The Athletic NBA Daily Wemby Destroys The Pistons + West Playoff Race
Mar 6, 2026
Hunter Patterson, NBA reporter for The Athletic who covers the Detroit Pistons, breaks down Detroit’s struggles after being dominated by Victor Wembanyama. He discusses how San Antonio’s defense and supporting cast neutralized Cade Cunningham. Conversation covers lineup tweaks, the impact of Asar Thompson’s absence, and what the Pistons need to contend with elite teams.
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Jokic Defensive Issues Threaten Nuggets' Run
- Nuggets show offensive brilliance but defensive lapses, especially limited rim protection from Nikola Jokic, are costing them late-game control.
- Jokic's reluctance to commit on defense and foul management led to nine turnovers and late-game vulnerability.
West Standings Shuffled By Wolves Surge
- The Western Conference race reshaped nightly with the Wolves rising and Nuggets/Rockets jockeying for seeding.
- Minnesota's defense (Rudy Gobert rim protection) and bench additions like Io DeSouza accelerated their surge toward a top-three seed.
Rockets' Home Loss Reveals Rebounding And Effort Problems
- The Rockets' home loss to the Warriors without Steph Curry exposed rebounding and defensive lapses that undermine their seeding push.
- Kevin Durant's heavy minutes in a loss and Alperen Şengün getting dominated on defense signaled systemic effort issues.