Minnesota Sports Forum

Here is the run down of predictions as of today. 2-0 in the pre-season, yes!

Tim - 60
Crazysauce - 55
Carlos - 54
Kekgeek - 53
LongGame - 52
KG4Ever, Phenom - 51
Coolbreeze - 50
KiwiMatt, FNG - 49
Doper, Lead01 - 48
Sundog - 47
Drew - 46
Wildwolf, Q-is-here - 45
Lipoli - 44

Leado01 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 10:41 am I like that we have some tougher match-ups earlier in the season.

I didn't feel like there was any sense of urgency early last season in part because we played a lot of crappy teams in those first 10 games.

I also kind of agree with Lip on "identity," but disagree in that I do see a physically tougher defensive team on the floor this year lead by ANT.

The West will be tough, but I do see 48 wins and at least a series win in the playoffs.

48

...and this has indeed been the case in the first two pre-season games. The defense has looked really locked in. NAW coming off the bench versus someone like Nowell is going to make a huge difference on that end of the floor.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:42 pm Here is the run down of predictions as of today. 2-0 in the pre-season, yes!

Tim - 60
Crazysauce - 55
Carlos - 54
Kekgeek - 53
LongGame - 52
KG4Ever, Phenom - 51
Coolbreeze - 50
KiwiMatt, FNG - 49
Doper, Lead01 - 48
Sundog - 47
Drew - 46
Wildwolf, Q-is-here - 45
Lipoli - 44

No matter how smart we all think we are, and how negative we can be about certain deficiencies in our Wolves, one thing is as certain as death and taxes...we will always be overly optimistic with respect to the Vegas line! I think it's currently 44.5, so only Lip is betting under the total...and what does he know?! I fully admit that my homeristic gut has me thinking this is a 50+ win team, and I only lowered my prediction to 49 because I didn't want to be so far above Vegas.

Oh well, maybe this is the year we're correct. I know Tim is struggling to find 22 losses in the schedule!

FNG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 1:09 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:42 pm Here is the run down of predictions as of today. 2-0 in the pre-season, yes!

Tim - 60
Crazysauce - 55
Carlos - 54
Kekgeek - 53
LongGame - 52
KG4Ever, Phenom - 51
Coolbreeze - 50
KiwiMatt, FNG - 49
Doper, Lead01 - 48
Sundog - 47
Drew - 46
Wildwolf, Q-is-here - 45
Lipoli - 44

No matter how smart we all think we are, and how negative we can be about certain deficiencies in our Wolves, one thing is as certain as death and taxes...we will always be overly optimistic with respect to the Vegas line! I think it's currently 44.5, so only Lip is betting under the total...and what does he know?! I fully admit that my homeristic gut has me thinking this is a 50+ win team, and I only lowered my prediction to 49 because I didn't want to be so far above Vegas.

Oh well, maybe this is the year we're correct. I know Tim is struggling to find 22 losses in the schedule!

I think the main blind spot we as fans have is the quality of other teams. The NBA is SO good except when multiple stars are wrecked with injuries (like a couple seasons ago). I think that was part of our challenge last season - we lost KAT for a good chunk of the season and other teams weren't quite as beat up as the prior season.

If the injury gods smile upon us, I think we can pretty easily beat that Vegas number, but I always build a fair amount of injuries into my wins prediction total, which is why I am closer to the Vegas O/U.

FNG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 1:09 pm

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:42 pm Here is the run down of predictions as of today. 2-0 in the pre-season, yes!

Tim - 60
Crazysauce - 55
Carlos - 54
Kekgeek - 53
LongGame - 52
KG4Ever, Phenom - 51
Coolbreeze - 50
KiwiMatt, FNG - 49
Doper, Lead01 - 48
Sundog - 47
Drew - 46
Wildwolf, Q-is-here - 45
Lipoli - 44

No matter how smart we all think we are, and how negative we can be about certain deficiencies in our Wolves, one thing is as certain as death and taxes...we will always be overly optimistic with respect to the Vegas line! I think it's currently 44.5, so only Lip is betting under the total...and what does he know?! I fully admit that my homeristic gut has me thinking this is a 50+ win team, and I only lowered my prediction to 49 because I didn't want to be so far above Vegas.

Oh well, maybe this is the year we're correct. I know Tim is struggling to find 22 losses in the schedule!

FNG - When the oddsmakers in Vegas see my prediction, the line will likely go down a half point. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for Abe to see how how he’ll go.

Ha, I actually it might have come done from 45, so I think you already moved the line!

FNG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 8:42 pm Ha, I actually it might have come done from 45, so I think you already moved the line!

You’re probably right, FNG. My impact is definitely profound. And my connection to reality makes me a good candidate for political office.

Here is the final rundown of predictions with the pre-season complete. 5-0 baby! I guess Lip is the clear pessimist of the group with Abe not playing this year! I stand by my 45-wins prediction because based on what we've already seen in the pre-season, injuries seem to constantly loom over this team.

Tim - 60
Crazysauce - 55
Carlos - 54
Kekgeek - 53
LongGame - 52
KG4Ever, Phenom - 51
Coolbreeze - 50
KiwiMatt, FNG - 49
Doper, Lead01 - 48
Sundog - 47
Drew - 46
Wildwolf, Q-is-here - 45
Lipoli - 44

I really want to say 43 as this team appears like it can fall apart very quickly, but I am going with 52 wins. The basketball gods surely will smile down on the Timberwolves once a decade? I want 52 wins, I want home court in the playoffs, I want Lore and ARoid to spend a ton of money to keep everyone worth keeping (Slim had better be a Wolf for another decade), and I want Finch to be named Coach of the Year. I am not asking for much am I?

If the Timberwolves achieve success, will Ant need to have an MVP type year? What about KAT? Does Gobert or Slim need to be Defensive player of the year? Do they need all that to happen and more? Reid as 6th man? Kyle Anderson to get an Emmy as the best floor director???

So many questions for a team only televised nationally 10 times this season.

DNatagal with the late entry...

Tim - 60
Crazysauce - 55
Carlos - 54
Kekgeek - 53
LongGame, DNatagal- 52
KG4Ever, Phenom - 51
Coolbreeze - 50
KiwiMatt, FNG - 49
Doper, Lead01 - 48
Sundog - 47
Drew - 46
Wildwolf, Q-is-here - 45
Lipoli - 44