***(Pre-Season Game 3) Wolves vs Clippers - Monday Night -9:30PM CT NBATV Televised***

[Klomp]

A lot of fans tied how far we jump this season to the growth of Anthony Edwards, but consider this.....

Karl-Anthony Towns is clearly rejuvenated. Last year was rough on him, and his numbers dipped as a result. Not significantly, but they did both in volume and efficiency. I expect him back over 50% from the field and over 40% from 3-point range, while keeping his assist totals near 5 per game. Scoring volume could be in question, but I don't think his efficiency will be.

I believe wholeheartedly in the current iteration of D'Angelo Russell. This is reminiscent of what we saw to close last season. Yes there will be games where he struggles similarly to the Denver game a few nights ago, but when he's playing at his best he is very difficult to slow down. Playing the offense through Towns and allowing Russell to play off of him only helps accentuate his skill set.

Those two will help Edwards develop at his own pace. We all want and hope for star output from Day 1, but are those reasonable expectations to put on a 20-year old in his second season? Having guys in front of him will help take the pressure off of him, allowing him to continue his maturation in the league.

Now we're getting the doubters who say "does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?" I understand the skepticism that's been drilled in our brains after decades of Minnesota sports disappointments. But I truly believe this is the start of something good for Minnesota. I know I'm the sunshine and butterflies guy around these parts. But I don't think we're being bamboozled here. This isn't a fake product we're watching. It might break down at some point, but that doesn't mean the assembled product isn't successful at its best.

[Klomp]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?]

I doubt we break thirty-five, but more than thirty is possible.

I think we’re in that 35-40 win range, which is pretty good, but won’t put us in play-in game contention. I don’t think Gupta gets the job and we have an entirely new FO next offseason. Just a guess.

Just putting things into context now that we're back to an 82-game season, here's last season's extrapolated win totals for seeds 7-10.

7. Lakers 47.8 wins
8. Warriors 44.4 wins
9. Grizzlies 43.3 wins
10. Spurs 37.6 wins

I don't see why we won't be in range for one of those spots. San Antonio didn't exactly have a strong offseason. New Orleans and Sacramento don't really scare me. Oklahoma City and Houston are likely at the bottom again. In the top six from last year, I think the Clippers, Mavericks and Blazers all have questions that will need to be answered as well.

The Western Conference is actually pretty wide open right now.

[wolves_89]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

If KAT plays 70+ games I believe the Wolves will easily surpass 30 wins. The roster is constructed to make the team completely dependent on KAT's health, if he goes down any chance for success goes with him.

[Calinks]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

If healthy I think we are a 40-45 win team. I expect big seasons out of Dlo and KAT. Beasley will get much better at some point, Prince will bring a lot to the table, Ant will start to get better.

The big question is health and defense. I think the defense will be better but we will probably have big stretches where we play like crap. Rebounding will hurt us too. I still think we have enough talent to make the play in or just straight up a low playoff seed. This is the year in my eyes.

[Klomp]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

If healthy I think we are a 40-45 win team. I expect big seasons out of Dlo and KAT. Beasley will get much better at some point, Prince will bring a lot to the table, Ant will start to get better.

The big question is health and defense. I think the defense will be better but we will probably have big stretches where we play like crap. Rebounding will hurt us too. I still think we have enough talent to make the play in or just straight up a low playoff seed. This is the year in my eyes.

Beasley is another one I forgot to mention in my post along with Edwards. These are guys who in years past we needed major contributions from immediately. As constructed, the pressure is off of them to be instant impacts.

I think the defensive improvements are noteworthy. We allowed 120+ points in 57 of 137 (41.6%) games under Saunders. While it's easy to chalk it up to how the league has changed, personnel along with schematic changes tell me that percentage is hopefully going to fall. If we can get that down to even 25-30%, we will win a lot more games and won't be so reliant on elite offensive performances.

[Merc_Porto]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?]

I doubt we break thirty-five, but more than thirty is possible.

I think we’re in that 35-40 win range, which is pretty good, but won’t put us in play-in game contention.

Is not pretty good at all. Is another year for KAT without playoffs
People don't seem to be concerned about that. I don't understand why.

And we really like to hype the Off-seasons. I used to do that as well.

But we have to understand that there are clear 8 favorites for exactly 8 playoffs spots in the west.

Us making the playoffs would be a surprise, hopefully, we do, but most likely won't.

[Nick K]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?]

I doubt we break thirty-five, but more than thirty is possible.

The over under for the Wolves in Las Vegas is 34.5. If I could get that bet in MN I'd bet a lot on the over and I NEVER bet on the Timberwolves.

This year is different.

[jpatrick]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?]

I doubt we break thirty-five, but more than thirty is possible.

The over under for the Wolves in Las Vegas is 34.5. If I could get that bet in MN I'd bet a lot on the over and I NEVER bet on the Timberwolves.

This year is different.

My fear with the over is KAT’s health first and foremost. Our big man rotation looks bleak if he missed any time. Next is PF. It has to be considered one of the weakest starting spots in the league. Rebounding is still an issue in my mind. Then we’re banking on improvement, either on offense or defense, from a lot of guys. Could that happen? Yes. But every team in the league is thinking those same things right now.

I wish we’d have gotten a vet for that PF spot. Even if not a star.

I’m still hopeful. I believe we’re undefeated in both summer league and preseason. In other words, we haven’t lost a game in months!

[Calinks]

I doubt we break thirty-five, but more than thirty is possible.

I think we’re in that 35-40 win range, which is pretty good, but won’t put us in play-in game contention.

Is not pretty good at all. Is another year for KAT without playoffs
People don't seem to be concerned about that. I don't understand why.

And we really like to hype the Off-seasons. I used to do that as well.

But we have to understand that there are clear 8 favorites for exactly 8 playoffs spots in the west.

Us making the playoffs would be a surprise, hopefully, we do, but most likely won't.

Not saying we are a lock but I like our odds. A lot can happen in a season, injures, chemistry, etc. Any of those teams could have a bad year, we could have a good one. I think we have the best odds we have had since Jimmy was here. I didn't feel that way in previous off-seasons.

[Merc_Porto]

I think we’re in that 35-40 win range, which is pretty good, but won’t put us in play-in game contention.

Is not pretty good at all. Is another year for KAT without playoffs
People don't seem to be concerned about that. I don't understand why.

And we really like to hype the Off-seasons. I used to do that as well.

But we have to understand that there are clear 8 favorites for exactly 8 playoffs spots in the west.

Us making the playoffs would be a surprise, hopefully, we do, but most likely won't.

Not saying we are a lock but I like our odds. A lot can happen in a season, injures, chemistry, etc. Any of those teams could have a bad year, we could have a good one. I think we have the best odds we have had since Jimmy was here. I didn't feel that way in previous off-seasons.

I don't. But I still hope to make a move tho.
That's my hope for now.

Lakers
Clippers
Suns
Jazz
Mavs
Nuggets
Blazers
Warriors

One of them had to have a really off year and we had to be the ones to grab that opportunity.
Because after that is still a battle, let's not forget that.

Kings
Pelicans
Spurs
Grizzlies

Only OKC and Rockets seem off of this fight but we also never know.

[Klomp]

Not saying we are a lock but I like our odds. A lot can happen in a season, injures, chemistry, etc. Any of those teams could have a bad year, we could have a good one. I think we have the best odds we have had since Jimmy was here. I didn't feel that way in previous off-seasons.

Exactly. After the Top 4 or so, a lot of teams are overly reliant on one player. The wrong injury for the Mavericks (Doncic), Clippers (George), Blazers (Lillard) or Warriors (Curry) will dismantle their seasons.

[Klomp]

I think we’re in that 35-40 win range, which is pretty good, but won’t put us in play-in game contention.

Is not pretty good at all. Is another year for KAT without playoffs
People don't seem to be concerned about that. I don't understand why.

And we really like to hype the Off-seasons. I used to do that as well.

But we have to understand that there are clear 8 favorites for exactly 8 playoffs spots in the west.

Us making the playoffs would be a surprise, hopefully, we do, but most likely won't.

In a vacuum, you are correct. It's another year without the playoffs. But while you seem to be ignoring the play-in tournament as evidence of growth, I don't think the players will. Going from a 26-win pace to say a 35-win pace is significant.

Is it everything? Does it mean we've arrived? Of course not. But I think a leader like Towns will see and understand that his good friend Devin Booker was in a similar situation not to long ago. They did't make the playoffs in 2019-20, but it was a clear sign of progress for the franchise that helped catapult them into even bigger success last season. While it guarantees nothing, I think they will see that it can be done.

[Calinks]

[moonpie]

Watch on YouTube

[shangrila]

All this hype.. does anyone seriously think we win more than 30 games?

Sent from my SM-G991B using RealGM mobile app

If healthy I think we are a 40-45 win team. I expect big seasons out of Dlo and KAT. Beasley will get much better at some point, Prince will bring a lot to the table, Ant will start to get better.

The big question is health and defense. I think the defense will be better but we will probably have big stretches where we play like crap. Rebounding will hurt us too. I still think we have enough talent to make the play in or just straight up a low playoff seed. This is the year in my eyes.

Beasley is another one I forgot to mention in my post along with Edwards. These are guys who in years past we needed major contributions from immediately. As constructed, the pressure is off of them to be instant impacts.

I think the defensive improvements are noteworthy. We allowed 120+ points in 57 of 137 (41.6%) games under Saunders. While it's easy to chalk it up to how the league has changed, personnel along with schematic changes tell me that percentage is hopefully going to fall. If we can get that down to even 25-30%, we will win a lot more games and won't be so reliant on elite offensive performances.

God damn that's sad

[Klomp]

I think the defensive improvements are noteworthy. We allowed 120+ points in 57 of 137 (41.6%) games under Saunders. While it's easy to chalk it up to how the league has changed, personnel along with schematic changes tell me that percentage is hopefully going to fall. If we can get that down to even 25-30%, we will win a lot more games and won't be so reliant on elite offensive performances.

God damn that's sad

Unsurprisingly, we went 7-50 in those 57 games.

On the bright side, it means Saunders was 36-44 when allowing under 120 points!

[Klomp]

Maybe another comparison should be to the 2013-14 Timberwolves. They were severely injured the year before, going 31-51 (our adjusted win total last year was 26). That year, they stayed largely healthy, going 40-42 (which was somewhat disappointing).

Difference with this group should be better depth and (hopefully) better ability to close out games.

[Slim Tubby]

Good things happen to well-bonded teams with strong leadership.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[shangrila]

I think the defensive improvements are noteworthy. We allowed 120+ points in 57 of 137 (41.6%) games under Saunders. While it's easy to chalk it up to how the league has changed, personnel along with schematic changes tell me that percentage is hopefully going to fall. If we can get that down to even 25-30%, we will win a lot more games and won't be so reliant on elite offensive performances.

God damn that's sad

Unsurprisingly, we went 7-50 in those 57 games.

On the bright side, it means Saunders was 36-44 when allowing under 120 points!

If you exclude when he sucked, he was just about average. Hooray!

[Nick K]

I doubt we break thirty-five, but more than thirty is possible.

The over under for the Wolves in Las Vegas is 34.5. If I could get that bet in MN I'd bet a lot on the over and I NEVER bet on the Timberwolves.

This year is different.

My fear with the over is KAT’s health first and foremost. Our big man rotation looks bleak if he missed any time. Next is PF. It has to be considered one of the weakest starting spots in the league. Rebounding is still an issue in my mind. Then we’re banking on improvement, either on offense or defense, from a lot of guys. Could that happen? Yes. But every team in the league is thinking those same things right now.

I wish we’d have gotten a vet for that PF spot. Even if not a star.

I’m still hopeful. I believe we’re undefeated in both summer league and preseason. In other words, we haven’t lost a game in months!

Yep. If Kat goes down we're bleeped.

Can you believe some of our fans want to trade Kat? Unbelievable.