Minnesota Sports Forum

Camden wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:Frankly, this team plays better against better competition. It is what it is. The rest of the schedule being tougher might actually be a blessing in disguise.

Disagree, although I appreciate the optimism. Back in December this team had a tough12-game stretch that started with @Utah and ended with @Milwaukee. We went 4-8. Since that stretch, we have had 13 out of 18 games played at home. We've gone 2-3 in those 5 road games.

So how much of our recent good play really been more about home cookin'? Every NBA team plays better at home.

Bottom line....I'm not optimistic that we are going to continue surging up the Western Conference standings and end up with a top 4 or 5 seed and 6 will certainly be a stretch. We need some serious luck along the way to make that happen.

That 4-8 stretch included four losses decided by two possessions or less -- at Portland, vs. Dallas, at Miami, and at New Orleans. Games that could have, and probably should have, gone the other way for Minnesota.

That tough 12-game stretch was also without Karl-Anthony Towns, Jordan McLaughlin, and Taurean Prince. D'Angelo Russell didn't play in the loss to Los Angeles and Rudy Gobert didn't play in the loss to Milwaukee. I'm not turned off by that stretch of play given the circumstances. I think they're a better team right now with reinforcements on the way -- whenever that may be.

I don't think Minnesota needs any "serious luck" to continue climbing up the standings. They've mostly put up with bad luck all season. They just need to avoid losing any more of their key players. Even this current iteration of the team without Towns is pretty good.

Well, you were optimistic at the time about that stretch too and ended up being wrong. Again, I have no problem with your optimism, but even "pretty good" teams are going to lose a lot of games in a stretch where they are playing "really good" teams mostly on the road. Let's get a win tonight and at least build a little buffer!

Do we need to reference the many other times when I was right? Or perhaps the times where you were wrong? I'm not sure I understand why that comment was made. I'd actually say the optimism this season has been justified given the team's record, place in the standings, and the fact they've done it without their top guns. Excuse me if I'm not on the doomer train.

Also, I'm not actually projecting or predicting anything here. I just don't think they'll need "serious luck" to push for a top-six seed this season. They're already doing that while having bad luck to this point. I also think this team's nature is to play up to their opponents -- as well as down to their opponents -- so having more quality opponents on the slate might bring out the best of this team. Austin Rivers said something similar the other day as well. Not a crazy take.

I made the comment because you had a sunny outlook on a previous stretch of tough games and we went 4-8 (can't remember the exact games you predicted but I believe it was within that timeframe). And yes, I have been wrong on things plenty of times. And in this case, I hope I'm wrong too and you can come back later and tell me how wrong I was! I hope you are right, but I maintain this team will need some significant breaks along the way to end up with a top 6 seed.

Is this the thread where I had a "sunny" outlook?

https://minnesotasports.enjin.com/mobile/forum/viewthread/m/15059925/id/33737520-minnesota-decemberwolves-next-14-games

Genuinely curious because that thread was essentially a conversation starter about a tough month of basketball, and while I hoped for a 9-5 stretch I also noted that 5-9 was just as possible, which is what inevitably happened. And then I went on to mention positive developments for the team. Developments that have mostly held true, by the way, and were significant in January where the team went 11-5 (tied for second-best in the NBA).

Having re-read it, I stand by the "sunny" depiction of your outlook during that stretch! Either way, we'll agree to disagree on the future outlook for this season. I think the road ahead is much tougher and will look more similar to the 5-9 side of the spectrum than the 9-5 spectrum without some good bounces. But I hope I'm wrong and we just keep getting better!

(now if we land Tyus Jones in a trade for DLO, then Western Conference Finals here we come!!!)

kekgeek1 wrote:Lakers, mavs and suns are the favorites to land Kyrie. We need to hope he stays in the East

OF COURSE it's all Western Conference teams! I really hope the Brooklyn front office holds firm like they did with Durant and demands a pound of flesh for Irving. While I don't want him near our team, at the same time I don't want him anywhere in the West. He's still really effing good.

Some kind of Chris Paul for Kyrie Irving trade with additional parts on either side makes sense from afar.

60WinTim wrote:So, in the "around the league" mode...

Luka injured his heel last night in the 3rd quarter against the Pelicans with a 20+ point lead. With Dinwiddie running the show, the Pels almost came back and won that game. The ISO ball just killed the Mavs' offense with out Luka there to run it. The Mavs embark on a 5 game road trip where they could lose every single game. That might help create some of the "luck buffer" Q mentioned.

On a similar vain, the Clippers had a commanding lead against the Bucks in the 2nd half, and managed to piddle it away and lose by having Leonard and George take turns playing ISO ball. The Clippers also have a challenging schedule heading into the all-star break.

If the Wolves continue playing solid basketball, and don't piddle away their own games, we could be feeling pretty good heading into the all-star break.

Luck buffer....I like that phrase! Good one Tim.

Yeah, if that injury to Luka lingers for 5+ games, that's the kind of luck we could use. They can't possibly win more than a game or two in any given 5-game stretch that he's hurt. Just way too dependent on him (which is why I could see their interest in Irving).

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Camden wrote:Frankly, this team plays better against better competition. It is what it is. The rest of the schedule being tougher might actually be a blessing in disguise.

Disagree, although I appreciate the optimism. Back in December this team had a tough12-game stretch that started with @Utah and ended with @Milwaukee. We went 4-8. Since that stretch, we have had 13 out of 18 games played at home. We've gone 2-3 in those 5 road games.

So how much of our recent good play really been more about home cookin'? Every NBA team plays better at home.

Bottom line....I'm not optimistic that we are going to continue surging up the Western Conference standings and end up with a top 4 or 5 seed and 6 will certainly be a stretch. We need some serious luck along the way to make that happen.

That 4-8 stretch included four losses decided by two possessions or less -- at Portland, vs. Dallas, at Miami, and at New Orleans. Games that could have, and probably should have, gone the other way for Minnesota.

That tough 12-game stretch was also without Karl-Anthony Towns, Jordan McLaughlin, and Taurean Prince. D'Angelo Russell didn't play in the loss to Los Angeles and Rudy Gobert didn't play in the loss to Milwaukee. I'm not turned off by that stretch of play given the circumstances. I think they're a better team right now with reinforcements on the way -- whenever that may be.

I don't think Minnesota needs any "serious luck" to continue climbing up the standings. They've mostly put up with bad luck all season. They just need to avoid losing any more of their key players. Even this current iteration of the team without Towns is pretty good.

Well, you were optimistic at the time about that stretch too and ended up being wrong. Again, I have no problem with your optimism, but even "pretty good" teams are going to lose a lot of games in a stretch where they are playing "really good" teams mostly on the road. Let's get a win tonight and at least build a little buffer!

Do we need to reference the many other times when I was right? Or perhaps the times where you were wrong? I'm not sure I understand why that comment was made. I'd actually say the optimism this season has been justified given the team's record, place in the standings, and the fact they've done it without their top guns. Excuse me if I'm not on the doomer train.

Also, I'm not actually projecting or predicting anything here. I just don't think they'll need "serious luck" to push for a top-six seed this season. They're already doing that while having bad luck to this point. I also think this team's nature is to play up to their opponents -- as well as down to their opponents -- so having more quality opponents on the slate might bring out the best of this team. Austin Rivers said something similar the other day as well. Not a crazy take.

I made the comment because you had a sunny outlook on a previous stretch of tough games and we went 4-8 (can't remember the exact games you predicted but I believe it was within that timeframe). And yes, I have been wrong on things plenty of times. And in this case, I hope I'm wrong too and you can come back later and tell me how wrong I was! I hope you are right, but I maintain this team will need some significant breaks along the way to end up with a top 6 seed.

Is this the thread where I had a "sunny" outlook?

https://minnesotasports.enjin.com/mobile/forum/viewthread/m/15059925/id/33737520-minnesota-decemberwolves-next-14-games

Genuinely curious because that thread was essentially a conversation starter about a tough month of basketball, and while I hoped for a 9-5 stretch I also noted that 5-9 was just as possible, which is what inevitably happened. And then I went on to mention positive developments for the team. Developments that have mostly held true, by the way, and were significant in January where the team went 11-5 (tied for second-best in the NBA).

Having re-read it, I stand by the "sunny" depiction of your outlook during that stretch! Either way, we'll agree to disagree on the future outlook for this season. I think the road ahead is much tougher and will look more similar to the 5-9 side of the spectrum than the 9-5 spectrum without some good bounces. But I hope I'm wrong and we just keep getting better!

(now if we land Tyus Jones in a trade for DLO, then Western Conference Finals here we come!!!)

Q, have a backbone - stick to your guns

DLO and Jaden for Kyrie. Do it now and win a Championship!!!!

Dlo straight up for kyrie works. Do it.

Nice hustle there Ant

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Nice hustle there Ant

Wrong thread of course, cool, but I assume you're talking about Ant making no effort to retrieve a ball after it bounced off his leg into the back court. What the hell was he thinking? Maybe put a little more effort in when you're going 1-7 on threes and carelessly turning the ball over 4 times. One of the worst moments of the season IMO.

I was driving all day yesterday on my way to Tucson, so I had plenty of time to listen to the chatter on the radio about Kyrie. It was interesting to me that the Wolves were mentioned in almost every discussion. I'm mixed, like most are. But I guess if the Nets were interested in one of the deals I heard discussed (Irving for Russell, Reid, Moore Jr), I would take it. I'm convinced that none of the main three players involved aren't likely to be Wolves in 2023-4, and I'm not interested in Moore Jr., so the question is does this make us better this season. And while I acknowledge the contributions DLo and Naz have made this year, Irving is a completely different level player. A starting five of Rudy/KAT/Jaden/Ant/Kyrie with a bench led by SloMo, Prince, JMac and Rivers challenges for a championship given any semblance of health (obviously either Garza or Knight would have to step up in an elevated role). And maybe, just maybe, Lore and ARoid are willing to pony up for the lux tax to keep Kyrie after we win the NBA championship!

Kyrie stated a preference to be traded to Minnesota in 2017. His mom was half Lakota Indian, and Kyrie is a standing member of the Lakota people...he even has been given a Lakota name that translates to Little Mountain. And the deal makes some sense for each team. With Ben Simmons handling most of the PG duties when healthy (he's averaging 8.5 assists per 36) DLo is freed up to do what he does best...makes shots as an off guard, and defend the weakest offensive player. And Kyrie gets to play a true PG role, unlike the role he has in Brooklyn. Pipe dream? Probably. But it could be fun...