Minnesota Sports Forum

FNG wrote: ↑Sat Feb 21, 2026 4:14 pm It's a difficult question for me to answer...I guess it's circumstantial. I think we are as talented as any team in the league, but the lackluster inconsistent play of Ant and Ju will likely leave us in a not very good position for the playoffs. I loved our success last season, but do we get to the conference finals if Steph doesn't get hurt? I would say probably not...they beat us pretty badly in Game 1 on our court. So if we finish 6th and lose to a healthy Denver team in the first round, I would still call it a moderately successful season. They have the best player on the planet and are much improved over last season in my opinion while healthy, so I would have a difficult time being unhappy with our squad if we lost in 7. But I also would hope that would be a wake up call for Ant...mail in your performance in certain games during the regular season, and it might mean having to play a really good team in the first round.

SameOldNudityDrew wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 10:06 am I think these definitions of success are all basically legit. Finish 3rd. Get to the WCF and at least be competitive there or go further. Obviously, the goal is the whole enchilada. Anything is possible!

I also like some of the more process-oriented goals hinted at here. Let's see some more promising development from players (and, frankly, Finch). If that happens and we still get bounced because of a key injury or if OKC turns back into a buzzsaw and beats us in a competitive second round before marching to a second championship, that development should still count as a success.

For perspective, I've been following this team since 2000 on the old ESPN board. We've got flaws as a team, for sure, and it's maddening that so many seem self-inflicted. But in the last few seasons this is the best team we've ever had in our history, and our organisation is more professional and better positioned for the future than it ever has been. The Glen Taylor years are behind us. Ant is transcendent. Overall, we're as high as we've ever been. And this team has been very low for many years. Let's remember that and use it as fuel keep pushing to get to the summit!

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:19 am Just to clear, my hope is that the Wolves make the finals and win a championship. I also believe we have a roster capable of winning a championship this season. But in formulating my expectations at this point in the season, I factored in where we’re at in the standings and how this team has played over the court of the season, including the team’s inconsistency and what I consider underachievement relative to the team’s talent.

Here’s how I come out:

First, anything less than a 5th place finish ahead of the Lakers would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) regular season outcome for this team. Our roster is far superior to their roster and that fact shows in the Lakers paltry 0.1 point differential this season compared to the Wolves 5.0.

Second, failing to advance at least one round in the playoffs would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) playoff outcome for this team.

Third, I see regular season success as a 3rd place finish. We’re essentially in a four way tie with the Lakers, Rockets and Nuggets for 3rd place and we have the best point differential of all the four. Our roster is at least on par with their other three teams. Unfortunately we’re too far behind the Spurs and Thunder to have a realistic shot at 1st or 2nd place.

Fourth, a return appearance to the Conference finals and a real competitive showing in that series is my minimum standard of playoff success this season. We made the Finals last season so in my view a definition of success this season requires a return to the Conference finals. We were embarrassingly dispatched 4-1 in last season’s conference finals so I see going 7 games and losing as disappointing but still a success we can build on with our young core of Ant, Jaden, Naz and possibly Ayo just entering their prime.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:50 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:19 am Just to clear, my hope is that the Wolves make the finals and win a championship. I also believe we have a roster capable of winning a championship this season. But in formulating my expectations at this point in the season, I factored in where we’re at in the standings and how this team has played over the court of the season, including the team’s inconsistency and what I consider underachievement relative to the team’s talent.

Here’s how I come out:

First, anything less than a 5th place finish ahead of the Lakers would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) regular season outcome for this team. Our roster is far superior to their roster and that fact shows in the Lakers paltry 0.1 point differential this season compared to the Wolves 5.0.

Second, failing to advance at least one round in the playoffs would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) playoff outcome for this team.

Third, I see regular season success as a 3rd place finish. We’re essentially in a four way tie with the Lakers, Rockets and Nuggets for 3rd place and we have the best point differential of all the four. Our roster is at least on par with their other three teams. Unfortunately we’re too far behind the Spurs and Thunder to have a realistic shot at 1st or 2nd place.

Fourth, a return appearance to the Conference finals and a real competitive showing in that series is my minimum standard of playoff success this season. We made the Finals last season so in my view a definition of success this season requires a return to the Conference finals. We were embarrassingly dispatched 4-1 in last season’s conference finals so I see going 7 games and losing as disappointing but still a success we can build on with our young core of Ant, Jaden, Naz and possibly Ayo just entering their prime.

In reference to your First and Second scenarios, what is your definition of "blow it up"? What does that look like to you?

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:44 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 12:50 pm

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:19 am Just to clear, my hope is that the Wolves make the finals and win a championship. I also believe we have a roster capable of winning a championship this season. But in formulating my expectations at this point in the season, I factored in where we’re at in the standings and how this team has played over the court of the season, including the team’s inconsistency and what I consider underachievement relative to the team’s talent.

Here’s how I come out:

First, anything less than a 5th place finish ahead of the Lakers would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) regular season outcome for this team. Our roster is far superior to their roster and that fact shows in the Lakers paltry 0.1 point differential this season compared to the Wolves 5.0.

Second, failing to advance at least one round in the playoffs would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) playoff outcome for this team.

Third, I see regular season success as a 3rd place finish. We’re essentially in a four way tie with the Lakers, Rockets and Nuggets for 3rd place and we have the best point differential of all the four. Our roster is at least on par with their other three teams. Unfortunately we’re too far behind the Spurs and Thunder to have a realistic shot at 1st or 2nd place.

Fourth, a return appearance to the Conference finals and a real competitive showing in that series is my minimum standard of playoff success this season. We made the Finals last season so in my view a definition of success this season requires a return to the Conference finals. We were embarrassingly dispatched 4-1 in last season’s conference finals so I see going 7 games and losing as disappointing but still a success we can build on with our young core of Ant, Jaden, Naz and possibly Ayo just entering their prime.

In reference to your First and Second scenarios, what is your definition of "blow it up"? What does that look like to you?

Right now, blow it up in my mind means completely retooling around Ant and Naz. I used to include Jaden as a third player to re-build around if we blow it up, but if we fail to advance at least one round in the playoffs then we’ll need to put all our cards except Ant and Naz on the table. Note I have Naz as the only player other than Ant on my current don’t trade list. I don’t want to trade Jaden, but he’s bring a lot in return and I’m losing confidence in him as a foundational piece. I think Naz is on the verge of being really special. The things he can do with the ball at his size are quite amazing. He’s actually a better ballhandler and passer as well as a more versatile scorer than Jaden in my view.

I should add that my idea of retooling around Ant does not reflect approval of Ant’s play this season. His defensive lapses have been too frequent and serious and he has yet to demonstrate that he’s the star who lead a team to a championship. But we can’t give up on him. He’s the best hope we have so we’ll have to find a way to make it I work with him.

Another approach short of blowing it up would be simply moving Randle and bringing in a new head coach.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:19 am Just to clear, my hope is that the Wolves make the finals and win a championship. I also believe we have a roster capable of winning a championship this season. But in formulating my expectations at this point in the season, I factored in where we’re at in the standings and how this team has played over the court of the season, including the team’s inconsistency and what I consider underachievement relative to the team’s talent.

Here’s how I come out:

First, anything less than a 5th place finish ahead of the Lakers would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) regular season outcome for this team. Our roster is far superior to their roster and that fact shows in the Lakers paltry 0.1 point differential this season compared to the Wolves 5.0.

Second, failing to advance at least one round in the playoffs would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) playoff outcome for this team.

Third, I see regular season success as a 3rd place finish. We’re essentially in a four way tie with the Lakers, Rockets and Nuggets for 3rd place and we have the best point differential of all the four. Our roster is at least on par with their other three teams. Unfortunately we’re too far behind the Spurs and Thunder to have a realistic shot at 1st or 2nd place.

Fourth, a return appearance to the Conference finals and a real competitive showing in that series is my minimum standard of playoff success this season. We made the Finals last season so in my view a definition of success this season requires a return to the Conference finals. We were embarrassingly dispatched 4-1 in last season’s conference finals so I see going 7 games and losing as disappointing but still a success we can build on with our young core of Ant, Jaden, Naz and possibly Ayo just entering their prime.

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 22, 2026 8:19 am Just to clear, my hope is that the Wolves make the finals and win a championship. I also believe we have a roster capable of winning a championship this season. But in formulating my expectations at this point in the season, I factored in where we’re at in the standings and how this team has played over the court of the season, including the team’s inconsistency and what I consider underachievement relative to the team’s talent.

Here’s how I come out:

First, anything less than a 5th place finish ahead of the Lakers would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) regular season outcome for this team. Our roster is far superior to their roster and that fact shows in the Lakers paltry 0.1 point differential this season compared to the Wolves 5.0.

Second, failing to advance at least one round in the playoffs would be an entirely unacceptable (blow it up) playoff outcome for this team.

Third, I see regular season success as a 3rd place finish. We’re essentially in a four way tie with the Lakers, Rockets and Nuggets for 3rd place and we have the best point differential of all the four. Our roster is at least on par with their other three teams. Unfortunately we’re too far behind the Spurs and Thunder to have a realistic shot at 1st or 2nd place.

Fourth, a return appearance to the Conference finals and a real competitive showing in that series is my minimum standard of playoff success this season. We made the Finals last season so in my view a definition of success this season requires a return to the Conference finals. We were embarrassingly dispatched 4-1 in last season’s conference finals so I see going 7 games and losing as disappointing but still a success we can build on with our young core of Ant, Jaden, Naz and possibly Ayo just entering their prime.