Minnesota Sports Forum

Just nine games left in the Wolves schedule, and while 6th is not out of the question, the KOM continues to predict a 7/8 match up between the Wolves and the Clippers. It also seems very likely the other play-in game will be Pels/Lakers. This promises to be a very interesting play-in, because I would argue there may never be a more talented group of 4 play-in teams; that is, IF some key players return. So the news the past two days about the Pels and Clippers is meaningful and deserves our attention.

Clippers: Paul George has gradually progressed to 4-on-4 work with coaching staff in controlled environment.

Norman Powell is itching to get back out there and is expected to return before the end of the reg. season.

Kawhi is progressing nicely, but decision has not been made on a return.

Best guess as of March 23? PG and Powell return and are healthy for the playoffs, but Kawhi does not. The return of PG makes this a more difficult matchup for the Wolves, although they will be hosting. And if PG does not return, the Wolves will obviously have a much easier path to the 7th seed and a matchup with the Grizzlies.

Pelicans:: On the same day that Zion released an IG of himself performing a massive dunk, it was announced that he will not return this season. The Pels have been playing well since getting CJ, but if they can beat the Lakers and the Wolves don't beat the Clippers, I like our chances against a Zion-less Pels team at home.

Lakers: Anthony Davis is increasing his activity, and is likely to return this season. This is bad news for the Pelicans combined with the Zion news. The Lakers and Pels play each other twice in the final two weeks so we will have ample opportunity to see how they match up. But I think a healthy play-off experienced Lakers team will be a tough matchup for the Pels.

March 23 prediction:

PG returns and Clippers beat Wolves.
Davis returns and Lakers beat Pels.

Unfortunately, that sets up what I would call the Nightmare Scenario...having to play a healthy Lakers team armed with all sorts of bulletin board material. I dislike all LA teams, and the ONLY result that would leave a sour taste in my mouth would be ending the season with two home court losses to LA teams. Still, there is so much uncertainty with the health of the other 3 teams in the play-in, the smart bet is the Wolves make the playoffs as the 8th seed.

I guess I'm going into this with more of a zen attitude - whatever happens, it's all good. We've already exceeded my expectations in terms of wins and there is no question we took a massive step forward this season as a franchise.

At worst, we stumble to finish the season strong against superior competition and we lose in the play in tournament. And if that's the case, it should give Finch and the front office a very instructive perspective on where we need to get better. The value of nearly all our assets are going up, not down. We have our draft picks. We'll have the MLE. So we enter the offseason in a very strong position to make the necessary roster changes.

Q-was-here wrote:I guess I'm going into this with more of a zen attitude - whatever happens, it's all good. We've already exceeded my expectations in terms of wins and there is no question we took a massive step forward this season as a franchise.

At worst, we stumble to finish the season strong against superior competition and we lose in the play in tournament. And if that's the case, it should give Finch and the front office a very instructive perspective on where we need to get better. The value of nearly all our assets are going up, not down. We have our draft picks. We'll have the MLE. So we enter the offseason in a very strong position to make the necessary roster changes.

I normally would have a zen attitude after such an impressive season, but I dislike La-La Land so much, back to back losses to TWO LA teams would feel much worse to me than a 4-0 or 4-1 exit against Phoenix. But yeah I agree with your other take...Finch/Gupta learned a lot more about this team in Monday's loss against a very good Dallas team than they did in that series of wins against tanking teams...and I suspect they may have been rather pleased with what they saw.

FNG wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:I guess I'm going into this with more of a zen attitude - whatever happens, it's all good. We've already exceeded my expectations in terms of wins and there is no question we took a massive step forward this season as a franchise.

At worst, we stumble to finish the season strong against superior competition and we lose in the play in tournament. And if that's the case, it should give Finch and the front office a very instructive perspective on where we need to get better. The value of nearly all our assets are going up, not down. We have our draft picks. We'll have the MLE. So we enter the offseason in a very strong position to make the necessary roster changes.

I normally would have a zen attitude after such an impressive season, but I dislike La-La Land so much, back to back losses to TWO LA teams would feel much worse to me than a 4-0 or 4-1 exit against Phoenix. But yeah I agree with your other take...Finch/Gupta learned a lot more about this team in Monday's loss against a very good Dallas team than they did in that series of wins against tanking teams...and I suspect they may have been rather pleased with what they saw.

Well, perhaps a dose of humility will be good for our players too. Yeah, I'd hate to see us lose to the LA teams (esp. the Lakers), but if it helps KAT, Ant, et al grow up a bit, then so be it.

Q-was-here wrote:

FNG wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:I guess I'm going into this with more of a zen attitude - whatever happens, it's all good. We've already exceeded my expectations in terms of wins and there is no question we took a massive step forward this season as a franchise.

At worst, we stumble to finish the season strong against superior competition and we lose in the play in tournament. And if that's the case, it should give Finch and the front office a very instructive perspective on where we need to get better. The value of nearly all our assets are going up, not down. We have our draft picks. We'll have the MLE. So we enter the offseason in a very strong position to make the necessary roster changes.

I normally would have a zen attitude after such an impressive season, but I dislike La-La Land so much, back to back losses to TWO LA teams would feel much worse to me than a 4-0 or 4-1 exit against Phoenix. But yeah I agree with your other take...Finch/Gupta learned a lot more about this team in Monday's loss against a very good Dallas team than they did in that series of wins against tanking teams...and I suspect they may have been rather pleased with what they saw.

Well, perhaps a dose of humility will be good for our players too. Yeah, I'd hate to see us lose to the LA teams (esp. the Lakers), but if it helps KAT, Ant, et al grow up a bit, then so be it.

I think this team (and Towns, Edwards and Russell) NEED a playoff series.

I think they'd be huge underdogs and really struggle at times. But that's the point. They NEED to get that experience. Waiting another year just to take playoff lumps isn't enough for me.



[Note: And it will help the Wolves figure out where they need to upgrade. For example, as noted after the Dallas game, Vanderbilt is being played off the floor against smart defensive teams who put in a game plan vs. the Wolves. I see the same thing happening with Beasley. Only the playoffs can really reveal the cracks (or heart) in a team.]

Because of the play in tournament I am trying to not get too excited. Because I am the cooler, any interest I have in this play in tournament will end up in disaster. I need some of Q's zen I guess.

I'm just going to say the Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans and possibly the spurs will have to play us. The #1 offense, #13 defense and #3 net rating team in the NBA in 2022.

If they do end up losing 2 games I'll be disappointed but that doesn't take away that the Wolves are a damn good team. Who is young, not in the lux tax and has all their picks going forward.

Sucks for those teams that they have to play the Wolves in play in

It's premature to expect the Wolves to be in the play-in tournament anyways. They're quite literally 1.0 game behind the Nuggets for the sixth-seed with one more game head-to-head and currently in control of multiple tie-breakers.

Denver has the following games remaining: vs. Phoenix (Chris Paul's potential return), vs. Oklahoma City, at Charlotte, at Indiana, vs. Minnesota, at Los Angeles (Lakers), vs. San Antonio, vs. Memphis, and vs. Los Angeles (Lakers).

Minnesota has the following games remaining: vs. Phoenix (Chris Paul ruled out), vs. Dallas, at Boston, at Toronto, at Denver, at Houston, vs. Washington, vs. San Antonio, and vs. Chicago.

The Wolves have to take care of business, but they still control their destiny in the race for the sixth-seed.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

FNG wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:I guess I'm going into this with more of a zen attitude - whatever happens, it's all good. We've already exceeded my expectations in terms of wins and there is no question we took a massive step forward this season as a franchise.

At worst, we stumble to finish the season strong against superior competition and we lose in the play in tournament. And if that's the case, it should give Finch and the front office a very instructive perspective on where we need to get better. The value of nearly all our assets are going up, not down. We have our draft picks. We'll have the MLE. So we enter the offseason in a very strong position to make the necessary roster changes.

I normally would have a zen attitude after such an impressive season, but I dislike La-La Land so much, back to back losses to TWO LA teams would feel much worse to me than a 4-0 or 4-1 exit against Phoenix. But yeah I agree with your other take...Finch/Gupta learned a lot more about this team in Monday's loss against a very good Dallas team than they did in that series of wins against tanking teams...and I suspect they may have been rather pleased with what they saw.

Well, perhaps a dose of humility will be good for our players too. Yeah, I'd hate to see us lose to the LA teams (esp. the Lakers), but if it helps KAT, Ant, et al grow up a bit, then so be it.

I think this team (and Towns, Edwards and Russell) NEED a playoff series.

I think they'd be huge underdogs and really struggle at times. But that's the point. They NEED to get that experience. Waiting another year just to take playoff lumps isn't enough for me.



[Note: And it will help the Wolves figure out where they need to upgrade. For example, as noted after the Dallas game, Vanderbilt is being played off the floor against smart defensive teams who put in a game plan vs. the Wolves. I see the same thing happening with Beasley. Only the playoffs can really reveal the cracks (or heart) in a team.]

Boy, you sure expect a lot for someone that thought we'd only win 36 games this season! Goal posts, meet Abe!

Q-was-here wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

FNG wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:I guess I'm going into this with more of a zen attitude - whatever happens, it's all good. We've already exceeded my expectations in terms of wins and there is no question we took a massive step forward this season as a franchise.

At worst, we stumble to finish the season strong against superior competition and we lose in the play in tournament. And if that's the case, it should give Finch and the front office a very instructive perspective on where we need to get better. The value of nearly all our assets are going up, not down. We have our draft picks. We'll have the MLE. So we enter the offseason in a very strong position to make the necessary roster changes.

I normally would have a zen attitude after such an impressive season, but I dislike La-La Land so much, back to back losses to TWO LA teams would feel much worse to me than a 4-0 or 4-1 exit against Phoenix. But yeah I agree with your other take...Finch/Gupta learned a lot more about this team in Monday's loss against a very good Dallas team than they did in that series of wins against tanking teams...and I suspect they may have been rather pleased with what they saw.

Well, perhaps a dose of humility will be good for our players too. Yeah, I'd hate to see us lose to the LA teams (esp. the Lakers), but if it helps KAT, Ant, et al grow up a bit, then so be it.

I think this team (and Towns, Edwards and Russell) NEED a playoff series.

I think they'd be huge underdogs and really struggle at times. But that's the point. They NEED to get that experience. Waiting another year just to take playoff lumps isn't enough for me.



[Note: And it will help the Wolves figure out where they need to upgrade. For example, as noted after the Dallas game, Vanderbilt is being played off the floor against smart defensive teams who put in a game plan vs. the Wolves. I see the same thing happening with Beasley. Only the playoffs can really reveal the cracks (or heart) in a team.]

Boy, you sure expect a lot for someone that thought we'd only win 36 games this season! Goal posts, meet Abe!

grrrr.