Where do we stack up in the West?

[Krapinsky]

Vegas Odds has this order:

1. Lakers
2. Warriors
3. Jazz
4. Suns
5. Nuggets
6. Clips
7. Mavs
8. Blazers
9. Grizz
10. Pelicans
11. Kings
12. Wolves
13. Spurs
14. Rockets
15. Thunder

Here is my order:

1. Jazz (best regular season team)
2. Lakers (I think they start off slow and then at some point go on a 20 win streak once they start to gel with Russ)
3. Suns (bringing everyone back after team found itself in playoffs)
4. Mavs (Kidd is question mark)
5. Warriors (age/health big questions marks; still lack depth and may have to rely on too much youth)
6. Nuggets (health/depth a concern)
7. Wolves (lots of youth / defense and front court size / depth are concerns)
8. Kings (Mitchell could be a difference maker for them; still lots of youth / front court size / depth are concerns)
9. Blazers (team will be competitive but implode; Lillard asks to be traded and Olshey eventually fired)
10. Pelicans (lots of individual talent, but not sure the pieces all fit; Have downgraded guard positions last two years from Jrue, to Lonzo, to Graham)
11. Clips (I think they have lost their identity / swagger; Kwahi won't be playing many meaningful minutes and roster is ugly outside of George)
12. Grizz (took a methodic step back this season to go two steps forward)
13. Spurs (cupboards are empty, but playing the right way probably gets them to 30 wins)
14. Thunder (never ending tank fest continues)
15. Rockets (trusting the process year 2)

I think Wolves range is 5 to 12 and most likely scenario is 8-10.

10/14/22 EDIT: I am going the other way on the Blazers. I think they implode and Lillard asks for a trade 1/2 way through season and then we see Olshey fired.

Wolves up to #7. I'm all in.

[Klomp]

Tier 1A
Suns
Jazz
Nuggets
-----
Tier 1B
Lakers
Warriors
-----
Tier 3
Clippers
Mavericks
Blazers
Grizzlies
Wolves
-----
Tier 4
Spurs
Pelicans
Kings
-----
Tier 5
Thunder
Rockets

Any team can finish anywhere within a respective tier (including between 1A and 1B)

[Nick K]

I said 1-4 home court advantage. Our talent stacks up with anybody. We finally have a coach. We're deep as hell. If not, we'll be close. Injuries change everything.

Like Phx last year we'll be the surprise of the NBA this year.

I don't mind sticking my neck out on the line.

This team is different from any in the past. The curse is gone. New ownership is here. We're a more mature club. The minutes the young guys got last year will pay dividends.

The Lakers will be tough but they are getting old. I'm not afraid of Phx or Utah. The Clips are tough with Kawhi.

That's how I see it without rose colored glasses.

[jscott]

I went with 9-10. I think that’s a reasonably optimistic outlook for this team.

[NebWolvesFan]

I feel like Minnesota will be at .500 at the trade deadline and if Gupta uses some of the four 2022 and some expirings to add some solid vets at the deadline, I can see Minnesota finishing strong and finishing at No. 7 or No. 8 - which means they need to win one home game to advance to the final 8. If Minnesota doesn't add anyone and rolls the dice with what they have, they will end up around 40-42 wins and hopefully sneak into the top 10.

[Klomp]

38 wins.

Why am I posting this number? That mark would move Chris Finch from 14th to 4th (out of 14) in coaching wins in franchise history, only trailing Saunders (427), Adelman (97) and Thibodeau (97).

A 38-44 record would also put Finch's win percentage to .439 (54-69), only trailing Saunders (.521) and Thibodeau (.475) in franchise history.

[KGdaBom]

I said 1-4 home court advantage. Our talent stacks up with anybody. We finally have a coach. We're deep as hell. If not, we'll be close. Injuries change everything.

Like Phx last year we'll be the surprise of the NBA this year.

I don't mind sticking my neck out on the line.

This team is different from any in the past. The curse is gone. New ownership is here. We're a more mature club. The minutes the young guys got last year will pay dividends.

The Lakers will be tough but they are getting old. I'm not afraid of Phx or Utah. The Clips are tough with Kawhi.

That's how I see it without rose colored glasses.

Top 4 all the way. Why not #1 . Go Wolves.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

I’ll reserve how we do after the home games to start the season…if we’re at 5-6-7 wins vs 1 or 2 losses…I can see the wolves playing competitively all year. If we’re at ~2 wins and we’re seeing a lot of double digit leads disappear in the 2nd half then it’s safe to say this group won’t make the playoffs and it’s more of the same.


I do think we look like more of a team on and off the court. Everyone has their roles.


Like for every team…if kat or dlo go down early then it’ll be rough. But going injury free is basically all luck

[Norseman79]

I'm going to have to see if we add some size to frontcourt before I go any higher than 9 or 10. Honestly, even a big like Hartenstein would be solid as a depth piece against bigger lineups.

A couple of additions once teams make roster cuts to add some functional beef will go a long way

[winforlose]

I'm going to have to see if we add some size to frontcourt before I go any higher than 9 or 10. Honestly, even a big like Hartenstein would be solid as a depth piece against bigger lineups.

A couple of additions once teams make roster cuts to add some functional beef will go a long way

I was thinking about that this morning. Trade Layman and a second to a team with cap space and sign a big like IH or someone else available (not sure who.) In the alternative, maybe try and trade Okogie or Prince to a team with a big to spare. Again not sure who that would be yet.

[Slim Tubby]

Injury free? I want 41 Wins and a sniff of the play-in. I feel abnormally positive about the team this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dewey]

I voted us as a potential playin bubble team.

Our lack of team/player leadership is an ongoing issue… Finch & Beverly’s impact will help, but players up and down the roster need to step up or move on. Bottom-line: I put a ton of weight on Finch to follow through with “defense gets you minutes”.

[winforlose]

I voted us as a potential playin bubble team.

Our lack of team/player leadership is an ongoing issue… Finch & Beverly’s impact will help, but players up and down the roster need to step up or move on. Bottom-line: I put a ton of weight on Finch to follow through with “defense gets you minutes”.

I think you might be missing the boat a bit. Every year teams start hungry and then records start to dictate playoff chances. The teams that are long shots lose motivation and end up slacking off. The teams who are winning and in the hunt try harder. The wolves have simply lacked anything to play for. Now I believe our relative health, good coaching, and fresh start will provide plenty of motivation. I don’t see the overwhelming need for player leadership at this point.

[Dewey]

I voted us as a potential playin bubble team.

Our lack of team/player leadership is an ongoing issue… Finch & Beverly’s impact will help, but players up and down the roster need to step up or move on. Bottom-line: I put a ton of weight on Finch to follow through with “defense gets you minutes”.

I think you might be missing the boat a bit. Every year teams start hungry and then records start to dictate playoff chances. The teams that are long shots lose motivation and end up slacking off. The teams who are winning and in the hunt try harder. The wolves have simply lacked anything to play for. Now I believe our relative health, good coaching, and fresh start will provide plenty of motivation. I don’t see the overwhelming need for player leadership at this point.

Missing the boat? Get serious. If you don’t think player leadership is key I have no response other than … your missing the boat

[winforlose]

I voted us as a potential playin bubble team.

Our lack of team/player leadership is an ongoing issue… Finch & Beverly’s impact will help, but players up and down the roster need to step up or move on. Bottom-line: I put a ton of weight on Finch to follow through with “defense gets you minutes”.

I think you might be missing the boat a bit. Every year teams start hungry and then records start to dictate playoff chances. The teams that are long shots lose motivation and end up slacking off. The teams who are winning and in the hunt try harder. The wolves have simply lacked anything to play for. Now I believe our relative health, good coaching, and fresh start will provide plenty of motivation. I don’t see the overwhelming need for player leadership at this point.

Missing the boat? Get serious. If you don’t think player leadership is key I have no response other than … your missing the boat

Guys like Kyrie are toxic yet their teams do well. Talent and coaching get the job done. Players are motivated by winning and competing for the ring. You get our guys to play defense by holding them accountable when they don’t. You have Beverly, Okogie, Vando, MCD, Prince, and Bolmaro. All of those guys are known for their defense. You don’t need everyone to bow before KAT, you need them to buy in that this is their year. You need them hungry to shut up the critics and make the media pay for not hyping them more. Good player leadership is a substitute for good coaching, we have good coaching, we will be fine.

[Dewey]

I think you might be missing the boat a bit. Every year teams start hungry and then records start to dictate playoff chances. The teams that are long shots lose motivation and end up slacking off. The teams who are winning and in the hunt try harder. The wolves have simply lacked anything to play for. Now I believe our relative health, good coaching, and fresh start will provide plenty of motivation. I don’t see the overwhelming need for player leadership at this point.

Missing the boat? Get serious. If you don’t think player leadership is key I have no response other than … your missing the boat

Guys like Kyrie are toxic yet their teams do well. Talent and coaching get the job done. Players are motivated by winning and competing for the ring. You get our guys to play defense by holding them accountable when they don’t. You have Beverly, Okogie, Vando, MCD, Prince, and Bolmaro. All of those guys are known for their defense. You don’t need everyone to bow before KAT, you need them to buy in that this is their year. You need them hungry to shut up the critics and make the media pay for not hyping them more. Good player leadership is a substitute for good coaching, we have good coaching, we will be fine.

If you get over yourself and read the posts you’ll see they are pretty much aligned … I think you just like to hear yourself talk. Mine are point blank - while yours are long-version babble attempting to appear in-depth

[karch34]

I see us in the 7-10 range. 7 optimistic in things breaking right and 10 probably more realistic if things go well.

[winforlose]

Missing the boat? Get serious. If you don’t think player leadership is key I have no response other than … your missing the boat

Guys like Kyrie are toxic yet their teams do well. Talent and coaching get the job done. Players are motivated by winning and competing for the ring. You get our guys to play defense by holding them accountable when they don’t. You have Beverly, Okogie, Vando, MCD, Prince, and Bolmaro. All of those guys are known for their defense. You don’t need everyone to bow before KAT, you need them to buy in that this is their year. You need them hungry to shut up the critics and make the media pay for not hyping them more. Good player leadership is a substitute for good coaching, we have good coaching, we will be fine.

If you get over yourself and read the posts you’ll see they are pretty much aligned … I think you just like to hear yourself talk. Mine are point blank - while yours are long-version babble attempting to appear in-depth

Putting aside the personal attacks, I disagree with your premise. I don’t think we have a leadership problem. Moreover, I think the idea of team leaders is part fact and part myth. How did Curry do at keeping the peace between Durant and Green? How did Embiid do at keeping Butler or Simmons happy and on program? Lebron is a great counterexample. Yet when he is injured, his leadership doesn’t add wins, his play does. Captains get guys in line when coaches fail, but this is the NBA not high school or college. Most guys are in line anyway, and those who are not are often beyond the power of the captain to control.

[Klomp]

Tier 3
Clippers
Mavericks
Blazers
Grizzlies
Wolves

Something worth pointing out here that I hadn't actually considered when making the list. Talent has them in this tier, but Dallas and Portland have some unknowns here when it comes to the new coaches. We knew what to expect when it came to Carlisle and Stotts, but I have no clue about Kidd and Billups.

[life_saver]

Having a winning season would be great