Minnesota Sports Forum

Wolves stay in 1st!

Also apologize to Lip with my passive aggressive attitude. Was just annoyed with the negatively and all great teams go through bad play and have bad losses

Gee, is our string of good luck starting up again?!?

Luka, Kyrie and Lively are listed as out for tomorrow. Exum and Derrick Jones are listed as doubtful.

At least they are giving Lip an excuse as to why the Wolves are staying on top!

60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:22 pm Gee, is our string of good luck starting up again?!?

Luka, Kyrie and Lively are listed as out for tomorrow. Exum and Derrick Jones are listed as doubtful.

At least they are giving Lip an excuse as to why the Wolves are staying on top!

I'm telling you, teams see a loss in Minnesota and are choosing to focus on the next game. Oh how times have changed.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:45 pm

60WinTim wrote: ↑Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:22 pm Gee, is our string of good luck starting up again?!?

Luka, Kyrie and Lively are listed as out for tomorrow. Exum and Derrick Jones are listed as doubtful.

At least they are giving Lip an excuse as to why the Wolves are staying on top!

I'm telling you, teams see a loss in Minnesota and are choosing to focus on the next game. Oh how times have changed.

Yep, and I don't have any problem with that. I feel bad for the season ticket holders, but I can get over that. Two years ago when I thought our record was smoke and mirrors fueled by wins over teams missing key players, I didn't like it when game after game we faced teams with their stars injured...I wanted to find out if we were any good or nor, and playing subpar competition didn't tell me anything. But this year I know we are good...this team doesn't have to prove anything to me. I just want wins and that #1 seed, and a rested team for the playoffs. Give Bite Bite another night off tonight and coast to a win against the G League Mavs.

On another note, we beat up OKC pretty good last game. That drive Jaden had into Isaiah Joe's chest has him out with a bruised sternum. And Jalen Williams is out when he turned an ankle at the end of the game. They have a few other "questionables" as they host the Nuggets. Both teams have 15 losses, so somebody is getting another loss...

We should be double digit or near double digit favorites in our next three games, and winning all of them will put us on a 60-win pace again. Just to put that in perspective, only two teams in the past 5 years have won 60 or more games...the 2020 Bucks and the 2022 Suns. Pretty elite company!

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:01 am We should be double digit or near double digit favorites in our next three games, and winning all of them will put us on a 60-win pace again. Just to put that in perspective, only two teams in the past 5 years have won 60 or more games...the 2020 Bucks and the 2022 Suns. Pretty elite company!

Impressive indeed, but none of that matters if we get torched by a team like the Suns in the first round. That's what keeps the NBA punditry from going all in on the Wolves. Gotta prove ourselves with at least one series win at minimum, otherwise we're just pretenders.

I still think we need to add offensive firepower. Great offense beats great defense because the NBA favors offensive players and is by its nature a high scoring type of game (unlike soccer or hockey).

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:35 am

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:01 am We should be double digit or near double digit favorites in our next three games, and winning all of them will put us on a 60-win pace again. Just to put that in perspective, only two teams in the past 5 years have won 60 or more games...the 2020 Bucks and the 2022 Suns. Pretty elite company!

Impressive indeed, but none of that matters if we get torched by a team like the Suns in the first round. That's what keeps the NBA punditry from going all in on the Wolves. Gotta prove ourselves with at least one series win at minimum, otherwise we're just pretenders.

I still think we need to add offensive firepower. Great offense beats great defense because the NBA favors offensive players and is by its nature a high scoring type of game (unlike soccer or hockey).

Agree completely, Q! We have the 3rd or 4th lowest points per game average in the NBA. We need to add more offensive firepower to the rotation to be a viable championship contender in my view. I’m just now sure how we can do that without compromising our defensive depth and chemistry.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:35 am

FNG wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:01 am We should be double digit or near double digit favorites in our next three games, and winning all of them will put us on a 60-win pace again. Just to put that in perspective, only two teams in the past 5 years have won 60 or more games...the 2020 Bucks and the 2022 Suns. Pretty elite company!

Impressive indeed, but none of that matters if we get torched by a team like the Suns in the first round. That's what keeps the NBA punditry from going all in on the Wolves. Gotta prove ourselves with at least one series win at minimum, otherwise we're just pretenders.

I still think we need to add offensive firepower. Great offense beats great defense because the NBA favors offensive players and is by its nature a high scoring type of game (unlike soccer or hockey).

I'm in the minority on this one here, Q, but I've always thought that great defense beats great offense in the playoffs. Sure, a team can get ridiculously hot and win a game in the playoffs despite great defense, but it's not as likely to happen over 7 games. The Wolves defense has been erratic at times this season, but it's been because of a lack of effort. I understand why we may begin a game kind of lazy against a depleted Mavs squad, but I don't think anyone here thinks the Wolves will ever lack effort once the postseason starts. Shooting can be a big variable for a team...there one day, and absent the next. But I believe defense and rebounding are sustainable, and those are the two things this team is built on (well, also 3-point percentage, but as you have pointed out, it's only percentage...not volume.

Would I love to add one more scoring threat to this team? Sure...I think almost any team would love to add one more scoring threat. But for me it would have to be in the buyout market. I'm cautious about moving on from any of our solid rotation players when everything is going so well.