5pm start in Motown...plenty of opportuntiy for revelry after- Pistons GDT

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

How nice of the NBA to keep our New Year's plans in mind by scheduling the game for 5pm CST...I'll be watching!

The Wolves are 0-5 in the second half of BTB's, and that's reflected in Detroit being an 8 point favorite. I don't expect KG to play, and Prince was not very good the last time he played big minutes back to back, so our best chance of winning this one is for our young guys to step up.

KAT gets a tough matchup with Andre Drummond, who is averaging an absurd 18 and 16. He was up to the challenge last time he faced Drummond though, so hopefully he has enough left in the tank to battle him tough again. Blocking out is essential, because Drummond gets so many of his points off putbacks. Fouling is a good option, because it brings his 38% free throw rate into play. Drummond is a terrific rebounder, but nobody else on the Pistons averages more than 6 RPG.

Jennings is back, so Detroit is solid at PG with Jackson having a breakout year. I don't worry too much about the Rubio matchup, but I'm not looking forward to watching Tyus try to contain Jennings. Ricky may have to suck it up tonight and play some big minutes.

Zach LaVine needs to snap out of it and have a good game. Detroit has said it intends to play Jackson and Jennings together a lot, so Zach may have a more favorable matchup against a PG some of the time...maybe that is what he needs to rediscover his game.

I'm not optimistic about this one and think the point spread is about right. Maybe the Wolves can surprise me tonight.

[Coolbreeze44]

Nice setup LST

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Nice setup LST

3PM start for you, cool, so plenty of time for you to even kick out a 2+1 before NYE fun starts. I kind of miss those early starts since I moved back from LA.

[60WinTim]

Let's rock and roll! But you need to shorten the thread title. I'm not sure I can handle it throughout the entire game...

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Let's rock and roll! But you need to shorten the thread title. I'm not sure I can handle it throughout the entire game...

It was a little lengthy...I was just so delighted to see it was a 5pm start I got carried away. Any opTIMism tonight?

[TAFKASP]

The NBA has to get their schedules in order, it's absolutely absurd to not only play back-to-back with travel, but the compound then issue by making the second game an early game. The Pistons are coming off a day of rest against a team that just finished a game about 18 hours ago and had to travel. Flat out ridiculous.

How about going to a hockey points ranking system? In a game like today if the Pistons were to win they'd get only 1 point, if the Wolves win they get 2, normal games without all the bs are worth 2! I'm joking of course, but it's irritating that the NBA thinks this is okay.

[thedoper]

They're looking good so far. We have real talent. The defensive lapses are what seems to be killing us.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Terrific start...ROY is scoring, blocking out and dishing, and Wig hits a three.

[Porckchop]

KATs jumper will be what separates him from every other big in this league and what makes him truly great. It's so smooth and effortless .

[thedoper]

When Towns does that scoop how do you stop it. Awesome.