Reality check for some...

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/sportsbooks-draftkings-fanduel-expect-minnesota-timberwolves-to-take-giant-step-back-next-season/

For those who think we're now a perennial 46 win team (or better) as constructed, this might be a huge reality check for you. Like I said previously in other threads, we were probably a 38-40 win team last year, but we played in a conference that got hammered by injuries, while we had pretty good health. Well, Vegas and the sports books seem to agree with me. They have us finishing 10th in the west next season as currently constructed. Obviously you're entitled to your opinion, but it's pretty hard to argue with a prediction that we'll finish somewhere in the 8-10 range next year. So again, we AIN'T a perennial 46 win team now, and when we win 40 games next year I don't wanna hear about how we regressed. If we win 40 games next year (assuming equal health for all teams), we might have actually improved. Im as excited as anyone about the future of this team, but I just think we need to lower the bar a bit still.

[BloopOracle]

I agree that we are blessed with quite a few games where the other team had major injuries, but we are also something like the 7th youngest team in all professional sports. I'm going to bank on internal growth to keep us in that 46 or more range!

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

I agree that we are blessed with quite a few games where the other team had major injuries, but we are also something like the 7th youngest team in all professional sports. I'm going to bank on internal growth to keep us in that 46 or more range!

I like your optimism, but I just don't see it as the likely outcome. I think a significant improvement from both Ant and jaden probably gets us there, but I honestly don't see Kat or Dlo improving at all and our next best player, Beverly, is only going to decline now.

[Q-is-here]

I agree that if we just run it back, we could see some regression. I guess the question is whether we still see a strong core group coming together and does Ant continue his ascent?

I always go back to the journey the Bucks went on:
2013-14 - Giannis's rookie year and Middleton's 2nd year - Win 15 games
2014-15 - Win 41 games and lost in the 1st round. Alright, the ascent begins!
2015-16 - Win 33 games and miss the playoffs. Pppppffffffffttttt.
2016-17 - Win 42 games and lost in the 1st round.
2017-18 - Win 44 games and lose in the 1st round
2018-19 - Ding! Ding! Ding! Breakout year - win 60 games and lose in the ECF

I mean, they kind of wallowed in mediocrity there for four seasons after making a huge leap from 15 wins to 41 wins and making the playoffs. And then they stalled out for a while. In the meantime, they kept trying different guys around Middleton and Giannis. The only other player on the roster besides those two from their 2014-15 season that was still on the roster in 2018-19 was Ersan Ilyasova.

[Q-is-here]

BTW, I'm not suggesting we run it back. I'd definitely like to see us add more size and toughness in the frontcourt. But I won't be shocked if we win 40 games next season either, as may be the injury bug hits us and other teams stay more healthy.

[D-Mac [enjin:19736340]]

I agree that if we just run it back, we could see some regression. I guess the question is whether we still see a strong core group coming together and does Ant continue his ascent?

I always go back to the journey the Bucks went on:
2013-14 - Giannis's rookie year and Middleton's 2nd year - Win 15 games
2014-15 - Win 41 games and lost in the 1st round. Alright, the ascent begins!
2015-16 - Win 33 games and miss the playoffs. Pppppffffffffttttt.
2016-17 - Win 42 games and lost in the 1st round.
2017-18 - Win 44 games and lose in the 1st round
2018-19 - Ding! Ding! Ding! Breakout year - win 60 games and lose in the ECF

I mean, they kind of wallowed in mediocrity there for four seasons after making a huge leap from 15 wins to 41 wins and making the playoffs. And then they stalled out for a while. In the meantime, they kept trying different guys around Middleton and Giannis. The only other player on the roster besides those two from their 2014-15 season that was still on the roster in 2018-19 was Ersan Ilyasova.

It's a good comparison I think. Kind of makes me realize that I'm more of a bucks fan than I thought... a little disappointed Middleton was out as I think the bucks could've beat the warriors. Yeah, I think we need to keep trying different guys around kat and ant and not to harp on Dlo, but I think it's time for the next round of supporting cast tryouts

[Leado01]

I'm willing to put money right now on a +.500 season.

We've got a solid core with ANT, KAT, and most likely DLO is still with is next year (and if he's not, this administration isn't going to make a stupid move). I'd put Beasley in our core as well, but there's a possibility they move him.

We've got an interesting few developing players with McDaniels and Vanderbilt (Nowell might be in thay category as well).

It would be great to see Bolmaro take a big leap in the off-season.

Jordan McLaughlin and Naz Reid are both situational players.

Prince and Beverly are good rotation players that provide identity.

I don't see the doom and gloom. I see sunshine and growth!!!!

[Q-is-here]

I agree that if we just run it back, we could see some regression. I guess the question is whether we still see a strong core group coming together and does Ant continue his ascent?

I always go back to the journey the Bucks went on:
2013-14 - Giannis's rookie year and Middleton's 2nd year - Win 15 games
2014-15 - Win 41 games and lost in the 1st round. Alright, the ascent begins!
2015-16 - Win 33 games and miss the playoffs. Pppppffffffffttttt.
2016-17 - Win 42 games and lost in the 1st round.
2017-18 - Win 44 games and lose in the 1st round
2018-19 - Ding! Ding! Ding! Breakout year - win 60 games and lose in the ECF

I mean, they kind of wallowed in mediocrity there for four seasons after making a huge leap from 15 wins to 41 wins and making the playoffs. And then they stalled out for a while. In the meantime, they kept trying different guys around Middleton and Giannis. The only other player on the roster besides those two from their 2014-15 season that was still on the roster in 2018-19 was Ersan Ilyasova.

It's a good comparison I think. Kind of makes me realize that I'm more of a bucks fan than I thought... a little disappointed Middleton was out as I think the bucks could've beat the warriors. Yeah, I think we need to keep trying different guys around kat and ant and not to harp on Dlo, but I think it's time for the next round of supporting cast tryouts

Well, we don't have to replace everyone at once. And we haven't even stagnated yet! May be we will, may be we won't. We know for sure we need more size and toughness along the front line. Let's start there.

[Q-is-here]

I'm willing to put money right now on a +.500 season.

We've got a solid core with ANT, KAT, and most likely DLO is still with is next year (and if he's not, this administration isn't going to make a stupid move). I'd put Beasley in our core as well, but there's a possibility they move him.

We've got an interesting few developing players with McDaniels and Vanderbilt (Nowell might be in thay category as well).

It would be great to see Bolmaro take a big leap in the off-season.

Jordan McLaughlin and Naz Reid are both situational players.

Prince and Beverly are good rotation players that provide identity.

I don't see the doom and gloom. I see sunshine and growth!!!!

But it is a bit daunting when you think about a Clippers squad getting Kawhi back and a Denver squad getting Porter Jr. and Murray back. And Dallas certainly didn't hurt themselves acquiring Christian Wood and then you have the emergence of the Pelicans. Damn, the West is always so damn tough!

[Lipoli390]

I think Connelly was trying to tell us something when he said at his intro press conference that an NBA team's progression towards contention isn't necessarily linear. What he was obviously telling us is that we can't expect the Wolves to go from 46 wins last season to 50 next. It doesn't typically work that way, especially for a young team like the Wolves still developing and searching for an identity. Included in Connelly's observation is that the Wolves could easily take a step back and win 40 games next season.

The keys are whether Edwards continues to progress towards his star-level ability and whether KAT continues to play at an all-star level with continued incremental improvement as we saw from him last season. Secondarily, the development of McDaniels and Nowell will also be important. Who the Wolves are able to sign to upgrade the starting big position next to KAT will also be a significant factor. The Wolves should be a better team simply through the natural progression of young players like Edwards, McDaniels, Nowell and potentially Bolmaro.

I predicted 46 wins this past season. The other teams in the West are getting better. So without any significant additions to the roster, I will probably predict fewer than 46 wins next season. Not sure where I'll land. So yes, this team has a long way to go. But the question is whether they are moving in the right direction. I think they are.