Postseason Watch

[Domejandro]

The Athletic's No Dunks podcast (good listen) hosts today unanimously agreed the NBA should change the play-in roles because the Wolves shouldn't have to worry about a tournament to make the playoffs after their performance this year

I disagree. It would be unfortunate if it negatively impacts the Wolves, but I enjoy the premise, and you shouldn't change it just because it hurts one team.

I fully agree with you, I think the Play-In is great. It adds stakes for teams that otherwise likely wouldn't experience that level of pressure, and the push for the sixth seed in the West has been an all out war.

[theGreatRC]

I like the idea of the play-in, but only if the teams are xlose in Ws. We have 13 wins more than the Pelicans and there is a chance we could play them if things go wrong.

There should be a “within 5 games” play-in tourney. The fact that a team with not even 30 wins can get a shot at the playoffs is bad design.

[Basti]

Man, we will be pissed and all be on suicide watch if the Wolves somehow were to lose both games in the play in tournament. This would be the biggest blow in a long history of big blows this franchise and its fans have had to endure. If somehow the Lakers turn back the clock and their vets somehow all have a great game I will possibly get a heart attack or an aneurysm.

No. We’ll be fine.

Their record speaks for itself. They’ve improved significantly and for me, this year, that’s been more than enough.

You bring up a good point and I agree with you. It would be a great improvement and the team has exceeded expectations by a lot. That's a great foundation for this young team to build on.

But it still would feel utterly disappointing if we somehow wouldn't see a Wolves squad play in the postseason because of what would be two losses whereas a team that had lost far more games would make it. On the other hand, I reckon that guys like KAT and Ant would most likely be very very driven and focused on taking their games up to another level if the worst case scenario happened.

[Neeva]

Play in games should be between teams in 8-11th place.7th should be safely in.

[shrink]

A 6-3 match up between the Wolves and the Warriors (hold the Curry) would be a great way to ease our young guys into playoff basketball.

[winforlose]

A 6-3 match up between the Wolves and the Warriors (hold the Curry) would be a great way to ease our young guys into playoff basketball.

You really think the Warriors can hold 3rd without Curry? I think they will be luck to go 3-9 in the next 12. If they go 1-11 or 0-12 then we can push them into 7 and move up to at least 6.

[shrink]

A 6-3 match up between the Wolves and the Warriors (hold the Curry) would be a great way to ease our young guys into playoff basketball.

You really think the Warriors can hold 3rd without Curry? I think they will be luck to go 3-9 in the next 12. If they go 1-11 or 0-12 then we can push them into 7 and move up to at least 6.

Yes. They have a 3.5 game lead on Utah, and at this point of the season, there are going to be teams actively trying to lose.

I just looked at their schedule, and in their remaining 12 games, they play the Spurs twice, the Magic, the Kings, and the Pels on the final day of the season.

[King Malta]

**** that dinwiddie was a bum ass in Washington and now is clutch lol Dallas is going to choke so hard in the playoffs. I just know it they using all their luck and won’t have any left.

I'm very happy to see the Wolves good again, you guys as Minny fans deserve it, I'm dead serious.
But dude you are so salty, take it easy

I don't hate you guys at all but if you could stop winning that'd be very nice of you

[winforlose]

A 6-3 match up between the Wolves and the Warriors (hold the Curry) would be a great way to ease our young guys into playoff basketball.

You really think the Warriors can hold 3rd without Curry? I think they will be luck to go 3-9 in the next 12. If they go 1-11 or 0-12 then we can push them into 7 and move up to at least 6.

Yes. They have a 3.5 game lead on Utah, and at this point of the season, there are going to be teams actively trying to lose.

I just looked at their schedule, and in their remaining 12 games, they play the Spurs twice, the Magic, the Kings, and the Pels on the final day of the season.

I can see them losing to the Magic, the Spurs might be fighting for the playin, and the Pels will be healthy as will the Lakers by the time GSW plays them. We have seen countless times that tanking teams sometimes beat playoff teams, especially when the playoff team is injured and limping to the finish. Klay, and Draymond both are not back to full strength, Wiggins is a clown car when given real responsibility, Looney is a mess against real bigs, and I just don’t see them winning half their games. I guess time will tell.

[Slim Tubby]

Man, we will be pissed and all be on suicide watch if the Wolves somehow were to lose both games in the play in tournament. This would be the biggest blow in a long history of big blows this franchise and its fans have had to endure. If somehow the Lakers turn back the clock and their vets somehow all have a great game I will possibly get a heart attack or an aneurysm.

No. We’ll be fine.

Their record speaks for itself. They’ve improved significantly and for me, this year, that’s been more than enough.

Well said.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jscott]

Man, we will be pissed and all be on suicide watch if the Wolves somehow were to lose both games in the play in tournament. This would be the biggest blow in a long history of big blows this franchise and its fans have had to endure. If somehow the Lakers turn back the clock and their vets somehow all have a great game I will possibly get a heart attack or an aneurysm.

No. We’ll be fine.

Their record speaks for itself. They’ve improved significantly and for me, this year, that’s been more than enough.

You bring up a good point and I agree with you. It would be a great improvement and the team has exceeded expectations by a lot. That's a great foundation for this young team to build on.

But it still would feel utterly disappointing if we somehow wouldn't see a Wolves squad play in the postseason because of what would be two losses whereas a team that had lost far more games would make it. On the other hand, I reckon that guys like KAT and Ant would most likely be very very driven and focused on taking their games up to another level if the worst case scenario happened.

100% agree!!

[Calinks]

I think there is something to the 5 games or so back idea. I do like the play in because it gives struggling teams something to aspire to and on paper, if a team is good enough to be in our position we should be able to handle 1 of 2 wins to lesser teams but yea it is scary and kind of unfail when you are this far ahead.

I think there should be factors to make the play-in game out of reach but they should be pretty big factors, maybe more than 5 games. Maybe something that looks at recent play (last 15 games or so) and factors in how well the teams in question have been playing. A super hot 9th seed playing a 7th seed who has been floundering is more compelling than a 9th seed who was getting smacked up all season trying to get lucky.

[shrink]

I heard Bill Simmons suggested that we keep the play in tournament, but a 9 or 10 team would have to have a minimum number of wins to qualify, or else the 7 and 8 seed could get a “bye,” like the old system. This would prevent a team who isn’t a legitimate playoff-caliber team from lucking into playoffs.

Thoughts?

[Klomp]

I think the scariest part is that it's a one-off game. Easy to have a fluke occur.

[BlacJacMac]

I think the scariest part is that it's a one-off game. Easy to have a fluke occur.

At least if you finish 7th or 8th and you lose the first game, you still have a 2nd chance to make the Playoffs by beating the winner of the 9/10 game.

[Klomp]

The biggest thing in our favor as the likely No. 7 seed is both games would be at home.

[Worm Guts]

I think the scariest part is that it's a one-off game. Easy to have a fluke occur.

At least if you finish 7th or 8th and you lose the first game, you still have a 2nd chance to make the Playoffs by beating the winner of the 9/10 game.

With all the discussion of how great it would be to get the 6th seed, nobody mentions how important the difference between 7/8 and 9/10 is. Luckily I think a top 8 is pretty much clinched for us.

[NebWolvesFan]

I think the scariest part is that it's a one-off game. Easy to have a fluke occur.

At least if you finish 7th or 8th and you lose the first game, you still have a 2nd chance to make the Playoffs by beating the winner of the 9/10 game.

With all the discussion of how great it would be to get the 6th seed, nobody mentions how important the difference between 7/8 and 9/10 is. Luckily I think a top 8 is pretty much clinched for us.

The 7th slot gives you two home games and increases the chance to advance by a lot. I can't see Minnesota losing two home games - they are 16-3 at home since the Cleveland route on Dec. 10.

[moss_is_1]

Mavs in Philly
Denver in Cleveland
Clippers playing in Utah

[winforlose]

Dallas down 12 with 1 min left. Wolves go to 2.5 back of Dallas with 2 games against them. The Nuggets and Cavs game is nuggets up 9 to start the 4th. Big consequences for both teams. A Nuggets loss gives us control of our destiny. A Cavs loss puts the Raptors in 6 if they beat the Lakers and pushes the Cavs to 7.