West power ranking, do the Wolves have a shot of the playoffs?

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

1. Spurs

No brainer here

2. Thunder

Anthony Marrow the most underrated signing here. Guy shot 45% from 3 and now gets to pretty much shoot wide open 3's all day playing next to Durant,Ibaka, and Westbrook? Forget about it. Also lost Fisher which is a plus

3. Clippers

Weird team. Didn't really improve or get worse. Probably the best team in the league who has no shot of winning the title. Bubble might bust in a year or two.

4. Warriors

Probably are going to have to max out Klay after this year. I don't think they really got that much better as opposed as other teams taking a step back.

5. Griz

Underrated team. Killed by injuries early on, then killed it the rest of the year. Good coach, solid roster.

6. Mavs

I liked their moves. Sure they over payed for Parsons but it's only 3 years. He's better then Vince and Chandler should be better too.

7. Rockets

Struck out big in the offseason. Still good enough for the playoffs though

8. Portland

I think a bit of a one season wonder. Still enough talent to make the playoffs, but won't be a cakewalk.

9. Pelicans

One year away. They'll be in the next year

10. Suns

Also will come back to earth

11. Kings

Too bad they don't play in the east

12. Denver

Ditto

13. Wolves

Assuming the trade goes through, the Wolves just won't have enough offense to compete next year. No real go to threat in the 4th.

14. Lakers

Yea they are bad, Laker fans will kill themselves.

15. Jazz

Come back in 3 years

[kekgeek]

To answer your question I do not believe that the wolves can make the playoffs, but if we acquire, young/wiggins/bennett and are able to keep martin and brewer I think we will compete for the last spot for 3/4th of the season and then tail of in the end. Overall I don't think the wolves will be that bad, we get better depth and defense. We lose a hell of a player in love, but now I think we acquire better players off the dribble in Lavine and Young. With that said here are my rankings.

1. Spurs
Like you said no brainer

2. Thunder
With that said if Westbrook or Durant misses more than a month at anytime I think they might not make the Playoffs, I have always thought they are overrated with the relience on Durant and Westbrook (two really special players)

3. Clippers
Like there team, Never been a fan of Blake but he is starting to take the next step into elite player and if he does they could make the finals, also got the most underrated signing of the offseason in Hawes

4. Mavs
Second best coach in the game, added a good player in Chandler and Parsons (they have a three year window with Dirk don't mind the overpaying here). Also Dirk is still amazing, need better PG play though/ I think the loss of Claderon will hurt think he is really underrated., but like the signing of Jameer

5. Portland
Lillard is a superstar in the making, overall good team like them a lot.

6. Griz
Not sexy, but they get the job done and I expect them to do it again
7. Rockets
Still have two top 12 players in the NBA, should be enough to get them in the Playoffs
8. Warriors
Most overrated team in the NBA by far, ESPN loves them because of their high powered offense, but when it matters they are not a good defensive team. To many injury concerns with Curry, Lee and Bogut. Don't like their depth either.
9. Pelicans
One year away, I could see them making the playoffs if Ryan Anderson can stay healthy, what is a big if. So much individual talent on this team, but can they coexist together. Also Davis is just getting better and Asik will help a lot.
10. Wolves
Honestly, I don't think they are that bad, (assuming they get Young), Pek and Martin need to keep healthy. A lot of it is what is Lavine and Wiggins and Bennets immediate impact, can they come in and be a top 3 player on the wolves right away (not expecting it but possible for this season)

11. Suns
I love watching them, but still think it was a one hit wonder, we will see.
12. Denver
Got some good pieces, just not good enough to make the playoffs IMO
13. Kings
Weird combination of talent, not a fan
14. Lakers
Would be last if Kobe barley plays
15. Jazz
Yep


If the wolves were in the east I think they make the Playoffs, with the CLE, Chi, Wash, Tor, Cha, ATL, Mia being better, think they are better than NYK and Nets, Pacers and Detriot

[mnhoops [enjin:11017401]]

Without Love and unproven players being our main addition I would say we are challenging the Kings and Utah at the bottom of the Western Conference. I'd say that is our starting point with the Nuggets and Hornets being catchable with some consistent play out of a couple young players.

We are most likely going to have nights were we look like a top notch team but more often than not we see the struggles of young players in the NBA finding some consistency on a nightly basis.

[60WinTim]

kekgeek -- if the Wolves are fortunate enough to still be fighting for the playoffs 3/4s of the way through the season, I like their chances, because our young core should only get better as they gain experience throughout the season.

[Coolbreeze44]

I will enjoy this season much more than another season with Love that ends up in 10th place, no matter where we finish.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I couldn't have said it better, cool. Alex has done a good job of analyzing the West, and the Wolves are going to have to really overachieve this year to battle for the playoffs, given the inexperience that Flip is going to be turning to every night. But it sure will be fun watching. And if some of the new talent makes some big contributions early, we're going to have some lively game threads next year. Heck, we may even see the return of the 2 plus 1 :thumb: .

The one thing I got a kick out of Alex's comment that the Wolves will have no go to threat in the 4th quarter this year. Just who was that go to threat last year...JJ?

[Coolbreeze44]

I couldn't have said it better, cool. Alex has done a good job of analyzing the West, and the Wolves are going to have to really overachieve this year to battle for the playoffs, given the inexperience that Flip is going to be turning to every night. But it sure will be fun watching. And if some of the new talent makes some big contributions early, we're going to have some lively game threads next year. Heck, we may even see the return of the 2 plus 1 :thumb: .

The one thing I got a kick out of Alex's comment that the Wolves will have no go to threat in the 4th quarter this year. Just who was that go to threat last year...JJ?

The 2 Plus 1 is not retired, and can be brought back any time. As long as we have good participation I will take the time to do it.

[TheGrey08]

The 2 Plus 1 is not retired, and can be brought back any time. As long as we have good participation I will take the time to do it.

It'll be a fun season and I should catch more games this year and be more active since I'm about to be flying solo. We deserve a fun exciting season loaded with potential.

[Monster]

A sign of how good the West is is where the Nuggets are ranked and they actually have a lot of talent. They added Afflalo so if somehow they stay relatively healthy they could be a team that makes a playoff run. That healthy part is a big if but yeah.

I don't get the Kings. They have some talent but let Thomas go with no resistance when he signed a very reasonable deal with the Suns to be a backup. They may make the strangest moves of any team the last 3 years imo.

[TAFKASP]

I don't get the Kings. They have some talent but let Thomas go with no resistance when he signed a very reasonable deal with the Suns to be a backup. They may make the strangest moves of any team the last 3 years imo.

The Kings are an interesting mess. Over the past five years or so they've been just as pathetic as the Wolves on the court. Yet unlike the Wolves they appeared to make better draft decisions that ended up working out no better for them than guys like Mr. Smiles Johnson did for the Wolves.