lipoli390 wrote:I was predicting 9 more wins before tonight in which case we would finish with 23 wins. But tonight's game against the Nets was one of the 9 additional wins I predicted. I also didn't foresee Ricky, Pek and KG sitting out multiple games. But we still have an easy schedule, so I still see us getting 6 more wins. The Lakers and Sixers have much tougher schedules. So I still see us finishing with the 4th worst record. But at least we're no longer in danger of climbing to 5th or 6th worst.
Q12543 wrote:It never pays to tank. It's an insult to fans and season ticket holders that pay good money to watch professional basketball. And to your point, there is always at least a couple of other teams in the "race to the bottom". Is that really what we stand for? This is how losing cultures are built - brick by brick.
Do you honestly believe that winning games at this point of season is going to change or help the culture of this franchise? That's just more "KG effect" hyperbole IMO. Nothing we do in these last 16 games is going to carry over into next year other than our draft position. Probably 1/3 of these guys won't even be on the team.
And as far as the fans go, I'm going to go out on the limb and say the majority would prefer to have more ping pong balls than wins. A good draft pick is seen by many as a reward for this crappy season. And wouldn't a top draft pick give the fans a lot more to get excited about than say...a 25 win season?
Only way wins are important this year is if they are earned by great play of Wiggins, LaVine, Rubio, Payne, AB, Shabazz, and Dieng. I don't care if we win every game out of that group starts putting it together and balling. If we are winning because of Martin, KG, and Pek then I am not to happy and would rather lose for the better likely draft position.
I agree with the last couple posts that wins at the end of the season are more bad than good now. Whether the Wolves win with the Iron Eight (2 of whom haven't really even practiced with the team) is immaterial to me. Sure, I would like to see them play better, but I think the late season losses will be totally forgotten by the start of next season. It's all about the ping pong balls for me now, and as I am about to update the TOM thread, I note that the Wolves have now moved into the second spot in projected wins. I sense that Flip has one player in mind that he really wants to get ( I don't know who it is), and he is focused on putting his team in the best position to ensure he gets his guy. I'm on board.
Q12543 wrote:It never pays to tank. It's an insult to fans and season ticket holders that pay good money to watch professional basketball. And to your point, there is always at least a couple of other teams in the "race to the bottom". Is that really what we stand for? This is how losing cultures are built - brick by brick.
Do you honestly believe that winning games at this point of season is going to change or help the culture of this franchise? That's just more "KG effect" hyperbole IMO. Nothing we do in these last 16 games is going to carry over into next year other than our draft position. Probably 1/3 of these guys won't even be on the team.
And as far as the fans go, I'm going to go out on the limb and say the majority would prefer to have more ping pong balls than wins. A good draft pick is seen by many as a reward for this crappy season. And wouldn't a top draft pick give the fans a lot more to get excited about than say...a 25 win season?
Yes, I actually think winning games helps. This team has been losing for over a decade now. How has that worked out for us?
As far as the fans are concerned, I think people would be very excited about this squad heading into next season if we were playing winning basketball, defending better, and making a nice run to end the season.
We aren't going to win anything with only 8 healthy players. Our only shot at building anything going into next year is to get fully healthy and win because most of this team is coming back next year. You have something to build on if you can win with most of the team and then add a top pick to that team. Nobody of consequence has a deal that is up. Neal can be replaced by Lavine. Hummel, Hamilton and Lo Brown are end of the bench guys that would be nice to bring back but aren't needed. KG will be back because he will get paid to play 60% of the games at 20 MPG's. Ricky, Lavine, Martin, Bazz, Wiggins, Bud (he'll opt in), AP, AB, Pek, Dieng and the first round pick will all be under contract next year. That's 11 guys not counting KG. That's our team next year. Flip will probably add a backup PG to that team if he doesn't draft one and that is potentially 13 guys with Hummel and Hamilton probably being 14 and 15. That leaves 0 roster spots and no cap space to use anyway.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I really like Neal. Guy plays D and puts in the time. I like him on the team no matter what we do with Martin or in the draft.
Rubio, LaVine, Martin, Neal, Russell backcourt would be just fine for me next year. Then find a backup vet PG to round out the group. Maybe Bynum.
How are you going to divide the PG and SG minutes between 6 guys? That's 16 MPG's per player on average. Ricky should play 30 MPG's and each of the other guys deserve at least 20. There just aren't enough minutes to pass around. Add to that Wiggins needing to slide down to the 2 sometimes for Bazz to get at least 20 MPGs and there really isn't any time.
