Comparing the Bottom 8
Comparing the Bottom 8
It's interesting to look at how the Wolves stack up against the other 7 teams competing for the 8th playoff seed in the West. We're currently 6th among the 8 teams with only the Suns and Mavs having worse won/loss records. But interestingly, we are #1 in point differential with the smallest differential (1.1) among the bottom 8. We are also 2nd in points allowed and 5th in total points. These stats are a big reason why I'm fairly optimistic about the 2nd half of the season. As bad as we've been, particularly defensively, so far this season, we're not as overmatched by opponents as the other 7 bottom-feeders and we've allowed fewer points than all but one of them. The one thing this team is built to do is score so I have to believe our PPG will increase. Eventually, we should reach a tipping point where our blend of offense and defense will be reflected more in our record.
Re: Comparing the Bottom 8
We're the best of the worst. 13th pick here we come.
-
Q12543 [enjin:6621299]
- Posts: 13844
- Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:00 am
Re: Comparing the Bottom 8
Yeah, this has been the trend most of the season. Even before our recent "hot streak" of going 7-8 over the last 15 games, our point differential was among the least negative of any team below .500. When you have consistent double-digit victories, but then blow nearly every close game, that's what happens.
-
Wile E Coyote [enjin:17432808]
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2016 12:00 am
Re: Comparing the Bottom 8
One thing that tells me we are more competitive than our record is the flow of the games.
In years where the Wolves had a terrible roster, the normal flow was the team would get blown out in the first and second quarter. Then in the third they would make some sort of push and get a tie or small lead. Then the other team would wake up and put the Wolves away in the fourth.
This year the Wolves play well and build a lead in the first half. Then in the third and/or fourth they often blow it. Some of that may be the other team 'waking up', but I suspect it is more about the Wolves relaxing too much with a lead and then getting/playing nervous when it disappears.
In years where the Wolves had a terrible roster, the normal flow was the team would get blown out in the first and second quarter. Then in the third they would make some sort of push and get a tie or small lead. Then the other team would wake up and put the Wolves away in the fourth.
This year the Wolves play well and build a lead in the first half. Then in the third and/or fourth they often blow it. Some of that may be the other team 'waking up', but I suspect it is more about the Wolves relaxing too much with a lead and then getting/playing nervous when it disappears.
-
Coolbreeze44
- Posts: 13192
- Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:00 am
Re: Comparing the Bottom 8
I've spoken about the thin line between winning and losing for this team. The point differential stats kind of bear that out. We should at least feel somewhat optimistic about a much better record going forward. It would actually be kind of hard to continue at our current pace given our talent and natural maturation.
Re: Comparing the Bottom 8
CoolBreeze44 wrote:It would actually be kind of hard to continue at our current pace given our talent and natural maturation.
"If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly."
- G.K. Chesterton
Re: Comparing the Bottom 8
What bugs me a bit about this conversation is that various people whether fans or media say the Wolves have the most talent of all these teams. I kinda disagree. Ultimately the Wolves with wiggins Towns and now Lavine probably have the most high end talent plus some other nice pieces but these guys aren't remotely fully realized yet.
Compare that to a team like Denver who when healthy has 3 legit vets in Gallo Chandler and Fariid who have started a bunch of games in their career and their backup is Jameer Nelson a legit starter most of his career and even though he is older he is playing well this year statistically. The Wolves don't even have a player on their roster of Nelson's ilk and Dunn a rookie is the Wolves backup. The Nuggets have more depth and experience and Malone has had some solid success as a coach.
Every team of these 8 has at least 1 legit NBA starter that's been in the league for quite a few seasons playing for them. Portland doesn't really have one of those guys but Lilliard as a younger player has pretty much arrived and McCollum is pretty legit also and that roster is pretty deep with young talent. I just don't think the talent gap is very different...at this point because of the youth and inexperience of the Wolves roster espcially who plays.
I think the stats that have been laid out show how the Wolves can be the best of this group and that's encouraging but I think people should have a bit of a reality check when comparing to these other teams. I'm not saying people shouldn't be optimistic just that the teams they are going against have their own positives.
Ironically the team out of this group that's been maybe the most disappointing is the other young roster of Portland. The Wolves have the potential up and down the roster of being much better than they are but at this point several guys haven't proved it. Guys like Bazz, Rubio and now a couple games like Rush have stepped up and Towns seems to be rounding into form.
A lot of these teams could come together and go on a run. They all have some shot at doing so for various factors. I said that before the season started and not much has changed every team still has a shot although some do seem more likely to make a run than others. In a couple weeks a team or teams could pretty much be out of it. Hopefully the Wolves help that happen by winning against those teams not dropping themselves. Go Wolves separate themselves from these other teams.
Compare that to a team like Denver who when healthy has 3 legit vets in Gallo Chandler and Fariid who have started a bunch of games in their career and their backup is Jameer Nelson a legit starter most of his career and even though he is older he is playing well this year statistically. The Wolves don't even have a player on their roster of Nelson's ilk and Dunn a rookie is the Wolves backup. The Nuggets have more depth and experience and Malone has had some solid success as a coach.
Every team of these 8 has at least 1 legit NBA starter that's been in the league for quite a few seasons playing for them. Portland doesn't really have one of those guys but Lilliard as a younger player has pretty much arrived and McCollum is pretty legit also and that roster is pretty deep with young talent. I just don't think the talent gap is very different...at this point because of the youth and inexperience of the Wolves roster espcially who plays.
I think the stats that have been laid out show how the Wolves can be the best of this group and that's encouraging but I think people should have a bit of a reality check when comparing to these other teams. I'm not saying people shouldn't be optimistic just that the teams they are going against have their own positives.
Ironically the team out of this group that's been maybe the most disappointing is the other young roster of Portland. The Wolves have the potential up and down the roster of being much better than they are but at this point several guys haven't proved it. Guys like Bazz, Rubio and now a couple games like Rush have stepped up and Towns seems to be rounding into form.
A lot of these teams could come together and go on a run. They all have some shot at doing so for various factors. I said that before the season started and not much has changed every team still has a shot although some do seem more likely to make a run than others. In a couple weeks a team or teams could pretty much be out of it. Hopefully the Wolves help that happen by winning against those teams not dropping themselves. Go Wolves separate themselves from these other teams.