Western Conference | Play-In - (7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs (8) Los Angeles Clippers

[T_Brandon]

Clips will get this.

The Wolves main offensive wings are collectively undersized, and most the Clippers wing defenders are big or can be molded into their defense, and switch and cover for each other pretty well. I also like Covington, Batum, Morris taking turns on Towns to make it tough on him, and not get into a solid rhythm all night, plus potential foul trouble from the constant diving of Zubac, Hartenstein.

Offensively, the Clippers have more broad talent across the roster with less loss when they go past starters... PG13, Powell, Reggie J, Morris, Kennard for creators that can also shoot from anywhere (comfortable or very adept in mid-range!) and are clutch.. then 2nd-level guys like Covington, Batum, Zubac, Hartenstein, and Coffey if needed.

Clips also have much more experience and overall toughness.

Wolves have the talent to win and are certainly capable, but giving the edge to the Clips.

I know this isn't the playoffs, but its at the level of the playoffs and a main thing is all about if you can score in the mid-range offensively, and get to the line -- being past whats easy and basically everyone does (3s and layups).

This
That’s why the Clips basically toyed with the pups this year

[thinktank]

Clips will get this.

The Wolves main offensive wings are collectively undersized, and most the Clippers wing defenders are big or can be molded into their defense, and switch and cover for each other pretty well. I also like Covington, Batum, Morris taking turns on Towns to make it tough on him, and not get into a solid rhythm all night, plus potential foul trouble from the constant diving of Zubac, Hartenstein.

Offensively, the Clippers have more broad talent across the roster with less loss when they go past starters... PG13, Powell, Reggie J, Morris, Kennard for creators that can also shoot from anywhere (comfortable or very adept in mid-range!) and are clutch.. then 2nd-level guys like Covington, Batum, Zubac, Hartenstein, and Coffey if needed.

Clips also have much more experience and overall toughness.

Wolves have the talent to win and are certainly capable, but giving the edge to the Clips.

I know this isn't the playoffs, but its at the level of the playoffs and a main thing is all about if you can score in the mid-range offensively, and get to the line -- being past whats easy and basically everyone does (3s and layups).

This
That’s why the Clips basically toyed with the pups this year

We had nothing figured out when we played the Clips in those first three games. We were terrible.

We’re a very different team now. That doesn’t guarantee a win, however, it deserves discernment.

[T_Brandon]

Clips will get this.

The Wolves main offensive wings are collectively undersized, and most the Clippers wing defenders are big or can be molded into their defense, and switch and cover for each other pretty well. I also like Covington, Batum, Morris taking turns on Towns to make it tough on him, and not get into a solid rhythm all night, plus potential foul trouble from the constant diving of Zubac, Hartenstein.

Offensively, the Clippers have more broad talent across the roster with less loss when they go past starters... PG13, Powell, Reggie J, Morris, Kennard for creators that can also shoot from anywhere (comfortable or very adept in mid-range!) and are clutch.. then 2nd-level guys like Covington, Batum, Zubac, Hartenstein, and Coffey if needed.

Clips also have much more experience and overall toughness.

Wolves have the talent to win and are certainly capable, but giving the edge to the Clips.

I know this isn't the playoffs, but its at the level of the playoffs and a main thing is all about if you can score in the mid-range offensively, and get to the line -- being past whats easy and basically everyone does (3s and layups).

This
That’s why the Clips basically toyed with the pups this year

We had nothing figured out when we played the Clips in those first three games. We were terrible.

We’re a very different team now. That doesn’t guarantee a win, however, it deserves discernment.

Minnesota just lost at home to Washington who didn’t even have Beal

[Rapcity_11]

It would be highly embarrassing for not just the Wolves but the NBA for something like that to already happen with the play-in, the Wolves have so many more wins than the teams below them. Losing back-to-back home games isn't exactly unheard of in playoffs.

It's incredibly rare for a team with significantly more wins to lose back to back home games in the playoffs...

Clippers are not your ordinary 8th seed, They just got back both PG & Norm, possibly Kawhi too.. Their current PO position is not relative to their teams actual capability playing most of the season injured, which would lead to a tough situation for Wolves first game.

Assuming Clippers with PG/Norm back "upsets" the 7th seed, they would now have to win a one off vs a team with nothing to lose & everything to gain. That's their reward for having a winning record over the course of 82 games.

The incentive is there to prevent teams from all out tanking though Portland took that tanking route 2 games up on NO's at the time they chose to tank. What's the 7th seeds advantage for having a clear winning season ? Home court in a game 7 do or die environment.

IMO the 8th seed should be the only spot open to help prevent teams that are close from tanking. The 7th seed is earned, they should not have to make 6th seed to be safe after 82 games played & a 10 game difference in seeding.

Alot of people don't know this but Pels too since acquiring CJ, 12 games under 500, are on a 50 win pace when both he & Ingram play.

Rare when there's no extenuating circumstances to consider. Neither Clippers or Pels healthy over the course of a season are your average 8/9 seeds.

Again, the Wolves have 2 shots to win a home gain against at worst, similar calibre teams. It would be embarrassing for them to lose both. And if they do lose both, they would have gotten steamrolled in the first round anyway.

Why would the 8th seed be any less "earned" than the 7th seed?

Lastly, teams get tough draws all the time in the playoffs due to injuries, teams peaking, trades, etc. This is no different.

[T_Brandon]

If Minnesota was in the east they would probably be an 11 seed. Just a lot better 1-10 in the east. Last month their D has been HS level .

[Clemenza]

How are the Wolves more talented? Our bench is way deeper than them

[dockingsched]

It would be highly embarrassing for not just the Wolves but the NBA for something like that to already happen with the play-in, the Wolves have so many more wins than the teams below them. Losing back-to-back home games isn't exactly unheard of in playoffs.

It's incredibly rare for a team with significantly more wins to lose back to back home games in the playoffs...

This is basically an unprecedented event though.

It's one thing to lose to the same team twice in a row. But the Wolves would be playing two different teams. And they might even be underdogs in the first one with Paul George back.

This to me is one of the better arguments in favor of the play-in, better teams tjst suffer injuries during the season still have a chance to make the playoffs, cause better teams making the playoffs is always good.

If the wolves aren’t as good as the clippers and just have a better record cause of the clips injuries, then it’s a good thing the clips still have a chance to knock them off.

[T_Brandon]

How are the Wolves more talented? Our bench is way deeper than them

They aren’t. With PG back even without KL - Clippers would win a seven game series 4-1 or 4-2. They smoked Minnesota three out of four times twice by more than 20 points it’s a horrible match up for Minnesota and I expect the clippers to cruise.

[Not Suave Rico]

With PG and Powell back this Clippers team is better than the one that went to the WCF last season.

[canada_dry]

Whoever loses this probably wins vs winner of pelicans/ spurs.

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

[C64]

If Minnesota was in the east they would probably be an 11 seed. Just a lot better 1-10 in the east. Last month their D has been HS level .

The top 4 out of 5 teams in the league are in the west.

And Minnesota would be a 6th seed in the East as far as record is concerned.
They also have 3 guys in the top 40 in points per game, certainly not a lottery team in the East.

[_AIJ_]

How are the Wolves more talented? Our bench is way deeper than them

They aren’t. With PG back even without KL - Clippers would win a seven game series 4-1 or 4-2. They smoked Minnesota three out of four times twice by more than 20 points it’s a horrible match up for Minnesota and I expect the clippers to cruise.

You coming up strong DH! Keep it up if it makes you feel better

[T_Brandon]

If Minnesota was in the east they would probably be an 11 seed. Just a lot better 1-10 in the east. Last month their D has been HS level .

The top 4 out of 5 teams in the league are in the west.

And Minnesota would be a 6th seed in the East as far as record is concerned.
They also have 3 guys in the top 40 in points per game, certainly not a lottery team in the East.

The Pups would be an 11 seed. Just got smoked at home by Washington. Lol

[C64]

If Minnesota was in the east they would probably be an 11 seed. Just a lot better 1-10 in the east. Last month their D has been HS level .

The top 4 out of 5 teams in the league are in the west.

And Minnesota would be a 6th seed in the East as far as record is concerned.
They also have 3 guys in the top 40 in points per game, certainly not a lottery team in the East.

The Pups would be an 11 seed. Just got smoked at home by Washington. Lol

They have a .568 record right now, that's the 6th seed right now if in the East.

[_AIJ_]

The top 4 out of 5 teams in the league are in the west.

And Minnesota would be a 6th seed in the East as far as record is concerned.
They also have 3 guys in the top 40 in points per game, certainly not a lottery team in the East.

The Pups would be an 11 seed. Just got smoked at home by Washington. Lol

They have a .568 record right now, that's the 6th seed right now if in the East.

Hes a troll with lots of accounts. He hates the Wolves with passion for no reason. Maybe he is KG

[C64]

The Pups would be an 11 seed. Just got smoked at home by Washington. Lol

They have a .568 record right now, that's the 6th seed right now if in the East.

Hes a troll with lots of accounts. He hates the Wolves with passion for no reason. Maybe he is KG

Ah ... a troll who can't count or understand simple numbers.

Also ... who on earth has that much time to switch accounts and say clearly disprovable wrong things?

[thinktank]

This
That’s why the Clips basically toyed with the pups this year

We had nothing figured out when we played the Clips in those first three games. We were terrible.

We’re a very different team now. That doesn’t guarantee a win, however, it deserves discernment.

Minnesota just lost at home to Washington who didn’t even have Beal

You didn’t refute anything I said.

Regarding Washington, Towns shot 20% under his average. How often doesn’t that happen? Rarely. Also that was McDaniels first game back. We also had just beaten Dallas and Denver, both better than Washington. That’s why they play the games.

We’ll see what happens, obviously.

[T_Brandon]

The top 4 out of 5 teams in the league are in the west.

And Minnesota would be a 6th seed in the East as far as record is concerned.
They also have 3 guys in the top 40 in points per game, certainly not a lottery team in the East.

The Pups would be an 11 seed. Just got smoked at home by Washington. Lol

They have a .568 record right now, that's the 6th seed right now if in the East.

if they played on the east they’d be at best the 11 seed. They have a cushy Western Conference schedule to play all year. Hell even Orlando beat Minnesota twice. Lol Don’t even look up what Philadelphia did to them in Minnesota - it was ugly as hell.

[T_Brandon]

We had nothing figured out when we played the Clips in those first three games. We were terrible.

We’re a very different team now. That doesn’t guarantee a win, however, it deserves discernment.

Minnesota just lost at home to Washington who didn’t even have Beal

You didn’t refute anything I said.

Regarding Washington, Towns shot 20% under his average. How often doesn’t that happen? Rarely. Also that was McDaniels first game back. We also had just beaten Dallas and Denver, both better than Washington. That’s why they play the games.

We’ll see what happens, obviously.

Dude you lost to Orlando twice
Lll

[thinktank]

Minnesota just lost at home to Washington who didn’t even have Beal

You didn’t refute anything I said.

Regarding Washington, Towns shot 20% under his average. How often doesn’t that happen? Rarely. Also that was McDaniels first game back. We also had just beaten Dallas and Denver, both better than Washington. That’s why they play the games.

We’ll see what happens, obviously.

Dude you lost to Orlando twice
Lll

I have a life and you don’t, DH.

I look forward to your Sixers getting crushed by Toronto.

Trust the process (of fading into irrelevancy)!