Best Case Scenario

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I kind of feel like we know what we'll get from KAT, DLO, Beasley, Rubio, Layman, and Juancho. As a 6-man group, I think they can be fairly competitive in a "competes for 9th or 10th place" kind of way.

So to me the wildcards are the other three guys in the wing rotation: Okogie, Culver, and Edwards. Here is the realistic best-case scenario with each one of them:

Okogie - Plays a more disciplined brand of basketball - more selective with his flops and mud runs to the hoop. And most importantly, is at least serviceable from 3 (i.e. > 30%).

Culver - Truly picks up where he left off in the last 15+ games last year and takes his game up another notch. Like Okogie, becomes serviceable from 3 and makes at least 70% of his free throws. Defense goes up another notch. He had a great pre-season, so cautiously optimistic.

Edwards - My going in position with Edwards is that he will be a liability for most of the season. There is absolutely no scenario where I see him as a positive on balance for the season, So my best case scenario for him is simply that his learning curve goes faster than I think and his minutes early on (and therefore the damage he does) are held in check by Saunders because the other two guys mentioned above are playing great.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Come on Abe. Best case scenario. You can do it.

Fine.

Towns becomes an MVP. And DPOY.
Hernangomez continues to shoot 42% on three pointers.
Okogie is a better version of Covington.
Culver is Jimmy Butler-like with a smile.
D. Russell is 2nd team All NBA.
Edwards makes D. Wade gush with excitement.
Rubio shares that dazzling, winning smile all season as the Wolves go 43 - 39.

Ha, love that your player-by-player best-case scenarios are beyond anyone's wildest dreams, yet the Wolves still manage to barely play above .500 ball. You can't help yourself!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Come on Abe. Best case scenario. You can do it.

Fine.

Towns becomes an MVP. And DPOY.
Hernangomez continues to shoot 42% on three pointers.
Okogie is a better version of Covington.
Culver is Jimmy Butler-like with a smile.
D. Russell is 2nd team All NBA.
Edwards makes D. Wade gush with excitement.
Rubio shares that dazzling, winning smile all season as the Wolves go 43 - 39.

I cracked up when I saw the Wolves record in this scenario. Minnesota has all the stars align and they barely squeak out above 500. Maybe if they had just kept Rondae Hollis-Jefferson!!

[Lipoli390]

Come on Abe. Best case scenario. You can do it.

Fine.

Towns becomes an MVP. And DPOY.
Hernangomez continues to shoot 42% on three pointers.
Okogie is a better version of Covington.
Culver is Jimmy Butler-like with a smile.
D. Russell is 2nd team All NBA.
Edwards makes D. Wade gush with excitement.
Rubio shares that dazzling, winning smile all season as the Wolves go 43 - 39.

Ha, love that your player-by-player best-case scenarios are beyond anyone's wildest dreams, yet the Wolves still manage to barely play above .500 ball. You can't help yourself!

What I love most about Abe's post is that he has the Wolves playing 82 games in a 72 game season. That has to mean the Wolves end playing in 10 post-season games, which means they advance at least one round. Until now, I never knew Abe was such an optimist. :)

[BloopOracle]

I think Edwards will rapidly grow into the most promising two-way player in the NBA by late season

[MikkeMan]

I cracked up when I saw the Wolves record in this scenario. Minnesota has all the stars align and they barely squeak out above 500. Maybe if they had just kept Rondae Hollis-Jefferson!!

It's obviously because Abe's best case scenario didn't include change of head coach. :)

[DNatagal]

Culver and Edwards are my focus this season (1A and 1B)....with Ryan Saunders a close second place.

[Porckchop]

Not to interrupt the game day thread but what always bothered me about Rubio is in fact you didn't always know what you would get from him. Sure he might have 3 games in a row where he makes 3/10, 5/10 or even better of his shots. But just as likely he goes 0-3, 1-7 or 3-12. And for me it isn't the fg percentage but his ability to disappear from taking shots all together. When he becomes zero risk to take shots it makes defending five guys on the court that much easier.

[thedoper]

Not to interrupt the game day thread but what always bothered me about Rubio is in fact you didn't always know what you would get from him. Sure he might have 3 games in a row where he makes 3/10, 5/10 or even better of his shots. But just as likely he goes 0-3, 1-7 or 3-12. And for me it isn't the fg percentage but his ability to disappear from taking shots all together. When he becomes zero risk to take shots it makes defending five guys on the court that much easier.

This isnt the game day thread. Its the best case scenario thread. I guess your best case scenario is Rubio legitimately shooting above 40%?

[Porckchop]

Not to interrupt the game day thread but what always bothered me about Rubio is in fact you didn't always know what you would get from him. Sure he might have 3 games in a row where he makes 3/10, 5/10 or even better of his shots. But just as likely he goes 0-3, 1-7 or 3-12. And for me it isn't the fg percentage but his ability to disappear from taking shots all together. When he becomes zero risk to take shots it makes defending five guys on the court that much easier.

This isnt the game day thread. Its the best case scenario thread. I guess your best case scenario is Rubio legitimately shooting above 40%?

I meant I leap frogged it. best case scenario is if he hits Fts at a 75% clip he's bound to become an adequate 3 pt shooter!!