In the playoffs, Karl Malone has proven still to be not only one of the league's strongest, but one of its most wily. Robert Beck/SI

Minnesota will win if...
It can find a way to slow down Shaq. He averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds in three games against the T'wolves during the regular season, and has kicked it into another gear in the playoffs. Minnesota's Ervin Johnson and Michael Olowokandi are going to have to use their fouls wisely. Also, Minnesota will zone-up on Shaquill O'Neal, dropping Kevin Garnett into his lap in the paint, in an effort to deny him touches. Mark Madsen, who has experience playing Shaq in practice during his Lakers days, also might be called on to front Shaq and harass him. If the T'wolves can at least contain O'Neal, they've got a shot. Trenton Hassell and Latrell Sprewell give Minnesota two quality defenders to shadow Kobe Bryant on the perimeter and make him work for his points. Offensively, the T'wolves need to create turnovers, and try to pull Shaq out of the lane by using Sam Cassell and KG on the screen-and-roll. This is where the T'wolves will really miss the injured Troy Hudson, who burned L.A. last year with his quickness and shooting. Without him, Minnesota will find it essential that Sprewell, Fred Hoiberg and Wally Szczerbiak make their outside shots. On top of the matchup problems already facing them, the T'wolves may well be tired. They are coming off a tough seven-game series with the Kings, and Cassell has been bothered by a sore back and other ailments. With little time to rest and recover, they'll need to be sharp right away to prevent L.A. from winning one of the first two games and stealing home-court advantage.

Los Angeles will win if...
Its role players again step up and make shots, like they did against the Spurs. Derek Fisher, Devean George, Slava Medvedenko and Kareem Rush once again can expect to get lots of open looks in this series, as the T'wolves focus their attention on Shaq and Kobe. The Lakers' role players don't need to score a lot -- just enough to keep Minnesota's defense honest. If they do, Shaq and Kobe should be too much for the T'wolves to handle. Karl Malone, who struggled shooting the ball against the Spurs, also is due for a breakout offensively. On defense, the Lakers were suffocating in the last four games against the Spurs. With Malone to cover Kevin Garnett, and Gary Payton to stick on Sam Cassell, L.A. should again be free to use Shaq as a goalie and Bryant as a rover to force steals and wreak havoc. The Lakers won't have to double-team much against Minnesota, so they should be able to stay out even more on the T'wolves shooters. The bottom line is Minnesota struggled to score against Sacramento, and the Lakers are a much better defensive team. If L.A. plays as hard as it did against the Spurs, it's difficult to envision the T'wolves scoring 90 points. After having solved San Antonio, the Lakers are confident. And, with a week off between each series, they're also healthy and well-rested. L.A. won't have home-court advantage, but it has already proven it can win on the road during these playoffs.

Key matchup
Garnett vs. Malone. It's out of the frying pan and into the fire for both of these all-time greats. Garnett is coming off a series in which he faced Chris Webber. Malone is coming off a battle with Tim Duncan. In this series, Garnett will face a much tougher defender. Unlike Webber, Malone has the mobility to close out on KG and deny him all those open jumpers he got against Sacramento. Desperate to win an NBA title, the 40-year-old Malone will use all of his tricks. For Garnett, Malone poses a similar inside-outside threat that he faced with Webber. But this time Garnett will also have to help out on Shaq inside. How effectively Malone can knock down his open shots when KG leaves him could be a key to the series.

Interesting fact
Bothered by a sore hip and back spasms, Cassell averaged just 12.4 points on 40-percent shooting (including 3-of-16 from three-point range) over Games 2 through 6 of the Kings series. He had 23 points and seven assists in Game 7, but his overall health remains a question mark going into the series. The T'wolves need Cassell to be at his play-making best.

The pick
Garnett gives the T'wolves a chance, but Minnesota turned the ball over a lot against the Kings. Meanwhile, L.A. showed against the Spurs that it can crank up the defense when needed. Lakers in 6.