2022-2023 Timberwolves Predictions (standings/stats/roles)

[winforlose]

After the last pre-season game vs BKN, it doesn't look promising. The game seems to emphasize all the stuff that people say doesn't work. There was a video of Town running around not sure who to guard. Gobert missed more free throws than Deandre Jordan. We may and should eventually figures it out. After all, it may be as little as 18 mins that Town and Gobert play together. It's going to cost a few games in the process.

They literally had 1 on-court practice with the two of them before that game. Did you really expect perfect execution?

STOP!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!! LETTING THE FACTS GET IN YHE WAY OF A GOOD STORY!!! OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

[winforlose]

Read on Twitter

I love his confidence

Doesn’t take confidence to tell the truth. Just balls.

[winforlose]

Watch on YouTube

[KGdaBom]

Read on Twitter

I love his confidence

After the last pre-season game vs BKN, it doesn't look promising. The game seems to emphasize all the stuff that people say doesn't work. There was a video of Town running around not sure who to guard. Gobert missed more free throws than Deandre Jordan. We may and should eventually figures it out. After all, it may be as little as 18 mins that Town and Gobert play together. It's going to cost a few games in the process.

No it's not.

[Dosadi]

51 wins
4th in West

[winforlose]

51 wins
4th in West

After much soul searching, I have decided to accept this prediction… as the worst case scenario for a healthy season

[NebWolvesFan]

Prediction 50-32
Fourth Seed
Defeat Phoenix in Round One
Lose to Clippers in seven games in Round 2

At deadline
Timberwolves trade Prince for Monte Morris
Timberwolves trade Reid and McLaughlin to Hornets for Kai Jones and Denver's 2023 lottery protected first round pick.
Russell and Nowell both leave via free agency in summer even though Twolves beat writers swear Minnesota had the best offer on the table.

[shrink]

Prediction 50-32
Fourth Seed
Defeat Phoenix in Round One
Lose to Clippers in seven games in Round 2

At deadline
Timberwolves trade Prince for Monte Morris
Timberwolves trade Reid and McLaughlin to Hornets for Kai Jones and Denver's 2023 lottery protected first round pick.
Russell and Nowell both leave via free agency in summer even though Twolves beat writers swear Minnesota had the best offer on the table.

I really like that you come in and take extra swings, Neb! Keep it up!

[Colbinii]

54 wins, 2nd in West

[Colbinii]

I love his confidence

After the last pre-season game vs BKN, it doesn't look promising. The game seems to emphasize all the stuff that people say doesn't work. There was a video of Town running around not sure who to guard. Gobert missed more free throws than Deandre Jordan. We may and should eventually figures it out. After all, it may be as little as 18 mins that Town and Gobert play together. It's going to cost a few games in the process.

No it's not.

Correct. Look at our schedule to start.

OKC
UTA
OKC
SA
SA
LAL
SA

We should be 6-1 at worst to start. Thats 3 teams vying for a Bottom 3 record.

[Nick K]

54 wins, 2nd in West

Yep. That's it. Sticking my neck out 54 wins is my minimum. It wouldn't surprise me if we won 60. I think we for sure get into the 2nd round. If we get to the WCF's that wouldn't surprise me either.

We are now super talented with 3 all-star type players. We are much more veteran than last year and we are far deeper than we were last year. This is the best looking Wolves roster I've ever seen and I've seen them all. Those things warrant the optimism IMO.

It's a far cry from Pooh, Sidney, Sam, Randy B, Tony C. Tyrone and Doug W. etc.

[KGdaBom]

After the last pre-season game vs BKN, it doesn't look promising. The game seems to emphasize all the stuff that people say doesn't work. There was a video of Town running around not sure who to guard. Gobert missed more free throws than Deandre Jordan. We may and should eventually figures it out. After all, it may be as little as 18 mins that Town and Gobert play together. It's going to cost a few games in the process.

No it's not.

Correct. Look at our schedule to start.

OKC
UTA
OKC
SA
SA
LAL
SA

We should be 6-1 at worst to start. Thats 3 teams vying for a Bottom 3 record.

We'd almost have to try to lose to lose any one of the games against OKC, Utah and SA. Lakers are nothing special and we've kind of owned them lately.

[Colbinii]

No it's not.

Correct. Look at our schedule to start.

OKC
UTA
OKC
SA
SA
LAL
SA

We should be 6-1 at worst to start. Thats 3 teams vying for a Bottom 3 record.

We'd almost have to try to lose to lose any one of the games against OKC, Utah and SA. Lakers are nothing special and we've kind of owned them lately.

Ywah I can see a Beverley game though. Very easily 7-0.

[KGdaBom]

Correct. Look at our schedule to start.

OKC
UTA
OKC
SA
SA
LAL
SA

We should be 6-1 at worst to start. Thats 3 teams vying for a Bottom 3 record.

We'd almost have to try to lose to lose any one of the games against OKC, Utah and SA. Lakers are nothing special and we've kind of owned them lately.

Ywah I can see a Beverley game though. Very easily 7-0.

**** happens. We will likely lose one game out of that 7. I'm OK with 6-1, I wouldn't be panic stricken with 5-2, but I'm hopeful of 7-0.

[Klomp]

OKC getting SGA back will be a lot more interesting. I wouldn't rule out a split there.

[winforlose]

OKC getting SGA back will be a lot more interesting. I wouldn't rule out a split there.

SGA is the perfect example of where the new Wolves have a major advantage over the old Wolves. Rudy will keep SGA diminished in the paint. SGA isn’t likely to beat us by pulling a 8 for 15 or 16 from deep (he is a career 34.8% 3 point shooter who you could bump to around 36% if you want to include recent growth.) In fact, OKC doesn’t seem to stacked with 3 point shooters at all right now (unless I am missing something?) So they will take a ton of midrange and hit a lower percentage. We use the size differential to out rebound them. Moreover, on offense we get a lot of great looks inside because they cannot guard KAT with Poku, and they cannot pull JRE from Rudy. Ant and Dlo will feast, MCD will get open corner 3s and close outs, and Rudy and KAT will get great looks from the chaos that results. Not to mention offensive rebounding and put backs. We should win by 25-30. But we will pull our starters and they will make it closer to 12-15.

[KGdaBom]

OKC getting SGA back will be a lot more interesting. I wouldn't rule out a split there.

I'm ruling it out. That would totally suck to lose a game to them.

[KGdaBom]

OKC getting SGA back will be a lot more interesting. I wouldn't rule out a split there.

SGA is the perfect example of where the new Wolves have a major advantage over the old Wolves. Rudy will keep SGA diminished in the paint. SGA isn’t likely to beat us by pulling a 8 for 15 or 16 from deep (he is a career 34.8% 3 point shooter who you could bump to around 36% if you want to include recent growth.) In fact, OKC doesn’t seem to stacked with 3 point shooters at all right now (unless I am missing something?) So they will take a ton of midrange and hit a lower percentage. We use the size differential to out rebound them. Moreover, on offense we get a lot of great looks inside because they cannot guard KAT with Poku, and they cannot pull JRE from Rudy. Ant and Dlo will feast, MCD will get open corner 3s and close outs, and Rudy and KAT will get great looks from the chaos that results. Not to mention offensive rebounding and put backs. We should win by 25-30. But we will pull our starters and they will make it closer to 12-15.

As long as it's 11 or more. I've got a bet on the Wolves giving 10.5.

[winforlose]

OKC getting SGA back will be a lot more interesting. I wouldn't rule out a split there.

SGA is the perfect example of where the new Wolves have a major advantage over the old Wolves. Rudy will keep SGA diminished in the paint. SGA isn’t likely to beat us by pulling a 8 for 15 or 16 from deep (he is a career 34.8% 3 point shooter who you could bump to around 36% if you want to include recent growth.) In fact, OKC doesn’t seem to stacked with 3 point shooters at all right now (unless I am missing something?) So they will take a ton of midrange and hit a lower percentage. We use the size differential to out rebound them. Moreover, on offense we get a lot of great looks inside because they cannot guard KAT with Poku, and they cannot pull JRE from Rudy. Ant and Dlo will feast, MCD will get open corner 3s and close outs, and Rudy and KAT will get great looks from the chaos that results. Not to mention offensive rebounding and put backs. We should win by 25-30. But we will pull our starters and they will make it closer to 12-15.

As long as it's 11 or more. I've got a bet on the Wolves giving 10.5.

My advice, contact Finch and make it very clear that you will not tolerate any point shaving tomorrow night. He needs to play his starters just long enough to make damn sure we win by more than 10.5. That ought to take care of it

[shrink]

Tanking teams don’t start out tanking on Day One. Even with Victor Wembanyama out there, even the bottom teams go out trying to win, as do the individual players. OKC, for example, won so many games early in the season, that they’ve had to bench their best players in the second half, a couple times now.

Our team certainly has more talent, a better, veteran bench, and should be favored to win. But no one should be shocked to lose any of these games, at this time of the season.