Game Thread: Timberwolves @ Pistons Minnesota Timberwolves(39-15) @ Detroit Pistons(34-22) Feb. 20, 7:00 pm Central The Palace of Auburn Hills TV: ESPN Previous Game Kings 75 @ Timberwolves 92 Bucks 98 @ Pistons 102 Series: Minnesota leads 1-0 Last Meeting: Pistons 79 @ Timberwolves 80 Streaks Timberwolves: Won 4 (8-2 in last ten) Pistons: Won 1 (4-6 in last ten) Head Coaches vs. Flip Saunders vs. Larry Brown Probable Starters PG: vs. Sam Cassell vs. Chauncey Billups SG: vs. Trenton Hassell vs. Richard Hamilton SF: vs. Latrell Sprewell vs. Darvin Ham PF: vs. Kevin Garnett vs. Rasheed Wallace C: vs. Michael Olowokandi vs. Ben Wallace 6th Men vs. Troy Hudson vs. Corliss Williamson Players to Watch vs. Garnett: 24.9 Points (.496 FG %), 5.0 Assists, 14 Rebounds Wallace: 17.1 Points (.439 FG %), 2.5 Assists, 6.6 Rebounds Should be fun to watch Rasheed in his first game as a Piston go against Garnett. Rasheed has something to prove, and Garnett would be great to do that on. Garnett isn't going to let him get anything easy, and he should be able to take this matchup. Injury Report Minnesota Timberwolves Ndudi Ebi Darrick Martin Detroit Pistons Tremaine Fowlkes Lindsey Hunter Keys to the Game <u>Minnesota Timberwolves:</u> <ul> [*]Get everyone involved (We move the ball very good, and we should be able to continue that here) [*]Don't let anyone get hot from the outside (Billups, Hamilton, and Rasheed are pretty good perimeter shooters. If we stop them like we did Peja, then this game should be ours) [*]Rebound (This will be a huge key. With Big Ben and Rasheed down low contending for a lot of rebounds, Garnett and Olowokandi should be there blocking out and getting those tough rebounds.) [*]Kick it out (We also have a very good perimeter team, and when someone is getting double teamed below, either Wally, Troy, Sprewell, or Sam are out there ready to hit down the shot) [/list] <u>Detroit Pistons:</u> <ul> [*]Stop Garnett (Rasheed and Ben will be double teaming him practically the whole game. That should stop him from getting hot.) [*]Cover the perimeter (The zone won't cut it against the Wolves. They are a very good perimeter shooting team, so Man-to-Man is a must in this game.) [*]Get good production from Hamilton and Billups (If they are hot, the team is hot.) [*]Crisp passes(The Wolves are good at stealing the ball, and any semi-sloppy pass won't be allowed in this one.) [/list] twolvefan11's Prediction This one will be very close the whole way through like the last time they played. With Rasheed making his debut, there will be a lot of electricity going on in the Arena. If he is shut down, then the momentum will be lost. That's why the Wolves will take this one. Timberwolves by 4.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting twolvefan11:</div><div class="quote_post"> Minnesota Timberwolves(39-15) @ Detroit Pistons(34-22) Feb. 20, 7:00 pm Central The Palace of Auburn Hills TV: ESPN.....</div> This is a game that I was looking forward to since the last game. I truly expect a victory for the Wolves, if they play like they did (minus the turnovers) last night. KG usually outplays Sheed anyway. I think they might have given up too much in the trade.
OOO, this is going to be a tough game for the Wolves to win, especialy now that the Pistons have Sheed. They just need to have a good game like last night, and I say they'll win. I say Wolves by 3 in a close one
I'm going to say Pistons by 4. Also, the Pistons' Preview is here: http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14306 Get a little competition before the game.
Sam had a horrible game vs the pistons last time yet the pistons still lost. I dont expect the same type of performance this time. Even with the addition of Rasheed the Pistons dont have enuff offensive depth to out last the t-wolves imo. The timberwolves might still turn the ball over alot because they are still adjusting to having the new parts of (Hudson & wally) on the team. Are you sure that Kandi will be back tonight? because that would be a huge help for KG on the boards vs the Wallace boys. But Iam not sure that Rasheed will start either. They might want to work him into their starting core a little bit slower, after a few legit practices with Billups, Hamilton etc.
T-wolves by 1 after OT. Billups ties the game for OT, and KG hits the gamewinner as time runs out in OT. A bit to detailed prediction perhaps. Anyways, Go Wolves!
Wolves gunna take it... New player for the Pistons... and Garnett always has tremdendous (personal) sucess against Rasheed... I expect another big numbers game for KG in this one.
Timberwolves by 3. Personally I think the Timberwolves will start pulling away in the 3rd or earlier 4th. It can't be close all game.
I heard through another message board that Okur is out of tonights game. Can anyone confirm this. This would hurt Detroit as they would be pretty shallow on the bench and have to count heavily that Sheed can come in and play many minutes in a system that is foreign to him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Bring on the complaining Detroit fans... see what excuses that conjur up for this loss.</div> *sits and waits*
Timberwolves 88, Pistons 87 Wow, what a game. Let me catch my breath. That was one of the best games this year. I think there is a new rivalry with the Pistons and Wolves. We just couldn't hit our free throws. Sam, a guy who hasn't missed 2 in a row in like his whole career, missed two in a row today, and at a very crucial time. But we escaped with the win, so I'm happy. Garnett finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists, not to mention 4 blocks. Sam finished with 16 points and 6 assists. Sprewell chipped in with 12 points and 5 assists. Madsen came off the bench and contributed with 9 points. And Wally didn't do that bad, scoring 7. Hudson also scored 7 off the bench. Michael Olowokandi made his comeback, but didn't do anything, only playing 4 minutes and didn't have anything besides that. On the other side of the ball, Richard Hamilton scored 24 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists. Former Timberwolf Chauncey Billups finished with a triple double on a 20 point, 11 assist, and 10 rebound night. Ben Wallace contributed with 17 points, 12 boards, and 4 blocks. Rasheed Wallace wasn't even supposed to play because of faulty paperwork, but he played 12 minutes and finished with 4 points. Great game, very exciting. Huge win for the Wolves. Recap Box Score
Bring it on, Detroit Pistons fans! : ) Don't worry, though, now that the Timberwolves have everyone back, we were the favorites to win this game anyway. It's not like you got beat by 1 by the Atlanta Hawks. I've always mentioned that Fred Hoiberg has quick hands, and he scrapped us out a win! Very good play!
You won't find any Piston fans making excuses in your forum But I'm certainly not going to mind if the rest moan in my forum, there is plenty to talk about after this shocking turn of events.
lol what in the hell happened with Sheed? Allnet told me he was playing and after the Orlando game I flipped back to see the game and I heard he couldn't play??? ugh oh well that OT by billups couldn't happen because he got fouled out SGRA.
Yeah, great game. No complaining from us tonight, at least not in anybody else's forum. I thought we had a chance to tie the game near the end, too bad Billups got ejected. Triple double for Billups though, always glad to see that. Hopefully we'll see you in the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, great game. No complaining from us tonight, at least not in anybody else's forum. I thought we had a chance to tie the game near the end, too bad Billups got ejected. Triple double for Billups though, always glad to see that. Hopefully we'll see you in the playoffs. </div> I wouldn't mind seeing a Wolves and Pistons finals. Would be a great series. I think that would go to game 7. Of course we would win, but it's all good. :mrgreen:
