Wolves/Mavs GDT

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Most of us expected a loss in San Antonio and a win at home against the Cavs. Tonight is a chance for the Wolves to show they can prevail in winnable road games. The Mavs are long at C and PF, but lack a potent roster with Dirk and Barnes both out. They lack both 3-point shooting and distributing PGs, so this is a game we have to win. Indiana at home is also winnable, especially if Sabonis is still out. There will a little more excitement on this board (and maybe a more satisfied Butler) if this team can be 3-1 going into Toronto. Wolves are only favored by 2 1/2 which proves Vegas still thinks the Butler issues will drag this team down, but I think they can win this one by 10 if Towns returns to form and the rest of the squad shows the kind of energy they showed in the first two games.

[Lipoli390]

Most of us expected a loss in San Antonio and a win at home against the Cavs. Tonight is a chance for the Wolves to show they can prevail in winnable road games. The Mavs are long at C and PF, but lack a potent roster with Dirk and Barnes both out. They lack both 3-point shooting and distributing PGs, so this is a game we have to win. Indiana at home is also winnable, especially if Sabonis is still out. There will a little more excitement on this board (and maybe a more satisfied Butler) if this team can be 3-1 going into Toronto. Wolves are only favored by 2 1/2 which proves Vegas still thinks the Butler issues will drag this team down, but I think they can win this one by 10 if Towns returns to form and the rest of the squad shows the kind of energy they showed in the first two games.

I agree, LST. But we should have won last night's game by 20. The talent gap between the Wolves and Cavs is gigantic and we also had an opening night home crowd. Even without Barnes and Dirk, Dallas is more talented than Cleveland. The Mavs will be at home and they have one of he League's best head coaches. Nevertheless, I see the Wolves winning tonight's game. And I agree that beating Dallas and then Indiana could really generate some excitement among Wolves fans.

Would it also result in a more satisfied Butler? Hard to know. I would think the answer is yes, because that's the impact you would expect winning to have on a competitive like Butler. But I still don't see winning as a cure for Butler's desire to leave. In other words, I just don't see Butler at some point dropping his demand to be traded. On the other hand, I am now thoroughly convinced that Thibodeau never intended to trade Butler before the season and he approached trade negotiations in a way to reach the result he intended. I'm convinced that Thibodeau has never wavered in his belief that playing and winning during the regular season would change Butler's mind to the point where he wants to stay. I keep remembering Thibodeau a couple months ago, when asked whether Butler was unhappy, saying that "this is the right situation for Jimmy." Thibodeau sincerely believes that and he's stubborn enough in his own convictions to be certain that Butler will eventually come to that same conclusion.

[Monster]

I'm looking for the Wolves guard to have another big night with Dallas guys eithe rbeunf young and bad at D or getting older. The worry is another problem in the paint with guys like Jordon and Powell doing some work.

[Wolvesfan21]

It's on the road and if this team is the same as last year, which is mostly is, then this is no gimme. Got to come out with energy and hustle on D again.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Wiggy gonna be a mad dunker and attack tonight.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

It's on the road and if this team is the same as last year, which is mostly is, then this is no gimme. Got to come out with energy and hustle on D again.

Yeah, no gimmes for this club. But this is as close as it gets, I think. We were 4-0 last year against the Mavs, and they're much worse now without 2 starters. And I would argue that we are better than last year with KAT's slow start more than offset by a much improved bench. We covered the spread against the Cavs, and I see us doing it again tonight.

It is a back end of a BTB though, so that has to be taken into account. A smart coach would go beyond his 9-man rotation and play Okogie, Deng and maybe KBD a little. Let's see if we have a smart coach tonight.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

OK, I'm changing my prediction with the Wolves announcing Butler is out tonight with "rest"...Mavs by 6, dammit.

[Wolvesfan21]

OK, I'm changing my prediction with the Wolves announcing Butler is out tonight with "rest"...Mavs by 6, dammit.

Hmmmmm, trade must be imminent.

[Duke13]

Oh great, more Rose!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

OK, I'm changing my prediction with the Wolves announcing Butler is out tonight with "rest"...Mavs by 6, dammit.

Hmmmmm, trade must be imminent.

Could be, but personally I hope not...unless we get a Butler-like superstar in return (doubtful). The Wolves are calling this precautionary "rest" to not play Butler BTB, just like Toronto and Boston are doing with Leonard and Hayward. But Butler isn't coming off a serious injury like those two guys, and it's out of character for Thibs to baby one of his players. So, you may be on to something.