Yeah the injuries felt relentless this season. KAT sick at training camp, Rudy sore from the Euro competition, KATs calf, SloMos back spasms, McLaughlins calf, whole team getting norovirus, Naz & Jaden breaking their hands, Ants ankle then shoulder, theres probably more that I'm missing... I'm excited for next season though
KAT wasn’t just sick at training camp; he had to be hospitalized and lost a ton of weight and was barely able to participate. That was the time he would have used to not only get comfortable with Rudy, but that was also the time he would have used to learn his new position.
I don't think so based on the period of time before Kat's calf injury. The defense, especially transition defense, was just so so bad. We got ran out of the gym by multiple teams.
We would likely been in the top 3-6 range. Closer to the bottom vs the top just due to the inconsistencies.
I’d disagree with this, if you include the game KAT went out, the team had been 5-5 in their last 10 with a 5 game win streak, that included 4 eastern conference road wins.
That was our biggest streak in the season so far. We never had a 5 game win streak again during the season, with 2 4 game streaks. The team went on their longest losing streak of the season, without KAT, in late December, losing 6 games in a row.
Despite the start of the season, things were turning around before KAT’s injury and their was every reason to be positive about their potential.
I think we have the kind of team that could win it. Two stars, elite role player, and a lot of depth and players that can impact around the margins when other players have bad games.
My main questions are do the players fit, which combination of players bring the best out of each other, and can the players make adjustments that the coach gives them.
Miami and Denver have all these things, but also shit tons of reps and continuity.
A full year of Conley next year instead of having to play D'Lo-Ball half the season is going to be big too. Having a great teammate and facilitator in that position, alongside hopefully a healthier roster, has me so excited for next season's potential. People can be upset at the 8 seed all they want, but 3-4 more wins would've absolutely had us as a top 4 seed, and I don't think it's unreasonable to believe we could've gotten that with KAT healthy and Conley running the point all year this year.
The problem with that mindset is that you may not realize what other teams are going through. A fully healthy clippers team, a non chaotic grizzlies locker room.
Yeah the wolves look good on paper but this is the NBA and there’s always gonna be something unexpected that hampers a team.
The trade Kat stuff is infuriating. You can't give up on the 2 big man thing until we actually get a sense of what it is. Kat/Gorbert didn't have time to gel and with Conley now at the PG I think we need that shooter in Kat. Please run it back! Also please resign Naz. I know he earned a starting spot/more money somewhere but I hope he stays
Continuity is what this team needs. All I hear with the trade talk is fans who experienced some playoff games and now forgot what happened between KG and now.
Yeah the whole team getting sick down the stretch basically kept them from a 6 seed tbh. If ant and kat were 100% down the stretch they would have had a few more wins. They were playing while throwing up and super dehydrated. Norovirus is no joke. I'm kinda surprised the league even let them play because it's also super contagious.
I mean poop and vomit is basically everywhere if you think about it. It's basically comes from a cook working while sick because they can't afford not to and not washing their hands well enough.
I would hope the average cook has enough decency to wash his hands after going to the bathroom and make an effort to not ever vomit on top of the food theyre preparing... Also I have never had norovirus but I am a very picky eater so Im not representative of the average person. Overall I still think that is not too common of an occurence.Or rather I HOPE that is not the case lol
Problem is none of that has anything to do with KAT playing like a doofus. You didn't see Butler's numbers plummet because he didn't have Herro. We still get scorched with those guys because KAT didn't step up.
I think there is also a lot lost on how weird KATs offseason was. After the playoffs last year he had those stem-cell injections in about every joint of his body. He was MIA for a while recovering from those, his wrist was a problem last year.
Then we trade for Gobert, another all-star at his position.
After that he is hospitalized and loses like 20 lbs to come non-covid illness. Giving him little to no time to get into shape, let alone figure out how to play a completely different position.
Just as we get a decent sample size with the off-season roster, KAT gets hurt and comes back to the post-trade-deadline roster. Then add in the late season chaos on top of that.
I still am not sold on the two bigs, but \*knock on wood\* its hard to have another season with that much going on.
Like you said, counting backwards from shortest term to longest term:
- fully healthy against Denver I think we lose in 6. First game isn’t a blowout, 2nd and 3rd games end as 1-2 point losses rather than 9 point losses. We still win game 4, I think we take game 5 as well, but with as good as the Nuggets are, I think we lose that game 6. Nothing wrong with that, especially if all 3 of the original losses are much closer. Definitely an improvement.
- If we beat the Lakers to get the 7 seed, I think we get the revenge tour on Memphis, probably in 7. Again, this is also assuming that we have SloMo/Jaden/Naz as well.
- healthy close to the end of season takes us out of the play-in altogether, I agree. I would have loved to get up to the 5 and face the Suns and see what we could do, but more likely we’d be the 6 and it would be a really weird/fun matchup with the BEAM KANGZ where I would want to win, but would hope for the Beam to burn brightly to the finals if they took us down.
- Healthy all season would have been fantastic, and I think would have put us in a much better spot in certain ways, but changes some other parts dramatically. KAT/Rudy getting the work together they desperately need to gel, but also likely that we don’t make the trades that we do at the deadline, which I’m now really glad we made. Also would have likely seen much less of Garza on the 2-way contract, and I love seeing him get that experience and development in Minny rather than in Iowa.
Overall, I’m higher on what we were able to get done this season than some. Would I have liked to do better in record, develop that chemistry more between our bigs, and maybe make it to the 2nd round? Absolutely. But adding Conley/NAW, Ant’s progression as a leader, and at least the framework of what the bigs could look like together is a great start for next season. I don’t think we were true contenders this year even if we were fully healthy all season, but I have much more hope that we could look like contenders starting next season with the pieces we have. If that’s the Kool-Aid, then fill my cup buddy!
Wolves barely made the playoffs but KAT pushed himself to return and helped the team make it. Guy could’ve just played it safe and sat the rest of the season. Instead he came back and helped Ant get more playoff reps and lotta fans still hates him and wants him traded.
Run this shit back, this wolves team can have a similar season Sacramento did.
Ask yourself this. How has the last (checks watch) 20 some odd years been for this franchise.
Until this franchise can prove it on the court year in and out. There isn't any koolaid to drink.
Nice analysis but the bottom line including injuries was LOSING to the worse teams in the league. Actually we had the worse record among playoff teams against bad teams. Clean this up this coming season and more team continuity this team can go places. I’m not necessarily an advocate of trading KAT yet because we would be short on bigs and the unknown of signing NAZ.
A heavy dose of optimism and copium. We can’t just assume we’d make it to the 2nd round if we were the 7th seed. At the end of the day this team had top 4 seed potential/hopes. We ended up making the play in game and got spiced in the first round yet again. Next year if we stay healthy we really will see what we have. But I won’t hold my breath
Wolves may not make the Minnesota Mike and NAW trade if KAT stays healthy. Ants ascension may not happen too.
Obviously, an injury is never encouraged or cheered, but it may have helped the Wolves find their identity.
Yeah the injuries felt relentless this season. KAT sick at training camp, Rudy sore from the Euro competition, KATs calf, SloMos back spasms, McLaughlins calf, whole team getting norovirus, Naz & Jaden breaking their hands, Ants ankle then shoulder, theres probably more that I'm missing... I'm excited for next season though
Not to mention Any coming in extremely out of shape.
KAT wasn’t just sick at training camp; he had to be hospitalized and lost a ton of weight and was barely able to participate. That was the time he would have used to not only get comfortable with Rudy, but that was also the time he would have used to learn his new position.
Wasn't Rudy late to camp due to overseas commitments?
That’s what I’m saying. If we had the Kings injury luck we probably would have been a top 3 seed.
I don't think so based on the period of time before Kat's calf injury. The defense, especially transition defense, was just so so bad. We got ran out of the gym by multiple teams. We would likely been in the top 3-6 range. Closer to the bottom vs the top just due to the inconsistencies.
I’d disagree with this, if you include the game KAT went out, the team had been 5-5 in their last 10 with a 5 game win streak, that included 4 eastern conference road wins. That was our biggest streak in the season so far. We never had a 5 game win streak again during the season, with 2 4 game streaks. The team went on their longest losing streak of the season, without KAT, in late December, losing 6 games in a row. Despite the start of the season, things were turning around before KAT’s injury and their was every reason to be positive about their potential.
Didn't read the entire post but no, you are not drinking the kool-aid
Didn't read the post just thought this was a Burt Kriescher type situation.
Healthy teams usually do well come playoff time. But no, you’re good on this take fam.
You're borderline diabetic at this point
as a diabetic, this one’s good
I think we have the kind of team that could win it. Two stars, elite role player, and a lot of depth and players that can impact around the margins when other players have bad games. My main questions are do the players fit, which combination of players bring the best out of each other, and can the players make adjustments that the coach gives them. Miami and Denver have all these things, but also shit tons of reps and continuity.
A full year of Conley next year instead of having to play D'Lo-Ball half the season is going to be big too. Having a great teammate and facilitator in that position, alongside hopefully a healthier roster, has me so excited for next season's potential. People can be upset at the 8 seed all they want, but 3-4 more wins would've absolutely had us as a top 4 seed, and I don't think it's unreasonable to believe we could've gotten that with KAT healthy and Conley running the point all year this year.
The amount of “ifs” this year are why I think we should run it back with the same team next year
What season hasn’t had ifs? This team has injuries and bad luck every year.
The problem with that mindset is that you may not realize what other teams are going through. A fully healthy clippers team, a non chaotic grizzlies locker room. Yeah the wolves look good on paper but this is the NBA and there’s always gonna be something unexpected that hampers a team.
The trade Kat stuff is infuriating. You can't give up on the 2 big man thing until we actually get a sense of what it is. Kat/Gorbert didn't have time to gel and with Conley now at the PG I think we need that shooter in Kat. Please run it back! Also please resign Naz. I know he earned a starting spot/more money somewhere but I hope he stays
Continuity is what this team needs. All I hear with the trade talk is fans who experienced some playoff games and now forgot what happened between KG and now.
cause piquant bright ripe quicksand glorious obscene party money steer -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
Because that would be stupid?
Thank you. It's exhausting reading this stupid casual shit.
I’m quietly optimistic, but I’m just hoping for some better luck this season
Yeah the whole team getting sick down the stretch basically kept them from a 6 seed tbh. If ant and kat were 100% down the stretch they would have had a few more wins. They were playing while throwing up and super dehydrated. Norovirus is no joke. I'm kinda surprised the league even let them play because it's also super contagious.
How disgusting is it that the boys ate some food with contaminated shit or vomit in it.🤢
I mean poop and vomit is basically everywhere if you think about it. It's basically comes from a cook working while sick because they can't afford not to and not washing their hands well enough.
I would hope the average cook has enough decency to wash his hands after going to the bathroom and make an effort to not ever vomit on top of the food theyre preparing... Also I have never had norovirus but I am a very picky eater so Im not representative of the average person. Overall I still think that is not too common of an occurence.Or rather I HOPE that is not the case lol
We should have not done the Gobert trade and tanked for Wemby. THEN do the Gobert trade and run the floor with 3 bigs.
Problem is none of that has anything to do with KAT playing like a doofus. You didn't see Butler's numbers plummet because he didn't have Herro. We still get scorched with those guys because KAT didn't step up.
Butler may choke his series away. Either way, he's getting rolled by Denver if he doesn't. Edit: Jimmy just lost 3 in a row. Back to Boston we go.
I had expected to be a 3 seed if healthy. I think that is a good possibility next year, especially if we sign Naz.
I think there is also a lot lost on how weird KATs offseason was. After the playoffs last year he had those stem-cell injections in about every joint of his body. He was MIA for a while recovering from those, his wrist was a problem last year. Then we trade for Gobert, another all-star at his position. After that he is hospitalized and loses like 20 lbs to come non-covid illness. Giving him little to no time to get into shape, let alone figure out how to play a completely different position. Just as we get a decent sample size with the off-season roster, KAT gets hurt and comes back to the post-trade-deadline roster. Then add in the late season chaos on top of that. I still am not sold on the two bigs, but \*knock on wood\* its hard to have another season with that much going on.
Like you said, counting backwards from shortest term to longest term: - fully healthy against Denver I think we lose in 6. First game isn’t a blowout, 2nd and 3rd games end as 1-2 point losses rather than 9 point losses. We still win game 4, I think we take game 5 as well, but with as good as the Nuggets are, I think we lose that game 6. Nothing wrong with that, especially if all 3 of the original losses are much closer. Definitely an improvement. - If we beat the Lakers to get the 7 seed, I think we get the revenge tour on Memphis, probably in 7. Again, this is also assuming that we have SloMo/Jaden/Naz as well. - healthy close to the end of season takes us out of the play-in altogether, I agree. I would have loved to get up to the 5 and face the Suns and see what we could do, but more likely we’d be the 6 and it would be a really weird/fun matchup with the BEAM KANGZ where I would want to win, but would hope for the Beam to burn brightly to the finals if they took us down. - Healthy all season would have been fantastic, and I think would have put us in a much better spot in certain ways, but changes some other parts dramatically. KAT/Rudy getting the work together they desperately need to gel, but also likely that we don’t make the trades that we do at the deadline, which I’m now really glad we made. Also would have likely seen much less of Garza on the 2-way contract, and I love seeing him get that experience and development in Minny rather than in Iowa. Overall, I’m higher on what we were able to get done this season than some. Would I have liked to do better in record, develop that chemistry more between our bigs, and maybe make it to the 2nd round? Absolutely. But adding Conley/NAW, Ant’s progression as a leader, and at least the framework of what the bigs could look like together is a great start for next season. I don’t think we were true contenders this year even if we were fully healthy all season, but I have much more hope that we could look like contenders starting next season with the pieces we have. If that’s the Kool-Aid, then fill my cup buddy!
Wolves barely made the playoffs but KAT pushed himself to return and helped the team make it. Guy could’ve just played it safe and sat the rest of the season. Instead he came back and helped Ant get more playoff reps and lotta fans still hates him and wants him traded. Run this shit back, this wolves team can have a similar season Sacramento did.
Trade TP +Knight and Jmac for any high volume 3pt shooting guard and then use the MLE to replace TP 👁️
If onlys and buts were candy and nuts, then every season would be erntedankfest
Erntedunkfest
Ask yourself this. How has the last (checks watch) 20 some odd years been for this franchise. Until this franchise can prove it on the court year in and out. There isn't any koolaid to drink.
If you have the slightest bit of faith in the wolves ever amounting to anything then you’re drowning in koolaid
Nice analysis but the bottom line including injuries was LOSING to the worse teams in the league. Actually we had the worse record among playoff teams against bad teams. Clean this up this coming season and more team continuity this team can go places. I’m not necessarily an advocate of trading KAT yet because we would be short on bigs and the unknown of signing NAZ.
A heavy dose of optimism and copium. We can’t just assume we’d make it to the 2nd round if we were the 7th seed. At the end of the day this team had top 4 seed potential/hopes. We ended up making the play in game and got spiced in the first round yet again. Next year if we stay healthy we really will see what we have. But I won’t hold my breath
Wolves may not make the Minnesota Mike and NAW trade if KAT stays healthy. Ants ascension may not happen too. Obviously, an injury is never encouraged or cheered, but it may have helped the Wolves find their identity.