Where we Stand after the All-Star Break

[FNG]

With all this downtime on my hands... I fired up the old Klunk-O-Meter (pain-in-the-butt entering the remaining schedules for all the teams it tracks).

I tweaked the rankings of teams in various ways, but the Wolves almost always came out as the #6 seed. The most opTIMistic ranking, where I lump the Wolves with the Thunder, Griz, Nuggets, Cavs, Celts and Knicks as the top teams, the Wolves only finished as the #4 seed. I suppose home court in round one is something...

As mentioned earlier, the Wolves have a very favorable schedule after these next 4 games. So, maybe there are a bunch of anti-klunkers in their future. We'll see how these next 4 games go, where the Wolves will likely not be favored in any of them (ie. anti-klunker opportunities).

I always enjoy the KOM, Tim, although I'm not quite sure about pronunciation...is the emphasis on the "O" (like barometer) or on the "Klunk"? It probably deserves its own thread. I'll chime in with my predictor spreadsheet when there are about 20 games to go.

[Coolbreeze44]

With all this downtime on my hands... I fired up the old Klunk-O-Meter (pain-in-the-butt entering the remaining schedules for all the teams it tracks).

I tweaked the rankings of teams in various ways, but the Wolves almost always came out as the #6 seed. The most opTIMistic ranking, where I lump the Wolves with the Thunder, Griz, Nuggets, Cavs, Celts and Knicks as the top teams, the Wolves only finished as the #4 seed. I suppose home court in round one is something...

As mentioned earlier, the Wolves have a very favorable schedule after these next 4 games. So, maybe there are a bunch of anti-klunkers in their future. We'll see how these next 4 games go, where the Wolves will likely not be favored in any of them (ie. anti-klunker opportunities).

I always enjoy the KOM, Tim, although I'm not quite sure about pronunciation...is the emphasis on the "O" (like barometer) or on the "Klunk"? It probably deserves its own thread. I'll chime in with my predictor spreadsheet when there are about 20 games to go.

If the emphasis is on the "Klunk", is it a long "o" and then meeter?

[FNG]

With all this downtime on my hands... I fired up the old Klunk-O-Meter (pain-in-the-butt entering the remaining schedules for all the teams it tracks).

I tweaked the rankings of teams in various ways, but the Wolves almost always came out as the #6 seed. The most opTIMistic ranking, where I lump the Wolves with the Thunder, Griz, Nuggets, Cavs, Celts and Knicks as the top teams, the Wolves only finished as the #4 seed. I suppose home court in round one is something...

As mentioned earlier, the Wolves have a very favorable schedule after these next 4 games. So, maybe there are a bunch of anti-klunkers in their future. We'll see how these next 4 games go, where the Wolves will likely not be favored in any of them (ie. anti-klunker opportunities).

I always enjoy the KOM, Tim, although I'm not quite sure about pronunciation...is the emphasis on the "O" (like barometer) or on the "Klunk"? It probably deserves its own thread. I'll chime in with my predictor spreadsheet when there are about 20 games to go.

If the emphasis is on the "Klunk", is it a long "o" and then meeter?

Yep, exactly. This issue is much more crucial than whether Randle starts or not, and needs to be resolved.

[Coolbreeze44]

I always enjoy the KOM, Tim, although I'm not quite sure about pronunciation...is the emphasis on the "O" (like barometer) or on the "Klunk"? It probably deserves its own thread. I'll chime in with my predictor spreadsheet when there are about 20 games to go.

If the emphasis is on the "Klunk", is it a long "o" and then meeter?

Yep, exactly. This issue is much more crucial than whether Randle starts or not, and needs to be resolved.

Indeed. We need DOGE to get involved and audit this mess before it gets even more out of hand.

[60WinTim]

If the emphasis is on the "Klunk", is it a long "o" and then meeter?

Yep, exactly. This issue is much more crucial than whether Randle starts or not, and needs to be resolved.

Indeed. We need DOGE to get involved and audit this mess before it gets even more out of hand.

Ok, in my mind I simply say the letters K-O-M. Sort of like P-O-W, or M-I-A. Or if DOGE is involved (which I never knew how to pronounce until it hit the news!), I-R-S.

[60WinTim]

Welp, we now stand a half game closer to the #5 seed. The Lakers have a klunker, losing at home to the Hornets. That would be considered a TERRIBLE loss by the Lakers. Reaves did them no favors by pulling an ANT -- getting himself ejected arguing a non-foul call (I guess ANT usually doesn't get himself ejected)...

[FNG]

Welp, we now stand a half game closer to the #5 seed. The Lakers have a klunker, losing at home to the Hornets. That would be considered a TERRIBLE loss by the Lakers. Reaves did them no favors by pulling an ANT -- getting himself ejected arguing a non-foul call (I guess ANT usually doesn't get himself ejected)...

And Luka goes 1 for 9 on threes and turns the ball over 6 times. Trading for Ju added some klunkiness to our offense. I sense the same thing might be happening with LA having two guys who NEED to have the ball in their hands. Imagine the gloom and doom we would have here if the Wolves lost back to back games to Utah and Charlotte!

[Q-is-here]

Welp, we now stand a half game closer to the #5 seed. The Lakers have a klunker, losing at home to the Hornets. That would be considered a TERRIBLE loss by the Lakers. Reaves did them no favors by pulling an ANT -- getting himself ejected arguing a non-foul call (I guess ANT usually doesn't get himself ejected)...

And Luka goes 1 for 9 on threes and turns the ball over 6 times. Trading for Ju added some klunkiness to our offense. I sense the same thing might be happening with LA having two guys who NEED to have the ball in their hands. Imagine the gloom and doom we would have here if the Wolves lost back to back games to Utah and Charlotte!

What an absolutely delightful result!

I remember when folks were initially skeptical of the LeBron/Wade pairing in Miami since both were alpha dogs for their respective teams and had the ball in their hands a lot. And they added Chris Bosh to the equation who also was the #1 guy in Toronto! How would they ever make it work!? Well, we all know they figured it out!

The reality is that LeBron has slowed down enough that he welcomes the help and the Lakers have been searching for play makers in vain (remember how they tried to will DLO into relevancy?) only to come up short....until Nico Harrison stepped up to the plate!

In other words, I think it's only a matter of time before these guys figure it out. The question is whether they have enough good health, fitness, and big man talent to make it through a Western Conference playoff grinder. That I'm not so sure about.

[kekgeek]

Just a couple of things from online today

-Wemby out for the year with blood clots. Hopefully he has ok

-DDV cleared for non contact basketball activities and Randle has been cleared for 5 v 5 contact (both remain out)

-Ant and Rudy are the 3rd best PnR combo in the NBA only behind Murray/Jokic and Halliburton/Turner

[Q-is-here]

We're now in the top 10 in offensive and defensive rating.

Credit to Finch and the players for finally figuring out how to unlock the offense. It's been trending up for a couple of months now.