Minnesota Sports Forum

Let me take a crack at this.

OKC

PEK > Perkins
Love > Ibaka
Brewer/Bud/DWill < Durant
Kmart > Sefalosha
Rubio < Westbrook

Bench > OKC bench

Adelman > Brooks

The T-Wolves actually have a chance I think, but in the end we would probably lose due to experience. Still fun though. 35% we could beat them.

San Antonio

PEK > Splitter
Love < Duncan
Brewer/Bud/DWill < Leonard
Kmart > Green
Rubio < Parker

Bench =/< Spurs Bench

Adelman < Pop

I chose Duncan over Love because Duncan is under-rated. Love will get better, but Duncan's efficiency and defense wins. Also, the Spurs are deep, and they mesh very well. The Spurs would beat us.


Clippers

PEK > Jordan
Love > B Griffen
Brewer/Bud/DWill > Butler
Martin > Green
Rubio < Paul

Bench < clipper bench
Adelman > Doc

Looks close, but Wolves win. The Clippers will not get anywhere unless Doc does a perfect 180 on their defense. Wolves win easy in my opinion.

Grizzlies

PEK < Gasol
Love =/< ZRandolf
Brewer/Dwill/Bud > Poindexter
Kmart > Tony Allen
Rubio = Conley

Bench > Griz Bench

Adelman > Griz Coach

Zbo is the only match-up that kills Love. Grizzly win. Also, Conley is under-rated.

Rockets

PEK = Howard
Love >(x1billion) Jones
Brewer/Bud/DWill < Parsons
Kmart < Harden
Rubio > Lin/Beverly

Bench > Rockets bench

Adelman > Mchale

Pek is the best match-up in the league against Dwight. Sounds homer, but it is true. Pek's physical dominance beats Howard. This series would depend a lot o Harden's efficiency, as he is horribly inefficient at times, but if he showed up it would be close. I think the Wolves have as good of a chance as any to win this.

Golden State

PEK < Bogut
KLove > Lee
Brewer/Bud/DWill < Iggy/H Barnes
K Mart < KlayThompson
Rubio >/= SCurry

Bench > Warriors Bench

Adelman > MJackson

Bogut is a great player. If he is healthy, Golden State wins. If he is not healthy, Wolves win. I would expect Brewer on Klay Thompson, and DWill on Iggy.

I like the match-ups, but their is no sure thing.

I don't agree with your take on some of the matchups, but it is fun so I'll do mine later.

Camden wrote:I don't agree with your take on some of the matchups, but it is fun so I'll do mine later.

Eh, I don't blame ya, I am pretty homer :D

Very Interesting Jakapo. Whats your final rankings for the west. It looks like your about onthe same path as me and put the Wolves in the middle around #4.

There may be a fair amount of homerism in your matchups, but the one that really stuck out was Golden State. Steph Curry is far, far above Rubio.

bruster89 wrote:There may be a fair amount of homerism in your matchups, but the one that really stuck out was Golden State. Steph Curry is far, far above Rubio.

Mmm nah. He's the superior shooter. Everything else I think Ricky beats him in or they tie. Steph's defense is average to bad. Ricky's is top notch. Steph's ability to set up teammates is decent. Ricky's is top notch. Steph's shot is top notch. Ricky's is working towards average. Their abilities to get to the rim and/or fouled is pretty even in my opinion.

Pure shooter Vs Old school PG. I'd rather have Ricky. Maybe I'm alone in that thought.

The Wolves don't have a true starter quality SF, but besides that...if and when Pek resigns, we could have one of the deepest benches in the NBA. Elite no....but if the team can stay healthy, play an unselfish Adelman game plan, and battle and scrap....this team has a chance to be a top 10 NBA team next year.

MIA, OKC, NJ, IND, LAC, CHI, SA, HOU, MEM, GS, and MIN.

Thunder went 23-59 in 2008. Very next season they went 50-32 with practically the same roster. Why can't this be Minnesota next season? I still don't see why not.

I'd like to use two seasons ago as the key measure of how successful the Wolves will be this season. But so many other teams in the West have improved substantially since then, most notably the Warriors, Clippers, and Rockets. Even the Blazers and Pelicans have improved a lot. So it will be tough. Here's my predicted top 8:

1. Clippers
2. Rockets
3. Thunder
4. Warriors
5. Spurs
6. Grizzlies
7. Wolves
8. Blazers.

OK here it goes

OKC

PEK > Perkins
Love > Ibaka
Brewer/Bud/DWill << Durant
Kmart > Sefalosha
Rubio < Westbrook

Bench > OKC bench

Adelman > Brooks

I think this can be a really fun matchup for years to come. I give OKC the edge with Durant and Ibaka and Sefalosha being better defensively than Martin and Love.

San Antonio

PEK > Splitter
Love > Duncan
Brewer/Bud/DWill < Leonard
Kmart > Green
Rubio < Parker

Bench < Spurs Bench

Adelman < Pop

This matchup can go the Wolves way very easy depending on the aging of Duncan and Manu. The Spurs' experience and culture are huge but sooner or later their run is going to end. Most likely sooner.


Clippers

PEK > Jordan
Love > B Griffen
Brewer/Bud/DWill > Butler
Martin = Redick
Rubio < Paul

Bench < clipper bench
Adelman > Doc

If LA adds World Peace that would improve their defense. The clippers just seem like they are not built for the playoffs. Fun to watch in the regular season but when it slows down and teams get into their half court sets, I give the Wolves an edge.
Grizzlies

PEK < Gasol
Love > ZRandolf
Brewer/Dwill/Bud > Poindexter
Kmart = Tony Allen
Rubio > Conley

Bench > Griz Bench

Adelman > Griz Coach

Defensively, the Grizz are much better. Offensively the Wolves are much better. Whats gonna give? Very close matchup in my opinion.

Rockets

PEK < Howard
Love >> Jones
Brewer/Bud/DWill < Parsons
Kmart << Harden
Rubio >> Lin/Beverly

Bench > Rockets bench

Adelman = Mchale

Depending on which DH12 shows up in Houston, they could be average or elite. At the same time they have nobody to match up with Love and Rubio. I give the Rockets the edge.

Golden State

PEK = Bogut
KLove > Lee
Brewer/Bud/DWill << Iggy/H Barnes
K Mart < KlayThompson
Rubio = SCurry

Bench > Warriors Bench

Adelman > MJackson

I would love for this to be a fun rival of the future. Both teams are fun to watch for different reasons. The Warriors ability to light it up from 3 gives them an edge.