Minnesota Sports Forum

Another terrific game from Ben Simmons with 23 efficient points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and a block. It's early, but he looks like the clear leader in the ROY sweepstakes. I predicted that award would go to Lonzo Ball, but I'm almost ready to conceded after 6 games that he won't get it. My runner up to Simmons right now is Jason Tatum. That guy's been playing consistently well after Hayward's gruesome injury thrust him into the starting SF role fo rate Celtics. He's really risen to the occasion.

I really expected the Grizzlies to drop off in a big way this season. But they just took their record to 5-2 after a 12 point win over the Rockets tonight. Then you have the Jazz, another team I expected to drop off, at 3-3 in spite of losing Hayward and Hill. Finally, the Clippers remain undefeated after 5 games in spite of losing Chris Paul. The Pelicans appear to have gotten their act together the past couple games.

Bottom line is that the Wolves will have a harder time making then playoffs than I expected. I see the following teams competing for the 8 playoff spots in the West:

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. Thunder
4. Spurs
5. Clippers
6. Grizzlies
7. Wolves
8. Nuggets
9. Pelicans
10. Blazers
11. Jazz

I saw a Tweet that Carlisle said he thought Simmons was gonna be good but not this good. I haven't really seen him play but the video I have seen his body just looks fantastic and he moves so well and is so big for what he can do.

As for the playoff run stuff personally I'm not gonna worry about it so much just enjoy the ride. As long as the Wolves stay around .500 the first 30-40 games they will have a shot if they can put it together and go on a run which they have the talent to do so.

Yup, the West is really, really tough, as expected. Memphis is the surprise team to me. But may be we shouldn't be surprised by them at this point? They have a healthy Chandler Parsons coming off the bench - that helps a lot.

38-42 wins would be a solid year of improvement for us given the competition, but probably a disappointment to most Wolves fans.

Q12543 wrote:Yup, the West is really, really tough, as expected. Memphis is the surprise team to me. But may be we shouldn't be surprised by them at this point? They have a healthy Chandler Parsons coming off the bench - that helps a lot.

38-42 wins would be a solid year of improvement for us given the competition, but probably a disappointment to most Wolves fans.

Q - Count me among most Wolves fans who would consider 38-42 wins a disappointment. I tempered my initial exuberance by ramping down my expectations from over 50 wins to 45. But given our talent relative to other teams like Memphis, I'd be disappointed by anything less than 45. So far, we're on track for 41 wins. :) And that's with Butler missing one-third of our games and the team's adjustment to a new PG. I also think Bazz can and will play better.

But any more games like the one we played at home against the Pacers and I'll start preparing myself for a 38-40 win season. There is no excuse for even one more game like that. So for now, I remain cautiously optimistic even though I'm not longer exuberant. :)

Q one thing that's kinda impressive about the Grizz is they have continued to succeed against odds and have done it will changing coaches and seemingly each time they get a better version of what they had in guy that gets more out of what they end up with. Fizdale somehow kept the grit and grind while having the team shoot 3's. Look at all the hidden gem (or at least useful rocks) guys they have on the roster now. They are basically becoming the Spurs in that regard guys you didn't expect coming through and being useful. Even if they never win a Championship with this group (unlikely) if you are Grizzlies fan you should appreciate and enjoy what has been happening the last few years and remember Memphis has not done particularly well with their draft picks. A lot of credit should go to guys like Gasol Conely and Randolph who were significant factors in what they have now and what they keep doing. Hopefully we can build a culture like these top teams. Who would have thought Gasol and Conely would be franchise leaders back however many years ago. There really is still time for our young guys to get there.

Maybe the Pacers are not that bad, they just beat the Spurs.

There is so much talent in the NBA these teams, I don't think there is a team in the NBA that doesn't have some type of interesting player. Oladipo is playing real good to start the year.

monsterpile wrote:Q one thing that's kinda impressive about the Grizz is they have continued to succeed against odds and have done it will changing coaches and seemingly each time they get a better version of what they had in guy that gets more out of what they end up with. Fizdale somehow kept the grit and grind while having the team shoot 3's. Look at all the hidden gem (or at least useful rocks) guys they have on the roster now. They are basically becoming the Spurs in that regard guys you didn't expect coming through and being useful. Even if they never win a Championship with this group (unlikely) if you are Grizzlies fan you should appreciate and enjoy what has been happening the last few years and remember Memphis has not done particularly well with their draft picks. A lot of credit should go to guys like Gasol Conely and Randolph who were significant factors in what they have now and what they keep doing. Hopefully we can build a culture like these top teams. Who would have thought Gasol and Conely would be franchise leaders back however many years ago. There really is still time for our young guys to get there.

Yup, it all started with defense though. Those guys took quite some time to grow into their fully formed offensive skill sets. KAT and Wiggins are the opposite and you wonder if they will ever get there defensively. Between KG, Thibs, and Butler, you'd hope that defensive ethos would rub off on these guys!

kekgeek1 wrote:Maybe the Pacers are not that bad, they just beat the Spurs.

There is so much talent in the NBA these teams, I don't think there is a team in the NBA that doesn't have some type of interesting player. Oladipo is playing real good to start the year.

I thought Indiana's most interesting player was Myles Turner, but Oladipo has been going just nuts. He couldn't miss anything against the Wolves and I never thought of him as much of a shooter. But he is on fire so far....we'll see if it's sustainable.

Now Detroit just beat GS in Golden State.

So is it safe to say maybe just maybe, games like the wolves played happen time to time

kekgeek1 wrote:Now Detroit just beat GS in Golden State.

So is it safe to say maybe just maybe, games like the wolves played happen time to time

The Knicks crushed the Cavs starting Jarrett Jack at PG.