Minnesota Sports Forum

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2026 11:28 pm Finishing 6th is already disappointing. A first round exit against the Nuggets is likely and would make this season a complete and inexcusable failure. Last summer I was calling for this team to take a step back and retool for next season and beyond because I didn’t see this team getting better with the current cast around Ant and never thought the pieces fit particularly well. We tend to play well against the Nuggets so we’ll see how things go.

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2026 11:28 pm Finishing 6th is already disappointing. A first round exit against the Nuggets is likely and would make this season a complete and inexcusable failure. Last summer I was calling for this team to take a step back and retool for next season and beyond because I didn’t see this team getting better with the current cast around Ant and never thought the pieces fit particularly well. We tend to play well against the Nuggets so we’ll see how things go.

I am feeling the same way. Each year we postpone retooling we risk Ant getting the jitters. I think last year was the perfect time to really retool, instead doubling down only showed the holes in our team building and further diminishes potential returns for Naz, Rudy or Randle.

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2026 11:28 pm Finishing 6th is already disappointing. A first round exit against the Nuggets is likely and would make this season a complete and inexcusable failure. Last summer I was calling for this team to take a step back and retool for next season and beyond because I didn’t see this team getting better with the current cast around Ant and never thought the pieces fit particularly well. We tend to play well against the Nuggets so we’ll see how things go.

I am feeling the same way. Each year we postpone retooling we risk Ant getting the jitters. I think last year was the perfect time to really retool, instead doubling down only showed the holes in our team building and further diminishes potential returns for Naz, Rudy or Randle.

guest81 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:07 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2026 11:28 pm Finishing 6th is already disappointing. A first round exit against the Nuggets is likely and would make this season a complete and inexcusable failure. Last summer I was calling for this team to take a step back and retool for next season and beyond because I didn’t see this team getting better with the current cast around Ant and never thought the pieces fit particularly well. We tend to play well against the Nuggets so we’ll see how things go.

I am feeling the same way. Each year we postpone retooling we risk Ant getting the jitters. I think last year was the perfect time to really retool, instead doubling down only showed the holes in our team building and further diminishes potential returns for Naz, Rudy or Randle.

nobody in their right mind would take a step back and retool when you've gone to back to back conference championships with all your core locked up and in their prime. Let's get real guys

guest81 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:07 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 am

Lipoli390 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2026 11:28 pm Finishing 6th is already disappointing. A first round exit against the Nuggets is likely and would make this season a complete and inexcusable failure. Last summer I was calling for this team to take a step back and retool for next season and beyond because I didn’t see this team getting better with the current cast around Ant and never thought the pieces fit particularly well. We tend to play well against the Nuggets so we’ll see how things go.

I am feeling the same way. Each year we postpone retooling we risk Ant getting the jitters. I think last year was the perfect time to really retool, instead doubling down only showed the holes in our team building and further diminishes potential returns for Naz, Rudy or Randle.

nobody in their right mind would take a step back and retool when you've gone to back to back conference championships with all your core locked up and in their prime. Let's get real guys

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 9:43 am

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 9:26 am

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 9:13 am

Yeah I suppose, but when you go from a team that is 8 deep as they called it last year, to a team that is 6 deep with Mike being useless and no NAW, you are going to need an incredible jump from the young guys which Ant and Jaden did jump on offense, but Shannon, Clark, and Rob didn't help at all. Until we got Ayo, Kyle, and Bones came around, we basically lost every game that Naz couldn't shoot. Every team stumbles on their journey to trying to win a championship and might not make it as far as the previous season. It's still on Tim Connelly (for as long as he is here) to build this roster into a team that can win it, and decide if Finch is the coach that will get us there.

The team admittedly by Finchies word has been bored, moody and low effort and this has been a too common theme for many games in this regular season. We could be a top for sure 3 defense in the NBA for instance, but we simply don't care enough. Now if we go on to lose in the first round which seems likely then this is major failure and blaming it on a decrepit Mike and the ghost of NAW doesn't work for me.

You're free to blame whoever you like. If you are 6 deep, you aren't deep enough to play top 3 defense for any length of time. Now that we have a deeper roster, they can certainly be a better defense and we have been, but we still need to get healthy for it to all come together and we are running out of time.

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:33 pm

guest81 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:07 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 am

I am feeling the same way. Each year we postpone retooling we risk Ant getting the jitters. I think last year was the perfect time to really retool, instead doubling down only showed the holes in our team building and further diminishes potential returns for Naz, Rudy or Randle.

nobody in their right mind would take a step back and retool when you've gone to back to back conference championships with all your core locked up and in their prime. Let's get real guys

We got through 2 hobbled teams then got our asses handed to us by OKC. I think we had a dream bracket last year. I think Rudy is not in his prime and is being paid as a core piece. He dipped last year and this year is more severe from what I see. Julius will remain to be polarizing. Taking a risk and moving on one of those contracts as a start last year would have been the proper forward thinking move that had an honest take on where our roster was at. The rolled it back because you are right, the spin was on their side with 2 great WCF appearances. In retrospect that second WCF was a bit artificial in my mind.

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:18 pm

guest81 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:07 pm

thedoper wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 11:19 am

I am feeling the same way. Each year we postpone retooling we risk Ant getting the jitters. I think last year was the perfect time to really retool, instead doubling down only showed the holes in our team building and further diminishes potential returns for Naz, Rudy or Randle.

nobody in their right mind would take a step back and retool when you've gone to back to back conference championships with all your core locked up and in their prime. Let's get real guys

True, but as I said before the season you couldn't stand pat and expect to organically improve this year. Standing still meant you were falling behind, and that has proven to be true. We needed to come back with a better version of the team and we didn't. At a minimum Randle should have been moved for a point guard before the season. This is exactly what I expected we would see.

AussieWolf3 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:50 pm

rapsuperstar31 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 9:43 am

Wolvesfan21 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 9:26 am

The team admittedly by Finchies word has been bored, moody and low effort and this has been a too common theme for many games in this regular season. We could be a top for sure 3 defense in the NBA for instance, but we simply don't care enough. Now if we go on to lose in the first round which seems likely then this is major failure and blaming it on a decrepit Mike and the ghost of NAW doesn't work for me.

You're free to blame whoever you like. If you are 6 deep, you aren't deep enough to play top 3 defense for any length of time. Now that we have a deeper roster, they can certainly be a better defense and we have been, but we still need to get healthy for it to all come together and we are running out of time.

I don't know what any of that has to do with the fact that they spent all off-season talking about a championship mindset, and then during the season said with both action and words that they would step up and play when the games mattered.
An absolute unearned level of confidence

So now with that being their own standard, that's what I'm measuring them too. Which means if they can't take an equally matched or better opponent to 7 games and also make it to playing a competitive series in at least round 2, then they have failed

guest81 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 1:19 pm

Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:18 pm

guest81 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2026 12:07 pm

nobody in their right mind would take a step back and retool when you've gone to back to back conference championships with all your core locked up and in their prime. Let's get real guys

True, but as I said before the season you couldn't stand pat and expect to organically improve this year. Standing still meant you were falling behind, and that has proven to be true. We needed to come back with a better version of the team and we didn't. At a minimum Randle should have been moved for a point guard before the season. This is exactly what I expected we would see.

Maybe if you saw everything coming that's great, but the idea was that Rob would be able to take on a bigger role and you get a spark from TSJ from the bench and having Jaden and Ant take a leap, they could of been better. Also not sure what point guard was out there that you would of just traded Randle for and would of had a bigger impact.