Somebody had to start this thread...Playoffs?

[Lipoli390]

LST - First of all, you ARE certifiably insane. And that's true regardless of whether the Wolves end up in the playoff mix. :).

As for your assessment of the Western Conference, like others, I'd add Memphis and Houston to your list of locks for the playoffs. Looking at how good they were last season and given no significant backsliding on their respective rosters, I just see them falling back in a pack with the Wolves and Suns competing for one of the final playoff slots.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LST - First of all, you ARE certifiably insane. And that's true regardless of whether the Wolves end up in the playoff mix. :).

As for your assessment of the Western Conference, like others, I'd add Memphis and Houston to your list of locks for the playoffs. Looking at how good they were last season and given no significant backsliding on their respective rosters, I just see them falling back in a pack with the Wolves and Suns competing for one of the final playoff slots.

There is going to be a thorough investigation to determine how you gained access to my psychological records, Lip.

Everyone seems to be on the Rockets playoff train, but I'm not so sure. I think we all have to admit that something peculiar was in place in their two blowout losses to start the season. And even though they should be very focused today in Miami, it's going to be a difficult win with Howard and Jones out. My thought is this has a lot to do with Lawson. I thought that was a strange acquisition and that it makes them a worse team. Harden needs the ball in his hands, so a defensive PG that isn't ball-dominant like Beverly seems to be exactly the kind of starter they need. Maybe they will come around to that conclusion, or even turn to Terry, and they will return to the form they showed last year. But with Lawson at PG and Howard out, I think they are an average team.

[60WinTim]

I saw Houston just picked up Chuck Hayes. I will likely watch them against Miami since 1) we host Miami next week, and 2) we could be fighting with Houston for a playoff spot.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

LST loves him some small sample size arguments. L-o-v-e.

[Monster]

Yawn... If Houston is 20 games into the season and under .500 I will be worried about their playoff chances.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

LST loves him some small sample size arguments. L-o-v-e.

Ha, true! But it's all we have to go on, and every game Ty Lawson has started for the Rockets has been a disaster. Let's see how #3 goes this afternoon.

Hmm...it just occurred to me that there is a theme in Houston...they have the Drunken Dribbler and now the Drunken Driver.

[Monster]

LST loves him some small sample size arguments. L-o-v-e.

Ha, true! But it's all we have to go on, and every game Ty Lawson has started for the Rockets has been a disaster. Let's see how #3 goes this afternoon.

Hmm...it just occurred to me that there is a theme in Houston...they have the Drunken Dribbler and now the Drunken Driver.

Man it takes a long time for you to catch on. I am pretty sure I mentioned that this offseason. Quit stealing my material I don't have much of it! Lol

[maelstrom11 [enjin:6599701]]

McHale will regret not going to the funeral. I hope he had a discussion with Flip's wife Debbie about this and let her know what his feelings are.

I don't think he ever did put everything behind him with Flip after the firing and i'm not sure Flip did either. Flip was thankful i'm sure of McHale getting him his start but after that I think some ego gets involved. So far I'm putting Flip ahead of McHale in the POBO category but looking back McHale looked pretty studly early on as well after drafting KG and Steph.

Even though it was said on KFAN they were starting to make amends and talk again there was probably a lot left to heal. I wonder if Flip attended McHale's daughters funeral when that tragedy occurred?

Have you listened to McHale's radio appearance talking about Flip?

I did. Seemed to me like they had started to forgive each other but had not come full circle to being as close as they once were. It makes sense that they weren't 100% back to what they once were because Flip was now at an equal level organizationally than in the prior relationship were he had worked for McHale. Guys in the positions they are in all have big egos....I wouldnt expect 2 guys in the positons they are in to ever be "great" friends.

[Monster]

McHale will regret not going to the funeral. I hope he had a discussion with Flip's wife Debbie about this and let her know what his feelings are.

I don't think he ever did put everything behind him with Flip after the firing and i'm not sure Flip did either. Flip was thankful i'm sure of McHale getting him his start but after that I think some ego gets involved. So far I'm putting Flip ahead of McHale in the POBO category but looking back McHale looked pretty studly early on as well after drafting KG and Steph.

Even though it was said on KFAN they were starting to make amends and talk again there was probably a lot left to heal. I wonder if Flip attended McHale's daughters funeral when that tragedy occurred?

Have you listened to McHale's radio appearance talking about Flip?

I did. Seemed to me like they had started to forgive each other but had not come full circle to being as close as they once were. It makes sense that they weren't 100% back to what they once were because Flip was now at an equal level organizationally than in the prior relationship were he had worked for McHale. Guys in the positions they are in all have big egos....I wouldnt expect 2 guys in the positons they are in to ever be "great" friends.

I would add that while Flip is a outgoing guy and seemingly called up whomever whenever he wanted it's hard to expect them to be as close as they were at one time when they worked together. They spend hours nearly everyday watching talking basketball etc. I have a number of people I consider very good friends but I just don't see them because we don't work in the same place and or live in the same area. It takes work to keep up that type of relationship.

I do have a relationship in my life that's a little similar to Flip and McHale that's never been the same. I've put forth a descent amount of effort to stay in touch but it seems like it won't change anytime soon. Things aren't bad but I wish they were better. One thing I have learned over the years is that relationships are fluid. 2.5 years from now something may happen to bring us to a different relationship that's positive. It sounded like Flip and McHale based on what Mac said were somewhere in that range or working towards it. I am just glad they were on more than friendly terms before Flip's passing.

[Mstermisty [enjin:6864008]]

To reply to the original question posed in this thread:

Playoffs? Why not. I still predict they will not make it, but I think they have a legitimate chance. Rubio is still awesome when healthy, Towns is a game changer--not an average rookie, Wiggins will break out soon, and they actually have some really nice role players coming off the bench for once in Belly, Bazz, K-Mart, etc. If Pek gets healthy we will be even stronger.

I don't think it's that far-fetched. This is a good basketball team we have here. I think everybody just immediately associates losing with the Timberwolves because of the last 10 putrid seasons, but this isn't that team anymore. Towns is here, Wiggins is here, Rubio is entering his prime. We got some serious ballers now.

Again though, if I had to make a prediction, I still think they will fall short. But just to be in the race to the end would be a step in the right direction. But lets not kid ourselves, the only thing that's going to satisfy the hardcore fans on this board, myself included, is making the playoffs. The next step is 3-0 on Monday.