hurts🫩

🏀 DET 128 - 106 MIN

FINAL

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Detroit Pistons

Minnesota Timberwolves

Team stats

Eastern Conference standings

Seeds 1-6 make the playoffs; 7-10 go to the play-in.

Western Conference standings

Seeds 1-6 make the playoffs; 7-10 go to the play-in.

ESPN Gamecast · Box score · Play-by-play

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Thoughts-

First time main rotation guys got outplayed this preseason. Pistons looked really sharp and brought physicality and intensity we struggled with. Our turnovers have been high each game, but this one felt less due to small mental lapses and more with struggling to find good offense against a physical team. This led to tons of easy transition opportunities for Detroit.

Both in transition and in half court PNR we struggled tagging Duren who just ate us up. I think part of the problem is we couldn’t contain Cade very well. Thought Kuminga and Ayo particularly struggled in one on one defense. Lamelo and Ant got lost a couple times in rotations. Overall our energy was fine and it’s preseason so this will be a good one to have on tape for our guys as we play several really physical teams to open the year.

Offense was still great in that first quarter. Jaden getting the worst defender on him every game is going to a boon for him this year with how confident he is playing. Good to see Kuminga knocking down shots, but his form just seems off to me I’m not sure how consistent that jumper can be.

TSJ with another poor game, thought he might have taken some insight from the Pacers game with changing pace but it was back to full speed to rim every touch. His defense has to be better.

Joan had some good flashes, but still tries to go for too much. This hurt in transition a few times as he was going for an O board he was never going to get, then Detroit scored quickly before he could get back appropriately.

Lamelo had some nice passes again, offense while he was on floor was mostly good still. He was getting attacked a little bit in PNR but I thought he mostly did fine, the Cade and Duren PNR was one of most efficient offenses last year.

Overall more impressed with Detroit than worried about us. Happy with how preseason has gone and excited to see the Miami game, especially with how we decide to approach the Giannis matchup.

This will be huge if Jaden can buy into them believing in him.

Both have a wingspan above 7’. I’ve seen enough. Raise the banner.

Who will win the 2026-27 Kia MVP?

1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio – 77%
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver – 10%
3. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 7%

Who is the best shooting guard in the NBA?

1. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 73%
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City – 13%
3. Luka Dončić, L.A. Lakers – 10%
4. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland – 3%

» Last year: Anthony Edwards – 70%

Highest percentage of total votes on position questions

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City – 16% T-2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami – 15% T-2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 15%
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver – 13%
3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio – 12%

» Last year: Nikola Jokić – 19%

Which team made the best overall moves this offseason?

1. Philadelphia 76ers – 73%
2. Miami Heat – 10%
3. Charlotte Hornets – 7%

» Also receiving votes: Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors

» Last year: Atlanta Hawks – 53%

What was the most underrated player acquisition?

1. Tobias Harris, San Antonio – 20%
2. Mitchell Robinson, Boston – 17%
3. Naz Reid, Charlotte – 10%

T-4. LaMelo Ball, Minnesota – 7%

T-4. Lu Dort, Atlanta – 7%

T-4. Jonathan Kuminga, Minnesota – 7%

T-4. Peyton Watson, Cleveland – 7%

» Also receiving votes: Isaiah Joe, Detroit; Kawhi Leonard, Toronto; Sandro Mamukelashvili, L.A. Lakers; Kelly Oubre Jr., Indiana; Zaccharie Risacher, Dallas; Anfernee Simons, Philadelphia; Dean Wade, Philadelphia; Aaron Wiggins, Atlanta

» Last year: Desmond Bane – 17%

Who is the best perimeter defender in the NBA?

1. Amen Thompson, Houston – 30%

T-2. Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City – 17%

T-2. Ausar Thompson, Detroit – 17%

1. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta – 10%

T-5. Stephon Castle, San Antonio – 7%

T-5. Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota – 7%

» Also receiving votes: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta; OG Anunoby, New York; Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City; Derrick White, Boston

» Last year: Dyson Daniels – 31%

Who is the best interior defender in the NBA?

1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio – 97%
2. Rudy Gobert, Minnesota – 3%

» Last year: Victor Wembanyama – 80%

Who is the best head coach in the NBA?

1. Erik Spoelstra, Miami – 43%
2. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City – 37%
3. Mike Brown, New York – 10%

» Also receiving votes: Rick Carlisle, Indiana; Chris Finch, Minnesota; Steve Kerr, Golden State

» Last year: Erik Spoelstra – 52%

Which head coach makes the best in-game adjustments?

1. Rick Carlisle, Indiana – 30%
2. Tyronn Lue, LA Clippers – 23%
3. Erik Spoelstra, Miami – 20%
4. Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City – 10%
5. Joe Mazzulla, Boston – 7%

» Also receiving votes: Mike Brown, New York; Chris Finch, Minnesota; Nick Nurse, Philadelphia

» Last year: Tyronn Lue – 40%

Which active player will make the best head coach someday?

1. Mike Conley, Boston – 50%
2. T.J. McConnell, Indiana – 13%
3. Jalen Brunson, New York – 10%
4. Draymond Green, Golden State – 7%

» Also receiving votes: Jrue Holiday, Portland; Tyus Jones, Denver; CJ McCollum, Atlanta; Andrew Nembhard, Indiana; Fred VanVleet, Houston; Derrick White, Boston

» Last year: Chris Paul – 27%

Which team is the most fun to watch?

T-1. Minnesota Timberwolves – 30%

T-1. San Antonio Spurs – 30%

T-3. Denver Nuggets – 10%

T-3. Philadelphia 76ers – 10%

» Also receiving votes: Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder

» Last year: Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder – 27%

Which team will have the league’s most efficient offense this season?

1. Oklahoma City Thunder – 27%
2. Denver Nuggets – 20%
3. New York Knicks – 17%
4. Boston Celtics – 13%
5. Philadelphia 76ers – 10%
6. Los Angeles Lakers – 7%

» Also receiving votes: Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves

» Last year: Cleveland Cavaliers – 40%

Which team’s level of success this season is toughest to predict?

1. Philadelphia 76ers – 27%
2. Minnesota Timberwolves – 17%

T-3. Los Angeles Lakers – 13%

T-3. Utah Jazz – 13%

T-5. Golden State Warriors – 7%

T-5. Indiana Pacers – 7%

T-5. Portland Trail Blazers – 7%

» Also receiving votes: LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors

» Last year: Philadelphia 76ers – 47%

Which player is the most athletic?

1. Amen Thompson, Houston – 63%
2. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota – 20%
3. Ausar Thompson, Detroit – 10%

» Also receiving votes: VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia; Dylan Harper, San Antonio

» Last year: Amen Thompson – 58%

From ‘22-present day, there has been a slow shift in Ant’s play style that I think is very apparent and I think is a shift for the better.

He still can dunk on anyone and get downhill whenever he wants but it’s a much more purposeful and controlled aggression. You will rarely see him just get the ball in transition and play above the rim all night long while being the fastest player in the open court. It’s good to see him get some easy transition looks but overall he has a skillful game, throwback game now with a modern twist of 3pt shooting.

I personally believe in order to become a great shooter and tactful player in the half court, you have to dial back the quick twitch and play with patience and be more of a below the rim player. It’s the least talked about part of his game, and I just wanted to shed light on what I’ve seen watching all of his games.

Ant was averaging 29.5 ppg on 49/40/80 shooting prior to his final 3 games of last year where he was hurt and on a min restriction. If you also wipe out the pacers game early in the season where he left the game after 3 min due to injury, he would’ve averaged 30 ppg.

It isn’t a stretch to predict that Ant will bump his averages from 29 last year to 32 or 33 this year playing alongside LaMelo. I find it fascinating he is 6th in mvp odds, tied with Tatum. If all goes right and the Wolves are a top 3 seed in the West and Ant averages an efficient 32/5/5 barring any health setbacks to reach 65 games, to me that would put him in a great spot to win over guys like Luka, Wemby, Giannis.

-Wemby to me has the best case if he reaches the 65 game threshold

-I have Giannis as the 2nd best odds to me if the Heat can be a top 1 or 2 seed and he’s 30/9/6

-Luka has the 3rd best odds in my opinion, but I think lack of team success could hurt him

-Jokic will have the PRA stats every year, but he’s voted fatigued out

-SGA probably wont win 3 in a row, and the anti-flopping and arm extension rules could hurt him

If Ant has the Wolves as a top 2 or 3 seed, he could win MVP. His “case” could be if he ends up leading the league in 3’s again as a Steph Curry level pull up shooter, posting 32/5/5, while being close to an all nba caliber defender. There is definitely a world where he’s just the best scorer in the league on the best offense in the league this year.

I looked on the website/google/previous DAZN posts, but couldn’t find a clear answer. (Or maybe I’m just an idiot)

Does anyone with experience with DAZN know if you have access to games when you travel within the US? Example; im going to Illinois next weekend and there are a couple of Wolves games during that time period. Will I be able to watch them?

Was also thinking of downloading the app and logging on my in-laws TV. Would that prevent any viewing doing it that way?

Does anyone have troubleshoot fixes for the DAZN xbox app crashing every 4-5 minutes? It requires you restart the app which takes only 20-30 seconds but what the fuck? Absolutely cannot take this all season…

I’m torn between going to the NBA store, Dicks (which one?) and the team store.

Looking for a McDaniels jersey and maybe a cap.

Where would you go to today?