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Lakers Shut Down

Authored by Scott Essman - November 10, 2005 - 12:23 am

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Playing smothering defense, the Minnesota Timberwolves halted Kobe Bryant and the Lakers Wednesday in Minneapolis, winning 88-74. The T-Wolves held Bryant to "just" 28 points, the first time that the Laker guard has failed to score 30 in a game this season.

All around, the Lakers were stifled, scoring just 10 total points in the third quarter and only 19 in the crucial fourth quarter.

Even reliable Laker scorers, such as guard Smush Parker were limited - Parker failed to score so much as one point the whole game. Other Laker starters were equally ineffective, though forward Lamar Odom did manage 15 points and center Kwame Brown grabbed 13 rebounds.

On Wednesday, the Wolves stoppage of the Lakers is no doubt due to a new concentration on defense, courtesy of new coach Dwane Casey. Wolves players overwhelmed Bryant and played tightly all-around. Naturally, the Wolves undisputed leader, forward Kevin Garnett, headed up the defensive end - with 15 rebounds - and the offensive side - with 17 points.

Garnett, still only 29, makes general managers and fans around the league salivate at the thought of him soon leaving Minnesota if they fail to deliver a winner. In fact, one could imagine the posting Garnett playing alongside the slashing Bryant in one Laker dream team scenario. Whether Garnett moves or not seems up to fate, and Garnett.