Playoff picture thread

[KGdaBom]

The Wolves have played most of the season without their per ESPN rankings best player, but we are still in the running for HCA in the first round of the playoffs. I take that as a win. It's up to us now what we make of it.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[moss_is_1]

Man, almost every team in the west got better at the deadline.

Clippers added some nice pieces, Eric Gordon, Plumlee, and Bones, plus might be getting more in the buyout market(WB or Bev).
Pelicans added jrich
Suns obviously get Durant.
Lakers get Dlo, Beasley, Vando
Memphis adds Kennard


At least it seems Portland and Utah got worse? Utah for sure, shipping out 3 good rotation guys for picks and Portland trades Hart and Payton III for picks/Thybulle.

[shrink]

So who’s still in the playoff race?

Spurs and Rockets are way out. Jazz look like they will rebuild too. At the deadline, POR traded a starter and key reserve in Josh Hart and a Gary Payton II, to get picks, and some younger less talented kids, so they got worse.

So that’s 11 teams competing for 10 spots. We are two games in front of the Thunder, and 3.5 in front of LAL. We are also a half game in front of GSW and tied with falling NOP. We are one game behind DAL, PHX, and LAC, for the 4th-6th seed.

But I’m not going to worry about it. At this point of the season, with only 24 games left, we just need to try to win every game we can. We’re aiming for the 6th seed, but it’s unlikely we won’t at least make the Play In. Hopefully by the end of the season, Towns is back, we’ve developed a little chemistry, and we will be a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

[TimberKat]

So who’s still in the playoff race?

Spurs and Rockets are way out. Jazz look like they will rebuild too. At the deadline, POR traded a starter and key reserve in Josh Hart and a Gary Payton II, to get picks, and some younger less talented kids, so they got worse.

So that’s 11 teams competing for 10 spots. We are two games in front of the Thunder, and 3.5 in front of LAL. We are also a half game in front of GSW and tied with falling NOP. We are one game behind DAL, PHX, and LAC, for the 4th-6th seed.

But I’m not going to worry about it. At this point of the season, with only 24 games left, we just need to try to win every game we can. We’re aiming for the 6th seed, but it’s unlikely we won’t at least make the Play In. Hopefully by the end of the season, Towns is back, we’ve developed a little chemistry, and we will be a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

[Ethomasp31]

So who’s still in the playoff race?

Spurs and Rockets are way out. Jazz look like they will rebuild too. At the deadline, POR traded a starter and key reserve in Josh Hart and a Gary Payton II, to get picks, and some younger less talented kids, so they got worse.

So that’s 11 teams competing for 10 spots. We are two games in front of the Thunder, and 3.5 in front of LAL. We are also a half game in front of GSW and tied with falling NOP. We are one game behind DAL, PHX, and LAC, for the 4th-6th seed.

But I’m not going to worry about it. At this point of the season, with only 24 games left, we just need to try to win every game we can. We’re aiming for the 6th seed, but it’s unlikely we won’t at least make the Play In. Hopefully by the end of the season, Towns is back, we’ve developed a little chemistry, and we will be a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

James isn't playing again tonight. If the Wolves go 12-12 their last 24 games the Lakers would have to go 17-9 the rest of the way to finish with the same record (42-40). I hope they miss it just so all these people would stop talking about the bleeping Lakers.

[Klomp]

I'm not worried about the Lakers passing us in the regular season. I just don't think it's realistic enough to even worry about.

They will be tough in the play-in, for sure.

[TimberKat]

So who’s still in the playoff race?

Spurs and Rockets are way out. Jazz look like they will rebuild too. At the deadline, POR traded a starter and key reserve in Josh Hart and a Gary Payton II, to get picks, and some younger less talented kids, so they got worse.

So that’s 11 teams competing for 10 spots. We are two games in front of the Thunder, and 3.5 in front of LAL. We are also a half game in front of GSW and tied with falling NOP. We are one game behind DAL, PHX, and LAC, for the 4th-6th seed.

But I’m not going to worry about it. At this point of the season, with only 24 games left, we just need to try to win every game we can. We’re aiming for the 6th seed, but it’s unlikely we won’t at least make the Play In. Hopefully by the end of the season, Towns is back, we’ve developed a little chemistry, and we will be a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

James isn't playing again tonight. If the Wolves go 12-12 their last 24 games the Lakers would have to go 17-9 the rest of the way to finish with the same record (42-40). I hope they miss it just so all these people would stop talking about the bleeping Lakers.

Yes, assume Lakers lose tonight, they will be 3 games in the losing column behind Wolves. However, Lakers' schedule is much easier something like 7 games vs non-playoff teams. Wolves only have 2 games remain vs non-playoff teams. Although some of you may feel that is an advantage. Wolves also have more road games. A winning or losing streak will make a big difference. I won't be surprised both teams end up with the 9th/10th seed.

[Ethomasp31]

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

James isn't playing again tonight. If the Wolves go 12-12 their last 24 games the Lakers would have to go 17-9 the rest of the way to finish with the same record (42-40). I hope they miss it just so all these people would stop talking about the bleeping Lakers.

Yes, assume Lakers lose tonight, they will be 3 games in the losing column behind Wolves. However, Lakers' schedule is much easier something like 7 games vs non-playoff teams. Wolves only have 2 games remain vs non-playoff teams. Although some of you may feel that is an advantage. Wolves also have more road games. A winning or losing streak will make a big difference. I won't be surprised both teams end up with the 9th/10th seed.

They have 3 games with Golden State, 2 with Memphis, 2 with Phoenix, 2 with Dallas, 2 with Minnesota...plus other games against teams fighting for the playoffs (Clippers, 2 w/ OKC, 2 w/ NO, teams out East) that will be difficult. If they lose tonight they need to go 17-9 to get to 42-40. That is going to be difficult.

[Guidus88]

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

James isn't playing again tonight. If the Wolves go 12-12 their last 24 games the Lakers would have to go 17-9 the rest of the way to finish with the same record (42-40). I hope they miss it just so all these people would stop talking about the bleeping Lakers.

Yes, assume Lakers lose tonight, they will be 3 games in the losing column behind Wolves. However, Lakers' schedule is much easier something like 7 games vs non-playoff teams. Wolves only have 2 games remain vs non-playoff teams. Although some of you may feel that is an advantage. Wolves also have more road games. A winning or losing streak will make a big difference. I won't be surprised both teams end up with the 9th/10th seed.

This is correct, but we have to bear in mind that we have to play Brooklyn twice . Although tonight win, I expect Brooklyn to fall.

[shrink]

I have heard people make a big deal about the fact that we play a harder schedule the rest of the way. That’s true, and I thought it would be an advantage to play weak teams early while we tried to get our chemistry set. It’s much better to play them late in the game, when they are trying to tank harder.

One thing I noticed is that we have played 2-4 more total games than other western opponents. Our opponents may be coming in with less rest, and maybe even back2back.

[Klomp]

One thing I noticed is that we have played 2-4 more total games than other western opponents. Our opponents may be coming in with less rest, and maybe even back2back.

I just broke things down...

We come in with MORE rest in 9 games
We come in with LESS rest in 3 games (Note: This includes first game out of all-star break)
We come in with EVEN rest in 10 games

We will have at least two full days of rest between games EIGHT times (not including the all-star break)

[Klomp]

Keep an eye on New Orleans over the next three weeks. From tonight until March 6, they play 7 of their next 8 games on the road. They are also just 9-18 on the road this season (not quite Warriors-level road incompetence, but close). They also just got the news about the Williamson setback. They could easily be the team to fall out of the race.

[Nick K]

Read on Twitter

If I can get 200 to 1 on the Wolves to win the championship I'll put one hundred bucks on that.

[KGdaBom]

So who’s still in the playoff race?

Spurs and Rockets are way out. Jazz look like they will rebuild too. At the deadline, POR traded a starter and key reserve in Josh Hart and a Gary Payton II, to get picks, and some younger less talented kids, so they got worse.

So that’s 11 teams competing for 10 spots. We are two games in front of the Thunder, and 3.5 in front of LAL. We are also a half game in front of GSW and tied with falling NOP. We are one game behind DAL, PHX, and LAC, for the 4th-6th seed.

But I’m not going to worry about it. At this point of the season, with only 24 games left, we just need to try to win every game we can. We’re aiming for the 6th seed, but it’s unlikely we won’t at least make the Play In. Hopefully by the end of the season, Towns is back, we’ve developed a little chemistry, and we will be a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

I think the Wolves will be there. It's up to the Lakers vs Portland to get that last spot.

[Ethomasp31]

So who’s still in the playoff race?

Spurs and Rockets are way out. Jazz look like they will rebuild too. At the deadline, POR traded a starter and key reserve in Josh Hart and a Gary Payton II, to get picks, and some younger less talented kids, so they got worse.

So that’s 11 teams competing for 10 spots. We are two games in front of the Thunder, and 3.5 in front of LAL. We are also a half game in front of GSW and tied with falling NOP. We are one game behind DAL, PHX, and LAC, for the 4th-6th seed.

But I’m not going to worry about it. At this point of the season, with only 24 games left, we just need to try to win every game we can. We’re aiming for the 6th seed, but it’s unlikely we won’t at least make the Play In. Hopefully by the end of the season, Towns is back, we’ve developed a little chemistry, and we will be a hard team to knock out of the playoffs.

I think Lakers will be there. OKC doesn't care. It's down to Wolves vs POR to get that last spot. I think if Conley unlocks Gobert, Towns will fit in. Conley is that calm professional voice that this team needs. Rivers doesn't have the credential to be that.

I think the Wolves will be there. It's up to the Lakers vs Portland to get that last spot.

I'd be surprised if the Lakers are in the top 10 teams in the West. They are 26-32 and old. They have to go 15-9 to just finish .500. To put this into perspective, the have to play to a higher winning percentage than any team in the West has so far this season except for the Nuggets to get to .500. They play 14 of their 24 games at home (which is the only reason I believe they have a chance...they are below .500 at home this year though btw), but almost all of the games they have left are against teams that are fighting for the playoffs. LeBron is missing games and AD is a bad fall from missing 3 to 4 weeks.

[shrink]

I am not worried.

GSW and NOP appear to be losing their stars for weeks. LAL is pretty far back. POR and UTA made themselves worse at the deadline,

MIN? We are finally getting healthy and add Towns soon.

[TimberKat]

It's so nice and peaceful for Wolves fans to sit back and relax these 3 days. Watch western teams knock each other out - SAC vs PHO, GSW vs LAC, WAS vs POR, UTA vs MEM, DAL vs DEN, NOP vs LAL, and LAC vs PHO. We will jump in the standing if we take care of business and beat WAS.

[minimus]

I have just watched the game vs DAL:

3rd quarter - really impressive ball movement, created open 3s

4th quarter - inexplicable collapse: DAL started to use smallball five, Gobert started to seal opponent inside, but MIN could not benefit from it. Finch went small as well. Before this Conley did good job of contesting and recovering in defense, but after we switched defensive scheme to high wall, Conley as low man was not a factor in defense. Kyrie went nuclear. He is too quick, too shifty for MCD. He is too athletic for Conley and Rivers. Maybe NAW can help here.

So now I am even more convinced that this season is about our identity, chemistry and discipline. Let say we can toggle between methodical, organised, disciplined offense/defense with classic big lineup Gobert/Towns/MCD/Ant/Conley and aggressive, high energy five-out offense/defense with Towns/Anderson/MCD/Ant/NAW. This ability might be our feature.

[Guidus88]

I have just watched the game vs DAL:

3rd quarter - really impressive ball movement, created open 3s

4th quarter - inexplicable collapse: DAL started to use smallball five, Gobert started to seal opponent inside, but MIN could not benefit from it. Finch went small as well. Before this Conley did good job of contesting and recovering in defense, but after we switched defensive scheme to high wall, Conley as low man was not a factor in defense. Kyrie went nuclear. He is too quick, too

So now I am even more convinced that this season is about our identity, chemistry and discipline. Let say we can toggle between methodical, organised, disciplined offense/defense with classic big lineup Gobert/Towns/MCD/Ant/Conley and aggressive, high energy five-out offense/defense with Towns/Anderson/MCD/Ant/NAW. This ability might be our feature.

IMO in 4th quarter we didn't collapse. Just Kyre had one of the best Q of his career and was unstoppable. This influenced also his teammates, even the anti-clutch Ntilikina (22% 3pt fg% on the season) scored a 3 on us with 2min left...

Actually I was really impressed by our mental toughness. We played a great offensive Q, outside some missed FTs and a couple of possession in which Ant forced a little bit, we executed very well.