Concerns Become More Pressing

For the last two seasons, Coach Flip Saunders has covered up the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defensive deficiencies with an assortment of creative zones.

But against the Lakers in Game 1 on Sunday, Saunders’ defense was exposed, as the Timberwolves didn’t have a clue how to stop Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

Wally Szczerbiak had as much lateral movement as a refrigerator. Rasho Nesterovic and Joe Smith defended the paint like statues, and Troy Hudson, Anthony Peeler and Rod Strickland showed that they are not in the league because of their defense.

If the Timberwolves are to make the best-of-seven series competitive, they will have to shake things up. Minnesota simply can’t defeat the Lakers in four of the next six games playing conventional basketball. The Timberwolves have to get imaginative or their season will be over in less than a week.

A breakdown of Game 2:

MINNESOTA’S MOVE -- The Timberwolves have to get off to a faster start tonight than they did Sunday, when they fell behind by 18 points in the first quarter. The best way to do that is to pressure the Lakers all over the floor and get them into a running game.

By going with a full-court trapping defense early, Saunders would keep the Lakers guessing and force Bryant to bring the ball up the floor more often. The more the Timberwolves make Bryant work, the better for them. That’s where Szczerbiak, Peeler and Kendall Gill need to step up. They have to be more aggressive on offense and take the play to Bryant, who loves to gamble in the passing lanes. Nothing upsets the Lakers’ flow more than to have someone score consistently against Bryant.

The Timberwolves also might be better off playing Bryant and O’Neal one on one and making them earn their points. Minnesota can’t afford to leave role players Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and Robert Horry open. In Game 1, Fisher and Fox combined for five three-point baskets in the first quarter.

If the Timberwolves can shut down the supporting Lakers, they may have a chance.

LAKERS’ MOVE -- In the third quarter of Game 1, the Lakers made only five of 16 shots and were outscored, 24-22. Bryant’s cold shooting -- he missed five of six shots -- was the main reason for Los Angeles’ fall-off. The Lakers can’t expect to win if they have two more quarters like that tonight.

But even if the Lakers’ offense is not as efficient as it was in Game 1, when they shot 55%, they can still win with defense.

Sunday, the Lakers set the tone with O’Neal, who blocked two of Minnesota’s first six shots, and they held the Timberwolves to one-for-five three-point shooting.

The Lakers also have to continue to frustrate Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, who had to work hard for his 23 points Sunday. Mark Madsen and Horry were effective in keeping Garnett from getting easy baskets in transition. Garnett is a great player, but he’s not as effective when a big man -- and O’Neal more than qualifies -- is clogging the middle.