Minnesota Sports Forum

I'm a broken record, but I can't help noticing how we continue to track EXACTLY to last year's record. 29-27 this year and exactly the same last year.

But...last year's team went on a 13-3 run over their next 16 games. I'm not sure this team (as is) has that in them. Still...last year's team ended the season with 4-6 whimper. So 17-9 over the last 26 games. That would be really good, but not impossible for this year's team.

We are 13-6 in our last 19 games and Towns is supposedly coming back at some point. Let's see if Finchy can keep this together for a strong finish. I still think they need to make a move or two. But I understand why some might be reluctant to upset the apple cart now they they are playing well. Will be an interesting week.

That is interesting Carlos. I think the difference might be our schedule to end last season versus this season. Hard to see it turning out the same way on paper given how many tough road games we still have ahead of us, but you never know. We had our first big lucky break last night when Denver rested 4 out of its 5 starters. May be we get some other lucky breaks along the way.

Q-was-here wrote:That is interesting Carlos. I think the difference might be our schedule to end last season versus this season. Hard to see it turning out the same way on paper given how many tough road games we still have ahead of us, but you never know. We had our first big lucky break last night when Denver rested 4 out of its 5 starters. May be we get some other lucky breaks along the way.

I agree with Q. Last season's team had a pretty favorable schedule over the last 26 games. In contrast, this season's schedule was set up for early success and simply blew their opportunity.

Mark my words the numerous losses to the bottom dwellers is going to come back to haunt this team.

KiwiMatt wrote:Mark my words the numerous losses to the bottom dwellers is going to come back to haunt this team.

Absolutely right, Matt!

Yeah it's a harder schedule but on the other hand...IF....the Wolves were to get fully healthy this roster is arguably more talented than last season's group. That's a big if and of course just inserting Towns if healthy could make the team drop a couple games because they have to get him integrated and he would have rust to knock off. They also need other guys to stay healthy which isn't a given either.

Meanwhile even without Towns if they could stay healthy having McLaughlin back (and hopefully staying healthy) is a pretty big boast. What he does is something that could really help this team. Maybe he even helps a guy like Nowell even if that means fewer minutes for Nowell. Of course a guy that might pair well with McLaughlin offensively is Matt Ryan.

monsterpile wrote:Yeah it's a harder schedule but on the other hand...IF....the Wolves were to get fully healthy this roster is arguably more talented than last season's group. That's a big if and of course just inserting Towns if healthy could make the team drop a couple games because they have to get him integrated and he would have rust to knock off. They also need other guys to stay healthy which isn't a given either.

Meanwhile even without Towns if they could stay healthy having McLaughlin back (and hopefully staying healthy) is a pretty big boast. What he does is something that could really help this team. Maybe he even helps a guy like Nowell even if that means fewer minutes for Nowell. Of course a guy that might pair well with McLaughlin offensively is Matt Ryan.

Yes, health is a big IF. But if healthy, I see this team with the addition of Gobert and SloMo and the progress of Jaden and Ant as far more talented than last year's squad, not arguably. Now, if 30% 3-point shooting KAT is what he is going to continue to be, then we could struggle when he returns. But there is a large body of evidence that suggests he is much more likely to return to the 40% KAT he has been his entire career. And if he does, this team is going to be very good.

KiwiMatt wrote:Mark my words the numerous losses to the bottom dwellers is going to come back to haunt this team.

As I've said before, even the great teams lose some of these games where they just don't have the energy or focus. So I can accept a really bad loss here and there. But not 7 or 8 of them! We should be 5 or 6 games over .500 right now which would give us some nice buffer with this tough schedule coming up. Now we risk dipping below .500 again.

9 home games left.
17 road games left.




The team is 20 - 12 at home.
And 9 - 15 on the road.

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The Wolves have 11 games left vs. teams with winning records. The Wolves are 3 - 8 on the road vs. teams with winning records so far.*



* They beat CLE without Mitchell and Allen. PHI without Harden and Harris. NOP without Zion and with Ingram limited in minutes in his first game back from extended injury.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:9 home games left.
17 road games left.




The team is 20 - 12 at home.
And 9 - 15 on the road.

________________________________

The Wolves have 11 games left vs. teams with winning records. The Wolves are 3 - 8 on the road vs. teams with winning records so far.*



* They beat CLE without Mitchell and Allen. PHI without Harden and Harris. NOP without Zion and with Ingram limited in minutes in his first game back from extended injury.

Who was Minnesota playing without? Or does that not factor into the equation?