The Positivity Thread

[FrenchMinnyFan]

I'm pretty confident we ended 4 or 5 and able to make a run. We are deep right now. I know some do think that we need a second star player to win ( see KD trade topics) but which other team got a bench with Donte, NAZ or NAW who could be starter in 80% of NBA teams? For the point is to stay healthy. And we will be tough to beat.

Jaden has become something more than we could have reasonably expected. On this trajectory our floor is much higher. I have doubts Mike can play in the playoffs, and not having a true PG will hurt. Having a Point Forward in Randle and a release valve in MCD’s mid range shot will really help.

I'm pretty sure the last 20 games Conley has the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA at close to 48%. He has an assist to turnover ratio of 5 to 0.9. I'm not saying he should play as much as DDV, but he is certainly playable in the playoffs.

You perfectly right. Actually Mike shoot 51% at 3 last 20 games, ratio Assis/TO is correct. Sharing min with DDV will be perfect for the PO. We have so many weapons at 3 that it is almost impossible to another teams to guard all guys. ANT, NAZ, Jaden...we have to level up our defense a bit with Rudy back and we can go. Finger cross for staying fresh and healthy.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

For the defensive part, Mike will always be a target due to his size. Rudy have to cover it when possible and we have to avoid miss match as much as possible. Not easy but we do not have much choice. Rob is far from being a starter.

[winforlose]

For the defensive part, Mike will always be a target due to his size. Rudy have to cover it when possible and we have to avoid miss match as much as possible. Not easy but we do not have much choice. Rob is far from being a starter.

Unless we go without a PG and use what limited ball handling we have. When the choices are bad players or non PGs you choose the lesser of two evils. This is why we are not likely to win a chip, but we could advance a couple of rounds, depending on matchups.

[shrink]

The 141 point barrage against the Spurs have moved MIN into the NBA’s Top 10 in ORtg. They remain in the Top 10 in DRtg (6th), and being in the Top 10 in both categories has been a reliable predictor of playoff success.

[winforlose]

The 141 point barrage against the Spurs have moved MIN into the NBA’s Top 10 in ORtg. They remain in the Top 10 in DRtg (6th), and being in the Top 10 in both categories has been a reliable predictor of playoff success.

True. That said playoff basketball is a different level, and Mike and Dilly are not up to it. The next best PG is DDV who Finch will not start. After that it is either Randle (who turns it over a lot,) or NAW (who cannot handle defensive pressure without turning the ball over.) Against the Heat we failed to inbound twice in a row. That is not the first we have failed to get the ball across half court two possessions in a row. Our offense must be great in the playoffs if we have any hope of advancing with either Mike or Dilly on the floor. Moreover we struggle without a true PG. We have a massive roster hole and elected not to fill it. So I don’t see us as a first round out, but I also don’t see us coming out of the west.

[BlacJacMac]

The 141 point barrage against the Spurs have moved MIN into the NBA’s Top 10 in ORtg. They remain in the Top 10 in DRtg (6th), and being in the Top 10 in both categories has been a reliable predictor of playoff success.

True. That said playoff basketball is a different level, and Mike and Dilly are not up to it. The next best PG is DDV who Finch will not start. After that it is either Randle (who turns it over a lot,) or NAW (who cannot handle defensive pressure without turning the ball over.) Against the Heat we failed to inbound twice in a row. That is not the first we have failed to get the ball across half court two possessions in a row. Our offense must be great in the playoffs if we have any hope of advancing with either Mike or Dilly on the floor. Moreover we struggle without a true PG. We have a massive roster hole and elected not to fill it. So I don’t see us as a first round out, but I also don’t see us coming out of the west.

I think you meant to post this in "The Wet Blanket" thread...

[shrink]

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

13 teams in the West make up the 17 hardest remaining schedules. All .500 records or better.

MIN is #27, which will likely drop even lower after tonight’s game with DEN. We just need to beat a lot of tankers, while the rest of the West is fighting with other playoff teams, and we could move up the standings.

[winforlose]

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

13 teams in the West make up the 17 hardest remaining schedules.

MIN is #27, which will likely drop even lower after tonight’s game with DEN. We just need to beat a lot of tankers, while the rest of the West is fighting with other playoff teams, and we could move up the standings.

This is not comprehensive but

Lakers: LeBron James out at least a few weeks
Grizzlies: JJJ out for at least another week or two
Nuggets: Gordon out likely a few weeks
Rockets: Amen Thompson just went down didn’t he?
Warriors: Getting Kuminga back might actually disrupt their new found rhythm.

We need to stay healthy, stay focused, and finish strong. 3rd is not outside the realm of possibility. I think 2nd, 3rd, or 6th gets us to the WCF. 4th or 5th is likely a 2nd round elimination.

[BlacJacMac]

Some interesting stuff here. Dude is high on Randle.

Wolves talk starts at 27:18

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=ALLNBAPodcast

[ILC]

Huge win last night to keep my 50 wins dream alive. 18-5 needed rest of the way.

Not looking great.

Have to go 5-1 in the next 6 and then two more 6-1 runs to close the season.

6-0 since this. 5 game home stand coming up, can we sweep it?

[BlacJacMac]

Stolen from Canis:

GooseHerder
Fun Fact Friday, Thursday edition:

We're on a six game winning streak.

In the 20 seasons from 2004-2005 through last season, these are all of our win streaks of at least 6 games:
6 games coached by Finchy
6 games coached by Chris Finch
7 games coached by El Senior Fincho

Same Guy also has 4 win streaks of exactly 5 games, which is the same number as the Wolves had total in the 14 seasons prior to his stint.

Adelman and Thibs coached a combined 434 games and won 194 of them.
Finchy has coached 354 games and won 198.

[winforlose]

Stolen from Canis:

GooseHerder
Fun Fact Friday, Thursday edition:

We're on a six game winning streak.

In the 20 seasons from 2004-2005 through last season, these are all of our win streaks of at least 6 games:
6 games coached by Finchy
6 games coached by Chris Finch
7 games coached by El Senior Fincho

Same Guy also has 4 win streaks of exactly 5 games, which is the same number as the Wolves had total in the 14 seasons prior to his stint.

Adelman and Thibs coached a combined 434 games and won 194 of them.
Finchy has coached 354 games and won 198.

Yeah, and I am sure Ant, KAT, and the other high level Wolves playing with a talented group had nothing to do with it.

[BlacJacMac]

Stolen from Canis:

GooseHerder
Fun Fact Friday, Thursday edition:

We're on a six game winning streak.

In the 20 seasons from 2004-2005 through last season, these are all of our win streaks of at least 6 games:
6 games coached by Finchy
6 games coached by Chris Finch
7 games coached by El Senior Fincho

Same Guy also has 4 win streaks of exactly 5 games, which is the same number as the Wolves had total in the 14 seasons prior to his stint.

Adelman and Thibs coached a combined 434 games and won 194 of them.
Finchy has coached 354 games and won 198.

Yeah, and I am sure Ant, KAT, and the other high level Wolves playing with a talented group had nothing to do with it.

You really are the black cloud of this thread aren't you?

[winforlose]

Stolen from Canis:

GooseHerder
Fun Fact Friday, Thursday edition:

We're on a six game winning streak.

In the 20 seasons from 2004-2005 through last season, these are all of our win streaks of at least 6 games:
6 games coached by Finchy
6 games coached by Chris Finch
7 games coached by El Senior Fincho

Same Guy also has 4 win streaks of exactly 5 games, which is the same number as the Wolves had total in the 14 seasons prior to his stint.

Adelman and Thibs coached a combined 434 games and won 194 of them.
Finchy has coached 354 games and won 198.

Yeah, and I am sure Ant, KAT, and the other high level Wolves playing with a talented group had nothing to do with it.

You really are the black cloud of this thread aren't you?

lol. Yeah because nothing says negative like saying we are going to win at least one playoff series. Or saying we are likely to end in the top 6. This isn’t the blowing smoke thread. We don’t have to openly lie about the circumstances of our team to be positive. Yes Finch has more wins than his predecessors. But neither had four full years of Ant (not to mention a mostly complete fifth year.) Thibs had one year of Jimmy before things collapsed. The year prior Zach tore his ACL (though we were not that good before hand anyway.) The level of talent Finch has IMO surpasses the 03-04 season. In that sense it is positive that we have a winning record, but shameful that we are not in the two seed and discussing our odds of catching OKC for the 1. We can beat everyone, so we shouldn’t be losing to just anyone.

[BlacJacMac]

From Post #1:

So here is one single thread in a sea of many others, that is ONLY for positive posts about the Wolves.

But I get it. I used to be a lot like you. If I disagreed with something I felt it was my duty to respond. Eventually I learned to be a lot more picky in choosing my battles. Deciding either it wasn't a big enough deal, or I was debating someone that is "undebatable".

But that's what literally every other thread is for. This is one that is really close to a "blowing smoke" thread.

If someone posts something positive here and you don't like it or agree with it, its actually OK to ignore it. You don't have to keep refuting or qualifying other people's thoughts.

[TimberKat]

I can feel it in my bones, Wolves are going to win the chip this year, after coming so close last year

[FrenchMinnyFan]

Don't know if we gonna win but t the moment we are dam good. Great defense, good ball movement ( was about time, but finally ANT and Julius understand they don't have to keep the ball for 15 seconds each possession).
I feel optimistic we can make a run, to go where, that's the question?

My only concern is remaining healthy. But we are deep, we can limit min to all starters specially old ones. Rest Mike, Rudy on the B2B if we can and we should be more ready for the PO that we were last year. Last year, we run out of gas on the PO against Dallas with Rudy tired , ANT and Mike bothers with some minor injuries. IF we can avoid this, i'm excited to see where we will ended.

[TimberKat]

After last night's win. Wolves now has the 3rd best points differential in the West, tie with HOU at 4.5. MEM is second at 5.2. This team has potential but just can't win the close ones.

[life_saver]

Jaden is so good in midrange shooting (10-16 ft range)...like his shooting numbers from that range are elite (55% so far this season & 51% in his career so far)...no reason why Wolves can't run more plays for Jaden. Especially in clutch time, Jaden's middy should be an option

[Loaf_of_bread]

We have no one injured.