Sac vs Pups GTD

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The only games in the upcoming seven that I really don't think we could win are against Golden State and Houston.

Portland is beatable. Washington does not intimidate me. Utah is beatable.

[thedoper]

The only games in the upcoming seven that I really don't think we could win are against Golden State and Houston.

Portland is beatable. Washington does not intimidate me. Utah is beatable.

I agree. Let's get at it. Unleash Towns. He was a monster tonight. If he plays like that the rest of the season were fine to keep the 4 seed.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Wolves are 8-1 this season when Jeff Teague scores at least 20 points.

[Lipoli390]

The only games in the upcoming seven that I really don't think we could win are against Golden State and Houston.

Portland is beatable. Washington does not intimidate me. Utah is beatable.

I agree that all three are beatable. But it's tough to win on the road against good teams and these are all good teams fighting hard for playoff position. Moreover, these teams have all been playing well lately. The Wizards are 7-3 their last 10 games while the Jazz are 9-2. The Blazers are 6-4. Meanwhile, the Wolves were not playing well at all on the road before the allstar game, losing to the Hawks and Nets among others. I liked our win last night in Sacramento, but it was against a terrible team with nothing to play for.

Having said all that, the Wolves have the talent to win at least 3 of these next 7 and finish strong. The recent surge by the Pelicans without Cousins is interesting. Compare the Pelicans to the Wolves on paper and I'd take the Wolves roster in a heartbeat. The Pelicans have the best player overall in AD. But I'd still take our tops four of Towns, Wiggins, Teague, and Gibson over AD, Holiday, Mirotic and Rondo. Our top four is at least equally good and their bench isn't better, yet the Pelicans are tearing up the League. So yes, the Wolves should be able to beat good teams on the road even without Butler and maybe even steal a game at home against the Rockets or Warriors. We'll see.

[kekgeek]

The only games in the upcoming seven that I really don't think we could win are against Golden State and Houston.

Portland is beatable. Washington does not intimidate me. Utah is beatable.

I agree that all three are beatable. But it's tough to win on the road against good teams and these are all good teams fighting hard for playoff position. Moreover, these teams have all been playing well lately. The Wizards are 7-3 their last 10 games while the Jazz are 9-2. The Blazers are 6-4. Meanwhile, the Wolves were not playing well at all on the road before the allstar game, losing to the Hawks and Nets among others. I liked our win last night in Sacramento, but it was against a terrible team with nothing to play for.

Having said all that, the Wolves have the talent to win at least 3 of these next 7 and finish strong. The recent surge by the Pelicans without Cousins is interesting. Compare the Pelicans to the Wolves on paper and I'd take the Wolves roster in a heartbeat. The Pelicans have the best player overall in AD. But I'd still take our tops four of Towns, Wiggins, Teague, and Gibson over AD, Holiday, Mirotic and Rondo. Our top four is at least equally good and their bench isn't better, yet the Pelicans are tearing up the League. So yes, the Wolves should be able to beat good teams on the road even without Butler and maybe even steal a game at home against the Rockets or Warriors. We'll see.

Gigantic game on Thursday. If we win it is like winning 2 games because we now hold the tiebreaker over the Blazers. Huge game

[AbeVigodaLive]

These last two wins against the Bulls and tonight against the Kings were essential. Credit Towns, Wiggins, Teague, Taj and Belly for coming through in both games.

But now we're headed into the following incredibly tough 7-game stretch that will probably make or break this team:

@Portland
@Utah
Boston
Warriors
@Wizards
@Spurs
Houston

These would have been tough games to win even with Jimmy. Without him the Wolves could easily end up 0-7 through this stretch of games. In fact, I'd say that's the most likely outcome. The Wolves could certainly come back with 7 or 8 wins in the final 11 games after this next stretch, in which case I think the Wolves would end up in 7th or 8th place in the West. But losing all of these next 7 games could be demoralizing to the point where the team spirals down and loses games they could otherwise win to close out the season. These next 7 games will tell us what this team is made of. We'll learn whether the team has truly become Thibs' team -- mentally tough and resilient -- like the Bulls teams that competed their way into and through the playoffs without Derrick Rose.

I think the best chance for wins in these next 7 games will be against the Jazz, Celtics and Wizards. I like our chances of finishing in the top 6 if we can win at least two of these next 7.

I agree that the following 7 games are going to be crucial in determining what kind of a team we are. We could easily fold and go 0-7 here. It is up to towns and wiggins to carry us tru this stretch. I dont see us falling out of the playoffs. We just want to avoid warriors and rockets in the first round. We definitley have a chance vs portland, utah and wizards. If we can beat either boston or san antonio then I will be very happy. If we somehow beat either one of the warriors and rockets then I am confident we can hold onto a top 4 seed.

Sure. It's a tough stretch... but going 0-7 or 2-5 or even 3-4 against other playoff teams is pretty telling, right?

With or without Butler, it's not good enough. After all... the end goal is to make the playoffs, where the team will be playing...

A good team. 0-4 or 3-4 isn't good enough there either.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wolves are 8-1 this season when Jeff Teague scores at least 20 points.

I really think Bjelly helps Teague out because it gives us an efficient floor spacer that doesn't dribble much, thus giving Teague a lot more of a green light to attack. Now that doesn't mean we're a better team obviously without Butler, but it's been interesting to watch how Teague seems much more confident of late.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wiggins has made great improvements on the defensive end, there is no way around it. Nice to see his shot falling a bit more in the last 20 games too.

His shot has been terrible these last couple of games, but he has been amazing in the paint, straight attack mode. SO nice to see.

Once he plays a team that gives a damn about winning, they will realize that all you have to do is make him go left. I don't know why anyone would ever guard Wiggins squared up. He ALWAYS wants to go right and needs only a crack of daylight to get by people in that direction. When he goes left, it usually results in a tough pull up jumper or awkward drive that gets fumbled away more often than not.

[Monster]

Wolves are 8-1 this season when Jeff Teague scores at least 20 points.

I really think Bjelly helps Teague out because it gives us an efficient floor spacer that doesn't dribble much, thus giving Teague a lot more of a green light to attack. Now that doesn't mean we're a better team obviously without Butler, but it's been interesting to watch how Teague seems much more confident of late.

I agree Q. I also want to say Belly was absolutely terrific in this game. I don't know how many deflections he had but there were times he seemed to be everywhere. He will get burned from time to time but his ability to defend on the perimeter has been plenty solid. There are plenty of teams with averaging wings he can guard but I'm happy to be wrong about him being able to play minutes at the 3. Right now the Wolves play with a massive lineup a lot of the game and Teague is short but has long arms. Wiggins is the next shortest starter. Belly could be a guy that if he plays pretty well could be a big key in saving the season. His floor spacing is legit and he can make some other plays.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Wiggins has made great improvements on the defensive end, there is no way around it. Nice to see his shot falling a bit more in the last 20 games too.

His shot has been terrible these last couple of games, but he has been amazing in the paint, straight attack mode. SO nice to see.

Once he plays a team that gives a damn about winning, they will realize that all you have to do is make him go left. I don't know why anyone would ever guard Wiggins squared up. He ALWAYS wants to go right and needs only a crack of daylight to get by people in that direction. When he goes left, it usually results in a tough pull up jumper or awkward drive that gets fumbled away more often than not.

It's funny... I probably tell my 5th grade squad to "make him go left" about 2,000x per week. Good to see grown men struggle with such a simple concept too. Makes me feel better.