The Pistons have allowed 108 or more points in five of their last seven games - including 116 in two of the past three. Defense is about effort. Often, effort is about the coach's message getting through to the players. Is that happening with John Kuester? Minnesota's won 15 games all season. Wednesday's loss 116-105 defeat to the Timberwolves before a sparse crowd at The Palace was brutal. The Washington Generals play better defense.

- It was a conscious decision by Tigers' general manager Dave Dombrowski to ride what is already in the organization rather than add veteran bullpen depth beyond free agent signing Joaquin Benoit. It's a decision that looks dicey already very early this spring because of ailments suffered by Joel Zumaya and Daniel Schlereth. These are power arms expected to work the sixth and seventh innings, and in the case of Schlereth, perhaps be the primary situational left-hander. So far it's not looking so good. Tigers really need Ryan Perry to step forward, obviously.

- If I were Tom Izzo these days, I wouldn't be guaranteeing or promising anything about the MSU basketball team. The proper tactic for the Spartans is to keep their collective mouths shut and let their play do the talking Saturday in Ann Arbor against a suddenly formidable Michigan squad.