Pistons Host Andrew Wiggins’ Wolves
By J.M. Poulard
Essentials
- Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves (10-40) at Detroit Pistons (20-31)
- Date: February 8
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Television: FSD
Get in the Game
The Detroit Pistons will be playing against the future tonight, and it plays for a Minnesota Timberwolves team that looks like it might be a strong unit in a few years.
Potential is a funny thing in the NBA. Fans, coaches and media members see it and openly discuss it, but nothing is ever certain.
The Timberwolves are proof of this in more ways than one. Prior to trading Kevin Love last summer — arguably the second best player in franchise history behind Kevin Garnett — the Wolves were destined for great things. Between Nikola Pekovic, Ricky Rubio and Love, Minnesota looked like a team that could contend for a playoff spot. Instead, the combination of injuries, a tough conference and potential not quite panning out resulted in Minnesota failing to reach the postseason during the Love era.
With Love now gone, the Wolves are hitching their wagon to…potential.
Again.
One might be tempted to conclude that things will be different this time around, but the truth is no one knows.
Last summer’s No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins looks increasingly promising with each passing game, a fact that likely has Minnesota fans salivating at the prospect of what comes next.
Wiggins is a terrific athlete and should become one of the best defenders in the sport within the next five years.
Granted, that observation is based on…potential.
The same qualifiers can be thrown at Zach Lavine and Anthony Bennett. Both are young players with tons of upside.
Bennett looked like a bust as a member of the Cleveland Cavs last season, but he’s progressively looked like a competent player in Minnesota due to weight loss. Bennett appears quicker off his feet, which allows him to finish at the rim.
That makes him an interesting fit alongside Wiggins and Lavine, both of whom are exciting rim attackers.
As a result, the Wolves are always a threat to crush one on the head of an opponent whenever transition opportunities occur. They might be one of the quickest teams at going from defense to offense and making highlights.
On the flip side, the Wolves aren’t a great half-court club. They struggle to generate good looks and the players aren’t a great fit…yet.
Potential.
One can imagine the Wolves evolving with time to become a strong defensive unit that scores in the half court provided Wiggins improves as a scorer and playmaker alongside Rubio.
Until that happens, the Wolves will be a Jekyll and Hyde club. Some nights, the youth will look outmatched from an execution standpoint, and on other nights, Minnesota will look fresher, faster and consequently better than some of its opponents.
What night are the Pistons in store for?
Read about the Timberwolves