Playoff picture thread

_AIJ_ · Post #1 » by **_AIJ_** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 2:22 pm

As of today, we are currently the 7th seed with 3 games behind the 3rd seed which is really achievable but a few games out of the play-in as well. They need to toughen up and finish the remaining games before the break strong.

Lets go Wolves!

Ethomasp31 · Post #2 » by **Ethomasp31** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 3:46 pm

They are also a game out of missing the playoffs all together. They still play a PG who doesn't take care of the ball and last night one of his stupid turnovers ended up getting one of our best players hurt in the process. Sure, he makes a bunch of three pointers after the game has been decided, but when the game is on the line, he doesn't take care of the ball and plays awful defense. I understand it's difficult to trade a guy no one wants or that the guy(s) we get back will be just as bad or possibly worse than he is, but it is just frustrating to watch him play.

Note30 · Post #3 » by **Note30** » Sat Feb 4, 2023 4:40 pm

Ethomasp31 wrote:They are also a game out of missing the playoffs all together. They still play a PG who doesn't take care of the ball and last night one of his stupid turnovers ended up getting one of our best players hurt in the process. Sure, he makes a bunch of three pointers after the game has been decided, but when the game is on the line, he doesn't take care of the ball and plays awful defense. I understand it's difficult to trade a guy no one wants or that the guy(s) we get back will be just as bad or possibly worse than he is, but it is just frustrating to watch him play.

Trading him for a good player will be hard.

shrink · Post #4 » by **shrink** » Sun Feb 5, 2023 3:15 am

Good idea for a thread, _AIJ_!

moss_is_1 · Post #5 » by **moss_is_1** » Sun Feb 5, 2023 3:25 am

It's insane that one bad week can have you from HCA in the first round to out of the play-in right now.

Will be a nice shot in the arm to get KAT and Jmac back sooner than later, too bad our schedule is so brutal to end the year.

shrink · Post #6 » by **shrink** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 2:50 am

After the DEN win, we moved from 9th to a tie for 6th, and one game out of the 4th seed.

The three top teams in the West (DEN, MEM and SAC) all lost tonight.

younggunsmn · Post #7 » by **younggunsmn** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 3:41 am

Curry injury could be huge if he's out multiple weeks because I fully expected them to jump back into the top 4 if healthy.
Mavs will get better, we need to stay ahead of the Pels when Zion comes back.

shrink · Post #8 » by **shrink** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 3:44 am

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-best-records-since-jan-01

MIN has the second best record in the West since January 1 (13-6)

karch34 · Post #9 » by **karch34** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 4:04 am

This is going to be a crazy 26 game stretch regardless. I think we’re going to go from home court to play in daily unless something dramatic happens

Post #10 » by **Calinks** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 7:48 am

Mavericks getting Kyrie is a massive boost. I expect them to be a top 4 team, those two will be unstoppable.

minimus · Post #11 » by **minimus** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 7:54 am

Calinks wrote:Mavericks getting Kyrie is a massive boost. I expect them to be a top 4 team, those two will be unstoppable.

DAL has been really bad defensively. DFS was important piece of their defense, Kleber is injured. I wonder how Kidd workaround this in defense.

In offense Irving + Doncic is a nightmare.

Post #12 » by **Klomp** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 7:36 pm

minimus wrote:In offense Irving + Doncic is a nightmare.

So was Irving + Durant, supposedly

minimus · Post #13 » by **minimus** » Mon Feb 6, 2023 8:21 pm

Klomp wrote:
minimus wrote:In offense Irving + Doncic is a nightmare.

So was Irving + Durant, supposedly

KD is playing on another level defensively, Claxton has been impressive, O'Neal and Simmons are both solid. I don't see same potential in DAL, who were 26th in defense before trade AND now lost DFS

shrink · Post #14 » by **shrink** » Wed Feb 8, 2023 5:56 pm

With every team in front of winning, the Wolves dropped back to the #9 seed.

We need to beat the Jazz, and it will give us a two game lead over the 10th seed. They are favored.

fattymcgee · Post #15 » by **fattymcgee** » Wed Feb 8, 2023 10:17 pm

With Booker back, Phoenix will definitely stay in front of us and N.O. is already ahead of us without Zion. I don't see us moving up to the top 6 but I also don't see us falling out of the top 10. Hopefully we get hot and pass someone to be top 8 so we get two chances at the play-in.

Isegrim · Post #16 » by **Isegrim** » Thu Feb 9, 2023 10:11 am

In other News:

Lakers looked knocked of but will be much improved after we strengthened them.

Mavs will also be improved.

Suns - Damn! (Is it illegal to trade good players from West to East?)

Jazz are probably out of the Playoff-Race.

As a result our Chances don't look improved after last night. To say the least.

It's up to the Pups to make a push!

80HD · Post #17 » by **80HD** » Thu Feb 9, 2023 10:51 am

After the trades in the NBE last night, Wolves get KAT (soon) and a real PG - Wolves also coming out winners, post trade deadline.

ANT+KAT will be unleashed and now-motivated DPOY-Gobert has just been unlocked with the Conley addition, completing the final form of the Minnesota Jazz.

We’re going to go on a run and grab that #2 seed.

(who spiked my Kool-Aid?)

Ethomasp31 · Post #18 » by **Ethomasp31** » Thu Feb 9, 2023 11:18 am

shrink wrote:https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-best-records-since-jan-01

MIN has the second best record in the West since January 1 (13-6)

They also have had 14 of their 21 games at home since January 1st including 14 of their first 19. They have 16 of their last 26 are on the road. Hopefully thy get KAT back soon and they gel so they can move up the standings, but they may have the most difficult schedule of anyone the last 26 games of the year.

Ethomasp31 · Post #19 » by **Ethomasp31** » Thu Feb 9, 2023 11:24 am

Isegrim wrote:In other News:

Lakers looked knocked of but will be much improved after we strengthened them.

Mavs will also be improved.

Suns - Damn! (Is it illegal to trade good players from West to East?)

Jazz are probably out of the Playoff-Race.

As a result our Chances don't look improved after last night. To say the least.

It's up to the Pups to make a push!

The Lakers are building towards next year and not this year. They wanted the contracts that are expiring to make a huge splash in free agency this summer. They may make a push to make a play in game, but I'd be shocked if they won a 7 game series in the playoffs.

Colbinii · Post #20 » by **Colbinii** » Thu Feb 9, 2023 2:06 pm

Everyone...the 4 and 12 seed are just 3 Games Apart. This is going to be an absolute madhouse this year.

Here are my predictions and thoughts:

-Utah, Portland and OKC slowly drop out of the race post ASB while a healthy AD/LeBron with their new roster gain ground and join the pack, leaving 10 teams in the running
-The Nuggets are the only truly safe team at this point barring an injury to Jokic.
-Grizzles are a near lock with their depth
-Clippers will pickup Westbrook after a buyout and Kawhi is getting healthy + a great coach in Lue, watchout
-Phoenix will be worse if KD is injured but once healthy, the tandem of KD/Booker/CP3/Ayton will win a lot but my god is their depth HORRIBLE
-Dallas isn't any better post-trade as they lose a lot of DFS [I love him, similar impact but different player type to SlowMo]
-Sacramento isn't going to finish 3rd in the West, their defense sucks and teams need to attack Sabonis
-I didn't like the Pelicans before the season and after a hot start they have cooled down, not a buyer here
-Warriors need to make a move, they lack depth
-Blazers just trading Hart for filler/1st, they are sellers

My predictions
1. Denver
2. Memphis
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Golden State Warriors
9. Los Angeles Lakers
10. New Orleans Pelicans