Time to Grab Initiative, Not Timberwolves

It’s unlikely that many people figured Minnesota would return to Los Angeles for a Game 6 tonight after losing twice to the Lakers last week at Staples Center. But the Timberwolves got the job done at home in Game 5 behind the all-around efforts of Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell.

Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders turned the game around early in the second quarter when he moved Garnett to center. The Timberwolves’ small lineup took over the flow of the game from the Lakers, who struggled after Coach Phil Jackson inserted backups Rick Fox, Kareem Rush and Slava Medvedenko.

Garnett and Sprewell were able to get to their favorite shooting spots because the Lakers did more grabbing than moving. The two Timberwolves became more aggressive once they realized the Lakers were having fouls called on them, which is how they combined for 17 of Minnesota’s series-high 32 free throws.

It was just the opposite on the other end. The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal did not have many calls go in their favor, and then started throwing up bad shots in attempts to avoid contact. Who said officiating isn’t a factor in the playoffs?

Lakers’ move -- With less than four minutes remaining in the first quarter Saturday, the Lakers held a 10-point lead. By looking for the open shot, the Lakers dictated the pace of the game with ball movement and forced Minnesota to play their game. Then the Timberwolves got a little physical.

The Lakers stopped passing and making cuts with urgency. The offense fell apart, and players started looking out only for themselves. Nearly every missed jump shot turned into a long rebound and a transition basket for the Timberwolves. It would be a good idea for the Lakers to return to their best weapon and run things through O’Neal.

Thanks to his improved moves to the basket with his left hand, O’Neal is back to being a force from each side of the lane. The Lakers need him active and willing to drive into the middle in order to break down the defense. The Lakers have to be patient tonight and allow O’Neal to create open shots for everyone.

Timberwolves’ move -- Expect Saunders to use whatever tricks he has left in an attempt to get the crowd out of the game early tonight. On Saturday, Saunders found a winning strategy when he had the Timberwolves collapse into the paint whenever Bryant began a drive to the basket. He also had success with his big men forcefully stepping out on pick-and-roll plays with Bryant.

Both tactics helped enable Trenton Hassell to play tighter perimeter defense, especially with his hands, on Bryant, who did not have one of his better shooting games. The Timberwolves are willing to let Bryant have his shots, as long as he has to work for most of them.

Another successful move was having Garnett set up the half-court offense from a point-center position. His ability to work himself into position off the dribble, then attract a double-team before passing to an open teammate has hurt the Lakers throughout the series.

Something to look for -- Saunders does not like to see Bryant or O’Neal go on a scoring spurt, and he changes things up as soon as either one makes consecutive baskets.

In Game 5, Saunders started Michael Olowokandi in place of Ervin Johnson and there wasn’t any change in the Timberwolves’ center production. But Olowokandi did not back down from O’Neal and that’s what Minnesota needed.

Once O’Neal gets going, expect Saunders to again turn to Mark Madsen, who did a decent job of making the Laker big man work Saturday. Once Bryant gets his offense going, Saunders will turn to Sprewell, who is a better-than-average defender. Sprewell stepped in for Hassell late in the fourth quarter in Game 5 and shut down the high-scoring Laker swingman.