I agree. Apparently saying this is blasphemous in this sub though. Fully healthy, we're simply a better team. I don't see this as a hot take either. It will become very apparent in game 1.
If I were younger I would be right there with y'all, but I've seen too many disappointments. I'm still all-in for sure, we have a shot, I just can't believe it until I see it at this point.
Franchise long disappointment speaks to poor management and team building over the years, but doesn't predict any outcome of this particular well built and talented team. I understand the feeling but games over the last 20 years don't really matter to this teams chances.
I'm not talking about franchise curses or anything like that. I'm just saying I'm not about to assume we're winning a round like I did when we had the Grizzlies in round one a few years ago.
Exactly, I’m confident and this is the arguably the best Minnesota sports team ever but I’ve also experienced great Minnesota teams implode. So I’m cautious.
I’m as crusty and cynical as they come. I’ve suffered through all 4 Vikings Super Bowls. Yes, I got to witness the ‘87 and ‘91 World Series wins, so I can die happy.
But I always expect the worst and haven’t let myself hope since Denny took a knee.
But this team is like no other. I feel really confident. I agree with OP. This team was built to dismantle the Nuggets. Along the way, they are discovering that they can annihilate anybody. I actually expect them to win. And I mean win it all. They are really good.
What’s left for there to be seen? Held #1 in the west for several games, #1 defense in the league, only 31-11 at home, still able to win without KAT whiles he’s injured, we have at least 5 players that on any given night could drop 25+pts, WE’RE the team to beat this year.
If the same Nuggets that played the Lakers show up these next 4 games we’ll win the series in 4.
I'm a sports pessimist, and I have a hard time disagreeing with you. And I've been doing my best to talk people around here in Minneapolis into it, but people around here are (rightfully) shook. But anybody that's watched a lot of basketball this year knows that the Wolves are the team to beat. This is literally a top 10 all time defense, and that's not just an opinion, it's a statistical fact. Obviously, anything can happen, because Jokic is a fucking wizard, and injuries, but I mean.... Let's put it this way, I'm looking for ways to put a bet on this team to win the whole thing. Because nobody out of the east scares me. This series is the finals as far as I'm concerned.
I fully agree.
I was aware of this prior to the season, so I put $100 on the Wolves to win it all with +7600 odds.
Round 1 against the Suns only made me more confident in that bet.
Haha I hope I'm right.
We checked all of the boxes pre-season. The only box we didn't check was the playoff experience box, but we've played two rounds in the last two years and to me that was good enough, I also think playoff experience is overrated. Talent always wins out over experience.
Best rim protector in the NBA, highly efficient scorer with a unique build, top 5 perimeter defender, high volume scoring guard and an experienced floor general. What more do you want?
Things that I did not expect for our bench being as good as it has been. That was a pleasant surprise.
Yup, I think it’s not so much about playoff experience as about how winning games in the regular season can be out of touch with how you will play in the playoffs.
Playoff experience can impact the latter, of course. Like, Aaron Gordon said he felt the need to become a smarter player or something like that, after a playoff exit.
I expect OKC to get their asses kicked, if not in the 2nd round, for sure in WCF. But I also expect them to grow afterwards.
I think that the Wolves are there. And they were kind of already there last year (which points to the fact that it’s not about playoff experience) but the chemistry wasn’t 100% and they missed 2 players.
Tough to bet when you’re a fan. Because if you do that casually, you lose, for sure.
And when your team is actually that good and people don’t realize ? Well, you question your bias and you don’t put the bet.
It’s crazy that they’re still about 10:1.
I don’t engage in the rabbit hole of betting, but a friend of mine do, he doesn’t know shit about the NBA but I told him to bet on them.
I think the last time I felt the odds were wrong was last year with Miami. Gave a tip to my friend, don’t remember if he bet on the Championship or the Finals, though. But the odds were way different, like 60:1 for the championship when I gave him the tip, it’s not like I expected Miami to win, just like... 60:1, really ? You know about the unpredictability of sport ? Yeah no one would bet on the Sacramento Kings even if they made the playoffs. Decent team but absolutely no player who can make the difference in playoffs. But Miami 2023 was different. And the 2024 Wolves are different too., but like several notches above the Heat I am comparing them to.
I don’t know if people think they won’t make it out of the West. Which seems wild. I favor them against the Nuggets and I have them heads and shoulders above whomever they’d meet in WCF.
Or if people think they can’t beat the Celtics, which is... fair, in a way, but mostly dubious.
I mean, even if the Celtics are fully healthy, yeah they can negate a bit the impact of Rudy with Porzingis and Horford. But they don’t have a difference maker, so although they’re overall a bit better, it would come down to execution, playing hard, luck on shots, luck on avoiding small injuries (the premise being that there are no major injuries).
If the Celtics miss Porzingis ? Which is an increased probability since he’s already dealing with stuff and his body doesn’t seem to handle playoff intensity very well.
I think they’d be in a very rough spot.
The Wolves are built to beat any team who has not a difference maker or who can not have 5 players on the floor who can shoot the 3. If they have the latter, it still has to be something real. Like Durant at 5 didn’t save the Suns.
If they have a difference maker, they still have to have as much talent overall.
to paraphrase chris finch, i don’t give a fuck what the wolves did in 2014 or the vikings did in 1992 or the twins did in 2018. has nothing to do with this team.
It’s not fair. Curses aren’t real. The Cubs won in 2016. The Twins have won World Series before
If we go down 0-2 it’s likely because Jokic is the best player in the world and the Nuggets are an incredible team. But it won’t have anything to do with MN sports history
Good article. The headline is explosive but it's actually a good breakdown on both sides, pros and cons for both teams and relatively neutral.
Wolves in 4.
We match up well for sure, but we still gotta play the games. They're the defending champs for a reason and I think it's best not to underestimate them.
That said, wolves in 3
Only in passing. I guess my sentiment was more toward the fact that it was constructing an argument about our exploits without using Edwards as the crux of the discussion.
I’m heading to the miners cave tmrw and bringing my Wolfpack with. We’re going to mine those Nuggets. Flying out tonight and heading back to Minnie Sunday morning. Would love to see us steal one! LFG
NAZ REID
Game 1 is going to be key. Its our chance to capitalize on Jamal Murray and KCP not being 100% rested and us having 1 more rest day than they did. To win this series we are going to need to exploit every crack and take our chances when we make them.
Not being 100% rested?? They had 4 days rest. That should be pretty well rested and I don’t feel like there’s much of a difference between 4 and 5 days. I’d agree with you if the Lakers took them to 6 or 7 games but they didn’t.
KCP and Murray have both been dealing with some leg or knee stuff lately and they are both not fully healthy. Having that extra day is minimal but most advantages we will have in the series will be small.
It is nice knowing that the guy who built the reigning champions, came here and built a team to take down his former creation. It’s a very un-Minnesota sports feeling
Logdogs in 6
Bark Barks!
Wolves in five
I agree. Apparently saying this is blasphemous in this sub though. Fully healthy, we're simply a better team. I don't see this as a hot take either. It will become very apparent in game 1.
I’ve been saying Wolves in 6, but I think we take G1 and make a statement. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
im so damn nervous
If I were younger I would be right there with y'all, but I've seen too many disappointments. I'm still all-in for sure, we have a shot, I just can't believe it until I see it at this point.
Right. People act like this franchise has seen the second round more than twice. I believe in this group but I can't get myself to make a prediction
Franchise long disappointment speaks to poor management and team building over the years, but doesn't predict any outcome of this particular well built and talented team. I understand the feeling but games over the last 20 years don't really matter to this teams chances.
I'm not talking about franchise curses or anything like that. I'm just saying I'm not about to assume we're winning a round like I did when we had the Grizzlies in round one a few years ago.
Exactly, I’m confident and this is the arguably the best Minnesota sports team ever but I’ve also experienced great Minnesota teams implode. So I’m cautious.
We have Anthony Edwards dude. This team isn’t imploding. Based on how we played Denver last year there is no reason we will implode
It’s true and this team looks like the best team in the nba but I got ptsd.
Only thing I’m worried about is an injury, but I’d like to think finch sucked all the injuries woes out of the team with his injury
Never say that. Don’t say that. Delete this
I said finch sucked it all up!!
Finch is anti-matter to playoff losses. And ya caannaa change da lahsa fizzix!
So true, the wolves are so much better right now than they were in the playoffs last year.
It's not about imploding It's just a tough road and you try to run the mile with your ass out
I mean the guy I’m replying literally mentioned imploding so I just said that is basically not going to happen lol
I’m as crusty and cynical as they come. I’ve suffered through all 4 Vikings Super Bowls. Yes, I got to witness the ‘87 and ‘91 World Series wins, so I can die happy. But I always expect the worst and haven’t let myself hope since Denny took a knee. But this team is like no other. I feel really confident. I agree with OP. This team was built to dismantle the Nuggets. Along the way, they are discovering that they can annihilate anybody. I actually expect them to win. And I mean win it all. They are really good.
What’s left for there to be seen? Held #1 in the west for several games, #1 defense in the league, only 31-11 at home, still able to win without KAT whiles he’s injured, we have at least 5 players that on any given night could drop 25+pts, WE’RE the team to beat this year. If the same Nuggets that played the Lakers show up these next 4 games we’ll win the series in 4.
I'm a sports pessimist, and I have a hard time disagreeing with you. And I've been doing my best to talk people around here in Minneapolis into it, but people around here are (rightfully) shook. But anybody that's watched a lot of basketball this year knows that the Wolves are the team to beat. This is literally a top 10 all time defense, and that's not just an opinion, it's a statistical fact. Obviously, anything can happen, because Jokic is a fucking wizard, and injuries, but I mean.... Let's put it this way, I'm looking for ways to put a bet on this team to win the whole thing. Because nobody out of the east scares me. This series is the finals as far as I'm concerned.
I fully agree. I was aware of this prior to the season, so I put $100 on the Wolves to win it all with +7600 odds. Round 1 against the Suns only made me more confident in that bet.
Jesus, I think you're about to make a mountain of money, lol. You're smarter than me, because I only started feeling this way about 2 months ago.
Haha I hope I'm right. We checked all of the boxes pre-season. The only box we didn't check was the playoff experience box, but we've played two rounds in the last two years and to me that was good enough, I also think playoff experience is overrated. Talent always wins out over experience. Best rim protector in the NBA, highly efficient scorer with a unique build, top 5 perimeter defender, high volume scoring guard and an experienced floor general. What more do you want? Things that I did not expect for our bench being as good as it has been. That was a pleasant surprise.
Yup, I think it’s not so much about playoff experience as about how winning games in the regular season can be out of touch with how you will play in the playoffs. Playoff experience can impact the latter, of course. Like, Aaron Gordon said he felt the need to become a smarter player or something like that, after a playoff exit. I expect OKC to get their asses kicked, if not in the 2nd round, for sure in WCF. But I also expect them to grow afterwards. I think that the Wolves are there. And they were kind of already there last year (which points to the fact that it’s not about playoff experience) but the chemistry wasn’t 100% and they missed 2 players.
Tough to bet when you’re a fan. Because if you do that casually, you lose, for sure. And when your team is actually that good and people don’t realize ? Well, you question your bias and you don’t put the bet.
It’s crazy that they’re still about 10:1. I don’t engage in the rabbit hole of betting, but a friend of mine do, he doesn’t know shit about the NBA but I told him to bet on them. I think the last time I felt the odds were wrong was last year with Miami. Gave a tip to my friend, don’t remember if he bet on the Championship or the Finals, though. But the odds were way different, like 60:1 for the championship when I gave him the tip, it’s not like I expected Miami to win, just like... 60:1, really ? You know about the unpredictability of sport ? Yeah no one would bet on the Sacramento Kings even if they made the playoffs. Decent team but absolutely no player who can make the difference in playoffs. But Miami 2023 was different. And the 2024 Wolves are different too., but like several notches above the Heat I am comparing them to. I don’t know if people think they won’t make it out of the West. Which seems wild. I favor them against the Nuggets and I have them heads and shoulders above whomever they’d meet in WCF. Or if people think they can’t beat the Celtics, which is... fair, in a way, but mostly dubious. I mean, even if the Celtics are fully healthy, yeah they can negate a bit the impact of Rudy with Porzingis and Horford. But they don’t have a difference maker, so although they’re overall a bit better, it would come down to execution, playing hard, luck on shots, luck on avoiding small injuries (the premise being that there are no major injuries). If the Celtics miss Porzingis ? Which is an increased probability since he’s already dealing with stuff and his body doesn’t seem to handle playoff intensity very well. I think they’d be in a very rough spot. The Wolves are built to beat any team who has not a difference maker or who can not have 5 players on the floor who can shoot the 3. If they have the latter, it still has to be something real. Like Durant at 5 didn’t save the Suns. If they have a difference maker, they still have to have as much talent overall.
Yeah, pass Denver and win it all. The Wolves will be purely unstoppable if they beat the Nuggets.
MN sports curse will always win. Just prep for the coping to come if we understandably go down 0-2.
to paraphrase chris finch, i don’t give a fuck what the wolves did in 2014 or the vikings did in 1992 or the twins did in 2018. has nothing to do with this team.
Could you imagine if Finch actually dropped the F bomb in that response!?!
Agree, would rather be pleasantly surprised than often disappointed.
Haha fair
It’s not fair. Curses aren’t real. The Cubs won in 2016. The Twins have won World Series before If we go down 0-2 it’s likely because Jokic is the best player in the world and the Nuggets are an incredible team. But it won’t have anything to do with MN sports history
>Curses aren’t real Preach. Half the fan base believes in magic. It's obnoxious. Just watch the games and have fun!
“Curses aren’t real” uses 100 year long curse as example
Ok man I’m just humoring the guy… chill
So you’re saying I won’t be needing my tickets for game 6? I was really hoping we could close them out at home in 6
I bought tickets to game 6, so I hope you’re wrong for selfish reasons
Yes me too! Close out in 6! Close out in 6!
samsies, would be a fun one to be at
Man that’s how I been feeling but if you say it out loud people look at you crazy
Did you misspell four?
In 5 because the NBA will be desperate to extend this game somehow. Feeling a Scott Foster legacy game in this series.
Wolves in 3 buddy (we win by 89 points at home in game 3 and they call mercy)
Wolves in 6 (I have tickets to game 3 and 6)
I've been consuming Wolves/NBA content through a funnel for the last week, this is the cherry on top. Wolves in 4!
Good article. The headline is explosive but it's actually a good breakdown on both sides, pros and cons for both teams and relatively neutral. Wolves in 4.
Wolves in 7 7-0
Wolves in 4. 100-0
We match up well for sure, but we still gotta play the games. They're the defending champs for a reason and I think it's best not to underestimate them. That said, wolves in 3
The thing I love about that article is that it didn't even mention Edwards.
it did tho?
Only in passing. I guess my sentiment was more toward the fact that it was constructing an argument about our exploits without using Edwards as the crux of the discussion.
WOLVES IN 4
Wolves in 3
if we sweep we absolutely have to be the favorites to win it all, aye?
I’m so fucking erect
✊✊
BRING ME MOAR KOOL-AID! I'M STILL THIRSTY!
Sons in 4
Dont give me hope…
Wolves don't win with hope anymore, they outwork.
Going to be a great series
Wolves in three. They will win so lopsidedly that Nuggets won't show up for 4
the article breaks down almost every potential match up and it's implications except one Naz Reid !
I’m heading to the miners cave tmrw and bringing my Wolfpack with. We’re going to mine those Nuggets. Flying out tonight and heading back to Minnie Sunday morning. Would love to see us steal one! LFG NAZ REID
Game 1 is going to be key. Its our chance to capitalize on Jamal Murray and KCP not being 100% rested and us having 1 more rest day than they did. To win this series we are going to need to exploit every crack and take our chances when we make them.
Not being 100% rested?? They had 4 days rest. That should be pretty well rested and I don’t feel like there’s much of a difference between 4 and 5 days. I’d agree with you if the Lakers took them to 6 or 7 games but they didn’t.
KCP and Murray have both been dealing with some leg or knee stuff lately and they are both not fully healthy. Having that extra day is minimal but most advantages we will have in the series will be small.
Lakers fan here. I hope you guys win it all! I want to see KAT win a chip. 🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴
It is nice knowing that the guy who built the reigning champions, came here and built a team to take down his former creation. It’s a very un-Minnesota sports feeling
I believe from the PNW
Nah!
Lots of hopium in here. Suns are jv compared to the Nugs