Minnesota Sports Forum

First off, I really expected the Wolves to have been out of it by this point. I thought this brutal stretch after the all-star break would SURELY be the nail in the coffin. Instead there was yet another plot twist to this bizarre season: the Wolves have found an edge, started playing defense, and finally are looking like the team we all hoped to see, if not an even better version.

It's been nice. For the first time since early in the season I'm feeling really excited about the team's future. Next year is going to be good.

That said, there is still this season's slim playoff hopes to consider, and in my opinion they have one more gauntlet to run to have a legit shot, and that gauntlet is the next 3 games:

Home against the red hot Wizards, then on the road against the Celtics who are moving into the elite category, and then on the road against the Heat who somehow have gone 21-5 since starting 11-30. The bottom line is this: if they can find a way to win 2 out of these 3, and at worst not lose ground to Denver and maybe gain some, then the next 8 games there is a chance to make a move:

@ Pels
vs Spurs
@ Lakers
@ Blazers
@ Pacers
vs Lakers
vs Kings
vs Blazers

While it won't be easy, there is a chance to go 7-1 or 6-2 there. We're even due to beat the Spurs. So if they can hold the fort over the next 3 by winning at least 2, they could keep this momentum going and maybe catch Denver during that 8 game stretch. On the other hand, even losing two of the next 3 might be the end. I just don't see them recovering from 4.5 down or worse with 14 to go. 3.5 is a tall task. So basically tomorrow night's game is a must win. Win tomorrow and then steal one on the road, then those 8 subsequent games provide a chance.

It would be fun to see them make a horse race of it to the end. This man would approve:

Great post, glad to see the enthusiasm here.

But man....the word "gauntlet" is apropos. Our schedule has been brutally tough. To your point, here I think we're doing just great having won @ Utah, LAC, and Golden State, and then we get a nice tour of the Eastern Conference top dogs for our dessert!?

I agree, we need to claw and scratch our way to 2 out of 3. Hope will continue to burn brightly if we can pull it off.

17 games left.
11 on the road...

To be things in perspective... the Wolves have won 50% of its road games only 3x in 28 seasons. And they're 10 - 20 on the road this season.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:17 games left.
11 on the road...

To be things in perspective... the Wolves have won 50% of its road games only 3x in 28 seasons. And they're 10 - 20 on the road this season.

That's a good dose of reality. I'd be curious to see what their road record is the last 30 or whatever games it's been that they have been playing around .500 basketball.

I would hope the team's approach is to win baby! Obviously, we are not in a tanking position, but I see us being in a 'win-win' (pardon my play on words involving winning) situation. If we play well and make the playoffs, great! That should always be the goal. However, if we slip up a little but still play competitively and miss the playoffs, we strengthen our draft position slightly. Cannot go back and time and change the slow start. Should be an interesting final run of the season and something to look forward to for next!

kurrdog53 wrote:I would hope the team's approach is to win baby! Obviously, we are not in a tanking position, but I see us being in a 'win-win' (pardon my play on words involving winning) situation. If we play well and make the playoffs, great! That should always be the goal. However, if we slip up a little but still play competitively and miss the playoffs, we strengthen our draft position slightly. Cannot go back and time and change the slow start. Should be an interesting final run of the season and something to look forward to for next!

I hear what you are saying Kurrdog, but I consider missing the playoffs a loss, as that was my hope at the beginning of the season. And yet another 19-year old lottery pick isn't going to make a hill-of-beans worth of difference for us next year (if anything, their learning curve hurts us more than helps in Year 1).

Yes, there is no question I feel better about the team now than I did after the first two months, but we said the same thing last season didn't we? Let's go back to the wins prediction thread to see just how optimistic everyone was!

Until we make the playoffs again, every season is a disappointment. I'm just glad to be less disappointed now than I was a few months ago!

I'd just as soon not re-visit the wins prediction thread. Would not be flattering toward yours truly.

Totally agree, but like I said, we cannot turn back the clock. I am not thrilled about a 19 year old 10th pick in the draft, but I do like assets and maybe 2-3 assets packaged can get us a meaningful player. Who knows?

kurrdog53 wrote:Totally agree, but like I said, we cannot turn back the clock. I am not thrilled about a 19 year old 10th pick in the draft, but I do like assets and maybe 2-3 assets packaged can get us a meaningful player. Who knows?

Yup, agree. Would love to see us either package that pick up for a really good vet or trade down in the draft and get some guys we can develop in a more methodical way (i.e. we don't feel obligated to play them right away in the main rotation).