Edwards is frustrated by double teams and looking to take it out on the Pistons
Anthony Edwards is licking his wounds after struggling through two Minnesota Timberwolves losses against the NBA’s elite teams in the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Wolves were supposed to be an ascendant team on that same championship-level tier, but they have scuffled to just a 17-16 record so far this season. Star wing Anthony Edwards vows to be even more aggressive with his offense and admits the team’s commitment to doubling and trapping him at every opportunity and forcing someone else on the team to beat them has taken its toll. Cade Cunningham knows all about having to navigate outsized attention from a defense’s game plan and the struggles that can come along with it.
The Pistons, though, are starting to figure things out. Whereas the Wolves are furious to be in the play-in conversation, Detroit couldn’t be happier. The Pistons have won five of six, though the games have been uncomfortably close. The offense is starting to figure out a semblance of balance and the defense is taking advantage of being able to build a game plan around stopping a primary creator and making other players beat you. They will look to do the same to the Wolves.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons +7.5
Analysis
There might not be two better examples of franchises believing the new salary cap rules have changed how to manage rosters in the NBA than the Wolves and the Pistons. Minnesota, coming off of a 56-win season, looked into the future and decided the time to make a big move was now. Having giant salary commitments to three players would no longer be tenable, so they shipped out Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
The Pistons, meanwhile, have not made their big move yet but are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Eager to improve its roster this offseason under new president Trajan Langdon, the Pistons added some vets but kept plenty of money in reserve. They are roughly $14 million under the cap, and they appear eager to figure out which team or teams they can deal with at the NBA trade deadline to extract assets in exchange for helping them dodge onerous tax penalties.
But maybe we should talk a bit about the game. Specifically, what is wrong with the Timberwolves this year. The simple answer is that while KAT might not be a perfect player, having a highly skilled offensive big playing alongside Edwards and the effective but limited Rudy Gobert really helped those other stars be their best selves.
Without KAT it’s too easy to limit attention on Gobert and to overplay on Edwards without fear there is much else out there that can hurt you. They are a mediocre team inside the arc and don’t have enough playmakers to get easy points at the free-throw line or in transition. There rebounding has also suffered.
When you remove easy opportunities and second chances out of your arsenal and expect Edwards to solve all your problems not only will that not work consistently, but it’s a great way to frustrate your superstar.
The biggest question of interest from the Pistons will be who starts alongside Cunningham in the wake of Jaden Ivey’s extended absence. In game one against the Hornets, the surprise answer was Wendell Moore. I’m not sure what the answer will be tonight, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s someone with some defensive chops in an effort to ensure Edwards doesn’t score early, often, and find a groove.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (16-18)
Cade Cunningham, Wendell Moore, Tim Hardaway, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Minnesota Timberwolves (17-16)
Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert
Question of the Game
Which one of these franchises is more likely to make a play-in game this season?