Around the NBA:2025-6

[Coolbreeze44]

Sure.

Giannis has missed between 9 and 19 games for each of the past 5 or 6 seasons. Interestingly, Doncic is basically in that games played area, too. Heck, he might even miss more games.

Is playing only 75% - 88% of the games one of the reasons why both guys hold up so well when it comes to high-end production when they do play?

Should the Wolves be looking into ways to give Edwards more nights off? He (and most of the Wolves) play when they're healthy. Always. But is that one of the reasons we're seeing inconsistent efforts like the game vs. New Orleans. Here we are complaining about Randle and Edwards or whoever... when other stars might not have even suited up in that game.

Giannis has missed an average of over 16 games per year during the last 6 seasons. He will certainly increase that number this year. He hasn't had any severe injuries, but it seems he's questionable every night. Knee soreness, back stiffness, calf strain, groin strain are his typical maladies. No one knows what his future holds, but it's a better bet to think his missed games will only increase. As far as our players go, one of my favorite things about Ant and Jaden is they show up to play. We're not OKC, we need all hands on deck to ensure we avoid the play-in tournament. Load management sucks and it really isn't an option for the Wolves yet.

I genuinely enjoy that the Wolves (1) don't load manage and (2) don't flop/grift for fouls. That doesn't mean they shouldn't do both more. (Heck, Jim Pete mentioned that they've only taken 5 charges all season?)

As for Giannis' health... he's averaged 13 games over that span... two of the seasons were shortened. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic averages 16 missed games over that span.

Neither is optimal. And Giannis could tear an achilles or something devastating. Or, Giannis and Luka might just be 67-game guys. Either way, they've been incredibly consistent when they're on the court... and even sorta how much they'll be off it.

I think any team looking to bring him in is well aware of those 13 - 16 games... and will be perfectly fine with it moving forward. He's going to attract one helluva haul when/if he's traded.

Abe you're right, everyone knows he's going to miss time and he will bring a haul regardless. What we don't know is whether he remains 13-16 or becomes more of a Kyrie Irving or Anthony Davis.

[60WinTim]

Spurs and Lakers fall tonight -- keep sneaking up on them! Hawks were oh so close to nipping the Nuggets. Oh well. And Houston beat Phoenix, widening the gap between the Wolves and the play-in.

On another note, the Clippers lost a hard-fought game at Memphis tonight. Now they fly in to play the Wolves tomorrow night. It doesn't seem like there is much joy on that roster. Hopefully, we are not their cure...

[Lipoli390]

The Wolves are in the mix for the 2-6 seeds right now. More realistically, I think we can finish as high as 3rd because I think Houston is substantially better than Minnesota. Note the Rockets have an 11.2 positive point differential. The one thing that won’t happen this year is the Wolves beating OKC and making it to the NBA finals and — baring some unforeseen injuries - there is no realistic trade that could put the Wolves in position to get past OKC and into the NBA finals.

OKC has only 1 loss so far this season. They are a juggernaut in the mold of the Bulls in their 72-win season and the Warriors in their 73-win season. Interestingly, the Warriors lost to LeBron’s Cavs in the NBA finals that season, but when you’re up against a team led by the 2nd best player in NBA history that sort of thing can happen. Bottom line in my view is that this is not the season to chase a championship. Teams that have juggernaut seasons like OKC this year rarely repeat the same sort of season the following year. This is OKC’s year. The Wolves should strive to remain competitive but should have their championship sights set on next season and the several seasons thereafter with Ant and Jaden under contract.

[rapsuperstar31]

The Wolves are in the mix for the 2-6 seeds right now. More realistically, I think we can finish as high as 3rd because I think Houston is substantially better than Minnesota. Note the Rockets have an 11.2 positive point differential. The one thing that won’t happen this year is the Wolves beating OKC and making it to the NBA finals and — baring some unforeseen injuries - there is no realistic trade that could put the Wolves in position to get past OKC and into the NBA finals.

OKC has only 1 loss so far this season. They are a juggernaut in the mold of the Bulls in their 72-win season and the Warriors in their 73-win season. Interestingly, the Warriors lost to LeBron’s Cavs in the NBA finals that season, but when you’re up against a team led by the 2nd best player in NBA history that sort of thing can happen. Bottom line in my view is that this is not the season to chase a championship. Teams have juggernaut seasons like OKC this year rarely repeat the same sort of season the following year. This is OKC’s year. The Wolves should strive to remain competitive but should have their championship sights set on next season and the several seasons thereafter with Ant and Jaden under contract.

That's probably fare, I don't think our team can beat OKC as long as SGA is healthy. You never know what can happen once you get to the playoffs, though these injuries can happen. Golden State might not have any championships if not for key injuries in teams they played. Same thing with Houston, it's a long season and father time might not be kind to a 37 year old Durant in a long playoff series. We already knocked him out of the playoffs at 35 years old, and I do think Reed is gong to be a traffic cone in the playoffs hunted over and over again.

[60WinTim]

You know, OKC has looked awesome. But they have played the absolute weakest schedule in the NBA! They have only played 5 teams that currently have a winning record, and only 3 that are in the playoffs with all 3 being on OKC's home court. I would suggest holding off crowning them champions...

[FNG]

You know, OKC has looked awesome. But they have played the absolute weakest schedule in the NBA! They have only played 5 teams that currently have a winning record, and only 3 that are in the playoffs with all 3 being on OKC's home court. I would suggest holding off crowning them champions...

Yeah, they have been incredibly impressive, but their schedule has been absurdly soft. And they haven't looked like world beaters when playing teams with winning records, even at home. They needed double OT to beat Houston on opening night, and we were dead even with them with a minute to play. Let's see how they fare when they start playing better teams, starting with us on 'December 19.

Houston is quite scary too. Unlike the Thunder, they have played a tough schedule...11 games against winning teams. I may have said Rob D might be better than Sheppard, and that comment sounds really dumb now. We don't play then until mid January, but then three times beginning then. We're only 2 games behind them for second place, and have a chance to catch them this month if we keep taking care of business.

[Lipoli390]

You know, OKC has looked awesome. But they have played the absolute weakest schedule in the NBA! They have only played 5 teams that currently have a winning record, and only 3 that are in the playoffs with all 3 being on OKC's home court. I would suggest holding off crowning them champions...

Yeah, they have been incredibly impressive, but their schedule has been absurdly soft. And they haven't looked like world beaters when playing teams with winning records, even at home. They needed double OT to beat Houston on opening night, and we were dead even with them with a minute to play. Let's see how they fare when they start playing better teams, starting with us on 'December 19.

Houston is quite scary too. Unlike the Thunder, they have played a tough schedule...11 games against winning teams. I may have said Rob D might be better than Sheppard, and that comment sounds really dumb now. We don't play then until mid January, but then three times beginning then. We're only 2 games behind them for second place, and have a chance to catch them this month if we keep taking care of business.

Let’s not kid ourselves about OKC. Yes, they’ve played a relatively easy schedule thus far. But they’re not just winning, they’re winning big. They have an incredible 15.6 positive point differential! Note also that Jalen Williams has played only 4 games. They are a juggernaut and only two things could potentially deny them another NBA title: (1) a extended injury to SGA; or (2) the Houston Rockets who I agree are a scary good team this season.

I’ve always thought Reed was better than Rob and Reed’s draft position relative to Rob’s indicates that view was pretty universal. However, we can’t know whether Rob is better or how good he is relative to Reed because Reed plays substantial minutes (over 25 per game) while Rob plays about 10. They both had equally poor rookie seasons. You could still turn out to have been right.

[Lipoli390]

Mavs are beating the Rockets tonight. So the Wolves will pick up ground on the 2nd place team in the West.

[FNG]

Mavs are beating the Rockets tonight. So the Wolves will pick up ground on the 2nd place team in the West.

Mavs have been really good since AD came back and Nembhard became the starting PG. They're going to make the playoffs after a terrible start.

[FNG]

Warriors beat the Cavs in Cleveland with Curry, Draymond and Soreness all out...Cavs are struggling.