2022-23 Western Conference Predictions.

[Lipoli390]

So far, NBA predictions have the Wolves finishing 6th or 7th with 48-50 wins. In my view a 6th or 7th finish that would be a big disappointment given where the Wolves finished last season and what they gave up for Gobert this summer.

Of the two predictions below, I think the ChatSports one more accurately reflects where the Wolves end up. Assuming no serious injury issues, the Wolves should absolutely get at least 50 wins and finish ahead of the Mavs. Yes, Luka is great and adding Christian Wood is a plus. Also having Hardaway Jr. back helps. But Brunson's departure is a big loss for a team that won 52 games in a conference that will be even better overall next season.

The Nuggets won 48 games without Murray or Porter last season. With both those guys back, the Nuggets should win well over 50 games. The Clippers will be up there as well with Kawhi back, Paul George healthy and the additions they made this summer. However, the Jazz will fall to the bottom third of the conference. While the Grizzlies and Suns will be good, I think they both overachieved last season and will backslide a bit next season.

Bleacher Report:
1. Suns 52
2. Warriors 52
3. Denver 52
4. Clippers 51
5. Dallas 50
6. Grizzlies 50
7. Wolves 48
8. Pelicans 45
9. Lakers 44
10. Blazers 38
11. Kings 37
12. Jazz 29
13. Rockets 19
14. OKC 18
15. Spurs 16

ChatSports
1. Warriors 55
2. Grizzlies 55
3. Clippers 52
4. Nuggets 52
5. Suns 51
6. Wolves 50
7. Blazers 49
8. Mavs 48
9. Pelicans 48
10. Lakers 45
11. Kings 35
12. Spurs 30
13. Jazz 30
14. OKC 27
15. Rockets 22

[Monster]

In these predictions the Wolves are 4-5 games out of the 1st seed. The spread of win totals from a high seed to the 9 or 10th spot isn't a big gap. There are a lot of good teams assuming relative health for everyone. There will be at least one team that drops significantly because of injuries. Hopefully it isn't the Wolves. I mean if the Pelicans actually stay healthy and kinda click they could be a pretty good team.

[Lipoli390]

If Gobert was truly worth what the Wolves gave up to get him and what they'll pay him, then the Wolves should finish no lower than 4th and should probably end up finishing 1st or 2nd in the Conference. They should also at least get to the Western Conference finals. Let's compare the top seven players on each of the top teams in the West:

Warriors: Curry, Thompson, Green, Wiggins, Looney, Poole, (JaMychal Green, Kuminga or Wiseman)
Nuggets: Jokic, Jamal Murray, Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Bones Hyland, KCP, Bruce Brown,
Clippers: Kawhi, Paul George, Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Jon Wall
Grizzlies: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Tyus Jones, Brandon Clarke, Adams
Suns: Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Mika's Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, Shamet
Mavs: Luka, Dinwiddie, Hardaway Jr., Finey-Smith, Christian Wood, Reggie Bullock, (Kleber or Powell)
Wolves: Edwards, KAT, Gobert, DLO, McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, (Nowell or Prince)

If you were picking a team for next season and you could choose one of these team's top 7 I've listed, which team's top seven would you choose in order of preference. That's the exercise I went though to figure out where I think the Wolves should end up in the West next season. I'd probably take the Clippers top 7 as my first pick. I think they have the best top three along with a strong remaining four, especially if Jon Wall is anything remotely close to what he used to be. I'd probably take the Warriors top 7 next. Curry and Jokic are the best players I've listed. Thompson should be even better as he is further removed from his surgery. Wiggins and Looney both appear to have turned the corner in their respective careers. Poole is really good and getting better. The Nuggets top 7 would be my next pick, mainly on the strength of their top five. Jokic single-handily led the Nuggets to 48 wins last season. Adding back both Murray and Porter definitely makes the Nuggets one of the teams to beat in the West. Aaron Gordon is very good and Bones Hyland is a scoring assassin.

I'd take the Wolves top seven over the Grizzlies or Mavs. The Mavs have the best player in Luka, but I think the Wolves have the better top five. It's a very close call between the Wolves and Suns. I think the Wolves have the better top 3, but the Suns have the better 4-7 in my view unless McDaniels takes a big leap forward. I think the Wolves are one of the weakest among these teams at 6 and 7.

That's why I expect the Wolves to finish 4th or 5th.

Note that the Warriors' roster is also loaded with some intriguing young talent other than Poole, including Wiseman, Kuminga, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Ryan Rollins, Trevion Williams, Mac McClung and Moses Moody. The Grizzlies also have a number of intriguing talented young guys, including Aldama who looked fantastic in Summer League, Kennedy Chandler, David Roddy, Zaire Williams, and Jake LaRavia.

Note also, that none of the other 6 teams has depleted their draft stock as much as the Wolves. Denver comes closest having traded their 2023, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks, but all those picks are protected.

[Coolbreeze44]

Oh boy, I was terrible at this before last season, but I'll give it a shot. And yes, if the Wolves don't finish in the top 4, it would be a big disappointment given the assets we sent out. Here we go:

1) Denver
2) Golden State
3) Minnesota
4) LA Clippers
5) Phoenix
6) Memphis
7) Dallas
8 LA Lakers
9) New Orleans
10) Portland
11) Sacramento
12) San Antonio
13) OKC
14) Utah
15) Houston

[Phenom]

Realgm radio did a Northwest division preview with David Locke (Jazz) and Adam Mares (Nuggets). It was a good listen and 2 things stood out to me. First there was good discussion about how the Wolves should punish teams on the offensive glass and why they believe that. Secondly, Locke stated his formula for calculating the standings and it has to do with seeing which teams can put out 240 "NBA" minutes per game. He says the Wolves are the only team in the division that he is convinced has 240 minutes across 5 positions and for that reason has them above Denver. His "formula" makes some sense in general.

I personally see the Wolves going gangbusters this season. The Clippers and Warriors will surely let rest get in the way of going full out all season. Phx is somewhat questionable with Aytons mindset and their bench guards. Memphis will have to deal with JJJs absence for a while and Denver has some ironing to do to incorporate Murray and Porter back in. I think the top seed is definitely within reach and top 2 is likely. Could the Wolves be top 5 in both offensive rating and defensive rating like Phoenix last season? I see a path to that. I believe Gobert, Towns and Edwards are all going to have monster seasons and think DLo is going to play very well in their midst.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

1. Suns
2. Clippers
3. Warriors
4. Timberwolves
5. Nuggets
6. Grizzlies
7. Mavericks
8. Pelicans
9. Lakers
10. Kings
11. Blazers
12. Jazz
13. Thunder
14. Spurs
15. Rockets

[thedoper]

1. Warriors
2.Clippers
3. Nuggets
4. Grizzlies
5. Wolves
6. Suns
7. Mavs
8. Lakers
9. Blazers
10. Pelicans
11. Kings
12. OKC
13. Rockets
14. Jazz
15. Spurs

Man the West is tough

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Memphis didn't make any significant additions while losing Kyle Anderson and De'Anthony Melton from their rotation, and Jaren Jackson Jr. probably won't be back until January.

I do not see them being better than Minnesota this season and I think they will slide more in the standings than any other team outside of Utah.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Also, what's the reasoning for thinking Phoenix is going to fall that far, if at all? They essentially have the same group as last year including depth. Even if you think they overachieved en route to 64 wins (and eight games above the second seed) they're still probably a 55-win team on paper.

[AbeVigodaLive]

1. Suns
2. Clippers
3. Nuggets
4. Wolves
5. Grizzlies
6. Warriors
7. Blazers
8. Pelicans
9. Mavs
10. Lakers
11. Kings
12. Thunder
13. Rockets
14. Jazz
15. Spurs

I'm pretty confident (barring injuries) about the first three... and the last five. But I have NO CLUE about #4 - #10 and only put the Wolves 1st and Lakers last because of bias. (I hate the lakers)