Around the League - '24-25 Season

[Lipoli390]

Indiana has been surging of late. It's notable because it's an example of a team that was in the conference finals last year, started off this year pretty damn slow, and now have worked their way out of it without making any major trades or coaching changes.

I'm just pointing to them as a hopeful sign for those of you that think Finch and Co. can grind and tinker their way out of our mediocrity without any deadline trades, etc.

Then you have Sacramento, where a coaching change seemingly jolted them into relevance! This is what makes the NBA interesting! Which path should the Wolves take?

(people tend to forget who the 4th team was in the NBA version of the "Final Four" last season because the NBA glitterati would rather fawn over the Knicks and pretend they were this close to getting to the NBA Finals last year).

Good observation, Q. I’ve never lost confidence in Finch this season. I still have serious doubts about our mix of players, but Indiana’s surge and today’s performance by the Wolves provide some hope that the combination of Finch (who I consider a very good head coach) and our overall talent (which is very good) can overcome the sub-optimal mix to surge into the top 5 and possibly get to the Conference Finals again. Would I bet on it? Absolutely not. Is it plausible? Yes.

[Lipoli390]

Interestingly, every game in the NBA is relevant to the Wolves in relation to either the Wolves prospects this season or the upcoming Wolves draft.

1. Celtics @ Mavs: Obviously, we want the Celtics to beat the Mavs as a rival to the Wolves in the standings
2. Pistons @ Magic: Detroit win over Magic has double benefit to Wolves chances of getting the DET pick
3. Raptors @ Hawks: Raptors win would help us on DET pick and Utah pick
4. Rockets @ Cavs: Cavs win would help Wolves close gap with rival Rockets in standings
5. Kings @ Knicks: Knicks win would help Wolves increase lead over Kings in standings
6. Jazz @ Grizzlies: Have to pull for the Jazz here to knock off rival ahead of us in standings, but Jazz loss helps secure a higher second round pick. So it’s a double edge sword of sorts.
7. Bucks @ Clippers: Obviously we wants the Bucks to knock off one of our close rivals in the standings this season.
8. Pacers at Spurs: A Pacers win would widen our lead over Spurs in standings and help our chances of getting the DET pick
9. Pelicans @ Hornets: Close call here. I’ll pull for the Hornets since their record is slightly closer to the Jazz record and would marginally help us on the Utah pick.
10. Sixers @ Bulls: Sixers win would help Detroit stay ahead of the Bulls, helping our chances of getting DET pick.
11. Heat @ Nets: Nets win would help us with Detroit pick and the Utah pick.
12. Wizards @ Suns: An unlikely Wizards win would increase our lead in standings over rival and bring Wizards record closer to Utah’s. Right now the Jazz have the 2nd worst record in the league, which means we’d get the #32 pick in the draft. Just need the Wizards to overtake them and we’ll have prick #31.

[Q-is-here]

Interestingly, every game in the NBA is relevant to the Wolves in relation to either the Wolves prospects this season or the upcoming Wolves draft.

1. Celtics @ Mavs: Obviously, we want the Celtics to beat the Mavs as a rival to the Wolves in the standings
2. Pistons @ Magic: Detroit win over Magic has double benefit to Wolves chances of getting the DET pick
3. Raptors @ Hawks: Raptors win would help us on DET pick and Utah pick
4. Rockets @ Cavs: Cavs win would help Wolves close gap with rival Rockets in standings
5. Kings @ Knicks: Knicks win would help Wolves increase lead over Kings in standings
6. Jazz @ Grizzlies: Have to pull for the Jazz here to knock off rival ahead of us in standings, but Jazz loss helps secure a higher second round pick. So it’s a double edge sword of sorts.
7. Bucks @ Clippers: Obviously we wants the Bucks to knock off one of our close rivals in the standings this season.
8. Pacers at Spurs: A Pacers win would widen our lead over Spurs in standings and help our chances of getting the DET pick
9. Pelicans @ Hornets: Close call here. I’ll pull for the Hornets since their record is slightly closer to the Jazz record and would marginally help us on the Utah pick.
10. Sixers @ Bulls: Sixers win would help Detroit stay ahead of the Bulls, helping our chances of getting DET pick.
11. Heat @ Nets: Nets win would help us with Detroit pick and the Utah pick.
12. Wizards @ Suns: An unlikely Wizards win would increase our lead in standings over rival and bring Wizards record closer to Utah’s. Right now the Jazz have the 2nd worst record in the league, which means we’d get the #32 pick in the draft. Just need the Wizards to overtake them and we’ll have prick #31.

Mavs go down!

[60WinTim]

Interestingly, every game in the NBA is relevant to the Wolves in relation to either the Wolves prospects this season or the upcoming Wolves draft.

1. Celtics @ Mavs: Obviously, we want the Celtics to beat the Mavs as a rival to the Wolves in the standings
2. Pistons @ Magic: Detroit win over Magic has double benefit to Wolves chances of getting the DET pick
3. Raptors @ Hawks: Raptors win would help us on DET pick and Utah pick
4. Rockets @ Cavs: Cavs win would help Wolves close gap with rival Rockets in standings
5. Kings @ Knicks: Knicks win would help Wolves increase lead over Kings in standings
6. Jazz @ Grizzlies: Have to pull for the Jazz here to knock off rival ahead of us in standings, but Jazz loss helps secure a higher second round pick. So it’s a double edge sword of sorts.
7. Bucks @ Clippers: Obviously we wants the Bucks to knock off one of our close rivals in the standings this season.
8. Pacers at Spurs: A Pacers win would widen our lead over Spurs in standings and help our chances of getting the DET pick
9. Pelicans @ Hornets: Close call here. I’ll pull for the Hornets since their record is slightly closer to the Jazz record and would marginally help us on the Utah pick.
10. Sixers @ Bulls: Sixers win would help Detroit stay ahead of the Bulls, helping our chances of getting DET pick.
11. Heat @ Nets: Nets win would help us with Detroit pick and the Utah pick.
12. Wizards @ Suns: An unlikely Wizards win would increase our lead in standings over rival and bring Wizards record closer to Utah’s. Right now the Jazz have the 2nd worst record in the league, which means we’d get the #32 pick in the draft. Just need the Wizards to overtake them and we’ll have prick #31.

Mavs go down!

And the Spurs went down well before Lip made the post!

[Q-is-here]

Interestingly, every game in the NBA is relevant to the Wolves in relation to either the Wolves prospects this season or the upcoming Wolves draft.

1. Celtics @ Mavs: Obviously, we want the Celtics to beat the Mavs as a rival to the Wolves in the standings
2. Pistons @ Magic: Detroit win over Magic has double benefit to Wolves chances of getting the DET pick
3. Raptors @ Hawks: Raptors win would help us on DET pick and Utah pick
4. Rockets @ Cavs: Cavs win would help Wolves close gap with rival Rockets in standings
5. Kings @ Knicks: Knicks win would help Wolves increase lead over Kings in standings
6. Jazz @ Grizzlies: Have to pull for the Jazz here to knock off rival ahead of us in standings, but Jazz loss helps secure a higher second round pick. So it’s a double edge sword of sorts.
7. Bucks @ Clippers: Obviously we wants the Bucks to knock off one of our close rivals in the standings this season.
8. Pacers at Spurs: A Pacers win would widen our lead over Spurs in standings and help our chances of getting the DET pick
9. Pelicans @ Hornets: Close call here. I’ll pull for the Hornets since their record is slightly closer to the Jazz record and would marginally help us on the Utah pick.
10. Sixers @ Bulls: Sixers win would help Detroit stay ahead of the Bulls, helping our chances of getting DET pick.
11. Heat @ Nets: Nets win would help us with Detroit pick and the Utah pick.
12. Wizards @ Suns: An unlikely Wizards win would increase our lead in standings over rival and bring Wizards record closer to Utah’s. Right now the Jazz have the 2nd worst record in the league, which means we’d get the #32 pick in the draft. Just need the Wizards to overtake them and we’ll have prick #31.

Mavs go down!

And the Spurs went down well before Lip made the post!

This may go down as the greatest January 25th in Timberwolves history!

[60WinTim]

Jimmy Butler suspended indefinitely when he walked out after learning he would be not be starting tonight.

Sure glad the Wolves are not the only team to have the sour Jimmy Butler experience!

[Q-is-here]

Jimmy Butler suspended indefinitely when he walked out after learning he would be not be starting tonight.

Sure glad the Wolves are not the only team to have the sour Jimmy Butler experience!

Pat Riley would do the NBA a big favor if he absolutely does not compromise and is willing to walk away from a deal that doesn't bring back fair value. Jimmy can rot for the rest of the season and face the consequences for his recalcitrance. It would send a good message to other star players that whining and sabotaging your way out of a team you don't want to play for doesn't get rewarded.

I can understand a player and his agent quietly requesting a trade to the front office while going about their business professionally. It's the way Butler (and some others prior to him) go about it that is so off-putting and bad for the overall NBA brand. "You must trade me to one of my hand-picked teams or I will become a disruptive presence!". It's blackmail!

Thank God Miami doesn't have Thibs in charge to enable this B.S.! We weren't so lucky....

[Lipoli390]

Jimmy Butler suspended indefinitely when he walked out after learning he would be not be starting tonight.

Sure glad the Wolves are not the only team to have the sour Jimmy Butler experience!

Pat Riley would do the NBA a big favor if he absolutely does not compromise and is willing to walk away from a deal that doesn't bring back fair value. Jimmy can rot for the rest of the season and face the consequences for his recalcitrance. It would send a good message to other star players that whining and sabotaging your way out of a team you don't want to play for doesn't get rewarded.

I can understand a player and his agent quietly requesting a trade to the front office while going about their business professionally. It's the way Butler (and some others prior to him) go about it that is so off-putting and bad for the overall NBA brand. "You must trade me to one of my hand-picked teams or I will become a disruptive presence!". It's blackmail!

Thank God Miami doesn't have Thibs in charge to enable this B.S.! We weren't so lucky....

Absolutely agree!!

[Monster]

Jimmy Butler suspended indefinitely when he walked out after learning he would be not be starting tonight.

Sure glad the Wolves are not the only team to have the sour Jimmy Butler experience!

Pat Riley would do the NBA a big favor if he absolutely does not compromise and is willing to walk away from a deal that doesn't bring back fair value. Jimmy can rot for the rest of the season and face the consequences for his recalcitrance. It would send a good message to other star players that whining and sabotaging your way out of a team you don't want to play for doesn't get rewarded.

I can understand a player and his agent quietly requesting a trade to the front office while going about their business professionally. It's the way Butler (and some others prior to him) go about it that is so off-putting and bad for the overall NBA brand. "You must trade me to one of my hand-picked teams or I will become a disruptive presence!". It's blackmail!

Thank God Miami doesn't have Thibs in charge to enable this B.S.! We weren't so lucky....

Absolutely agree!!

Thibs played that whole situation so poorly. Idk what Miami is doing over there. Honestly I don't really care except anytime a trade like this happens it opens up opportunities that otherwise may not happen.

I'll add that another option for Miami if they don't get a good deal at the deadline is sit Butler and tell him if you want to make more money either play in games or play ball with a possible sign and trade in the summer. Honestly I'm not exactly sure what the reasonable expectations are for a return for Butler is at this point. They shouldn't be doing him any favors if it doesn't reasonably help them.

[Q-is-here]

I continue to be in awe of Jokic, BUT he can be pretty soft defensively as we saw against the Wolves. Tonight he made his first 11 shots against Chicago and ended up with a slash line of 33/12/14. But they gave up 129 to Chicago and lost.

Funny side note...Chicago's leading scorer was Zach LaVine with 21 points. He also had the worst plus/minus with a -10 despite an 8 point win for the Bulls. Classic LaVine - his team loses during the time he's on the floor even in a game they ultimately win and he leads in scoring!