PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* TNT GAME OF THE MONTH >>> *HOT* 27-14-1 Run Past 8 Days!
(NBA) Minnesota vs. LA Clippers,
Point Spread: 1.00 | -110.00 LA Clippers (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 1.00 | -110.00 LA Clippers (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The underachieving 14-28 Minnesota Timberwolves will visit Staples Center Thursday night (second half of ESPN doubleheader) to take on the 29-14 LA Clippers, who currently won the NBA's longest active winning streak, at seven. However, the major story-line will be that the PG Chris Paul has now joined Blake Griffin on the sidelines due to injury (more later).
Minnesota: As for the Timberwolves, it seems as if this year's team just isn't going to jell under Tom Thibodeau, the former Chicago head coach. The Timberwolves were expected to be one of the up-and-coming clubs this season with their array of young talent and the addition of the defensive-minded Thibodeau but instead, the team has struggled playing .333 basketball! This, despite the presence of Towns (22.0 & 12.0), Wiggins (21.6 & 4.3) and LaVine (20.1). Inconsistency has plagued them, as they are tied with the Lakers (21st) in turnovers.
LA Clippers: The Clippers lost Blake Griffin 41.2-8.8-4.7) after their Dec. 18 loss at Washington to right knee surgery and after winning two straight, lost six in a row. However, LA has since won seven in a row (), averaging 109.4 PPG. However, PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7-2.3 SPG) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb suffered while trying to defend Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook in a 120-98 win over the Thunder on Monday. Head coach Doc Rivers, in typical coach-speak, said other players must step up. "We still have new guys -- Alan (Anderson) is new and Raymond (Felton) is new and Mo (Speights) and Brandon (Bass) -- this is a good opportunity for them to learn how to execute together," Rivers told the Los Angeles Times. "When everyone is back, when you get Chris and Blake back, if this group can execute, and then you put those two guys back on the floor, I think it makes us better in the long run. This is not the way you want to do it, but this is the way it's been presented."
The pick: It seems hard to believe that the Clippers will be able to "maintain" with both Griffin and Paul (Clippers went 2-5 without Paul during his last absence) on the sidelines but in this first game without both, I expect emotion to carry them over a Minnesota team which just can't seem to "get it right!' The T-wolves own just five road wins In 20 games), allowing 106.9 PPG and with the pointspread 'deflated,' LA is a 10* play.
Minnesota: As for the Timberwolves, it seems as if this year's team just isn't going to jell under Tom Thibodeau, the former Chicago head coach. The Timberwolves were expected to be one of the up-and-coming clubs this season with their array of young talent and the addition of the defensive-minded Thibodeau but instead, the team has struggled playing .333 basketball! This, despite the presence of Towns (22.0 & 12.0), Wiggins (21.6 & 4.3) and LaVine (20.1). Inconsistency has plagued them, as they are tied with the Lakers (21st) in turnovers.
LA Clippers: The Clippers lost Blake Griffin 41.2-8.8-4.7) after their Dec. 18 loss at Washington to right knee surgery and after winning two straight, lost six in a row. However, LA has since won seven in a row (), averaging 109.4 PPG. However, PG Chris Paul (17.5-5.3-9.7-2.3 SPG) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb suffered while trying to defend Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook in a 120-98 win over the Thunder on Monday. Head coach Doc Rivers, in typical coach-speak, said other players must step up. "We still have new guys -- Alan (Anderson) is new and Raymond (Felton) is new and Mo (Speights) and Brandon (Bass) -- this is a good opportunity for them to learn how to execute together," Rivers told the Los Angeles Times. "When everyone is back, when you get Chris and Blake back, if this group can execute, and then you put those two guys back on the floor, I think it makes us better in the long run. This is not the way you want to do it, but this is the way it's been presented."
The pick: It seems hard to believe that the Clippers will be able to "maintain" with both Griffin and Paul (Clippers went 2-5 without Paul during his last absence) on the sidelines but in this first game without both, I expect emotion to carry them over a Minnesota team which just can't seem to "get it right!' The T-wolves own just five road wins In 20 games), allowing 106.9 PPG and with the pointspread 'deflated,' LA is a 10* play.
