AK replaces Gugliotta next to KG

[migya]

Minnesota Timberwolves made their playoff debut in 1997, losing to Houston 3-0. Gugliotta was an allstar in 97 and left after 98. With AK from 2004 onwards in place of Gugliotta 1997 onwards, how do the TWolves perform?

Do they win playoff series?

How far do they go each season?

Any championships?

Would KG and AK be the best defensive duo in the nba at any point?

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Are you assuming modern strategy or what?
They would have both been used as SF, at the time, while today they'd be a nightmare frontcourt.

[Colbinii]

This makes more sense with 1998 being 2002 AK47, resulting in 2008 AK47 overlapping with 2004 KG.

As it stands, I doubt those Timberwolves win but 2000 and 2002 are there best shots as a title.

[dygaction]

This makes more sense with 1998 being 2002 AK47, resulting in 2008 AK47 overlapping with 2004 KG.

As it stands, I doubt those Timberwolves win but 2000 and 2002 are there best shots as a title.

So 2000 and 2002 TWolves was one AK47 away from a title? He was a KG superlite and not going to move the needle. They may have first round HOA and stop at 2nd round.

[eminence]

'04-'06 AK was a superstud when healthy (top 10-15 player). Good player prior and after.

Depending on the overlap of years I could certainly see the Wolves getting over the hump.

[dygaction]

'04-'06 AK was a superstud when healthy (top 10-15 player). Good player prior and after.

Depending on the overlap of years I could certainly see the Wolves getting over the hump.

I know it is sentimental to talk about AK47 as a Utah fan, but he was really a poor man, even slimmer version of KG and they have too many overlaps. A Gilbert Arenas may benefit TWolves more than AK47.

[70sFan]

Garnett and AK47 together in 2004 could rival Pistons defense, they were absurd that year.

I'm not sure if they'd get the title assuming Cassell's injury. If Sam is healthy, then they could do that vs Pistons. Not a certain thing though.

[eminence]

'04-'06 AK was a superstud when healthy (top 10-15 player). Good player prior and after.

Depending on the overlap of years I could certainly see the Wolves getting over the hump.

I know it is sentimental to talk about AK47 as a Utah fan, but he was really a poor man, even slimmer version of KG and they have too many overlaps. A Gilbert Arenas may benefit TWolves more than AK47.

Most Utah fans kinda hate AK honestly.

[Colbinii]

This makes more sense with 1998 being 2002 AK47, resulting in 2008 AK47 overlapping with 2004 KG.

As it stands, I doubt those Timberwolves win but 2000 and 2002 are there best shots as a title.

So 2000 and 2002 TWolves was one AK47 away from a title? He was a KG superlite and not going to move the needle. They may have first round HOA and stop at 2nd round.

I'm not sure if they were one AK47 away from a title, in fact they were in all likelihood more than one win away, which is why I said "I doubt the Timberwolves win..."

Make sure you read carefully before responding with such haste.

[migya]

Think with Terrell Brandon and Szczerbiak shooting that team could make one or more WCF, not sure about beating Utah, Spurs or Lakers from 98 to 04. AK and KG would be about as good a defending and versatile duo ever.

[dygaction]

This makes more sense with 1998 being 2002 AK47, resulting in 2008 AK47 overlapping with 2004 KG.

As it stands, I doubt those Timberwolves win but 2000 and 2002 are there best shots as a title.

So 2000 and 2002 TWolves was one AK47 away from a title? He was a KG superlite and not going to move the needle. They may have first round HOA and stop at 2nd round.

I'm not sure if they were one AK47 away from a title, in fact they were in all likelihood more than one win away, which is why I said "I doubt the Timberwolves win..."

Make sure you read carefully before responding with such haste.

Make sure you proofread your post then. 2000 and 2002 they don't have shots, and are another KG away from contending.

[Owly]

So 2000 and 2002 TWolves was one AK47 away from a title? He was a KG superlite and not going to move the needle. They may have first round HOA and stop at 2nd round.

I'm not sure if they were one AK47 away from a title, in fact they were in all likelihood more than one win away, which is why I said "I doubt the Timberwolves win..."

Make sure you read carefully before responding with such haste.

Make sure you proofread your post then. 2000 and 2002 they don't have shots, and are another KG away from contending.

Are you arguing that it is literally impossible, ran 1000 heck, 1000000 times over that the Timberwolves win 0 of them? Is your argument that there is zero probability in these years?

If not then these can be their "best shot". Given this is in a sentence beginning "As it stands, I doubt those Timberwolves win ..." it seems hard to see how one would read this as a suggestion these chances are great.

This is far less dubious than the notion that adding Andrei Kirilenko - a player who showed very substantial impact in his prime - replacing a player who goes anyway (i.e. we can assuming keeping other players as reserves) coming into teams where for instance (2000) a 36-year-old Sam Mitchell is in the rotation is "not going to move the needle".

If the point were meant to be ... those Timberwolves are a substantial distance from contending as it is ... I think that's fair (and '02 playoff roster worse than RS numbers with the loss of Brandon). But Kirilenko is a high impact player pushing bad players out of the rotation. I don't see how he isn't moving their points margin and personally I would first glance guess move it into fringe contender range.

'04-'06 AK was a superstud when healthy (top 10-15 player). Good player prior and after.

Depending on the overlap of years I could certainly see the Wolves getting over the hump.

I know it is sentimental to talk about AK47 as a Utah fan, but he was really a poor man, even slimmer version of KG and they have too many overlaps. A Gilbert Arenas may benefit TWolves more than AK47.

Fwiw, I would argue that their overlapping skills as I perceive it - versatile defense, rim protection, depending on the year passing, evidence of high impact without requiring high usage, would seem to be the sort of things that scale fairly well ... I'm open to being wrong here.