Minnesota Sports Forum

How do you think this season would have played out if KAT never missed a game but everyone else stayed healthy or hurt. Same trades, etc....

Now I think KAT missing time has been great for Ant and Jaden to force them to pick up slack. Ant taking the lead role as scorer and leader. Also good for Naz to get more minutes and show what he can do, gain more experience. So there has been some positives to missing KAT as well.

Use your best guess how things would have played out.

I had the Wolves at 53 wins in the preseason wins thread, and I currently have them at 43. I'm subtracting 2 wins to account for more transitional issues for KAT at PF than I would have anticipated. That gets me to 8 additional wins had KAT not missed most of the season. KAT is an elite 3-point shooter, and I'm assuming he would not have continues to shoot them at 30%. Adding his shooting excellence beyond the arc would have (an will) opened up the paint even more for Ant and Rudy (and we already have been elite in points in the paint). I think 8 more wins would have been an easy achievement based on what KAT brings.

And I agree that KAT's absence has been a positive for our young guys' development, and that's good for the future. I still would have preferred the 12 extra wins!

FNG wrote:I had the Wolves at 53 wins in the preseason wins thread, and I currently have them at 43. I'm subtracting 2 wins to account for more transitional issues for KAT at PF than I would have anticipated. That gets me to 8 additional wins had KAT not missed most of the season. KAT is an elite 3-point shooter, and I'm assuming he would not have continues to shoot them at 30%. Adding his shooting excellence beyond the arc would have (an will) opened up the paint even more for Ant and Rudy (and we already have been elite in points in the paint). I think 8 more wins would have been an easy achievement based on what KAT brings.

And I agree that KAT's absence has been a positive for our young guys' development, and that's good for the future. I still would have preferred the 12 extra wins!

I have my doubts about KAT being that important to wins and losses. He is a great player I am just not as optimistic about it. I voted 4 more wins since he went out. You have to remember his defense is a liability compared to others, maybe an upgrade on Naz to be sure, but others not so much. KAT at the 4 is a slight downgrade on defense compared to say Slo-Mo. Compared to Naz solid upgrade on both ends.

I appreciate your optimism for sure. I'm thinking 4 more wins would be it. Actually I was between 3-4. lol

WolvesFan21 wrote:

FNG wrote:I had the Wolves at 53 wins in the preseason wins thread, and I currently have them at 43. I'm subtracting 2 wins to account for more transitional issues for KAT at PF than I would have anticipated. That gets me to 8 additional wins had KAT not missed most of the season. KAT is an elite 3-point shooter, and I'm assuming he would not have continues to shoot them at 30%. Adding his shooting excellence beyond the arc would have (an will) opened up the paint even more for Ant and Rudy (and we already have been elite in points in the paint). I think 8 more wins would have been an easy achievement based on what KAT brings.

And I agree that KAT's absence has been a positive for our young guys' development, and that's good for the future. I still would have preferred the 12 extra wins!

I have my doubts about KAT being that important to wins and losses. He is a great player I am just not as optimistic about it. I voted 4 more wins since he went out. You have to remember his defense is a liability compared to others, maybe an upgrade on Naz to be sure, but others not so much. KAT at the 4 is a slight downgrade on defense compared to say Slo-Mo. Compared to Naz solid upgrade on both ends.

I appreciate your optimism for sure. I'm thinking 4 more wins would be it. Actually I was between 3-4. lol

I like SloMo on defense better than KAT also, but I also saw a big improvement in KAT defending the perimeter last season, and of course SloMo doesn't provide the spacing KAT does. KAT would have been on Embiid last night not allowing open jumpers and letting Rudy stay inside for rim protection. I also love what SloMo brings to our second unit, so KAT's absence has been a big negative for our bench.

So many stars missed significant time last season, and I noted how much of a boost the teams got when their star(s) returned (Memphis and Ja being one notable exception), so I don't know that my 8 wins guess is out of line. A team's chances of winning skyrocket when its stars are healthy. We'll have a better idea when (or if) he returns!

FNG wrote:

WolvesFan21 wrote:

FNG wrote:I had the Wolves at 53 wins in the preseason wins thread, and I currently have them at 43. I'm subtracting 2 wins to account for more transitional issues for KAT at PF than I would have anticipated. That gets me to 8 additional wins had KAT not missed most of the season. KAT is an elite 3-point shooter, and I'm assuming he would not have continues to shoot them at 30%. Adding his shooting excellence beyond the arc would have (an will) opened up the paint even more for Ant and Rudy (and we already have been elite in points in the paint). I think 8 more wins would have been an easy achievement based on what KAT brings.

And I agree that KAT's absence has been a positive for our young guys' development, and that's good for the future. I still would have preferred the 12 extra wins!

I have my doubts about KAT being that important to wins and losses. He is a great player I am just not as optimistic about it. I voted 4 more wins since he went out. You have to remember his defense is a liability compared to others, maybe an upgrade on Naz to be sure, but others not so much. KAT at the 4 is a slight downgrade on defense compared to say Slo-Mo. Compared to Naz solid upgrade on both ends.

I appreciate your optimism for sure. I'm thinking 4 more wins would be it. Actually I was between 3-4. lol

I like SloMo on defense better than KAT also, but I also saw a big improvement in KAT defending the perimeter last season, and of course SloMo doesn't provide the spacing KAT does. KAT would have been on Embiid last night not allowing open jumpers and letting Rudy stay inside for rim protection. I also love what SloMo brings to our second unit, so KAT's absence has been a big negative for our bench.

So many stars missed significant time last season, and I noted how much of a boost the teams got when their star(s) returned (Memphis and Ja being one notable exception), so I don't know that my 8 wins guess is out of line. A team's chances of winning skyrocket when its stars are healthy. We'll have a better idea when (or if) he returns!

It might not be. I certainly could be off for sure! That's the fun part of the debate. Hopefully we will see when if they get back to full strength.

***crosses fingers***

I will say 3 more wins. KAT has never had a huge impact on winning, so I don't see any reason to think he would have this year. I like VORP, but not as far as KAT is concerned.

5 or 6. I initially predicted 49 wins for the year. I could see us getting to 43 wins.

I said 5

It's such a tough question to answer because of his injury it threw Ant and McDaniels into the fire and we're better off for it. Also if he plays I wonder if DLO is still around because of their record and not wanting to screw with it.

So final voting comes in with a mean of +4.5 wins. Pretty much right where I expected (I knew I would be on the lower end). KAT certainly isn't going to be a savior but he'll be nice to have back at the same time. Just him getting Naz minutes (no diss on Naz but he's just so bad on defense) is a nice upgrade even if he is a bit rusty.

I do think it was wise to hold him out longer then expected. It's looking like an extra month over the expected time table. We don't need him to tear an achilles from rushing back or re-injuring the calf. Get close to full strength. as much as you can without playing. Then ease back in off the bench.

I was on the lowest end (+2).

Even with that... the Wolves would have been 26 - 20 since the 10 - 11 start.

I thought I was being sorta optimistic. LOL.