Pistons are overrated-GDT

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

There's something scary coming to town, and it's name is Andre Drummond...KAT may not have slept well last night. But you know what...the rest of the team just isn't that good. For some reason Vegas has the Wolves favored by just one point (closed circuit to Cool...bad number?), but I think they win this one by double digits. That's why I'm teeing up the GDT, because I love low-hanging fruit.

First, let's give Drummond his due. 19.1 PPG and 18.9 RPG...are you kidding me? He's the reason the Pistons are the best offensive rebounding team in the league, and offensive rebounding is the reason the Pistons are 6-5. But my sources say there is a pretty good center playing for the Wolves too. If KAT blocks out and rebounds like he has been rebounding, and Sam makes sure he is on the court whenever Drummond is, we win this one going away and get to see lots of Tyus and Rudez.

Frankly, the Pistons are just not that good, and especially on the road. Their recent 4-game road losing streak included 9 and 12 point losses to woeful Sacramento and the Lakers. Nobody other than Drummond impresses me much. Their second best player is Reggie Jackson, and even though he is scoring 20.6 a game, his stats are not very impressive. 42.6% shooting, 34.8 % on threes, 4.1 turnovers per game against only 5.6 assists...Rubio could pressure him into 8 TOs. Pundits were excited about KCP coming into the season, but he's only shooting 29% on threes...in fact the team is making 31% of its threes. And my guy Stanley Johnson is making my prediction that he would be in the ROY conversation look like one o the worst calls of the year...Stanley has a PER of 8.6 and making only 37% of his shots. Their third best player is probably Marcus Morris (yawn).

But the worst thing about the Pistons is its bench. While the Wolves bench is second in the league at 44.5 PPG, the Pistons bench only scores 19.4 a game...worst in the league. I look for the starters to play their usual sticky, slow down game, and our reserves to blow their reserves out. I predict that after this game, there will be a big line waiting to jump on the Wolves' playoff train. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Vegas...Wolves win 105-90!

[AbeVigodaLive]

But the worst thing about the Pistons is its bench. While the Wolves bench is second in the league at 44.5 PPG, the Pistons bench only scores 19.4 a game...worst in the league. I look for the starters to play their usual sticky, slow down game, and our reserves to blow their reserves out. I predict that after this game, there will be a big line waiting to jump on the Wolves' playoff train. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Vegas...Wolves win 105-90!

Fun with numbers. Another way to look at it is...

- Detroit has the 2nd best starters in the league, behind only Golden State. Minnesota is 26th if we compare starting units.


[Note: Just pointing out that there might be some noise behind certain numbers... Detroit has 3 starters playing 37+ minutes and 4 playing more than 32 mpg. Minnesota only has 1 guy playing more than 31 mpg... and 2 starters (Prince/Garnett combine for only 38 mpg.]

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

But the worst thing about the Pistons is its bench. While the Wolves bench is second in the league at 44.5 PPG, the Pistons bench only scores 19.4 a game...worst in the league. I look for the starters to play their usual sticky, slow down game, and our reserves to blow their reserves out. I predict that after this game, there will be a big line waiting to jump on the Wolves' playoff train. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Vegas...Wolves win 105-90!

Fun with numbers. Another way to look at it is...

- Detroit has the 2nd best starters in the league, behind only Golden State. Minnesota is 26th if we compare starting units.


[Note: Just pointing out that there might be some noise behind certain numbers...]

Good point, abe. But that's another reason I like tonight's matchup. The first quarter of Wolves' games aren't pretty, but it seems like we generally come out of them ahead or at least close. And if you can do that against the Pistons, you can do some real damage against their horrible bench. Of course the last time we had a really bad first quarter was against another team with great starters...the Warriors. But Rubio missed that game. I think he is going to give Jackson and his 4 TOs per game fits tonight.

[AbeVigodaLive]

But the worst thing about the Pistons is its bench. While the Wolves bench is second in the league at 44.5 PPG, the Pistons bench only scores 19.4 a game...worst in the league. I look for the starters to play their usual sticky, slow down game, and our reserves to blow their reserves out. I predict that after this game, there will be a big line waiting to jump on the Wolves' playoff train. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Vegas...Wolves win 105-90!

Fun with numbers. Another way to look at it is...

- Detroit has the 2nd best starters in the league, behind only Golden State. Minnesota is 26th if we compare starting units.


[Note: Just pointing out that there might be some noise behind certain numbers...]

Good point, abe. But that's another reason I like tonight's matchup. The first quarter of Wolves' games aren't pretty, but it seems like we generally come out of them ahead or at least close. And if you can do that against the Pistons, you can do some real damage against their horrible bench. Of course the last time we had a really bad first quarter was against another team with great starters...the Warriors. But Rubio missed that game. I think he is going to give Jackson and his 4 TOs per game fits tonight.

I think it depends on a lot more than Rubio. Detroit will run a ton of PnR action with Drummond, so it won't be only on Rubio to contain it. That guy is a beast.

But as I said when he was drafted... there's never been an elite NBA player who was THAT poor at shooting free throws.

He's at 42% right now... after a "hot" start to the season. That will be a problem at the ends of games and in the playoffs for Drummond and the Pistons. They need the ball in his hands... but need to keep him off the line.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

The Dutchman Todd Gak reporting for Game Day duty...after a tough loss and a day off, we employ hack a Drummond and win by 10.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The Dutchman Todd Gak reporting for Game Day duty...after a tough loss and a day off, we employ hack a Drummond and win by 10.

Just thinking the same thing, Dutch. We don't want to see KAT getting in foul trouble, but nothing wrong with Dieng and Payne grabbing Drummond a few times to put that 42% on the line. Beat-a-Drum doesn't have to just be for end of games. If your team foul situation is okay, use it strategically throughout the game. I frankly don't think we'll need it today, but it's nice to know Sam likes it if necessary.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Beat-the-Drum :thumb:

[Tactical unit]

When you look at overall team talent I'd say its in MN favor but as stated in another thread I think Stan Van Gundy makes the difference in this one and I'll be ranting something sever about Sam after losing six straight at home.

Damn it, I'm doing my Donnie downer thing again! Gotta find faith in Sam changing his ways.....he does watch the game tape right?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

But the worst thing about the Pistons is its bench. While the Wolves bench is second in the league at 44.5 PPG, the Pistons bench only scores 19.4 a game...worst in the league. I look for the starters to play their usual sticky, slow down game, and our reserves to blow their reserves out. I predict that after this game, there will be a big line waiting to jump on the Wolves' playoff train. Put this in your pipe and smoke it, Vegas...Wolves win 105-90!

Fun with numbers. Another way to look at it is...

- Detroit has the 2nd best starters in the league, behind only Golden State. Minnesota is 26th if we compare starting units.


[Note: Just pointing out that there might be some noise behind certain numbers...]

Good point, abe. But that's another reason I like tonight's matchup. The first quarter of Wolves' games aren't pretty, but it seems like we generally come out of them ahead or at least close. And if you can do that against the Pistons, you can do some real damage against their horrible bench. Of course the last time we had a really bad first quarter was against another team with great starters...the Warriors. But Rubio missed that game. I think he is going to give Jackson and his 4 TOs per game fits tonight.

I think it depends on a lot more than Rubio. Detroit will run a ton of PnR action with Drummond, so it won't be only on Rubio to contain it. That guy is a beast.

But as I said when he was drafted... there's never been an elite NBA player who was THAT poor at shooting free throws.

He's at 42% right now... after a "hot" start to the season. That will be a problem at the ends of games and in the playoffs for Drummond and the Pistons. They need the ball in his hands... but need to keep him off the line.

apparently you haven't heard of a man named Chris Dudley

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yes, another monstrosity of a Center for KAT to go up against. I've said this before, but it bears repeating: Someday KAT's offensive game is going to largely neuter these behemoths and is going to be a matchup nightmare for opposing coaches.

Look at KAT's shooting stroke and the way he can put the ball on the floor and you begin to envision crazy scenarios like running him off screens, being the ball handler in pick and roll, or isolating him up top beyond the 3-point arc. It may take a couple of years to fully develop all of this, but it's going to happen. Then what value does an Andre Drummond, Hassan Whiteside, or Rudy Gobert bring defensively when they are having to chase KAT around off screens and guard him beyond the 3-point arc? They can no longer plant their asses in the paint and effectively zone up.

This is the very reason he needs to stay at Center alongside another 4 that can also stretch the floor.