PREMIUM
Rogers' Coach's Clinic >> 12-5-1 NBA Run! 2-0 Thursday!
(NBA) Minnesota vs. Detroit,
Point Spread: 4.50 | -103.00 Minnesota (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 4.50 | -103.00 Minnesota (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 19-30 Minnesota Timberwolves have played much better as of late, although one couldn't prove it by their 125-97 loss at Cleveland on Wednesday. They now look to earn win No. 20 on the season with a visit to Detroit, where they will take on the 22-27 Pistons.
Minnesota: The Timberwolves were a trendy pick as a playoff team in the Western Conference at the start of this season, with Tom Thibodeau hired over the summer to guide the young roster. Minnesota started very poorly but was recently beginning to turn things around before getting smoked by the Cavaliers this past Wednesday. "I thought the first half we played well enough where we'd have a chance to win," Thibodeau told reporters after his team went into the break down just 63-60. "But I also knew in the third quarter they'd come out and bring it. And then we didn't respond." Minnesota can't let that 28-point loss kill their mojo, as they had gone 8-3 prior to Wednesday's loss. PG Ricky Rubio is supposedly on the trade block but the veteran has recently been making himself indispensable, as he delivered a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists in 38 minutes on Wednesday, his sixth double-double in the last 11 games. Rubio's increased scoring is taking some of the focus away from fellow guard Zach LaVine (18.9), who went 4-of-18 from the floor on Wednesday and has scored in single digits in three of the last seven games.
Detroit: The Pistons were expected to take a step forward this season as well but Detroit is struggling to find any consistency. The Pistons snapped a three-game slide with one of their more impressive victories on Wednesday (a 118-98 rout of New Orleans), which began a stretch of five of six at home (Pistons are 13-10 SU & 12-11 ATS this season). The Pistons have six double digit scorers, including the starting backcourt of Jackson (16.6 & 5.4 APG) and Pope (14.9). The team's leading scorer is forward Harris (16.7 & 5.1), joined by center Drummond (14.6 & 13.7) plus forwards Morris (13.6 & 4.4) and Leuer (10.6 & 5.8).
The pick: While LaVine has struggled lately for Minnesota, the other two members of the team's "Big 3" have have had no such problems. Center Towns (23.0 & 11.9) and SF Wiggins (22.1 & 4.2) are the envy of most teams. However, Towns has not beaten the Pistons in his short NBA career in large part because Pistons center Andre Drummond has won the matchup of the talented young big men. The Pistons have defeated Minnesota in their last three meetings with Drummond averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Towns has posted averages of 18 points and 9.3 rebounds in those games. I expect that to change here and will make Minnesota an 8* play.
Minnesota: The Timberwolves were a trendy pick as a playoff team in the Western Conference at the start of this season, with Tom Thibodeau hired over the summer to guide the young roster. Minnesota started very poorly but was recently beginning to turn things around before getting smoked by the Cavaliers this past Wednesday. "I thought the first half we played well enough where we'd have a chance to win," Thibodeau told reporters after his team went into the break down just 63-60. "But I also knew in the third quarter they'd come out and bring it. And then we didn't respond." Minnesota can't let that 28-point loss kill their mojo, as they had gone 8-3 prior to Wednesday's loss. PG Ricky Rubio is supposedly on the trade block but the veteran has recently been making himself indispensable, as he delivered a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists in 38 minutes on Wednesday, his sixth double-double in the last 11 games. Rubio's increased scoring is taking some of the focus away from fellow guard Zach LaVine (18.9), who went 4-of-18 from the floor on Wednesday and has scored in single digits in three of the last seven games.
Detroit: The Pistons were expected to take a step forward this season as well but Detroit is struggling to find any consistency. The Pistons snapped a three-game slide with one of their more impressive victories on Wednesday (a 118-98 rout of New Orleans), which began a stretch of five of six at home (Pistons are 13-10 SU & 12-11 ATS this season). The Pistons have six double digit scorers, including the starting backcourt of Jackson (16.6 & 5.4 APG) and Pope (14.9). The team's leading scorer is forward Harris (16.7 & 5.1), joined by center Drummond (14.6 & 13.7) plus forwards Morris (13.6 & 4.4) and Leuer (10.6 & 5.8).
The pick: While LaVine has struggled lately for Minnesota, the other two members of the team's "Big 3" have have had no such problems. Center Towns (23.0 & 11.9) and SF Wiggins (22.1 & 4.2) are the envy of most teams. However, Towns has not beaten the Pistons in his short NBA career in large part because Pistons center Andre Drummond has won the matchup of the talented young big men. The Pistons have defeated Minnesota in their last three meetings with Drummond averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Towns has posted averages of 18 points and 9.3 rebounds in those games. I expect that to change here and will make Minnesota an 8* play.
