How loaded is the NW Division!

[stampedehero]

Nurk is the key but I suspect Swanigan is going to be a factor, especially if an injury occurs. Collins is going to be swallowed by the opposition.

 

[calvin natt]

We don't get Melo, so now fuckers are back to talking about trading Lillard. SMFH

First, relax with calling people fuckers because you don't like what they write. Second, I never wrote they should deal Lillard "because we didn't get Carmelo". I never wanted Carmelo. I think the Blazer back court while talented and valuable isn't ideal. This organization has three ways to improve - drafting well, trades and developing players. If you have an elite PG who is imo unlikely to ever see anything past the second round, is it smartest to hold onto him or trade him. That's all. It's a reasonable question.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Most loaded division not just in the NBA but in all of Professional American Sports?

AFC West

 

[illmatic99]

We will once again have no all stars, whereas guys like Middleton and Kemba will get in in the East.

 

[ehizzy3]

First, relax with calling people fuckers because you don't like what they write. Second, I never wrote they should deal Lillard "because we didn't get Carmelo". I never wanted Carmelo. I think the Blazer back court while talented and valuable isn't ideal. This organization has three ways to improve - drafting well, trades and developing players. If you have an elite PG who is imo unlikely to ever see anything past the second round, is it smartest to hold onto him or trade him. That's all. It's a reasonable question.

Why would it be smart to trade an elite PG?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Re: the Thunder, I think the real advantage they have with Roberson/George/Melo all in the starting lineup together is that they're basically interchangeable positionally. Melo can be hidden defensively on whichever opposing player 2-4 is the easiest to guard. And as far as the offense is concerned, I honestly don't think they'll have too much trouble integrating PG & Melo with Westbrook. 3 elite offensive talents is generally about the most one lineup can accommodate, and with non-offensive players Roberson and Adams filling the other two starting spots, I think they'll have enough shots to go around.

The bench, however--not a whole lot positive to say about that. Patterson will get a lot of shots...

Thunder are basically a poor-man's Heatles. They'll win the division, but playoffs will be a crapshoot. You know--exactly where we want to be.

 

[Denny Crane]

I think Minny is going to be a lot tougher than people think at this point.

 

[THE HCP]

I think Minny is going to be a lot tougher than people think at this point.

I wonder if YOU posting this will mean anything to these guys. Been saying this for a couple months and everybody freaks out on me. Of course they will. They have acquired a TON of talent. If they don't gel, they will be a blast to watch.
If we had their talent, guys on here would say we were headed to the WCF, but because it's somebody else.......

 

[blue9]

If we had their talent, guys on here would say we were headed to the WCF, but because it's somebody else.......

To be fair, it is the Wolves - they somehow always find a way of never maximizing their talent.

 

[THE HCP]

To be fair, it is the Wolves - they somehow always find a way of never maximizing their talent.

I can respect that. But they have brought in arguably the best SG in the NBA. If that alone isn't going to help, I don't know what would. Also boosted their bench with the best 6th man in the NBA. Flat out, they will be tough. Yet some on here believe we will finish ahead of them.

 

[blue9]

I can respect that. But they have brought in arguably the best SG in the NBA. If that alone isn't going to help, I don't know what would. Also boosted their bench with the best 6th man in the NBA. Flat out, they will be tough. Yet some on here believe we will finish ahead of them.

Oh, I agree - I think it's more likely that they'll be good. But the only reason I hold out hope that they won't be is because they have such a long track record of pissing away their talent. But between Thibs and Butler (and KAT!) I think they're in much better hands than they were when they were with Flip/McHale and KG.

 

[THE HCP]

Oh, I agree - I think it's more likely that they'll be good. But the only reason I hold out hope that they won't be is because they have such a long track record of pissing away their talent. But between Thibs and Butler (and KAT!) I think they're in much better hands than they were when they were with Flip/McHale and KG.

I don't think they've had this much talent in forever. And the difference in this roster than with those in the past is this talent is PROVEN. Not hype or potential. You say what you want, but down the stretch they will have Wiggins,KAT,Butler an Crawford out there. That's a lot of firepower.
Shit, when did I become a Wolves fan? Just blows me away on here how guys totally blow off other teams talent, yet our roster is full of future HOFs...... The Bones kid even claims our roster is "DEEP". He actually had the nerve to use that term describing OUR bench. Sigh

 

[dviss1]

There would be backlash from players around the league and we'd never get people to stay here since we treat our LOYAL stars like toilet tissue- these are the type of tough moves that top tier GMs should never make.

FTFY

 

[Boob-No-More]

I wonder if YOU posting this will mean anything to these guys. Been saying this for a couple months and everybody freaks out on me. Of course they will. They have acquired a TON of talent. If they don't gel, they will be a blast to watch.
If we had their talent, guys on here would say we were headed to the WCF, but because it's somebody else.......

So, are you claiming MIN will make the WCF? If so, care to make a wager? Paging @KingSpeed, paging Mr. Eric KingSpeed...

BNM

 

[dviss1]

You don't need to tell people to "get the fuck out".

GTFO is a very tongue in cheek idiom. If people get offended by that they need to develop thicker skin.

GTFO should be read like it was typed with green font and italics.

 

[dviss1]

We're much better than you think. Denver with Milsap would be good, OKC obviously have more star power, but I agree with bones jones that we can also finish 2nd behind Golden State. We have a more coherent roster with most players used to each other and we have a lot of talent

Haha! Milsap is declining and overpaid. We're gonna smash Denver.

 

[dviss1]

I wonder if YOU posting this will mean anything to these guys. Been saying this for a couple months and everybody freaks out on me. Of course they will. They have acquired a TON of talent. If they don't gel, they will be a blast to watch.
If we had their talent, guys on here would say we were headed to the WCF, but because it's somebody else.......

Bro, They can't shoot and Thibs plays slow down ball. They aren't constructed well IMHO.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

GTFO is a very tongue in cheek idiom. If people get offended by that they need to develop thicker skin.

GTFO should be read like it was typed with green font and italics.

Especially when it's followed by "FAMS!". It's like telling someone, "You're crazy!"--it's not like you think the person is literally mentally incompetent.

 

[blue9]

Haha! Milsap is declining and overpaid. We're gonna smash Denver.

Seriously - maybe I need to take a look at DEN's roster, but I do not get the love they're getting.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I can respect that. But they have brought in arguably the best SG in the NBA. If that alone isn't going to help, I don't know what would. Also boosted their bench with the best 6th man in the NBA. Flat out, they will be tough. Yet some on here believe we will finish ahead of them.

Best 6th man in the NBA???? This isn't 2013.

2013-14: 18.6 ppg
2014-15: 15.8ppg
2015-16: 14.2 ppg
2016-17: 12.3 ppg

Notice a trend? He's now 37 and has been declining significantly for years.

BNM

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Bro, They can't shoot and Thibs plays slow down ball. They aren't constructed well IMHO.

They can't shoot? Teague, Crawford, Butler, Wiggins, and Towns are all 35%+ shooters from 3? Seems like they have plenty of shooting.

 

[dviss1]

Y'all are overrating the Wolves.

 

[dviss1]

They can't shoot? Teague, Crawford, Butler, Wiggins, and Towns are all 35%+ shooters from 3? Seems like they have plenty of shooting.

35% is an OK shooter IMO.

I'd let Nurk go straight up and dig down with my guards on KAT. We'd let them live and die shooting contested 3s.

They have deficiencies that go past those ugly ass uniforms.

 

[THE HCP]

So, are you claiming MIN will make the WCF? If so, care to make a wager? Paging @KingSpeed, paging Mr. Eric KingSpeed...

BNM

I am not at all. I said Blazers fans over here would think we would make the WCF if not further if we had that much talent. Shit, they said we'd get HCA in the first round with what we have now.

 

[THE HCP]

Best 6th man in the NBA???? This isn't 2013.

2013-14: 18.6 ppg
2014-15: 15.8ppg
2015-16: 14.2 ppg
2016-17: 12.3 ppg

Notice a trend? He's now 37 and has been declining significantly for years.

BNM

37 doesn't mean much in my opinion. His body is probably in the shape of a 32 year old considering his role during his career. His numbers went down as the Clips got more talented. Didn't need to score as much. That kid can still take a game over and he will be a powerful weapon for them, watch.

 

[THE HCP]

They can't shoot? Teague, Crawford, Butler, Wiggins, and Towns are all 35%+ shooters from 3? Seems like they have plenty of shooting.

Ya, what this guy said!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

35% is an OK shooter IMO.

I'd let Nurk go straight up and dig down with my guards on KAT. We'd let them live and die shooting contested 3s.

They have deficiencies that go past those ugly ass uniforms.

There were only 76 players in the league last year that hit at least .355 on at least 245 3PA. An average of 2.5 per team. Wolves have 5 of those, or two teams' worth. That's pretty strong.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Oh, I agree - I think it's more likely that they'll be good. But the only reason I hold out hope that they won't be is because they have such a long track record of pissing away their talent. But between Thibs and Butler (and KAT!) I think they're in much better hands than they were when they were with Flip/McHale and KG.

Is Thibs really that great of a head coach? He seems to have acquired near-Popovich status around here, but hasn't achieved anything close to Pop like results.

The last time one of his teams didn't underachieve was 2011-12. His last three years in CHI, his team averaged 47 wins in the pathetically weak Eastern Conference. He had a ton of talent, and I know there were injuries, but when the Spurs had injuries, it was always "next man up" and they kept right on winning.

I guess this is the year we will see if Thibs is overrated, or he really is the next Gregg Popovich.

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

Y'all are overrating the Wolves.

Nobody asked you homie, get back to the OT page and leave the basketball talk to the grown folk!

 

[blue9]

Is Thibs really that great of a head coach? He seems to have acquired near-Popovich status around here, but hasn't achieved anything close to Pop like results.

The last time one of his teams didn't underachieve was 2011-12. His last three years in CHI, his team averaged 47 wins in the pathetically weak Eastern Conference. He had a ton of talent, and I know there were injuries, but when the Spurs had injuries, it was always "next man up" and they kept right on winning.

I guess this is the year we will see if Thibs is overrated, or he really is the next Gregg Popovich.

BNM

I don't know. He's definitely not the next Pops - I don't know when we'll see another coach of his caliber. But I haven't paid enough attention to know where Thibs falls in with his peers - I just don't have enough time or care enough to follow other teams closely enough to form a real opinion. I'm willing to buy the narrative that he belongs in the 2-10 range because there really isn't much competition. This season will definitely paint a clearer picture of his talents.