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Minnesota Timberwolves game preview: Oct 25. at Detroit

By Jake Paynting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 24: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw against the Indiana Pacers on October 24, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 24: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw against the Indiana Pacers on October 24, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to a call during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to a call during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Major key for Minnesota: Improve the defense

The Wolves have been the target of plenty of scathing reviews on their defense this season, and their chance to lock down a Myles Turner-less Pacers ended up being another showcase of the Wolves defensive flaws.

It can not be expected to turn the ship around overnight, and after a terrible defensive season in 2016-17, it will take more than 4 or 5 games to do so.

Every night will be another chance though, and against a Pistons team that is sitting right in the middle of the pack for Offensive Rating, it will be a perfect chance to show that the wisdom of Tom Thibodeau and Jimmy Butler is paying off.

It will be all of the squad that will need to pick it up, with key players like Towns and Wiggins getting abused defensively far too often early in the season.

Per NBA stats, the Timberwolves are 28th in the league in Defensive Rating, only ranking above the lowly Mavericks and Suns. That needs work, and even know we cannot expect the Wolves to be world-beaters on D, they must improve those kinds of defensive deficiencies or playoffs will be nothing but a pipe-dream.

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