Next 25 Games

[TAFKASP]

Cam actually applied some analysis and logic, so it's good to see he comes up fairly bullish. Still....I don't see it. It's hard for me to get my head around this team actually being 4th seed caliber. That's why my only wish is that they make the playoffs, by hook or crook. So if we just play .500-ish ball from here on out - and even if a little worse - we should be good to go.

If Butler and KAT remain healthy the entire season (other than missing a few games), then a 7th or 8th seed would be a failure in my view given the talent we have. In that case, I'd rather see us finish 9th or 10th. Finishing 9th or 10th with a healthy Butler and KAT seems would allow us to keep our own 1st round draft pick and would likely result in the firing of Thibs. I'd much prefer finishing in the 3-6 range, which is what should happen with a healthy Butler and KAT all season given our talent. But I'll take a 9th place finish over an 8th place any day under those circumstances.

You're making me seem kinda reasonable.

[Big O [enjin:13874644]]

You're making me seem kinda reasonable.

can't let that happen...

[TAFKASP]

You're making me seem kinda reasonable.

can't let that happen...

I've never before felt the need to put effort into it, but suddenly...

[Shumway]

I remonstrance your trenchancy. :geek:

I'm sure you're all aware of the unintended consequences of erudite vernacular used irrespective of necessity.

http://psych.utoronto.ca/users/psy3001/files/simple%20writing.pdf

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

We're approximately 1/3 of the way through this stretch, having won six of the past eight games. That's where I had them at, which is good, but I just wasn't perfect! Ha, I had the Wolves making a statement against Boston -- instead it was against Cleveland. And the stinker game I had pegged was against New Orleans, not Brooklyn! Alas, we're making good on the 17-8 prediction so far and we're really rolling on both ends of the floor.

Next up is Portland at home, at Orlando, and at Houston, who may be without one of their two MVP candidates. I expect us to go 2-1.

[Lipoli390]

We're approximately 1/3 of the way through this stretch, having won six of the past eight games. That's where I had them at, which is good, but I just wasn't perfect! Ha, I had the Wolves making a statement against Boston -- instead it was against Cleveland. And the stinker game I had pegged was against New Orleans, not Brooklyn! Alas, we're making good on the 17-8 prediction so far and we're really rolling on both ends of the floor.

Next up is Portland at home, at Orlando, and at Houston, who may be without one of their two MVP candidates. I expect us to go 2-1.

Well Cam, we're 1 win away from the 2-1 you were expecting over these three games. :)

I'm one game ahead on my 14-win prediction. We won 2 at home I didn't expect, beating the Cavs and Thunder. But we lost a road game I expected to win against the Nets. So right now, we're on pace to win 15 under my projections. Winning all our remaining home games in this stretch would put us at 13 wins. Assuming that happens, then we'd get to 15 wins by beating Orlando and Atlanta on the road - two games we absolutely should win.

To get to your 17 win total, we'd need to win all of our remaining home games and win two of the following road games - Rockets, Clippers, Blazers, Warriors, Raptors, Cavs, Bulls. If we lose one of our home games, we'd have to win three. Given how well the Clippers and Bulls are playing lately, that's a tall order. So you certainly set the bar high, Cam, with your 17-win projection. If we finish with 17 or more wins at the end of this stretch, my high level of respect for you will go even higher to the point of reverence. :).

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

1/1: at Pacers (W; superior team beats inferior opponent. Indiana also without Victor Oladipo.)

1/2: vs Lakers (W; superior team beats inferior opponent. Los Angeles also without Lonzo Ball.)

[s]1/4: at Nets (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)[/s]

[s]1/6: at Celtics (W; taking a leap of faith here, but I see our guys getting up for this one on ESPN. Statement type game.)[/s]

[s]1/7: vs Pelicans (L; disappointing loss after a well-fought win on national TV just the night prior.)[/s]

[s]1/9: vs Cavs (L; LeBron James is LeBron James.)[/s]

1/11: vs Thunder (W; I think we match up well with OKC and our 2-1 record against them so far shows that.)

1/13: vs Knicks (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)

1/15: vs Blazers (W; finish off the homestand with a commendable victory.)

[s]1/17: at Magic (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)[/s]

1/19: at Rockets (L; close game, but Harden just barely pulls one out against Butler.)

1/21: vs Raptors (W; good team on our home floor; they'll be on the second night of a back-to-back after playing the Spurs.)

1/23: at Clippers (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)

1/25: at Blazers (L; Portland gets one on their home floor. Lillard and McCollum go nuts.)

1/26: at Warriors (L; Second night of a back-to-back, on the road, against Golden State? Scheduled loss. We have no chance.)

We're 15 games through this stretch and while there's been some tough games to swallow, we're 9-6, which isn't bad at all considering I had lofty expectations and pegged them at 10-5 through these games. We really need to get Jimmy Butler back if I want to have a chance at my 17-8 projection, though. That's 8-2 to finish if you're doing the math at home.

[Monster]

1/1: at Pacers (W; superior team beats inferior opponent. Indiana also without Victor Oladipo.)

1/2: vs Lakers (W; superior team beats inferior opponent. Los Angeles also without Lonzo Ball.)

[s]1/4: at Nets (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)[/s]

[s]1/6: at Celtics (W; taking a leap of faith here, but I see our guys getting up for this one on ESPN. Statement type game.)[/s]

[s]1/7: vs Pelicans (L; disappointing loss after a well-fought win on national TV just the night prior.)[/s]

[s]1/9: vs Cavs (L; LeBron James is LeBron James.)[/s]

1/11: vs Thunder (W; I think we match up well with OKC and our 2-1 record against them so far shows that.)

1/13: vs Knicks (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)

1/15: vs Blazers (W; finish off the homestand with a commendable victory.)

[s]1/17: at Magic (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)[/s]

1/19: at Rockets (L; close game, but Harden just barely pulls one out against Butler.)

1/21: vs Raptors (W; good team on our home floor; they'll be on the second night of a back-to-back after playing the Spurs.)

1/23: at Clippers (W; superior team beats inferior opponent.)

1/25: at Blazers (L; Portland gets one on their home floor. Lillard and McCollum go nuts.)

1/26: at Warriors (L; Second night of a back-to-back, on the road, against Golden State? Scheduled loss. We have no chance.)

We're 15 games through this stretch and while there's been some tough games to swallow, we're 9-6, which isn't bad at all considering I had lofty expectations and pegged them at 10-5 through these games. We really need to get Jimmy Butler back if I want to have a chance at my 17-8 projection, though. That's 8-2 to finish if you're doing the math at home.

We are doing pretty good considering Butler has missed 4 games. This team has far from just fallen apart. I'm impressed.