G2 | Pistons (0-1) @ Timberwolves (0-1)

Brt19 · Post #1 » by **Brt19** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 3:42 pm

8 PM ET in Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Last Season: 40-42 3rd in Northwest Division, 10th in Western Conference

They've won season series, 121-94 in The Palace, 114-101 in Target Center.

Roster Changes

In: Thaddeus Young, Mo Williams, Zach LaVine, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, Glenn Robinson III

Out: Kevin Love, Luc Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved, AJ Price, Dante Cunningham, Jose Barea

Coaching Change: Flip Saunders got the job of retired Rick Adelman

This Season

Points: Thaddeus Young 26, Mo Williams 18, Shabazz Muhammad 13
Assists: Ricky Rubio 7, Thaddeus Young 4, Mo Williams 4
Rebounds: Nikola Pekovic 8, Gorgui Dieng 8, Shabazz Muhammad 7

Injury Report: Kevin Martin and Ronny Turiaf were out against Memphis yesterday. Both are day-to-day.

whitehops · Post #2 » by **whitehops** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:29 pm

I hope Drummond can stay out of foul trouble, playing joel Anthony for 21 minutes is not what you want for your offense.

that said I'm pumped to see wiggins and bennett play, there's a lot fo young talent on both teams in this game.

DCintheD · Post #3 » by **DCintheD** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:42 pm

must win this one

aad · Post #4 » by **aad** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:06 pm

We gotta win this game lets hope we play good defense again and hope our shots start to fall

Han Solo · Post #5 » by **Han Solo** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:33 pm

Hopefully KCP can shoot tonight

Brt19 · Post #6 » by **Brt19** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:37 pm

Wouldn't be surprised with another loss. They have done a better job than Detroit and they've done it against better team. Gasol and ZBo had monster games.

Need to contain Williams and Young. Pekovic and Wiggins are probably going to have better games, especially Wiggins. Also need to limit their offensive rebounds, they had 19 yesterday.

ComboGuardCity · Post #7 » by **ComboGuardCity** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:56 pm

I like our chances

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BadMofoPimp · Post #8 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:57 pm

Playing against another team on their home court to start the season on a back to back has to be brutal. Hopefully, Stan has them prepared for this game while I hope Jennings and DJ both have big games as we will need it.

Billl · Post #9 » by **Billl** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:15 pm

This is a trap game for us. They play tweeners at the 4. They gave up a ton of points that way, but also scored a lot in the mismatch. We're going to be counting on smith to be disciplined enough to not get caught up in that and our guards to make sure the backcourt is covered. Those aren't exactly our strong suits. Dre needs to dominate in the paint and make them pay for trying to play the speed game.

haulerch · Post #10 » by **haulerch** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:20 pm

Should win if we play similar defense as last night and our shooters start knocking down shots.

DBC10 · Post #11 » by **DBC10** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:09 pm

We can win if Smith doesn't force the issue and or never shoot.

ImHeisenberg · Post #12 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:19 pm

DCintheD wrote:must win this one

There are no "must win" games two days into the season. :roll:

Despite that, I expect a win tonight. Minnie was just pounded on by Memphis last night, if I recall correctly.

Post #13 » by **theBigLip** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:37 pm

KCP needs to score. Jennings needs to play like a starting PG. Smith needs to play within himself on offense. And Drummond needs to be a beast.

I could say that for every game actually. If that happens, we win.

Sort · Post #14 » by **Sort** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:01 pm

I expect the Pistons to control the glass far more effectively tonight and a little more ball movement. That same defense that they laid down on Denver last night will result in the first win tonight.

I'm most excited about DJ. He shouldn't start. He's just killer to bring off the bench. Jennings too should find a lot more wide open passing lanes tonight and some easier transition feel good moments.

aad · Post #15 » by **aad** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:16 pm

kevin martin back for this game I hope KCP shut him down

Moose10Fan · Post #16 » by **Moose10Fan** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:30 pm

Our rebounding sucks without Monroe, Smith can't be relied up in that regard. Drummond has to play really well tonight and that is going to be a tough task, Pekovic is a bruiser and I could see him frustrating Drummond.

With that said, I thought our D looked a lot better than last season, but with Monroe out we really have to move the ball better.

epheisey · Post #17 » by **epheisey** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:38 pm

The second night of a back to back this early in the season could be hard on us being short at a few different positions. But they played just last night as well, so hopefully that evens out the playing field.

If this team is going to put up 40 or more wins, these are the types of games they absolutely must win. That being said, I think this one is a toss up. Fully stocked, the Pistons would win this game, short staffed, we might struggle tonight.

treefi · Post #18 » by **treefi** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:40 pm

It'd be nice to win this one.. Not a must-win though. We 'should' win....

If Jennings plays like he did last night(he was pretty much invisible without taking 10+ shots on 37% shooting), hopefully we roll with-

C - Drummond
PF - Monroe
SF - Singler
PG - Augustin
SG - Caldwell-Pope

- for game 3.

engelbert321 · Post #19 » by **engelbert321** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:41 pm

treefi wrote:It'd be nice to win this one.. Not a must-win though.

If Jennings plays like he did last night(he was pretty much invisible without taking 10+ shots on 37% shooting), hopefully we roll with-

C - Drummond
PF - Monroe
SF - Singler
PG - Augustin
SG - Caldwell-Pope

This is exactly a must win game. Min is a bottom dwelling team this year.

treefi · Post #20 » by **treefi** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:43 pm

Is our season over if we start 0-2 without Monroe and Meeks? I don't believe so. Maybe if this was the NFL and the Pistons only played 16 games...

New coach. New system. New players. We're missing the 2nd best player on our team(and probably our best shooter).

Without Monroe and Meeks, we'd likely be a bottom dwelling team this year too.