Around the league thread 2021-2022

[FNG]

Yes, I think we're all multi-talented enough to both enjoy the ride as well as speculate on what the post-season will be like...they're both fun exercises. Lip, I agree with you about the Bulls and Cavs having had terrific seasons, but destined for quick exits in the playoffs. I also look at Miami sitting comfortably atop the Eastern standings, but don't like their chances in the playoffs. As distasteful as the prospect is to some here, I see a healthy Nets and 76er teams only worried about the Bucks as they move toward a likely Eastern finals.

And I don't think the Clippers care too much about where they finish...they're formidable when George returns and loaded if they ever get back Kawhi. They have 7 rotation players making over 35% of their threes, and PG, RoCo, Kawhi, and Jackson are not even part of that cadre. Nobody is going to catch them for the 8th spot, and I think they will rest PG long enough to allow the Wolves to hang on to that 7th spot. It's all conjecture, but with Memphis moving ahead of Golden State in the standings, I see the current situation as about as favorable a scenario for Wolves' fans as they can expect.

Oh and by the way, even considering how poorly they are playing without Green, I still see Golden State advancing to the NBA finals.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I wouldn't count on Denver to struggle.

Jokic won't let them. He's just too good. I don't know what more this guy has to do for everybody to realize he's one of the GREATS.

46 points
12 reb
11 ast
16 - 22 fg
3 - 5 3fg
11 - 12 ft
3 stl
4 blk
+22 ... in a game his team won in OT.

How many other teams would be 38 - 26 after losing its clear 2nd and 3rd best players off a 47 - 25 team? Denver is 29 - 16 after a slow start to the season.



[Note: I just heard that defensive metrics have Jokic ranked #2 DEFENSIVELY among centers, just behind Gobert and ahead of Draymond Green. Yikes.]

[Q-is-here]

A very legit argument could be made that Jokic is having the best season in NBA history. He is THAT good. He's currently on pace for the NBA single-season record in PER and Box Score Plus/Minus. Better than the best seasons from Wilt, Jordan, LeBron, and Giannis. He is absolutely incredible.

He's also just 26 years old.

[Monster]

A very legit argument could be made that Jokic is having the best season in NBA history. He is THAT good. He's currently on pace for the NBA single-season record in PER and Box Score Plus/Minus. Better than the best seasons from Wilt, Jordan, LeBron, and Giannis. He is absolutely incredible.

He's also just 26 years old.

Is he the best 2nd round pick of all time? Manu was the guy before that but Jokic if he stays healthy will pass him at some point if he hasn't already.

[Lipoli390]

I wouldn't count on Denver to struggle.

Jokic won't let them. He's just too good. I don't know what more this guy has to do for everybody to realize he's one of the GREATS.

46 points
12 reb
11 ast
16 - 22 fg
3 - 5 3fg
11 - 12 ft
3 stl
4 blk
+22 ... in a game his team won in OT.

How many other teams would be 38 - 26 after losing its clear 2nd and 3rd best players off a 47 - 25 team? Denver is 29 - 16 after a slow start to the season.



[Note: I just heard that defensive metrics have Jokic ranked #2 DEFENSIVELY among centers, just behind Gobert and ahead of Draymond Green. Yikes.]

Abe - That's the conclusion I reached after seeing last night's result and box score in the Denver-New Orleans game. It was a reminder that Jokic is a superstar - the sort of player who can carry a team on his own. I'd say he's one of only five current NBA players I'd put in that category along with Embiid, Giannis, Luka, and Steph Curry. Speculating on the possibility the Wolves can catch Denver was wishful thinking on my part and last night's performance by Jokic was a jarring reminder of that fact.

[Lipoli390]

A very legit argument could be made that Jokic is having the best season in NBA history. He is THAT good. He's currently on pace for the NBA single-season record in PER and Box Score Plus/Minus. Better than the best seasons from Wilt, Jordan, LeBron, and Giannis. He is absolutely incredible.

He's also just 26 years old.

Is he the best 2nd round pick of all time? Manu was the guy before that but Jokic if he stays healthy will pass him at some point if he hasn't already.

Great question, Monster. I'll say yes.

[AbeVigodaLive]

A very legit argument could be made that Jokic is having the best season in NBA history. He is THAT good. He's currently on pace for the NBA single-season record in PER and Box Score Plus/Minus. Better than the best seasons from Wilt, Jordan, LeBron, and Giannis. He is absolutely incredible.

He's also just 26 years old.

Is he the best 2nd round pick of all time? Manu was the guy before that but Jokic if he stays healthy will pass him at some point if he hasn't already.

Great question, Monster. I'll say yes.

Ginobili was a borderline perennial All Star.

Jokic is now a perennial MVP candidate.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I wouldn't say it's likely we catch Denver, but the facts are that they're only 2.5 games ahead of Minnesota with the latter having a more favorable schedule AND currently owning the tiebreaker between the two teams. Not to mention, these teams play again on April 1st. The Wolves aren't out of it yet.

[Monster]

A very legit argument could be made that Jokic is having the best season in NBA history. He is THAT good. He's currently on pace for the NBA single-season record in PER and Box Score Plus/Minus. Better than the best seasons from Wilt, Jordan, LeBron, and Giannis. He is absolutely incredible.

He's also just 26 years old.

Is he the best 2nd round pick of all time? Manu was the guy before that but Jokic if he stays healthy will pass him at some point if he hasn't already.

Great question, Monster. I'll say yes.

Ginobili was a borderline perennial All Star.

Jokic is now a perennial MVP candidate.

Abe I don't think it's that simple. Manu is a HOFer and won championships and played in the league a long time. At one point it looked like Gilbert arenas was going to be the clear best 2nd rounder ever but then injuries derailed his career. Now I would take Draymond over him but Arenas had a nice career for sure. Not surprisingly the two best 2nd round picks are international players. Marc Gasol is also easily in the top 10.

Regardless Jokic is an example even if obviously a total outlier (on pace for a unique HOF career) that every roster spot can matter. It's nice to see the Wolves actually get some worthwhile play from guys picked in the 2nd round or were undrafted.

[Q-is-here]

A very legit argument could be made that Jokic is having the best season in NBA history. He is THAT good. He's currently on pace for the NBA single-season record in PER and Box Score Plus/Minus. Better than the best seasons from Wilt, Jordan, LeBron, and Giannis. He is absolutely incredible.

He's also just 26 years old.

Is he the best 2nd round pick of all time? Manu was the guy before that but Jokic if he stays healthy will pass him at some point if he hasn't already.

Great question, Monster. I'll say yes.

Ginobili was a borderline perennial All Star.

Jokic is now a perennial MVP candidate.

Abe I don't think it's that simple. Manu is a HOFer and won championships and played in the league a long time. At one point it looked like Gilbert arenas was going to be the clear best 2nd rounder ever but then injuries derailed his career. Now I would take Draymond over him but Arenas had a nice career for sure. Not surprisingly the two best 2nd round picks are international players. Marc Gasol is also easily in the top 10.

Regardless Jokic is an example even if obviously a total outlier (on pace for a unique HOF career) that every roster spot can matter. It's nice to see the Wolves actually get some worthwhile play from guys picked in the 2nd round or were undrafted.

One of Rosas' biggest accomplishments goes hand in hand with one of his biggest failures as a the POBO. That first draft class of 2019 where he moved up to get....gulp....Culver....is also the same class where he drafted Jaylen Nowell in the 2nd round and signed Jordan McLaughlin and Naz Reid to 2-way deals. Those three have been key to our resurgent bench play.