Where do the Wolves end the season?

[Klomp]

Bahamas, clearly

[Jedzz]

I think it's very likely we end up with the 4th or 5th worst record barring any more major injuries.

Major injuries? Or just timely, (in)convenient injuries?

No organization knows how to soft-tank better than your beloved Timberwolves. You will see a rash of minor injuries to key guys to keep the Wolves firmly in the top 4 for two reasons:

1) 40% >>> 31%. The 5th spot drops to 31% odds of landing in the top 3. That 9% is very significant if your career in a very high-paying, lucrative, prominent position running a team is on the line. We're told Rosas is an analytics guy. He knows this...

2) The less time Towns + Russell + Beasley play together... the more Rosas can play the "But we need more time to see them play together" card. This is very important as the team waits for one #1 HR swing to pan out while simultaneously hoping for a chance at another #1 pick HR swing.


--------


Just how good are the Wolves at tanking? Let's go back into the Glen Taylor time machine and see some legendary finishes from the Wolves:

2010: Finished 1 - 23.
2011: Finished 0 - 15.
2012: Finished 1 - 13
2015: Finished 0 - 12
2017: Finished 0 - 6
2020: Finished 4 - 23
Total: Finished 6 wins - 92 losses

When the Wolves WANT to lose games at the end of seasons for more lottery balls... nobody does it better. This is only the last decade so it doesn't even include the Mark Madsen Atrocity.

Houston is on par this yr though, at least in the race for worst now. 22+ game loss streak. Ended this game against Wolves like they had to, 0-22pt run by Wolves. Have to admit, they appear to have figured out the complex stupidity it takes to pull off such dives. First it was Philly showing they could do it better. Then Warriors out of no where tried. Now Houston is coming for the Wolves annual trophy. Fend them off and keep the respect.

[Slim Tubby]

I think it's very likely we end up with the 4th or 5th worst record barring any more major injuries.

Major injuries? Or just timely, (in)convenient injuries?

No organization knows how to soft-tank better than your beloved Timberwolves. You will see a rash of minor injuries to key guys to keep the Wolves firmly in the top 4 for two reasons:

1) 40% >>> 31%. The 5th spot drops to 31% odds of landing in the top 3. That 9% is very significant if your career in a very high-paying, lucrative, prominent position running a team is on the line. We're told Rosas is an analytics guy. He knows this...

2) The less time Towns + Russell + Beasley play together... the more Rosas can play the "But we need more time to see them play together" card. This is very important as the team waits for one #1 HR swing to pan out while simultaneously hoping for a chance at another #1 pick HR swing.


--------


Just how good are the Wolves at tanking? Let's go back into the Glen Taylor time machine and see some legendary finishes from the Wolves:

2010: Finished 1 - 23.
2011: Finished 0 - 15.
2012: Finished 1 - 13
2015: Finished 0 - 12
2017: Finished 0 - 6
2020: Finished 4 - 23
Total: Finished 6 wins - 92 losses

When the Wolves WANT to lose games at the end of seasons for more lottery balls... nobody does it better. This is only the last decade so it doesn't even include the Mark Madsen Atrocity.

Shouldn’t we receive some kind of award for Best Tanking Team? Our Trophy Case is a little bare and could use a centerpiece.


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[ChiefKeith91]

What’s the ideal FGA of our best players once everyone returns?

KAT - 20
DLo- 18
Beas-16
Edwards- 15
Juancho-12

Nowell, McDaniels, Reid: 5-8 each


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[_AIJ_]

What’s the ideal FGA of our best players once everyone returns?

KAT - 20
DLo- 18
Beas-16
Edwards- 15
Juancho-12

Nowell, McDaniels, Reid: 5-8 each


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

15 for edwards seems about right with 3-5 3 pt attempts

[ChiefKeith91]

What’s the ideal FGA of our best players once everyone returns?

KAT - 20
DLo- 18
Beas-16
Edwards- 15
Juancho-12

Nowell, McDaniels, Reid: 5-8 each


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

15 for edwards seems about right with 3-5 3 pt attempts

Agreed. He’s already shown he’s about volume but he should only shoot 5 3’s if they are catch and shoot


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[Sugarless]

So how does everybody feel about the deadline and the future of this team now, after two embarrasing games (cause that's what Friday's game was as well, some people just got fooled by Houston throwing away a 16 point lead in the 4th) against the lowly Rockets?

Maybe Russell coming back will solve the non-existent defense and the lack of movement on offense. Or he may put pressure on the rim instead of jacking up 3-pointers and long 2s.

At least Rossas is happy, cause he "didn't make a trade just to make a trade".

[Klomp]

So how does everybody feel about the deadline and the future of this team now, after two embarrasing games (cause that's what Friday's game was as well, some people just got fooled by Houston throwing away a 16 point lead in the 4th) against the lowly Rockets?

My opinion really hasn't changed that much. I don't ebb and flow like I'm bipolar.

This team is what it is. A young roster that is still developing. They have core pieces with a solid potential, but still have things to work on. It's far from a finished product.

[MN7725]

What’s the ideal FGA of our best players once everyone returns?

KAT - 20
DLo- 18
Beas-16
Edwards- 15
Juancho-12

Nowell, McDaniels, Reid: 5-8 each


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Wolves are at 91 FGA/game, which is one the highest in league with their pace, your distribution is over that

I think KAT will lose out despite Finch's talk about getting him the ball more

teams load up on him and Russell, Beasley, Edwards are trigger happy

Russell-16
Beasley-16
Edwards- 15
KAT- 13

that's 60 FGA of the 91 FGA right there with four players

[Sugarless]

So how does everybody feel about the deadline and the future of this team now, after two embarrasing games (cause that's what Friday's game was as well, some people just got fooled by Houston throwing away a 16 point lead in the 4th) against the lowly Rockets?

My opinion really hasn't changed that much. I don't ebb and flow like I'm bipolar.

This team is what it is. A young roster that is still developing. They have core pieces with a solid potential, but still have things to work on. It's far from a finished product.

This is certainly a finished product. It's the product that Rossas intented to put on the floor when he made every draft choice and every move since he got the POBO position nearly two years ago, especially the ones he made since the 2020 trade deadline. It's the product he intended to put on the floor when he amassed a bunch of guards and no real front-court contributors. The one he chose when he refused to use the 15th roster spot and decided not to make any moves during the season or at the deadline. The product he chose when he hired his guy Chris Finch just a few hours after firing Saunders.

The problem is the product is crap, but it is finished.

The Russell - Edwards - Beasley - Towns Timberwolves are what they are. As long as that's the core of this team the Wolves will remain a bottom feeder. Trading for a PF and letting a couple of bench players go won't change that. Rossas can try to send Russell and Edwards / Beasley packing next summer and go a different route, but then he'll be building a different product. We'll see if that ever happens, and what kind of job he does with yet another rebuild.

[Worm Guts]

I’m not sure why that would change my mind about the deadline. The season was lost before Friday and there’s wasn’t any reason to make a move to try and save it. You can blame Rosas for how terrible the team is, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to wait until the offseason to try and fix it.

[Sugarless]

I’m not sure why that would change my mind about the deadline. The season was lost before Friday and there’s wasn’t any reason to make a move to try and save it. You can blame Rosas for how terrible the team is, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to wait until the offseason to try and fix it.

You don't make moves to save a season when you're in this situation (year after year after year). You make moves to build for the future, to teach good habits and create a winning culture, and you don't need to wait any number of months to do that.

Why would you even do it? Why would you postpone showing guys like KAT and Edwards -who you expect to be your cornerstones- what the right way to play is, both individually and as a team? What exactly are you achieving by continuing to play selfish, effortless, embarrasing basketball? And what would you lose by starting to build something mid-season? Did you also wait to fire the coach, or did you bring a new one just a few weeks ago? Do you quit when you're down 30 in the third quarter, or do you want your guys to try their best until the end even if the game is out of reach, so next time they can learn what to do from the start and not find themselves in the same situation?

[Klomp]

So how does everybody feel about the deadline and the future of this team now, after two embarrasing games (cause that's what Friday's game was as well, some people just got fooled by Houston throwing away a 16 point lead in the 4th) against the lowly Rockets?

My opinion really hasn't changed that much. I don't ebb and flow like I'm bipolar.

This team is what it is. A young roster that is still developing. They have core pieces with a solid potential, but still have things to work on. It's far from a finished product.

This is certainly a finished product. It's the product that Rossas intented to put on the floor when he made every draft choice and every move since he got the POBO position nearly two years ago, especially the ones he made since the 2020 trade deadline. It's the product he intended to put on the floor when he amassed a bunch of guards and no real front-court contributors. The one he chose when he refused to use the 15th roster spot and decided not to make any moves during the season or at the deadline. The product he chose when he hired his guy Chris Finch just a few hours after firing Saunders.

The problem is the product is crap, but it is finished.

The Russell - Edwards - Beasley - Towns Timberwolves are what they are. As long as that's the core of this team the Wolves will remain a bottom feeder. Trading for a PF and letting a couple of bench players go won't change that. Rossas can try to send Russell and Edwards / Beasley packing next summer and go a different route, but then he'll be building a different product. We'll see if that ever happens, and what kind of job he does with yet another rebuild.

Gotcha, a roster filled with 20-24 year olds has zero hope for improvement. Once you are over the hill at 20, your career is basically over and there's no hope of getting better.

[Sugarless]

My opinion really hasn't changed that much. I don't ebb and flow like I'm bipolar.

This team is what it is. A young roster that is still developing. They have core pieces with a solid potential, but still have things to work on. It's far from a finished product.

This is certainly a finished product. It's the product that Rossas intented to put on the floor when he made every draft choice and every move since he got the POBO position nearly two years ago, especially the ones he made since the 2020 trade deadline. It's the product he intended to put on the floor when he amassed a bunch of guards and no real front-court contributors. The one he chose when he refused to use the 15th roster spot and decided not to make any moves during the season or at the deadline. The product he chose when he hired his guy Chris Finch just a few hours after firing Saunders.

The problem is the product is crap, but it is finished.

The Russell - Edwards - Beasley - Towns Timberwolves are what they are. As long as that's the core of this team the Wolves will remain a bottom feeder. Trading for a PF and letting a couple of bench players go won't change that. Rossas can try to send Russell and Edwards / Beasley packing next summer and go a different route, but then he'll be building a different product. We'll see if that ever happens, and what kind of job he does with yet another rebuild.

Gotcha, a roster filled with 20-24 year olds has zero hope for improvement. Once you are over the hill at 20, your career is basically over and there's no hope of getting better.

I'd tell you to come back with something better and save your weak reductio ad absurdum fallacies for the newbies, Klomp, but that's usually all you've got.

[Worm Guts]

I’m not sure why that would change my mind about the deadline. The season was lost before Friday and there’s wasn’t any reason to make a move to try and save it. You can blame Rosas for how terrible the team is, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to wait until the offseason to try and fix it.

You don't make moves to save a season when you're in this situation (year after year after year). You make moves to build for the future, to teach good habits and create a winning culture, and you don't need to wait any number of months to do that.

Why would you even do it? Why would you postpone showing guys like KAT and Edwards -who you expect to be your cornerstones- what the right way to play is, both individually and as a team? What exactly are you achieving by continuing to play selfish, effortless, embarrasing basketball? And what would you lose by starting to build something mid-season? Did you also wait to fire the coach, or did you bring a new one just a few weeks ago? Do you quit when you're down 30 in the third quarter, or do you want your guys to try their best until the end even if the game is out of reach, so next time they can learn what to do from the start and not find themselves in the same situation?

What does that even mean though? It’s easy to make the criticism, but it’s harder to fix. I suppose you can give away value in the name of changing the culture, but I don’t think that leads to improvement.
We’ve flipped over the roster and we’ve changed coaches. The truth is that the easiest way for this team to add talent is through the draft. Making changes for the sake of making changes doesn’t fix anything.

[Klomp]

I'd tell you to come back with something better and save your weak reductio ad absurdum fallacies for the newbies, Klomp, but that's usually all you've got.

When you say things like "this is a finished product," that's usually reserved for teams over the hill with no hope for internal improvement. That's far from what we have here, not to mention the fact that we haven't even seen the team with its full collection of talent available since we started 2-0.

[LesGrossman]

My opinion really hasn't changed that much. I don't ebb and flow like I'm bipolar.

This team is what it is. A young roster that is still developing. They have core pieces with a solid potential, but still have things to work on. It's far from a finished product.

This is certainly a finished product. It's the product that Rossas intented to put on the floor when he made every draft choice and every move since he got the POBO position nearly two years ago, especially the ones he made since the 2020 trade deadline. It's the product he intended to put on the floor when he amassed a bunch of guards and no real front-court contributors. The one he chose when he refused to use the 15th roster spot and decided not to make any moves during the season or at the deadline. The product he chose when he hired his guy Chris Finch just a few hours after firing Saunders.

The problem is the product is crap, but it is finished.

The Russell - Edwards - Beasley - Towns Timberwolves are what they are. As long as that's the core of this team the Wolves will remain a bottom feeder. Trading for a PF and letting a couple of bench players go won't change that. Rossas can try to send Russell and Edwards / Beasley packing next summer and go a different route, but then he'll be building a different product. We'll see if that ever happens, and what kind of job he does with yet another rebuild.

Gotcha, a roster filled with 20-24 year olds has zero hope for improvement. Once you are over the hill at 20, your career is basically over and there's no hope of getting better.

They can also get worse.

[RiRuHoops]

a rusty russel back in the starting lineup with keep the team at dead last spot. look what rusty beas did last game and he wasn't even injured.

[Klomp]

This is certainly a finished product. It's the product that Rossas intented to put on the floor when he made every draft choice and every move since he got the POBO position nearly two years ago, especially the ones he made since the 2020 trade deadline. It's the product he intended to put on the floor when he amassed a bunch of guards and no real front-court contributors. The one he chose when he refused to use the 15th roster spot and decided not to make any moves during the season or at the deadline. The product he chose when he hired his guy Chris Finch just a few hours after firing Saunders.

The problem is the product is crap, but it is finished.

The Russell - Edwards - Beasley - Towns Timberwolves are what they are. As long as that's the core of this team the Wolves will remain a bottom feeder. Trading for a PF and letting a couple of bench players go won't change that. Rossas can try to send Russell and Edwards / Beasley packing next summer and go a different route, but then he'll be building a different product. We'll see if that ever happens, and what kind of job he does with yet another rebuild.

Gotcha, a roster filled with 20-24 year olds has zero hope for improvement. Once you are over the hill at 20, your career is basically over and there's no hope of getting better.

They can also get worse.

Not possible. Finished product. It is impossible for them to change. What they are today forever they shall be, thus declareth Sugarless.

[Sugarless]

Gotcha, a roster filled with 20-24 year olds has zero hope for improvement. Once you are over the hill at 20, your career is basically over and there's no hope of getting better.

They can also get worse.

Not possible. Finished product. It is impossible for them to change. What they are today forever they shall be, thus declareth Sugarless.

Nah, Les is right. A finished product can always malfunction, and even break. We have a few more weeks to see if this one does.