Minnesota Sports Forum

Camden wrote:

PorkChop wrote:If KLove is a top 10 player in this league than this team, as is currently constructed, should be a contender. Thats what top players are supposed to bring to the table. If he's not able to do that than whats the point? Get a boat load of assets in return for him and hope next years draft reaps rewards.. No one wins championships on the shoulders of Pfs anymore.

Oh how you forget about Dirk's NBA Finals just several years ago...

NO player in the NBA can carry his team by himself other than LeBron James. Durant can't. Rose can't. Chris Paul can't. Everyone needs help. I think Love finally has help now. He had enough help the last two years to get into the playoffs but injuries fatally derailed their hopes. Just watch this season. I'm fully confident the Wolves turn heads.

When did LBJ carry his team? Clevand? Or MIA with>Wade/bosh/Allen/Anderson/Battier/Mairo/Haslem/

Well, in my eyes LeBron single-handedly took that Cleveland team to the NBA Finals. Yes, he lost and I realize that, but his best help was Mo Freaking Williams. I'm no LeBron fan, but give a man his due. That was LeBron by himself.

Portland have had a decent offseason, but not that great. I really don't buy in to the hype with McCollum and I still think Muhammad and Dieng will be > McCollum. I also don't think Lillard and McCollum are a very good backcourt pairing.

Sure they've improved their depth, but one or two injuries to their starters and they're still screwed.

Rubio < Lillard
Martin = Mathews
Brewer < Batum
Love > Aldridge
Pekovic >> Lopez

Budinger > McCollum
Williams > Robinson
Barea = Williams
Dieng = Leonard
Shved = Barton

Pretty even really, but I still think we have the better roster.

Don't forget that someone will get hit by the injury bug (probably GS who will struggle to defend if Bogut is out for any significant amount of time) and that will diminish their top 5 standing. I think Portland got better. I think we just need to stay healthy and we will improve to playoff level. I think NO is still a year or 2 away unless Gordon becomes the Gordon of old and can stay healthy. I think Denver will be down just from losing Karl alone, let alone Karl and Iggy. They still have a big home court advantage though. LAL will be down. They couldn't play any defense with Dwight last year, so what makes people think they will be any better this year. I think Houston won't be as great as everyone thinks unless Dwight becomes 2009 Dwight who could carry a team defensively. Otherwise, they will still be middle of the road and very beatable. I think the only 4 guaranteed to be better than us are LAC (all comes down to how much Griffin develops as to whether or not they will be better than us), Memphis, OKC and SA. After that I think it is a crapshoot. There are a lot of good teams, but sometimes being good on paper doesn't transfer onto the court.

I would predict:
OKC
SA
Memphis
LAC
MN
HOU
GS
POR

I agree with you khans. Pretty good rundown.

Yeah, solid analysis, khans. Although, I keep thinking the Lakers find a way to sneak into the playoffs. I would have a hard time betting against a team with Kobe, Gasol and even an old Nash making the playoffs. I have a sneaking suspicion they nose Portland out of a playoff spot.

L.A. boy here hopes your prediction comes true...4 Wolves playoff games at Staples Center would be a lot of fun!

I think theres just a diffence in mindset amongst fans.. Its like the Twins fans of the mid to late 2000's on the Espn boards.. Alot of them seemed to strive more for consistency and the hopes of the playoffs year in and year out. They knew those teams didnt have the pitching or offensive depth to be a title contender but they were happy that they were competitive every year. They didnt want the team to take the risks in trades or otherwise for fear of them not panning out.. Instead stick with what works and be one and done every year.
I think everyone on here knows that this Wolves team isnt good enough and wont be good enough ( becuz of salaries) to be a title contender but everyone seems content to see this thru becuz they just want to see their team make the playoffs. How many years of 1st or maybe 2nd rd exits will it take before you start wanting more?
Thats the one big differnce between the wolves/Twins fans mindset and the fans of the Vikings.. Purple pride has endured so many years of so close but so far away that now the thought is, make whatever moves necessary to bring home a winner.. No it hasnt worked out so far but the Vikes have been closest to sniffing that trophy becuz . Look at the Woves, the one year they went all or nothing with Sprewell and Cassell they were an injury away from being in the finals.

Apparently I'm in the minority of thinking this Wolves team could be pretty special.

Yes, Cam. The "could be special" group seems to be quite small. But, hey, you and I have a lot of elbow room! :)

Haha. OpTIMist Prime, I'm right there with you special few. :)