The Positivity Thread

[dschroeder01]

Positivity-

-The remaining strength of schedule has the Wolves with the easiest remaining schedule of any Western Conference team. The 8 easiest are all Eastern Conference teams as they get to play each other. We'll be even better positioned after Saturday's game with Denver. The Wolves still have 4 vs. Utah, 2 with BRK, NOP, and PHI and single games with WASH, CHA, and POR.
www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

-Wolves currently have a 4 game road deficit. Full disclosure, the Wolves are actually better on the road than at home where we're only .500, but I'd still rather play at home if given the choice. Dallas is the only other team above us that's negative (-1) in home games. The others are equal or positive. The Clippers have played 4 more home games than away for instance.

I get the season has been a major disappointment, but...get on a run vs. poor teams and get into the playoffs as a 5 or 6 seed playing someone other than OKC. Playoff Ant and hot 3 point shooting and we ride!!!

[shrink]

Good info. For three years, the Wolves still have the capability to play down to bad teams, but in the back half of the regular season, these teams will be trying even harder to tank, and we may not be able to out-suck them.

I’ll add one more thing. I know it’s frustrating to lose to a bad team, but it’s far important that we play so well against good teams. Bad teams only affect your regular season standings - playing well against good teams helps you win playoff series.

[TimberKat]

Good info. For three years, the Wolves still have the capability to play down to bad teams, but in the back half of the regular season, these teams will be trying even harder to tank, and we may not be able to out-suck them.

I’ll add one more thing. I know it’s frustrating to lose to a bad team, but it’s far important that we play so well against good teams. Bad teams only affect your regular season standings - playing well against good teams helps you win playoff series.

Remember Portland?

[Guest84]

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[TheZachAttack]

I think that Ant is taking the leap. This is around the time he usually takes a leap. Most of the time, he starts the season hot and then settles in around the level of play from the previous season and then around the new year takes the jump forward. Ant pairing his 3 point shooting with playing at his own pace and getting to spots in the middle of the floor is the thing that opens up more consistent scoring, his playmaking, and his ability to get to the line. He’s doing a lot of the pin at the hip, herky jerky stuff that guys like Luka, Brunson, and SGA do.

[Klomp]

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[TimberKat]

Since 1/6/25, TWolves are 10 and 4. Three of the losses are by 2,1,2. They could easily been 13 and 1. It's too bad that both DDV and Randle are injured just when it looks like they start to fit in. However, the injuries seems to be a great opportunity for the young guys to show they can actually play.

If this is not positive spin, then I don't know what is.

[TimberKat]

We are a play-in team but Bleacher Report has Wolves rank 8th in their power rankings. In theory, we should be 5th seed in the west. It's all up to Dilly and Garza now

[ILC]

So the Wolves have 34 games left. 27-21 record right now. To be the 4th seed I'm guessing it will take 50 wins minimum and I also want 50 because it sounds/looks better. Can't go from 56 last year to under 50 this year

With 34 games left they need to go 23-11 at least to win 50. These next 11 will be crucial. WW, Sac, Bulls, Rockets 2x, OKC 3x, Portland and Bucks. Go 7-4 here that's 34-25 record on Feb 25th. Schedule really eases up after that and a 16-7 finish should be really doable by just beating up on bad teams to end the season.

[TimberKat]

Assuming we beat POR tomorrow, we will be 30-23 and remain in 6th place. I looked at the remaining schedule and it is realistic to finish the season 47- 35. The key would be coming out of next 7 games after POR with 3-4.

[winforlose]

Assuming we beat POR tomorrow, we will be 30-23 and remain in 6th place. I looked at the remaining schedule and it is realistic to finish the season 47- 35. The key would be coming out of next 7 games after POR with 3-4.

The key for emerging 47-35 is Randle coming off the bench. Naz is the superior player, in our long term plans, and gives you so much more spacing and room to operate. We found money with Randle out, which is not to suggest we are better without Randle available, but we are better with less of him and more of Naz. DDV coming back and looking like he did shortly before the injury instantly pushes us to a level that could win 50 games. But again, only if we maintain the improvements we found since guys went down.

[Baseline81]

Assuming we beat POR tomorrow, we will be 30-23 and remain in 6th place. I looked at the remaining schedule and it is realistic to finish the season 47- 35. The key would be coming out of next 7 games after POR with 3-4.

[ILC]

Jon K said on the podcast with Mares that Randle is coming back first game after the AS break, but DDV will probably need a week or so more, probably early March.

These next 7 games are a bloodbath. OKC 3x, HOU, MIL, CLE and LAL. Take one from OKC, HOU is really beatable now, MIL is awful away from home. If we could sneak out a 4-3 in these 7 that gives us 34-26 on March 1st.

Starting then, in those final 22 games it really eases up. We have UTA 3x, BKN 2x, NOLA 2x and CHA 1x. Really tough ones will be DEN 2x, MIL, MEM and maybe ORL 1x.

50 games is very achievable IMO. Especially if we're fully healthy starting March 1st.

[TimberKat]

Assuming we beat POR tomorrow, we will be 30-23 and remain in 6th place. I looked at the remaining schedule and it is realistic to finish the season 47- 35. The key would be coming out of next 7 games after POR with 3-4.

Yes, baby. We won without Ant and Conley

[TimberKat]

Jon K said on the podcast with Mares that Randle is coming back first game after the AS break, but DDV will probably need a week or so more, probably early March.

These next 7 games are a bloodbath. OKC 3x, HOU, MIL, CLE and LAL. Take one from OKC, HOU is really beatable now, MIL is awful away from home. If we could sneak out a 4-3 in these 7 that gives us 34-26 on March 1st.

Starting then, in those final 22 games it really eases up. We have UTA 3x, BKN 2x, NOLA 2x and CHA 1x. Really tough ones will be DEN 2x, MIL, MEM and maybe ORL 1x.

50 games is very achievable IMO. Especially if we're fully healthy starting March 1st.

I am just hoping 3-7 the next 7 and a 47 win season. 50 and avoid play-in would be a very successful season given how bad we look earlier in the season.

[TimberKat]

Wolves 8-2 the last 10 games. The two losses: 2 pts to WAS and 2 pts to Fox/Zack less SAC. Both at home Wish we could take those two back. Overall they been play well since 1/6/2025. The next 7 will be critical. I hope we at least get Ant and Conley on Monday and get Randle back after All star break

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Agree. We have to keep fighting to remain top 4-6. Avoid play-in is important. I'm concerned about player staying healthy and fresh when PO come. But we have reason to be optimistic. Offense is better, less TO and our defense is back at some part of the games.

[winforlose]

13 wins in our last 19 games. Top 5 offense and top 10 defense since the turn of the year. We just ended the best active winning streak in the NBA at 6 games, and we did it without 3 of our top 4 scoring players and the fourth guy who happens to be leading the team in assists and usage without turnovers.

[shrink]

We’re 30-23, and have been in more close games than any other team. We’ve been unlucky though, and our Pythagorean win-loss record should be 33-20 - fourth in the west.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Lakers play with no big, Dallas got the street clothes of AD for a month, I don't see Phoenix and SA make a run. GSW probably will but we have space... Houston is slowing down.... if we remain heathy ( and it's a big if), we can fight for top 3-6.