Minnesota Sports Forum

I've been saying to my buddies for years that we wont lose 50 games the upcoming season and have been wrong every non-lockout year. So just a playoff berth will be fine by me

I suppose I better update my Clipper analysis with them adding Dudley and Reddick...

Clippers

PEK > Jordan
Love > B Griffen
Brewer/Bud/DWill > Dudley
Martin > JJ Redick
Rubio << Paul

Bench >> clipper bench
Adelman > Doc

I can't wait to watch the wolves dismantle these guys. The hype around this team is smoke and even though Doc will help I don't see these guys as any better than what they were last season which is a 2nd round playoff out. Blake is more athletic than Love but Love is smarter, better rebounder, better shooter etc etc etc. The only advantage the clips have against us is Paul over Rubio but that gap isn't that large. In a seven game series I think we'd take these guys in 5 or 6.

50 wins? Hello? Hello? Even Flip was comparing the current squad to the 2003 team that won 58 games!

I do believe my 60 win namesake will ring true this year!

Here's mine:

MIN/OKC
Pek >> Perkins
Love > Ibaka
DWill/Bud/Brewer <<< Durant
Martin > Sefalosha
Rubio < Westbrook

Wolves bench > Thunder bench (lost K-Mart, depending on Jackson & Lamb)
Adelman > Brooks

In a seven game series, I think the Wolves can pull it out in 6. The Thunder can't handle Pek/Love inside. I'm sorry. Perkins has no chance against Pek and Love always eats against Ibaka. Plus, Ibaka's overrated as a 1v1 defender in my opinion. The guy plays great help defense, but other than that, I don't see the gritty man defender he gets credit for being sometimes. The only way we lose the series is if Westbrook absolutely destroys Rubio in the matchup, which I can't see him doing for four games, OR if we go into the series with injury trouble.

MIN/LAC
Pek >> Jordan
Love > Griffin
DWill/Bud/Brewer = Butler
Martin > or = to Redick
Rubio < Paul

Wolves bench >> Clippers bench (no depth in frontcourt)
Adelman < Rivers

Again, in a seven game series, the Wolves take it. The Clippers aren't made for success in the playoffs to be honest. Rivers may change this, but I still think their halfcourt basketball isn't good enough. Rubio Vs CP3 would be exciting as usual. Love Vs Griffin would be what it always is... the Kevin Love show. Love is so physical under the rim it wears down on Blake every time they play. I think this is a favorable matchup for us.

MIN/MEM
Pek < Gasol
Love > Randolph
DWill/Bud/Brewer > Prince/Pondexter
Martin = Allen
Rubio > Conley

Wolves bench > Grizzlies bench
Adelman >> David Joerger

Possibly the toughest matchup for the Wolves. They just matchup well with us. They have bigs that can compete in the paint and on the boards. This is where we'd need Love/Pek to flex as hard as they can. Conley Vs Rubio would be fun to watch. As would Martin Vs Allen. This is that classic Offense Vs Defense series. This could go either way. Grizzlies or Wolves in 6 or 7. Tough for Minnesota.

MIN/GS
Pek > Bogut
Love > Lee
DWill/Bud/Brewer << Iggy/Barnes
Martin < Thompson
Rubio > or = Curry

Wolves bench > Warriors
Adelman > Jackson

Pretty good challenge for Minnesota in the Warriors. In the end, it comes down to how well Rubio defends Curry. I think Rubio's smarts, length and good footwork would be a worthy test to Curry. I could see this series going either way also. If Minnesota got significant production out of the SF position, we win. This would be a playoff series that fans EVERYWHERE would take notice of. Lots of offensive firepower.

MIN/SA
Pek >> Splitter
Love > Duncan
DWill/Bud/Brewer << Leonard
Martin > Green
Rubio < Parker

Wolves bench = Spurs bench
Adelman < Pop

This series comes down to how the age of the Spurs affects them. If Game 6 & 7 in the Finals are a preview of what's to come from the Spurs next season, I think Minnesota's in good shape. That could also be wrong and the Spurs play top notch basketball like they have the last 15 years. Also, if Leonard takes another step in his progression, that could be a really bad deal for the Wolves. Lot of wildcards in this series. Spurs probably have us for one more year.

MIN/HOU
Pek < Howard (Pek plays Dwight really well though. Don't be surprised if this flip-flops during the series)
Love >>> Whoever they use. Jones? Smith? Parsons?
DWill/Bud/Brewer << Parsons
Martin < Harden
Rubio >> Lin

Wolves bench >> Rockets bench
Adelman > McHale

Close series. If Minnesota's bench outplays Houston's by a good margin, the series is ours. Also, Harden can't go off or else the Wolves are screwed. Love is going to destroy whoever he matches up with. If they do keep Asik, I could see them trying to use the "Twin Towers" method with Dwight and Asik on the floor together. Still like Minnesota down low though. I'd like to see the Gator Vs Gator matchup with Brewer and Parsons. Tall and lanky against tall and lanky. This would be a great series for TV. Could go either way. I'll say this one goes to seven games.

MIN/DEN
Pek >> Mosgov
Love > Faried
DWill/Bud/Brewer < Gallo if healthy
Martin > Chandler
Rubio > Lawson

Wolves bench > Nuggets bench
Adelman > Shaw

Minnesota would destroy Denver in a seven game series. I'd even go as far to say this would be over in 5. Losing Iggy, Brewer, Koufos and George Karl in one off-season is a mean four piece combo in a boxing ring. This would be even worse if Gallo doesn't return to his usual self. Sorry, I give the Nuggets zero chance in beating a healthy T'Wolves team.

Recap:
Wolves > Thunder ; either way
Wolves > Clips
Wolves < Grizz ; either way
Wolves > Warriors ; either way
Wolves < Spurs
Wolves < Rockets ; either way
Wolves >> Nuggets

West is a tough conference. We could just as easily lose whatever series we'd get matched with. One thing for certain: Sota needs to be healthy.

something that will help us is Utah taking a serious step back & Denver losing some guys + their coach. I think we will make the playoffs, but I am going to try and keep the optimism in check, but this year could be a really good one for the wolves barring any major injuries. I think we could finish as high as 5th and no lower than 9th in the west.
1) Spurs-defending champs
2) Clippers
3) OKC
4) Houston
5) Golden State
6) T'Wolves
7) Memphis
8) Portland

45 - 37.


[Note: Remember, I was one of the few dissidents last year on here, claiming the Wolves would not make the playoffs. I think 9 years has been enough. They break through this season.]

I am having a hard time trying to lock them down, but I think just under 50 baring any huge health problems is very obtainable.

My expectations of a Rubio/Love led team will be 50 wins from here on out, just as long as those two have a solid supporting cast surrounding them.

Pekovic, Martin, and decent depth plus Adelman is enough to convince me that the team has what it takes to knock out 50 wins. Provided Rubio and Love stay healthy, we should be able to sustain most injuries to where 50+ wins is a realistic and attainable goal.

I'm gonna say this team chalks up 50 wins and finishes 6th on the Western Conference ladder.