Pistons @ Timberwolves Preview Detroit Pistons(29-14) @ Minnesota Timberwolves(28-12) Previous Game Pistons 69 @ Pacers 81 Timberwolves 108 @ Raptors 97 Streaks Pistons: Lost 1 (9-1 in last ten) Timberwolves: Won 2 (8-2 in last ten) Head Coaches vs. Probable Starters PG: vs. Billups vs. Cassell SG: vs. Hamilton vs. Hassell SF: vs. Prince vs. Sprewell PF: vs. Wallace vs. Garnett C: vs. Okur vs. Johnson 6th Men vs. Atkins vs. Hudson Players to Watch vs. Wallace: 9.7 Points (.418 FG %), 2 Assists, 13 Rebounds, 1.74 Steals, 3 Blocks Garnett: 24.6 Points (.498 FG %), 5 Assists, 13.9 Rebounds, 1.28 Steals, 2.25 Blocks Injury Lists Detroit Pistons Tremaine Fowlkes Lindsey Hunter Minnesota Timberwolves Wally Szczerbiak Michael Olowokandi Keys to the Game <u>Detroit Pistons:</u> <ul> [*]Guard Garnett (Ben Wallace must be having fun these last few games, Duncan, O'Neal, and Garnett. Ben will need to do a much better job on KG compared to Jermaine) [*]Guard Cassell (I could have put the Billups/Cassell matchup as the one to watch because it will also play a large role. The Pistons need to defend Cassell) [*]Rebound (The Pistons will need to get as many rebounds as possible to control the pace of the game and score some more points) [*]Get Hamilton and Billups going (They had a horrible game against the Pacers and need to rebound from that performance) [*]Play Larry Brown's style of basketball/Spread the ball around (They need to just keep doing what helped them create the streak and create a new one) [*]Make open shots (This didn't happen against the Pacers and it cost them the game) [*]Play with confidence (The streak is over but the Pistons were not pretenders. They need to play with confidence so this doesn't become a losing streak) [/list] <u>Minnesota Timberwolves:</u> <ul> [*]Control the pace of the game (Indiana was able to control the pace against the Pistons on Tuesday and it helped them destroy the Pistons) [*]Guard Hamilton and Billups (They did not have a good game and will play like they have something to prove. If they are not stopped then the Twolves will lose) [*]Match the Piston's bench (The only thing that kept the Pistons @ Pacers game from being a 30 point blowout is the bench. They are an important part of the team and need to be limited and matched) [*]Give KG the ball (The MVP thus far should be getting the ball, Ben won't be able to completely stop him) [*]Disrupt the Piston's offense (The Piston's weakness has been a very fragile offense that some games just doesn't work at all. If the Twolves make it one of those types of games, then they will win) [/list] PyroManiac's Prediction This will be another excellent game. The two main matchups will be KG/Ben and Cassell/Billups. Unlike the two previous games for the Pistons, this game will have much more scoring. If the Pistons can keep up with the scoring however, is the key. I think the Pistons will come in and play well as they have been pretty good against the West this year. (10-5) If the Pistons win, then they would have gone 2-1 over the past 3 games (Spurs, Pacers, Twolves) which would show that we are one of the best teams and would give us the oppurtunity to have another winning streak. As always, I can't predict the Pistons to lose so the actual score prediction doesn't really mean much in my previews. Also, sorry that the "PyroManiac's Prediction" isn't very good, I didn't have too much time. Pistons by 3.
Great preview man. In order to win this game, the Pistons have to play Pistons Basketball, wich means Good defense and getting the ball down low. Chauncey has to do good and contain Sam Cassel, the best point guard in the NBA. Rip needs to score 17-22 points. Tay cannot let Spree have a good night, and needs to post at least 10 points. The Center match-up seems the least important in this game, but I hope Memo can have a great night. But the game comes down to The Big Ticket vs. Ben Wallace. Ben Wallace has to box this guy out, and grab every rebound in sight. He can't let KG get down low and get the easy hoops. I really wanna see Ben post double-digit points also. Chucky needs to come off the bence and hit some of those big times trey's that he's used to doin now. Pistons need to keep the Target Center crowd out of this game, by getting the lead early and maintaining it. This will be a huge game for the pistons, and they need to come out with a vicrory after a humiliating lost versus the Pacers. They are well rested this game, unlike tuesday versus Indiana. If Pistons can stick to the game plan, Contain Sam I Am and the Big Ticket, wich is no easy task at all, they can come out with a victory. I think if they keep both players to slightly below there usual game averages, then the Pistons will pull this one out. I just hope the Motown boy's don't let me down, this is going to be a big game tonight. My final prediction is that the Pistons pull this one out by 5.
Sam I Am and KG are the keys to this game. Both are better than any player on the Pistons roster. I think that the Pistons have what it takes to defend these guys, but to shut all of them down would be impossible. The T-Wolves are a very good team, and the Pistons need to show up ready to play and they need to focus and hit their shots. The Pistons tend to give all they've got against the West's best teams, so I think that they can pull a win out tonight. They'll need to stay strong on defense the entire time, though. It can't be just Ben and Prince, it's got to be all of them working hard and getting boards. I'd like to get another streak going today. Pistons by 6.
Nice review. The wolves have been playing some pretty tough defenses of late and having their share of problems, although they pull it together at the end (thanks in large part to Cassell). I see this game staying close into the 4th quarter where someone has to step up and take control - Sam has done that of late and it could happen again. As I remember Billups did not like to play post-up ball which is Sam's gig. However, I like Billups (from his days with the Wolves) and know he has gotten better each year. The are really one 2 stats that will matter in this game 1) FG% - if the wolves are over 50% game over 2) Offensive Rebounds - the wolves have struggled against teams who can rack up 2nd chance points. Wallace is a catalyst for that type of play. Overall rebounds are not that important, it is the offensive ones that will be telling. If the Pistons have a good night on the offensive boards, the 4th quarter won't matter. Should be a good one!!
Good preview, I think the Pistons will need either OKur or Prince to really step up inorder to win. Chucky Atkins is also a key, he has played really well in the past against Sam. Trenton Hassell is going to be chasing Rip all over the court. So he should make it hard for Rip to get going. I have a feeling that the T-wolves will use the zone alot tonight. Just to see if the can keep Rip in one spot so the dont get beat by all those screens been Wallace is going to use to free him up.
Should be a good one. Chauncey and Rip NEED to have good games. When they struggle, so do the Pistons as a whole. This will be a great game to silence the critics, if we can pull it win. Sadly, our 13 game winning streak seems to be worth squat since we had such a poor showing against the Pacers. A win tonight will give more legitimacy to the Pistons.
Key factor to me is Latrell Sprewell,how Prince matches up with him is what could help decide this game.I expect Billups to match Cassell,Hamilton should take advantage with Hassell,although he is a good defender.Wallace needs to contend Garnett as much as possible in the post,as mentioned bench play will be important.
That last call was BULL!!!! I can't even believe that...how is that an offensive foul? Chauncey just jumped up and shot the ball. He had two guys all over him! That is so cheap. The Pistons got robbed. I won't be able to sleep tonight because of this. Ok, now I'm exaggerating, but that was such a bad call!
Pure ********! Cassell fouled Billups before Billups pushed away. We got cheated! That was possibly the worst call I have ever seen! How the hell do they not call half the game, then cost the Pistons an honest win. Even Purehoops will admit that the Pistons should have won!
Wow. You've got bo <font color="Red">edited: no masked cursing - twolvefan11</font> me...WORST CALL EVER!!! Sam Cassel clearly fouled Chauncey, and they were letting them play all day! Even if it was a foul on Chauncey, wich I did not see even after viewing the replay about 10 times, let it go! They were letting the players play all day, but they decided to ******** at the end. Man, I haven't been this mad in quite some years...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">Pure ********! Cassell fouled Billups before Billups pushed away. We got cheated! That was possibly the worst call I have ever seen! How the hell do they not call half the game, then cost the Pistons an honest win. Even Purehoops will admit that the Pistons should have won!</div> Yes,Pistons really got screwed in this game.It really did ruin a great game of basketball. If you are the Pistons team this game was a heartbreaker. 2 straight losses after a 13 game winning streak.Just like the Spurs struggled after their big winning streak The past two games for Pistons were always going to be tough ones.
un-freaking-real. how do you make a call like that at the last second?? Pistons were freaking ROBBED tonight. The game was a battle to the end and then the refs had to blow it by winning the game for the T-Wolves. Horrible, horrible call.
Oh boo friggin hoo... the call did not cost the Pistons the game. The call should have been a no call, period. Billups missed the shot so the Pistons would have lost anyways. Good game by BWall btw, 6 blocks, crazy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes,Pistons really got screwed in this game.It really did ruin a great game of basketball. If you are the Pistons team this game was a heartbreaker. 2 straight losses after a 13 game winning streak.Just like the Spurs struggled after their big winning streak The past two games for Pistons were always going to be tough ones.</div> like i was talking about in my other thread about the Pistons being a "pretender" team, they really needed this win tonight. they earned it tonight and should have silenced alot of critics.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Latrell Sprewell's driving layup with 57 seconds remaining gave the Minnesota Timberwolves an 80-79 victory over the Detroit Pistons in a matchup Friday night of two of the league's hottest teams. Sprewell took a feed from Kevin Garnett along the right baseline and laid the ball off the glass in traffic. After both teams missed baskets, former Wolf Chauncey Billups was called for an offensive foul with 2 seconds remaining as he tried to clear out Garnett and Sam Cassell on a 10-foot jumper. The Wolves then inbounded the ball and ran out the clock, winning their 10th straight home game and eighth of nine overall. Mehmet Okur scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half as the Pistons rallied after trailing for much of the game. Detroit lost for the second consecutive game after winning 13 in a row. Garnett scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half. Detroit's defense held the Wolves "Big Three" of Garnett, Sprewell and Cassell to 20-for-60 shooting. Sprewell finished with 17 points and Cassell had just nine.</div> Recap Box Score I recommend that you don't read that recap. I'll point it out very clearly. The game was great, it was going down to the wire. Pistons and Twolves were trading baskets. Wolves are up by one and Billups drives. He is bumped like crazy by Cassell (foul 1) then he pump fakes. Cassell bumps into him (foul 2) then depending on the angle Billups' offensive foul and the bump that KG had with Billups are next (fouls 3 and 4) Then Billups hits the amazing shot. I don't understand this, they don't call the game at all. They let them play, people are getting fouled every time down the court. Then they decide to make a ******** call in the last 2 seconds of the game? This has easily been the worst call of the year, brought to you by these morons: James Capers, Mark Wunderlich, and Ron Garretson. The Pistons won, and all the Minnesota fans here know this, but other than the ending it was a great game. Memo played great, and Ben Wallace played some great defense down the stretch. P.S. Where are the Minnesota fans? Normally, after somebody beats the Pistons their fans are here in 5 minutes. And this is Minnesota, it has one of the largest fan bases on JBB. I want to here your opinions, come on!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh boo friggin hoo... the call did not cost the Pistons the game. The call should have been a no call, period. Billups missed the shot so the Pistons would have lost anyways. Good game by BWall btw, 6 blocks, crazy.</div> uhm. Chauncey hit the shot. no call = boo friggin hoo for you.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Oh boo friggin hoo... the call did not cost the Pistons the game. The call should have been a no call, period. Billups missed the shot so the Pistons would have lost anyways. Good game by BWall btw, 6 blocks, crazy.</div> Um...Billups MADE the shot. But, other than that I agree with what you said, except the fact that it did not cost the Pistons the game/they would have lost anyways.
You guys are over reacting... worst call ever? Wow, simply stupid statement. You clearly say it because it was against your team. Cry all you want, but in no way are the refs on the Wolves side. Should have been a no call, Billups misses the shot, Wolves win. Period.
