longstrangetrip wrote:The hapless James-less Lakers lost at home to the Cavs last night, so now we are only 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs. Further, we are only 4 1/2 games out of getting home court advantage in the first round! The bad news is we have the 4th toughest schedule the rest of the way (based on records of teams we will be playing), but then the Lakers have the 3rd toughest. With the energy we have shown recently, I see no reason we shouldn't pass Utah, Sac-town and the Lakers if we can stay reasonably healthy.
The reason might be we aren't good enough talent wise (?). We tend to overrate our own players a bit and Coach Saunders can only do so much. While I wouldn't rule us out for a playoff spot, it is going to be a dogfight with multiple teams. As much as Ryan is doing some more innovative things offensively, it's on defense where we need to keep improving the most.
monsterpile wrote:Interesting graphics replresentation of strength of schedule for every team frommwhen this was tweeted and forward. Spoiler alert it's not good to be in the West. Lol
longstrangetrip wrote:The hapless James-less Lakers lost at home to the Cavs last night, so now we are only 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs. Further, we are only 4 1/2 games out of getting home court advantage in the first round! The bad news is we have the 4th toughest schedule the rest of the way (based on records of teams we will be playing), but then the Lakers have the 3rd toughest. With the energy we have shown recently, I see no reason we shouldn't pass Utah, Sac-town and the Lakers if we can stay reasonably healthy.
The reason might be we aren't good enough talent wise (?). We tend to overrate our own players a bit and Coach Saunders can only do so much. While I wouldn't rule us out for a playoff spot, it is going to be a dogfight with multiple teams. As much as Ryan is doing some more innovative things offensively, it's on defense where we need to keep improving the most.
We have mostly stayed afloat with Covington out. If the wolves can stay in the hunt till he gets back the chances go up. I think a lot of people (wolves fans and otherwise) assume (and it's a fair position) the Wolves won't be able to do that. Of course we have no timetable for Covington being back either so that makes it even tougher to calculate. We will see.
monsterpile wrote:Interesting graphics replresentation of strength of schedule for every team frommwhen this was tweeted and forward. Spoiler alert it's not good to be in the West. Lol
Not good....Look at Utah's graph. And Mitchell is starting to regain his form. And the Lakers eventually get LeBron back. And....oh, nevermind.
It's so unfair. We'd probably be the 6th seed right now if we played in the Eastern Conference.
I lamented the fact that we have the 4th most difficult remaining schedule, but Monster's graph shows that it isn't much more difficult than our schedule to date. So, if you think that this team will perform much better under Ryan than they did under Thibs (as many of us do), making the playoffs seems likely to me. Yeah, Utah's easy schedule works against us, but they are banged up and I just don't see then finishing ahead of us. I also sense that LeBron's injury is worse than they are letting on...groin injuries tend to linger, especially with older players...and that they are going to fade. It's not going to be easy, but the last three games (even without Covington) have increased my optimism.
monsterpile wrote:Interesting graphics replresentation of strength of schedule for every team frommwhen this was tweeted and forward. Spoiler alert it's not good to be in the West. Lol
Not good....Look at Utah's graph. And Mitchell is starting to regain his form. And the Lakers eventually get LeBron back. And....oh, nevermind.
It's so unfair. We'd probably be the 6th seed right now if we played in the Eastern Conference.
I lamented the fact that we have the 4th most difficult remaining schedule, but Monster's graph shows that it isn't much more difficult than our schedule to date. So, if you think that this team will perform much better under Ryan than they did under Thibs (as many of us do), making the playoffs seems likely to me. Yeah, Utah's easy schedule works against us, but they are banged up and I just don't see then finishing ahead of us. I also sense that LeBron's injury is worse than they are letting on...groin injuries tend to linger, especially with older players...and that they are going to fade. It's not going to be easy, but the last three games (even without Covington) have increased my optimism.
I appreciate your optimism LST, but there is only so much a coach can do right in the middle of a season. I have no doubt he's innovative and likeable (which by itself makes this team so much easier to root for), but he's going up against some of the most talented, best-coached teams in the NBA out West. Unless he becomes the "Wiggins whisperer" and suddenly Andrew takes his game to heights previously unseen, it's going to be a struggle to snag that 8th seed. One star simply isn't enough.
monsterpile wrote:Interesting graphics replresentation of strength of schedule for every team frommwhen this was tweeted and forward. Spoiler alert it's not good to be in the West. Lol
Not good....Look at Utah's graph. And Mitchell is starting to regain his form. And the Lakers eventually get LeBron back. And....oh, nevermind.
It's so unfair. We'd probably be the 6th seed right now if we played in the Eastern Conference.
I lamented the fact that we have the 4th most difficult remaining schedule, but Monster's graph shows that it isn't much more difficult than our schedule to date. So, if you think that this team will perform much better under Ryan than they did under Thibs (as many of us do), making the playoffs seems likely to me. Yeah, Utah's easy schedule works against us, but they are banged up and I just don't see then finishing ahead of us. I also sense that LeBron's injury is worse than they are letting on...groin injuries tend to linger, especially with older players...and that they are going to fade. It's not going to be easy, but the last three games (even without Covington) have increased my optimism.
I appreciate your optimism LST, but there is only so much a coach can do right in the middle of a season. I have no doubt he's innovative and likeable (which by itself makes this team so much easier to root for), but he's going up against some of the most talented, best-coached teams in the NBA out West. Unless he becomes the "Wiggins whisperer" and suddenly Andrew takes his game to heights previously unseen, it's going to be a struggle to snag that 8th seed. One star simply isn't enough.
I don't know that Ryan has to do much to get the most out of this roster (although I think he will)...just don't be a negative like Thibs was. I haven't checked rosters other than the Jazz, but I wonder if anyone else we are battling with has 8 lottery picks, 4 more 1st round picks plus an All-NBA defender. I doubt it. Utah for example has 6 lottery players (and also an All-NBA defender), but three of them are out for at least the next two weeks. Based on talent alone, this is a playoff team. If Ryan just becomes addition by subtraction, this roster should play much better. Sure, I'm an optimist, but talent matters, and I don't see the talent and depth on teams we are competing with that I see on our roster.
monsterpile wrote:Interesting graphics replresentation of strength of schedule for every team frommwhen this was tweeted and forward. Spoiler alert it's not good to be in the West. Lol
Not good....Look at Utah's graph. And Mitchell is starting to regain his form. And the Lakers eventually get LeBron back. And....oh, nevermind.
It's so unfair. We'd probably be the 6th seed right now if we played in the Eastern Conference.
I lamented the fact that we have the 4th most difficult remaining schedule, but Monster's graph shows that it isn't much more difficult than our schedule to date. So, if you think that this team will perform much better under Ryan than they did under Thibs (as many of us do), making the playoffs seems likely to me. Yeah, Utah's easy schedule works against us, but they are banged up and I just don't see then finishing ahead of us. I also sense that LeBron's injury is worse than they are letting on...groin injuries tend to linger, especially with older players...and that they are going to fade. It's not going to be easy, but the last three games (even without Covington) have increased my optimism.
I appreciate your optimism LST, but there is only so much a coach can do right in the middle of a season. I have no doubt he's innovative and likeable (which by itself makes this team so much easier to root for), but he's going up against some of the most talented, best-coached teams in the NBA out West. Unless he becomes the "Wiggins whisperer" and suddenly Andrew takes his game to heights previously unseen, it's going to be a struggle to snag that 8th seed. One star simply isn't enough.
I don't know that Ryan has to do much to get the most out of this roster (although I think he will)...just don't be a negative like Thibs was. I haven't checked rosters other than the Jazz, but I wonder if anyone else we are battling with has 8 lottery picks, 4 more 1st round picks plus an All-NBA defender. I doubt it. Utah for example has 6 lottery players (and also an All-NBA defender), but three of them are out for at least the next two weeks. Based on talent alone, this is a playoff team. If Ryan just becomes addition by subtraction, this roster should play much better. Sure, I'm an optimist, but talent matters, and I don't see the talent and depth on teams we are competing with that I see on our roster.
One of these teams towards the bottom is gonna go on a run eventually and maybe even a run like Utah last your or what Portland did a couple years in a row and they might not even be just fighting for a 8th seed. It's possible that it could be us. I'm not saying it will it could be another team. Let's be honest this Wolves team is fairly unpredictable. There are a ton of reasons for that but basically we are now on the 3rd version of this team now.
1. Butler needed trade him!!
2. Post Butler trade Covington and Saric added
3. Ryan Saunders era plus Covington out an extended stretch
One theme though as the seasonhas worn on is is Towns has been getting better and better and that's a pretty big deal. Part of why we sucked early on was Towns wasn't playing well and regardless of why he wasn't playing well it was a pretty big factor. Inefficient Towns that played meh defense is bad for winning games. Wiggins was also terrible offensively. If we get both guys playing reasonably well that's pretty big especially if they play defense. That's just 2 guys. Honestly I'm hoping for a good playoff run even if we come up short. It's not gonna be pretty we are gonna have some frustrating loses. Guess what? So will some other teams that actually make the playoffs.
longstrangetrip wrote:The hapless James-less Lakers lost at home to the Cavs last night, so now we are only 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs. Further, we are only 4 1/2 games out of getting home court advantage in the first round! The bad news is we have the 4th toughest schedule the rest of the way (based on records of teams we will be playing), but then the Lakers have the 3rd toughest. With the energy we have shown recently, I see no reason we shouldn't pass Utah, Sac-town and the Lakers if we can stay reasonably healthy.
The reason might be we aren't good enough talent wise (?). We tend to overrate our own players a bit and Coach Saunders can only do so much. While I wouldn't rule us out for a playoff spot, it is going to be a dogfight with multiple teams. As much as Ryan is doing some more innovative things offensively, it's on defense where we need to keep improving the most.
I've thought for some time we wouldn't make the playoffs this season. That's because of the hole the Wolves dug for themselves during the Butler fiasco. But as I suspected, some of the surprise teams are starting to find their levels - I'm talking about the Mavs and Kings in particular. The Clippers are also starting go falter a bit.
On talent alone, the Wolves should definitely be a playoff team -- probably a 6th seed. Currently, the Clippers, Spurs, Jazz, Lakers and Kings are ahead of the Wolves in 6th through 10th place. If you just compare rosters, I think the Wolves are clearly more talented than the Clippers, Spurs, Jazz and Kings. The Wolves are also more talented than the Lakers if you take LeBron out of the equation. I think the Wolves's talent level is on par with the Blazers and Thunder as well. The Wolves would be a top 4 team if Wiggins became the star many thought he'd be when drafted. I don't see that happening, but better coaching can get more out of Wiggins and more out of the team generally. I still think it's a tall order to climb over the teams ahead of us given the tough schedule the Wolves face going forward. But with Thibodeau gone, I at lease see it as a possibility.
Utah has started slowly in last couple of years too and then finished really strong. That combined with their much easier remaining schedule, makes me to consider that they will for sure finish ahead of Wolves this season. At least if Gobert doesn't have bad injury.
But I think OKC and Clippers are two teams that might not play as well for rest of the season than they have been playing so far. OKC has had really easy schedule and they haven't had any significant injuries so far. They have really thin bench and injury for any of the group Westbrook, Schroder, George, Grant or Adams would have dramatic effect for their chances. But even if they remain healthy, their difficult remaining schedule make them on of the teams Wolves can catch.
Clippers started season really well and are one of the deepest team in league. But they have already cooled off and does anyone believe that all three Gallinari, Bradley and Beverley will be able to finish season without any serious injury? They have 23 seasons experience but they have been able to play more than 70 games only in 5 of them. Currently all three are on pace to play at least 70 games and Gallo & Beverley even in pace to play 80 games.
Lakers chances depend totally on how long Lebron is sidelined. Without him they will be 2nd worst team in conference.
Anyone else seeing a repeat from last season only this time we back into the 8th seed and get swept? Would we call that a success for Ryan? I think we do.
