ESPN power rankings

[KG4Ever]

If we run it back, I think some wolves fans are in for a rude awakening. Denver was clearly better than us (they just had to play OKC first, but they played them closer) and now Houston is too. I think maybe we lose to the clippers in the playoffs and also maybe GS with curry. If the lakers get a couple of competent bigs, which I have to believe they will (they’re the lakers), they have a good chance to beat us too. Also, I believe the cavs will definitely be better than us next year, and possibly the Celtics/pacers, depending on health and moves. That’s not even factoring in teams like Orlando and the spurs, who could easily leap past the wolves. So yeah, sorry guys. I believe last years WCF run was legit, but this year we got very lucky. We don’t have a real starting PG right now and I just don’t love the current fit on our front line. If TC was smart he would trade Randle for assets and take a step back to play the young guys.

It’s been 403 days since the nuggets beat the Timberwolves in a basketball game

Ha, 404 and counting! And I'll add that we swept them 4-0 this past season, outscoring them by 43 points in those 4 games. More evidence that "Denver was clearly better than us"!

I think the OP focused on how Denver played OKC much tougher than Wolves. I wouldn't feel complacent that sweeping a team in regular season transfers to playoffs. Two examples last year are Phoenix and Dallas, which played out exactly opposite in playoffs as regular season. Wolves were fortunate last year to play against a one-legged Jamal Murray in the playoffs, and maybe next time won't be as lucky. West will be tougher next year and Wolves need to improve or they will just have to enjoy their WCF participation banners.

[D-Loser25]

I really don’t understand the hate on my opinion. #1 - we were on the easier side of the bracket in the west… anyone want to argue that? #2 - we directly benefited from the most significant injury in the western conference playoffs. I’m not saying we didn’t play well, I’m just saying we got some pretty good luck to advance to the WCF. If you all wanna disagree with that, cool, but my logic is sound. If you expect that same team to make the WCF again, I’d say the chances aren’t good. I think we’re probably a 5 or 6 as currently constructed. My question to you is do you expect this team to make the WCF again next year as currently constructed? (So do you consider this team one of the top 2 teams in the west?) If not, then I’m not sure why you’re arguing with me.

What if the wolves would have had a key injury in the first round and lost? Would you all be talking about that as an unlucky break and we probably could have gone farther without the injury? (Like GS is probably saying and like Indiana should definitely be saying about game 7) Yep, you would. All I’m saying is be objective with both sides of THAT coin.

[D-Loser25]

It’s been 403 days since the nuggets beat the Timberwolves in a basketball game

Ha, 404 and counting! And I'll add that we swept them 4-0 this past season, outscoring them by 43 points in those 4 games. More evidence that "Denver was clearly better than us"!

I think the OP focused on how Denver played OKC much tougher than Wolves. I wouldn't feel complacent that sweeping a team in regular season transfers to playoffs. Two examples last year are Phoenix and Dallas, which played out exactly opposite in playoffs as regular season. Wolves were fortunate last year to play against a one-legged Jamal Murray in the playoffs, and maybe next time won't be as lucky. West will be tougher next year and Wolves need to improve or they will just have to enjoy their WCF participation banners.

Thanks KG, yes, since when does it matter what happened in a regular season matchup? Anyone who watched that Denver/OKC series should know what team was better in the 2025 playoffs. Also, I’d go as far as to say that the clippers might have looked better than the wolves in the playoffs too (barely losing to Denver).

The wolves were and are a flawed team and if TC decides to mainly run it back, you all are gonna see that we were lucky to make the WCF this year.

[Monster]

Ha, 404 and counting! And I'll add that we swept them 4-0 this past season, outscoring them by 43 points in those 4 games. More evidence that "Denver was clearly better than us"!

I think the OP focused on how Denver played OKC much tougher than Wolves. I wouldn't feel complacent that sweeping a team in regular season transfers to playoffs. Two examples last year are Phoenix and Dallas, which played out exactly opposite in playoffs as regular season. Wolves were fortunate last year to play against a one-legged Jamal Murray in the playoffs, and maybe next time won't be as lucky. West will be tougher next year and Wolves need to improve or they will just have to enjoy their WCF participation banners.

Thanks KG, yes, since when does it matter what happened in a regular season matchup? Anyone who watched that Denver/OKC series should know what team was better in the 2025 playoffs. Also, I’d go as far as to say that the clippers might have looked better than the wolves in the playoffs too (barely losing to Denver).

The wolves were and are a flawed team and if TC decides to mainly run it back, you all are gonna see that we were lucky to make the WCF this year.

This is all true and a well thought out position but if the Wolves run it back there is also a real possibility they are a better team than they were this year. You have few young players that could get better and the team would likely have more success from the beginning of the season based on continuity. There will be teams that will be better than last year but chances are at least one team will have injuries that keep them from being as good as expected. Of course the Wolves could be one of those teams.

There are a number of WC teams that are likely to be good but their best players are old and or injury prone like GS.

[AussieWolf3]

I really don’t understand the hate on my opinion. #1 - we were on the easier side of the bracket in the west… anyone want to argue that? #2 - we directly benefited from the most significant injury in the western conference playoffs. I’m not saying we didn’t play well, I’m just saying we got some pretty good luck to advance to the WCF. If you all wanna disagree with that, cool, but my logic is sound. If you expect that same team to make the WCF again, I’d say the chances aren’t good. I think we’re probably a 5 or 6 as currently constructed. My question to you is do you expect this team to make the WCF again next year as currently constructed? (So do you consider this team one of the top 2 teams in the west?) If not, then I’m not sure why you’re arguing with me.

What if the wolves would have had a key injury in the first round and lost? Would you all be talking about that as an unlucky break and we probably could have gone farther without the injury? (Like GS is probably saying and like Indiana should definitely be saying about game 7) Yep, you would. All I’m saying is be objective with both sides of THAT coin.

I'll speak for my part D, which wasn't a direct response to you, but to the overall narrative (which you echoed) that the Wolves WCFs run was fake because the Lakers are bad and cause of the Curry injury- I've already stated why I disagree with that premise so I won't rehash it, but that's why I'm "arguing" with you.

To go further, I simply don't believe it is unreasonable to expect that a core that has gone to consecutive conference finals to be highly ranked in June for the upcoming season. I don't think this team should run it back, but I won't understand the logic in doing so. There is a very good mix of young talent and established veterans on this team, and it is within a realistic set of outcomes that the young talent continues to develop.
If Ant, Jaden, Naz and God willing Dilly all takes steps forward while the team as a whole continues to coalesce around Randle.... that's a team that can push for 60 wins. Simply just extrapolating their post all star record for a full 82 games would put them at 57 wins.

I'm not sure who in the West is a big threat to be better than them besides the Thunder.
The Lakers need some work but they could certainly make something happen and we should be concerned about them.
I don't see how Denver gets better this year, but obviously are still going to be good.
Houston made a big bet on KD and could be scary, but we'll see
San Antonio is a sleeping dragon but I don't think they'll wake up in 25-26

Who is guaranteed to be better than the Wolves this year? Everyone has questions besides OKC.

I think fans are too quick to discount this team's success this year because of the WCF, which was extremely disappointing, and the Wolves have consistently shown a lack of focus and discipline that makes them seem more disappointing than they really are. In the aggregate, however, they are a proven winner and the core of that success will remain in tact.
Don't mistake their disappointments for a lack of ability or even accomplishment.

[Lipoli390]

I really don’t understand the hate on my opinion. #1 - we were on the easier side of the bracket in the west… anyone want to argue that? #2 - we directly benefited from the most significant injury in the western conference playoffs. I’m not saying we didn’t play well, I’m just saying we got some pretty good luck to advance to the WCF. If you all wanna disagree with that, cool, but my logic is sound. If you expect that same team to make the WCF again, I’d say the chances aren’t good. I think we’re probably a 5 or 6 as currently constructed. My question to you is do you expect this team to make the WCF again next year as currently constructed? (So do you consider this team one of the top 2 teams in the west?) If not, then I’m not sure why you’re arguing with me.

What if the wolves would have had a key injury in the first round and lost? Would you all be talking about that as an unlucky break and we probably could have gone farther without the injury? (Like GS is probably saying and like Indiana should definitely be saying about game 7) Yep, you would. All I’m saying is be objective with both sides of THAT coin.

I'll speak for my part D, which wasn't a direct response to you, but to the overall narrative (which you echoed) that the Wolves WCFs run was fake because the Lakers are bad and cause of the Curry injury- I've already stated why I disagree with that premise so I won't rehash it, but that's why I'm "arguing" with you.

To go further, I simply don't believe it is unreasonable to expect that a core that has gone to consecutive conference finals to be highly ranked in June for the upcoming season. I don't think this team should run it back, but I won't understand the logic in doing so. There is a very good mix of young talent and established veterans on this team, and it is within a realistic set of outcomes that the young talent continues to develop.
If Ant, Jaden, Naz and God willing Dilly all takes steps forward while the team as a whole continues to coalesce around Randle.... that's a team that can push for 60 wins. Simply just extrapolating their post all star record for a full 82 games would put them at 57 wins.

I'm not sure who in the West is a big threat to be better than them besides the Thunder.
The Lakers need some work but they could certainly make something happen and we should be concerned about them.
I don't see how Denver gets better this year, but obviously are still going to be good.
Houston made a big bet on KD and could be scary, but we'll see
San Antonio is a sleeping dragon but I don't think they'll wake up in 25-26

Who is guaranteed to be better than the Wolves this year? Everyone has questions besides OKC.

I think fans are too quick to discount this team's success this year because of the WCF, which was extremely disappointing, and the Wolves have consistently shown a lack of focus and discipline that makes them seem more disappointing than they really are. In the aggregate, however, they are a proven winner and the core of that success will remain in tact.
Don't mistake their disappointments for a lack of ability or even accomplishment.

I agree, Aussie. Cool is right that we need to improve because other teams might be improving and for that reason I’m open to moving Randle to have a better mix of players including Naz as our starting PF. But I would also argue that we will improve without making any changes from (1) improvement in our younger vets (Ant, Jaden and Naz); (2) integrating TSJ and Clark into the rotation; (3) a likely better season from Donte after his off-year; and (4) the continuity of keeping the same core from last season. I’m not expecting a huge leap from Ant, Jaden or Naz, but they’re still at stages in their development where we should expect incremental improvement. When you add the incremental improvement of all three with the other things, I think we’ll be better next season than we were this past season. Adding a defensive big to backup Rudy should be a priority. Adding a veteran PG as a bridge to Dilly is also something we should explore. But I’m otherwise excited about bringing back the same team even without NAW.

[Wolvesfan21]

If we run it back, I think some wolves fans are in for a rude awakening. Denver was clearly better than us (they just had to play OKC first, but they played them closer) and now Houston is too. I think maybe we lose to the clippers in the playoffs and also maybe GS with curry. If the lakers get a couple of competent bigs, which I have to believe they will (they’re the lakers), they have a good chance to beat us too. Also, I believe the cavs will definitely be better than us next year, and possibly the Celtics/pacers, depending on health and moves. That’s not even factoring in teams like Orlando and the spurs, who could easily leap past the wolves. So yeah, sorry guys. I believe last years WCF run was legit, but this year we got very lucky. We don’t have a real starting PG right now and I just don’t love the current fit on our front line. If TC was smart he would trade Randle for assets and take a step back to play the young guys.

Running it back is not an option if we want to make a 3rd WCF. The league improves every year, so must we unless taking a step back is desirable, and I don't think it is.

Our young guys get better and we have a year of cohesion, both of which make us a better team. Now our young guys will actually have to get better, but I think they will. They all seemed very confident going into the offseason.

[Coolbreeze44]

If we run it back, I think some wolves fans are in for a rude awakening. Denver was clearly better than us (they just had to play OKC first, but they played them closer) and now Houston is too. I think maybe we lose to the clippers in the playoffs and also maybe GS with curry. If the lakers get a couple of competent bigs, which I have to believe they will (they’re the lakers), they have a good chance to beat us too. Also, I believe the cavs will definitely be better than us next year, and possibly the Celtics/pacers, depending on health and moves. That’s not even factoring in teams like Orlando and the spurs, who could easily leap past the wolves. So yeah, sorry guys. I believe last years WCF run was legit, but this year we got very lucky. We don’t have a real starting PG right now and I just don’t love the current fit on our front line. If TC was smart he would trade Randle for assets and take a step back to play the young guys.

Running it back is not an option if we want to make a 3rd WCF. The league improves every year, so must we unless taking a step back is desirable, and I don't think it is.

Our young guys get better and we have a year of cohesion, both of which make us a better team. Now our young guys will actually have to get better, but I think they will. They all seemed very confident going into the offseason.

Everybody's young players get better. The real question is can you protect the ball and sustain good offensive possessions in the 4th quarter against the likes of OKC. Without changes I don't believe we can.

[Wolvesfan21]

Running it back is not an option if we want to make a 3rd WCF. The league improves every year, so must we unless taking a step back is desirable, and I don't think it is.

Our young guys get better and we have a year of cohesion, both of which make us a better team. Now our young guys will actually have to get better, but I think they will. They all seemed very confident going into the offseason.

Everybody's young players get better. The real question is can you protect the ball and sustain good offensive possessions in the 4th quarter against the likes of OKC. Without changes I don't believe we can.

Sure but it's all relative to how many young guys you have getting better to old guys getting worse. OKC is the team to beat and I agree, I right now don't think we can beat them next year in a playoff series on paper. Many guys will need to make big strides and guys stay healthy too. You never know, OKC could get a couple injuries during the playoffs/next season and then things change fast.

OKC could simply not play with the same sense of desire and energy too that they had this year. There are just so many variables. Maybe we come with the extra intensity to out do them?