Minnesota Sports Forum

Minnesota Timberwolves PR: Minnesota @Minnesota Timberwolves Status Report in advance of tomorrow's game at Denver: QUESTIONABLE Edwards - Left Hip Soreness Gobert - Right Groin Soreness Prince - Left Ankle Sprain OUT McLaughlin - Left Calf Strain Towns - Right Calf Strain - via Twitter Twolves_PR

Not looking good for our Wolves. This team should have made hay when they were fully healthy. Every NBA team struggles through periods with injuries. The Wolves had a period when all their key players were healthy before KAT went down. But even with KAT's injury, the Wolves have been very fortunate so far this season in that four of their five starters, including their most talented player, have played in the vast majority of the team's games. No doubt, they've missed KAT and JMac. And Prince has missed a lot of games, which has hurt. But as the injuries start piling up now near mid-season, things are looking a bit grim. I haven't heard anything recently about the timing of KAT's return, but now would be a good time for him to come back. I see one more window of opportunity when KAT returns to make a push and secure a top 5 position in the West. In the meantime, I'd keep Edwards out of the Denver game. They need to give him some time for that hip to heal.

Speaking of Prince, it's time to come to terms with the fact that he can't stay on the court. I'm a huge Taurean Prince fan. I love his game and the way he carries himself. He's talented and still only 28 years old. But his in inability to stay healthy is a big problem for this team. It may be time to start envisioning a team without him in spite of all the positives he brings to this team in the locker room and on the court when he's playing. The problem is that he's not playing nearly enough because he can't stay healthy enough to play.

Lip to me Prince has value even if he misses 20-30 games a year. I think that's part of why his salary is lower. The issue isn't so much that he is an injury risk it's that there isn't a guy behind him that's able to step in. This offseason the Wolves need to address that in adding a player that can help more. In theory they have some young players on the roster that may help if they develop but it would be nice to have another more establish SF type. Obviously he wouldn't have actually solved the problem but Jake Layman could have been somewhat useful at times...but I'm glad the Wolves have other guys on the roster instead of him.

Meanwhile despite all the injuries the wolves have had they are right at .500 and have been playing better overall basketball recently while being right in the playoff hunt. It's not what many envisioned going into the season but I feel more positive over about where this team will end up this season now than I did a couple weeks ago. Just get into the playoffs and hopefully healthy and see what happens.

monsterpile wrote:

Meanwhile despite all the injuries the wolves have had they are right at .500 and have been playing better overall basketball recently while being right in the playoff hunt. It's not what many envisioned going into the season but I feel more positive over about where this team will end up this season now than I did a couple weeks ago. Just get into the playoffs and hopefully healthy and see what happens.

That's exactly what the Clippers, Warriors, Portland, Suns and Lakers are saying, too.

With Towns still out for an extended period (and McLaughlin on a lesser note)... when does all this middling and mediocrity become too little too late?

I'd put the Suns, Clippers and Warriors firmly ahead of the Wolves when all teams are healthy. And at least two of them will be closer to full strength before the Timberwolves.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

Meanwhile despite all the injuries the wolves have had they are right at .500 and have been playing better overall basketball recently while being right in the playoff hunt. It's not what many envisioned going into the season but I feel more positive over about where this team will end up this season now than I did a couple weeks ago. Just get into the playoffs and hopefully healthy and see what happens.

That's exactly what the Clippers, Warriors, Portland, Suns and Lakers are saying, too.

With Towns still out for an extended period (and McLaughlin on a lesser note)... when does all this middling and mediocrity become too little too late?

I'd put the Suns, Clippers and Warriors firmly ahead of the Wolves when all teams are healthy. And at least two of them will be closer to full strength before the Timberwolves.

Excellent points

What we don't know is whether the Wolves start clicking at some point whether with Towns back or not. I'm not just being a homer saying it's possible that it happens it's something that happens with a few teams every year. The Wolves have talent and like I said in general they have been trending towards playing better basketball overall. The next 10 or so games will be telling. Meanwhile there will be more injuries to other teams in the playoff race. Will those injuries include the Wolves? Can they or other teams overcome them? Stay tuned.

Is anyone still working under the impression that the Clippers will operate as a healthy unit? I think that ship has sailed. Austin Rivers had a quote recently that Dane Moore was talking about. The gist was players should play when they are able or their body starts to adapt to not being able to handle the load of playing. Sort of the idea that a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Kawhi and Co get too much benefit of doubt IMO.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Is anyone still working under the impression that the Clippers will operate as a healthy unit? I think that ship has sailed. Austin Rivers had a quote recently that Dane Moore was talking about. The gist was players should play when they are able or their body starts to adapt to not being able to handle the load of playing. Sort of the idea that a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Kawhi and Co get too much benefit of doubt IMO.

All they need to do is get into the playoffs healthy and they will be a big threat. They are 13-7 whenever Kawhi plays and he has been ramping up lately.

Q-was-here wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Is anyone still working under the impression that the Clippers will operate as a healthy unit? I think that ship has sailed. Austin Rivers had a quote recently that Dane Moore was talking about. The gist was players should play when they are able or their body starts to adapt to not being able to handle the load of playing. Sort of the idea that a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Kawhi and Co get too much benefit of doubt IMO.

All they need to do is get into the playoffs healthy and they will be a big threat. They are 13-7 whenever Kawhi plays and he has been ramping up lately.

I guess I just feel they need to prove it as much as anyone else. Their IF will just be an IF until it isn't.

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:

Q-was-here wrote:

Phenom's_Revenge wrote:Is anyone still working under the impression that the Clippers will operate as a healthy unit? I think that ship has sailed. Austin Rivers had a quote recently that Dane Moore was talking about. The gist was players should play when they are able or their body starts to adapt to not being able to handle the load of playing. Sort of the idea that a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Kawhi and Co get too much benefit of doubt IMO.

All they need to do is get into the playoffs healthy and they will be a big threat. They are 13-7 whenever Kawhi plays and he has been ramping up lately.

I guess I just feel they need to prove it as much as anyone else. Their IF will just be an IF until it isn't.

Agreed.

My point is that all those teams might be better than the Wolves... yet unluckier with injuries so far.

And all are projected to have their key players back before the wolves.

I'm assuming this is the GDT.

Gobert now officially out, and the line has moved to 10...first double digit deficit line of the season.

What I want to see tonight is...hmmm...I guess nothing. I think I'll sit this one out and hope for some healthy bodies tomorrow night against Toronto.