The Positivity Thread

[winforlose]

16-14 At this point in the season despite how we have been playing is damn positive. Glass half empty is everywhere else on the board. The glass half full take is that with some adjustments and a good trade we are not only in the playoff picture, but home court in the first round isn’t a pipe a dream.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I agree. Lots of issues to fixed but talent is here. A smart trade and we may be able to make a run. Go Wolves!

[Baseline81]

Unbelievable. How selfish do you have to be to believe “fans want to hear” your ultra-negative crap in every single thread on the board? Maybe you can let one called “The Positivity Thread” get a pass, instead of going after guys that post ON TOPIC positive things here?!?

Take your own damn advice

There's only so much I can take of someone telling us it's rain when, in fact, it's piss.

[BlacJacMac]

Unbelievable. How selfish do you have to be to believe “fans want to hear” your ultra-negative crap in every single thread on the board? Maybe you can let one called “The Positivity Thread” get a pass, instead of going after guys that post ON TOPIC positive things here?!?

Take your own damn advice

There's only so much I can take of someone telling us it's rain when, in fact, it's piss.

No one forces you to open this thread.

[TimberKat]

Someone actually posted on this thread today? We beat a bunch of teams that were either bad or short handed and we lay an egg in the first real test. Granted it was emotional and stuff but there is no positivity today. Let win the GSW game then we could discuss how well Randle punchout Green.

The reason this thread exists is because of the ridiculous amount of negative posting that occurs on all other threads.

Maybe you can restrain yourself from posting that stuff in this one thread? That’s the title.

Is this the "can't disagree" thread? Supposed I said we are going to win the NBA championships and Ant deserves to win the MVP after the come back against Huston, then anyone disagree with me is not being positive? I posted positive stuff here before. Is there really anything positive above the NYK game?

[Domejandro]

Someone actually posted on this thread today? We beat a bunch of teams that were either bad or short handed and we lay an egg in the first real test. Granted it was emotional and stuff but there is no positivity today. Let win the GSW game then we could discuss how well Randle punchout Green.

The reason this thread exists is because of the ridiculous amount of negative posting that occurs on all other threads.

Maybe you can restrain yourself from posting that stuff in this one thread? That’s the title.

Is this the "can't disagree" thread? Supposed I said we are going to win the NBA championships and Ant deserves to win the MVP after the come back against Huston, then anyone disagree with me is not being positive? I posted positive stuff here before. Is there really anything positive above the NYK game?

I mean… honestly kind of yeah. It feels like the entire point of the thread is to be a safe haven for positive vibes and being optimistic. Every other thread is already negative enough, especially during this season.

[Klomp]

Someone actually posted on this thread today? We beat a bunch of teams that were either bad or short handed and we lay an egg in the first real test. Granted it was emotional and stuff but there is no positivity today. Let win the GSW game then we could discuss how well Randle punchout Green.

The reason this thread exists is because of the ridiculous amount of negative posting that occurs on all other threads.

Maybe you can restrain yourself from posting that stuff in this one thread? That’s the title.

Is this the "can't disagree" thread? Supposed I said we are going to win the NBA championships and Ant deserves to win the MVP after the come back against Huston, then anyone disagree with me is not being positive? I posted positive stuff here before. Is there really anything positive above the NYK game?

I didn't claim anything positive about that game. My only crime was publishing a post in this thread within 24 hours of that game.

Again, I remind people...the Timberwolves have won 9 of their last 13 games. The Knicks game and three-game losing streak are included in that stretch so it's not some arbitrary stopping point.

[Klomp]

From two weeks ago:

I think it's worth looking at the rest of the West right now too. We are 1.5 games back of 5th. Dallas is 3.5 games ahead of us in 4th but Luka will be out a while. I believe it's similar to what KAT had last year. I give us just as good of a chance at climbing as the Nuggets, Lakers, Clippers, Suns, etc.

The gap between us and home-court advantage has shrunk from 3.5 games to 2 games.

A lot of people talk about how much better the West has gotten and how far behind we are as a result, but really, it's just different teams.

In 2022-23, the top three are Denver, Memphis and Sacramento.
In 2023-24, the top three were Oklahoma City, Denver and Minnesota.
In 2024-25, the top three are Oklahoma City, Houston and Memphis.

For years now, there has been a clear top tier before a glut of teams. Anyone can make it out of that glut alive. We're still in that glut, we're just not above it right now.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Tomorrow will be the real test for me. Grizz play very well and have a sold 10 -11 men rotation. And they got Ja, better player than ANT on my opinion, JJJ better than Randle. Rudy will have to dominated Edey. Go Wolves!

[TimberKat]

From two weeks ago:

I think it's worth looking at the rest of the West right now too. We are 1.5 games back of 5th. Dallas is 3.5 games ahead of us in 4th but Luka will be out a while. I believe it's similar to what KAT had last year. I give us just as good of a chance at climbing as the Nuggets, Lakers, Clippers, Suns, etc.

The gap between us and home-court advantage has shrunk from 3.5 games to 2 games.

A lot of people talk about how much better the West has gotten and how far behind we are as a result, but really, it's just different teams.

In 2022-23, the top three are Denver, Memphis and Sacramento.
In 2023-24, the top three were Oklahoma City, Denver and Minnesota.
In 2024-25, the top three are Oklahoma City, Houston and Memphis.

For years now, there has been a clear top tier before a glut of teams. Anyone can make it out of that glut alive. We're still in that glut, we're just not above it right now.

I don't believe in Huston. The OT loss to them is the biggest regret of this year so far. We could be only two games behind Memphis after tonight. The #2 seed is still attainable. It's all about we come together as a team.

Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, fans. Larry Bird is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. We got Finch, Randle, and Gobert. They need to plan and play together. Ant is young and exciting. I wish we had $90 million under the salary cap. I wish we could buy the world. We can’t; the only thing we can do is work hard, and all the negativity that’s in this town sucks.

[TheZachAttack]

I think the last few games since the lineup changes, outcomes aside, the Wolves are moving to some positive things when it comes to lineup combos, ball movement, and spacing. It still seems like one more roster change is needed to get into lineups with more shooting when Ant is on the floor to try to mitigate teams completely selling out against Ant. In addition, closing lineups need to be sorted out. I think they are getting closer to getting to some formulas that are more sustainable.

Since November 17th (25 games), Dante is now shooting 47.8% from 2 (2.3 attempts), 40.1% from 3 (6.7 attempts) and 86% from the line (1.1 att) averaging, 3.8 rbs, and 3.3 assists in 26.6 minutes per game.

Per 36 minutes he's averaging 15.5 pts, 5.2 rbds, and 5.1 assists and 9 attempts from 3 per game. For that matter in that stretch, Ant is shooting 42% from 3, Jaden is shooting 36% from 3, Conley is shooting 39% from 3, Randle is shooting 35% from 3, NAW is shooting 38% from 3, and Naz is shooting 31% from 3. If Naz can regain his shooting form, we are getting closer to a point where we do actually have a lot of shooting out there.


Since December 17th in that Knicks game when something clicked, he's playing 29 mpg and is shooting 50% from 2 (3 atts) - 44.8% from 3 (7.4 atts) - 88.5% from the line (2 atts) and averaging 14.8 - 4.7 - 3.8. Per 36 minutes this is close to 19-6-5.


They need to keep getting Dante more involved more consistently as a movement shooter and run offense for him. In addition, they need to get Dante into the mid 30 minute range. I think there's a chance if we do feature Dante on offense more and get better at hitting him and play him close to 36 minutes per game there's a chance for Dante to be a 20-5-5 guy.

Last season over the final 35 games Dante averaged 38.8 minutes per game and scored 21/4.4/3.3 on 53.7% from 2 (5.4 att) 38.7% from 3 and 78% from FT (1.7 atts). Even in the final 50 games Dante averaged 19.4/4.3/3.3 on 56% from 2 and 39% from 3 in 34.4 games.

He is very much capable of playing a lot more minutes and shouldering a bigger scoring load. For the Knicks he was shooting 17 times per game over that stretch when he started playing huge minutes. Even per 36 minutes Dante is only taking 13 shots on the Wolves.

What's one way to get better? Adding a 10-12 mpg role player who plays like DDV to our lineup.

If Dante were to get close to 20-5-5 and grow his role to 36 mpg, the only guards scoring more points than him per game would be Shai, Fox, Maxey, Brunson, Booker, Cade, Kyrie, Herro, Powell, Lavine, Mitchell, Trae, Poole, Harden, Garland, and Jalen Green. In addition, the only SGs who would be averaging more than him would be Booker, Herro, Powell, Lavine, and potentially Green. I think there's a path where Dante could be a borderline top 5 SG.

[minimus]

I have a few questions:

1) I saw a few very nice assists from NAW in last games: dump offs, long one hand passes to the paint etc. Is he improving as playmaker? Too bad his red hot shooting completely went cold

2) McDaniels in last games seems to be more willing to rebound, he also averages career high in steals

3) Is Desmond Bane so much better than DDV as his contract suggests? DDV AAV is 11 mil, while Bane's AAV is 39 mil

[Klomp]

3) Is Desmond Bane so much better than DDV as his contract suggests? DDV AAV is 11 mil, while Bane's AAV is 39 mil

He's better, but not by four times.

[TheZachAttack]

3) Is Desmond Bane so much better than DDV as his contract suggests? DDV AAV is 11 mil, while Bane's AAV is 39 mil

He's better, but not by four times.

I actually don’t think he’s better than Dante if Dante is closer to the player that he’s been over the last 17 games and the second half of last season. Dante is better with the ball and Bane seems to have regressed as a shooter. I think there’s a world in which Dante is better.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I feel positive now about the team. I definitely accept that we will be a play-in team if we don't trade Randle before the deadline and i'm fine with that as we don't have much gap considering the 2nd apron issue. Ending the season as best as we can and next off season, we will have to reorganize the roster. Just hope we don't extend Randle, letting him walk for free is even a better option than having him for 2 or 3 years more.

[minimus]

3) Is Desmond Bane so much better than DDV as his contract suggests? DDV AAV is 11 mil, while Bane's AAV is 39 mil

He's better, but not by four times.

I actually don’t think he’s better than Dante if Dante is closer to the player that he’s been over the last 17 games and the second half of last season. Dante is better with the ball and Bane seems to have regressed as a shooter. I think there’s a world in which Dante is better.

God knows why, but everytime I see Dante I keep thinking about Dante Cunningham...

[BlacJacMac]

He's better, but not by four times.

I actually don’t think he’s better than Dante if Dante is closer to the player that he’s been over the last 17 games and the second half of last season. Dante is better with the ball and Bane seems to have regressed as a shooter. I think there’s a world in which Dante is better.

God knows why, but everytime I see Dante I keep thinking about Dante Cunningham...

Would it help if everyone spelled his name correctly?

Donte.

[Klomp]

3) Is Desmond Bane so much better than DDV as his contract suggests? DDV AAV is 11 mil, while Bane's AAV is 39 mil

He's better, but not by four times.

I actually don’t think he’s better than Dante if Dante is closer to the player that he’s been over the last 17 games and the second half of last season. Dante is better with the ball and Bane seems to have regressed as a shooter. I think there’s a world in which Dante is better.

This is fair. I do think it's pretty close, but I think. Bane's struggles are somewhat due to Ja not being out there much. To the contract thing, if Bane is at 39, Donte is at 30-35 to me.

[TheZachAttack]

He's better, but not by four times.

I actually don’t think he’s better than Dante if Dante is closer to the player that he’s been over the last 17 games and the second half of last season. Dante is better with the ball and Bane seems to have regressed as a shooter. I think there’s a world in which Dante is better.

This is fair. I do think it's pretty close, but I think. Bane's struggles are somewhat due to Ja not being out there much. To the contract thing, if Bane is at 39, Donte is at 30-35 to me.

That's fair and we've seen Dante's shooting numbers with Conley versus with Ant, but to me that's why I think Dante is or at least can be better if we use him to his full potential. I think Dante can do more on his own without an elite PG creating space than Dante. I think among other things with his handle (even though he is not elite here), Dante moves a lot better without the ball and exerts a lot more energy doing that and that's part of the reason why he isn't as reliant.

[TheZachAttack]

He's better, but not by four times.

I actually don’t think he’s better than Dante if Dante is closer to the player that he’s been over the last 17 games and the second half of last season. Dante is better with the ball and Bane seems to have regressed as a shooter. I think there’s a world in which Dante is better.

God knows why, but everytime I see Dante I keep thinking about Dante Cunningham...

I didn't even realize I was doing this