***OFFICIAL 2017-2018 WINS PREDICTION THREAD***

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Well boys, if I'm not mistaken, pre-season kicks off tomorrow. That kinda snuck up on us didn't it? That's because the NBA is starting the regular season earlier than normal, so everything moves up in terms of timing including the ***OFFICIAL 2017-2018 WINS PREDICTION THREAD***.

So put your golf clubs away - it's a maddening game to begin with; forget Fantasy Football as the machines have taken over all decision making anyway; and prepare to be crushed by another Twins loss to the Yankees. And the Vikings? Have we learned nothing after 57 years!?

It's time to turn your hopes and dreams to our beloved Wolves, who once again have set us up for an awesome opportunity to be terribly disappointed by the yoke of high expectations.

So come out, come out from where ever you have been hiding and tell us your wins prediction along with a justification for it.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Here was last year's wins prediction tally:

Actual Wins: 31
Bleed - 38
Big O, Pork - 39
Volans - 40
Kekgeek - 41
Abe, Shumway - 42
Q, Monster, D'Natagal - 43
Drew, Mr. Brightside, Mikkeman, Khans - 44
Future, Crazysauce, tpoff217, apollotsg, TheGrey - 45
Doper, Kiwi, Maelstrom - 46
Jerry, Mstermisty, Lipoli, TXviking - 47
TeamRicky, LST - 48
Cool - 49
SP - 50
Worldk - 51
Phenom - 54
Tim - 60

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

...and here was the 2015-16 wins prediction tally:

Actual Wins: 29
Wildwolf - 23 (Caveat: Took in 6 out of 7 pre-season games prior to prediction)
Abe - 25 (revised down to 18 after 6 pre-season games)
Q - 26
Lip - 26 (revised down to 23 after 6 pre-season games)
Volans - 27
Kekgeek1 - 27
Kiwi - 28
Cool - 31
Alex - 31
Khans - 32 (revised down to 26 after 6 pre-season games)
Monster - 33 (revised down to 29 )
Mstermisty - 35
Mikkeman - 35
Cam - 35
Bleed - 1 (revised up to 3 wins)
Bayou Wolf - 36
LST - 36
Lloyd - 38
Big O - 38
SJM - 41
Rubioooooooooo - 43
Doper - 44
Maelstrom11 - 46
Tim - 48

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I will get us started and predict that this team wins 42 games and misses the playoffs.

Yes, they will be better, but unfortunately it's all relative to the competition and the West has only gotten better. I also believe we have been extremely lucky with injuries the last couple of years. That won't continue and I foresee one or two key guys missing significant time.

[Coolbreeze44]

I'll check in with 48 wins

[TAFKASP]

I'm sticking with 50 wins and will do so until 50 wins is the correct answer. I guess this post should cover me for the next decade of disappointment!

[Phenom]

Hurry up Tim

[Monster]

I'll got with 45 wins which is likely enough to make the playoffs. I think they could easily win more games than that but it's the first number that popped into my head so I am gonna go with it.

The west is even more top heavy than it was last year and I think the Wolves could end up in that tier below the contenders possibly by themselves. How good will the other teams looking to make the playoffs be? A few got worse with the Nuggets getting better basically swapping Millsap for Galo. It will be an interesting season. Making these predictions are fun/maddening because there are so many factors both known and unknown that goes into what ultimately decides the outcome.

Also: I don't think I have to pick between the Wolves and following all these other sports although I gave up fantasy football last year. I guess Q must still be in on the Lynx he didn't mention them. :)

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

I vote 55

[Big O [enjin:13874644]]

38 or 39 since I am not any more optimistic than past two years. I'm not a believer in Wiggins (should have traded him not Zach), hate the Rubio for Teague swap and do not like the geriatric signings. Put me down for 38.