Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Wolves-Blazers
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
No. 6 Timberwolves (50-32) vs. No. 3 Blazers (59-23)
 Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. The color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.
Throughout the 2000 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.
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BACKCOURT
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EDGE
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| There's a nice matchup between Terrell Brandon and Damon Stoudamire at point guard. Brandon is a consistent playmaker who doesn't make mistakes. He makes the open shot and creates plays. Stoudamire is more spectacular with quicker bursts of speed. He can pull up for long-range jumpers. I like Brandon better at the point, but the Blazers also bring in Greg Anthony off the bench to provide quality defense. At the two guard, Steve Smith has the upper hand against either Malik Sealy or Anthony Peeler. Combined, Sealy and Peeler do a fine job and both can defend. Portland gets a slight edge.
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FRONTCOURT
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EDGE
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| Nobody can play Kevin Garnett, perhaps the most skilled player in the league. His matchup with Rasheed Wallace will be huge. Wallace's defensive ability can test Garnett, and Wallace can score, too. Veteran Scottie Pippen will be matched against rookie Wally Szczerbiak. It might look like a mismatch, but Szczerbiak is unafraid and a good shooter from the edges. Pippen, no longer a big-time scorer, has had a run-of-the-mill season by his standards, but he might crank it up in the playoffs. Arvydas Sabonis' lack of speed won't be tested against the Minnesota centers, whether it's Radoslav Nesterovic or Dean Garrett. |
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INTANGIBLES
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EDGE
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| It doesn't matter where Minnesota plays; the T-Wolves are 24-17 on the road. Although they started the season on a roll, the Blazers haven't knocked anyone's eyes out in the last two months.
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PREDICTION
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| T-Wolves in five. Minnesota has a great shot at an upset. Garnett is a man possessed who wants playoff success. Garnett is such a force and a passionate leader, and he wants badly to get by the first round.
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