Star for the first time. Latrell Sprewell was Minnesota’s iron man against the Sacramento Kings, averaging 44 minutes and 19 points. Trenton Hassell and Ervin Johnson won’t score much. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant joined Garnett as first-team All-NBA selections. Bryant averaged 23.7 points and 10 rebounds in three games against the Timberwolves. O’Neal averaged 22.7 points and 13.3 rebounds against Minnesota, also in three games. Gary Payton and Karl Malone were more concerned with defense in the San Antonio series. Devean George is the NBA equivalent of the Fifth Beatle. EDGE: LAKERS

BENCH

* Fred Hoiberg might be the most reliable shooter still in the playoffs. Usually the first player off Minnesota’s bench, Hoiberg made 15 of 30 three-point attempts against Sacramento and averaged 8.7 points. Swingman Wally Szczerbiak is back after sustaining three cracked vertebrae in the first round against the Denver Nuggets. Mark Madsen is the same ball of hustle he was with the Lakers, drawing charges and taking offensive rebounds without doing much scoring. Michael Olowokandi -- remember him? -- didn’t get off the bench in three of seven games against the smallish Kings, but will get more minutes against O’Neal. Derek Fisher is a nonstarter only because of Payton, but he showed his worth at the end of Game 5 against the Spurs. Slava Medvedenko, Kareem Rush and Luke Walton combined to average 6.1 points a game against San Antonio. EDGE: TIMBERWOLVES

OFFENSE

* The Timberwolves will try plenty of pick-and-roll sets, with Cassell shooting mostly mid-range jumpers instead of going to the basket. Cassell has scored 40 points twice in this year’s playoffs. Garnett often sets up near the top of the key and is dangerous from long range. In Game 7 against Sacramento, he scored 32 points. O’Neal averaged 22.5 points against the Spurs; Bryant averaged 26.3 points and 5.8 assists. O’Neal won’t find anybody as imposing as Tim Duncan in the lane, and Bryant won’t be hounded by Bruce Bowen. Both teams can put up points, but the edge goes to the team that just won four consecutive games against one of the NBA’s top defenses. EDGE: LAKERS

DEFENSE

* The Lakers have the advantage on paper, but there’s one small question: Which attitude will they bring on defense? Will it be the one that allowed the Spurs to walk on air in Games 1 and 2, or the one, after key adjustments were made, that held the Spurs to an average of 80 points in Games 3 through 6? After giving up an average of 91.5 points in the first two games, the Lakers dialed up defensive vigor and adjusted to the Spurs’ pick-and-roll, limiting Tony Parker and Duncan. The Timberwolves don’t have much muscle, but their team speed can be bothersome in the backcourt and around the perimeter. The Timberwolves held Sacramento to an average of 93 points in the conference semifinals, almost 10 below the Kings’ season average. Garnett has been first team All-Defensive five consecutive seasons.

EDGE: TIMBERWOLVES

COACHING

* The Laker offense doesn’t look as triangular as it normally does, but credit Phil Jackson for allowing it to bend for the betterment of the offense. Flip Saunders has guided the Timberwolves to eight consecutive playoff appearances and is regarded as a coach who gets the most from his roster’s talent level. But Jackson has won nine championships and Saunders has won two of nine playoff series.

EDGE: LAKERS

KEYS TO THE SERIES

* Malone goes from guarding the MVP runner-up, Duncan, to the MVP. If Garnett is slowed, Minnesota will struggle. The Lakers will try to curb Cassell’s “pick-and-pop” style and will try to prevent Hoiberg from getting open looks. Johnson will have a tussle down low with O’Neal. The Timberwolves have never been this far in their 15-season history, giving the Lakers an enormous edge in playoff experience. The Lakers beat Minnesota last season in six games in the first round despite the Timberwolves’ holding home court. PREDICTION: LAKERS IN 6