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Game 70: T'Wolves @ Sixers preview

By Jordan Sams

The game after...

The game after the best win of the year, the game after an unbelievable road trip. The game after my epic Tupac speech! Dun dun dun. It all goes down tonight.

The Sixers returned their cozy little homes yesterday after an exhausting road trip. They will take the floor at "The Wach" tonight for the first time since Wednesday March 11. A certain red head once said, "There's no place like home."

Awaiting the Sixers on their home floor will be yet another Western Conference bottom-feeder, the Minnesota TimberWolves. The TimberWolves have a whopping 20 wins on the season, but are surprisingly better on the road than at home? I guess playing Minnesota will do that to you. Seems like the formula for an easy win, right? Wrong.

With this Philadelphia 76ers team, there's no such thing. Coming off such a high from their monster victory in Portland, you'd think I'd be a little more confident, but I remember what happened the last time. Twas right after the Iguodala buzzer-beater that I claimed the Sixers had turned the corner, and wins against the mediocre Suns and the defense-less Warriors were eminent. By now you know the story -- the Sixers ended up losing both, causing me to write possibly the most depressing recap in LB history.

So even though the high-flying Sixers face the 20-win T'Wolves tonight, I'm leaving the door open for a letdown. Do I think it will happen? No. I'm just trying to avoid becoming too cocky, to the point where I write something like, "Aww man, are you kidding me?! There's no way the Wolves come into our place and beat us tonight! No way man!"

Here are a couple of things you need to know about the T'Wolves:

 

  • Their franchise player is out for the season.
  • One of my favorite Sixers from the past 5 years makes his return tonight. Expect at least one nasty throwdown from him.
  • They make 6.4 threes per game on 34 percent.
  • They're 3-18 since Al Jefferson got hurt, with only one of those coming on the road.
You know how everyone made a deal about the Blazers playing their first home game after a long road trip? And how it's the hardest to win? And blah, blah blah, blah blah. I don't buy it. If the Sixers lose or come out sluggish, I'm not going to stoop to Mike Rice's level and make excuses. If you want to, be my guest. I just won't do it.

The keys to the game are much like every other game.
  • Hold Minnesota at or under their average for three-pointers made.
  • Get to the free throw line a lot, and make at least 75 percent of 'em.
  • Fast start, foot on their throats, 8 minutes of Kareem Rush.
The game starts at 7 eastern. It sucks because I was really getting used to the late games. Living on the west coast, I grew to love 'em. Anyway, I'll be here.

And upon John's request, I'll be attempting to keep track of 3 of Bill Simmons's proposed stats tonight. I'm thinking "Russels", "Unselds", and "nitty-gritties". I am going to do my best, but might need some assistance since the game goes so fast. If I have to tape the game and watch the replay, I will.

Until then...

 

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