21 Games left

[Carlos Danger]

This forum is dead - what the hell is going on? We have 21 games left. How many wins will it take to get into the play offs? And what is your prediction for the remaining schedule? Can they do it?

My prediction: They will continue on their roughly .500 pace. I think they go 11-10 and finish the year at 42-40. If they make the playoffs this year, they will have to win the play in game.

What are others thinking?

[AbeVigodaLive]

40 - 42.

And they'll try to convince us that sneaking in the play-in (on a tiebreaker) is not one of the biggest disappointments of the NBA season.

[rapsuperstar31]

Looking at the schedule I'm thinking 13-8 the rest of the way end up at 44-38 finishing either 6th or 7th...hopefully 6th. Hoping Kat plays the last dozen games of the season, so he is ready to go all out in the playoffs.

[KiwiMatt]

6th seed should be the goal, but we've simply dropped to many 'should win' games, that will come back to haunt us.

Lets just hope we don't match up against GSW in the play ins if it goes down that way.

[Monster]

Idk about anyone else but I'm on All-star break taking time for me like all the NBA players do. I gotta rest my body for the stretch run and possible playoffs. Sorry that I've been doing load management games this season.

[thedoper]

Tough schedule remaining but this team keeps bouncing back. Anything 12 wins or beyond with the remaining schedule would be a good end to the season from what this team has put out there so far. I think the prediction of 11 wins put out there by Carlos seems optimistic yet fair. Looks like play in again with us ending up at the 7th or 8th seed.

[Lipoli390]

40 - 42.

And they'll try to convince us that sneaking in the play-in (on a tiebreaker) is not one of the biggest disappointments of the NBA season.

That's my thought as well. Spin over substance - the sign of a seriously flawed and ultimately unsuccessful organization.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Going 8-13 looks likely right now given the uncertainty of Karl-Anthony Towns' return, which would put them at 39-43 for the season. That obviously wouldn't be good enough to secure a top-six seed and could leave them outside of the play-in tournament spelling disaster.

I could also see them winning as many as 13 games if Towns is closer to returning than projected and is really good almost immediately. This team as currently assembled without Towns doesn't have enough offensive firepower nor did they improve enough defensively (or at all, potentially) to make up for it. They were getting by on the backs of a talented backcourt duo that is no longer there to save them, especially late in fourth quarters. They desperately need another scorer to emerge that can take pressure off of Anthony Edwards until Towns gets back, and I don't see one on the roster.

[mjs34]

I think Cam's number is realistic, but I think that should already account for an earlier KAT return. Any hiccups and they miss the play-in. What scares me most is Ant's extension negotiation if we miss the PO's altogether.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I think Cam's number is realistic, but I think that should already account for an earlier KAT return. Any hiccups and they miss the play-in. What scares me most is Ant's extension negotiation if we miss the PO's altogether.

Bill Simmons has a spotty reputation, obviously, but he's been talking about the first big up-and-coming star to reject the rookie extension as an inevitability... eventually.

I don't think that's going to be Edwards (based on what we've seen from him). But if it's going to happen... I can't think of a finer organization for it to happen to other than the Timberwolves.

The organization seems perfect for establishing some dubious precedents.