Minnesota Sports Forum

Minnesota is 1-4 in their last five games with losses against Memphis, Washington, Charlotte, and a depleted Golden State team. Their sole win came against Dallas, and they came very close to blowing that one too.

They have the following 19 games remaining.

2/28. at Los Angeles (C)
3/03. at Los Angeles (L)
3/04. at Sacramento*
3/07. vs. Philadelphia
3/10. vs. Brooklyn
3/13. at Atlanta
3/15. vs. Boston
3/17. at Chicago
3/18. at Toronto*
3/20. at New York
3/22. vs. Atlanta
3/26. at Golden State
3/27. at Sacramento*
3/29. at Phoenix
3/31. vs. Los Angeles (L)
4/02. vs. Portland
4/04. at Brooklyn
4/08. at San Antonio
4/09. vs. New Orleans*

o 12 road games
o 7 home games
o 4 back-to-backs*
o 3rd-toughest strength of schedule remaining

The Timberwolves haven't been mathematically eliminated [yet], but the season is over. I don't expect Karl-Anthony Towns to return, and if he does it will be far too late. I see something like a 6-13 finish to the season -- barring unforeseen circumstances such as load management from an opponent -- resulting in a final record around 37-45 (.451) and no play-in tournament.

What say you?

I'm sticking with my prediction from like a week ago. This team has kept fluttering around .500 all year and I think they'll do the same to end the year. And that .500 prediction includes KAT coming back for roughly half of the remaining schedule.

I've removed any hope of making the playoffs outside of a play in win. My only remaining hope is that they get on a streak run with KAT right at the end of the year and into the playoffs. In the meantime...I see Spring Training games have started - so I'm ready to switch gears anytime.

I was excited about an NCAA tourney thread...

I predicted 40 wins just a few days ago. But based on what we've seen since then... I'm stealing Cam's thunder. 37 wins sounds right.

This team is going to stumble and bumble its way across the finish line.

I don't think they drop out of the play in tournament. I think they win that game last night with Gobert in. TP will be back, I think we will continue to stay competitive in games.
40-42 win the play in games, lose to Denver in round 1.

My spreadsheet tracks all the teams in contention 3-13, and gives each team a win in every game I expect them to be favored. I've been doing this for 10 days and haven't been wrong about the Vehas favorite yet (that streak won't hold up...key injuries will change some of the outcomes in future games) but the Wolves have been the worst performers in games I expected them to win.

Having said all that, my spreadsheet has them at 40 wins and a 10th place finish resulting in a play in game at GS. But based on how KAT looks when I see him at Target Center, I'm assuming he comes back for the Philly game or shortly after (if he doesn't return, we're more likely to be at 37 or 38 wins and out of the playoffs...but I think he's coming back). Several posters here will be on suicide watch after we lose to Phoenix to bring our record to 35-42, but I see us winning our final 5 games of the season and entering the play in tournament on a hot streak. I may not be as confident as Doper though about winning 2 road play in games...winning road games at (according to my schedule) Golden State and against the Lakers is a tall order if both teams are healthy.