Expectations for the Minnesota Timberwolves are the absolute best they have got been since Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassel and Wally Szczerbiak have been starring inside of Target Center, and with giant expectancies come bold predictions.
Here are 5 bold predictions for the 2022-23 Timberwolves.
1. Wolves win 60 video games and are the No. 1 seed
Sixty wins turns out loopy, yet with arguably the maximum proficient and deep roster in the complete league, this squad has the talent to dominate right through the common season. Sixty wins would best the franchise document of 58 set through the 2003-04 group and most probably set the Wolves on best of the Western Conference.
There were 12 groups to win 60-plus video games in the previous decade.
- Phoenix – 64 in 2021-22
- Milwaukee – 60 in 2018-19
- Houston – 65 in 2017-18
- Golden State – 67 in 2016-17
- San Antonio – 61 in 2016-17
- Golden State – 73 in 2015-16
- San Antonio – 67 in 2015-16
- Atlanta – 60 in 2014-15
- Golden State – 67 in 2014-15
- San Antonio – 62 in 2013-14
- Oklahoma City – 60 in 2012-13
- Miami – 66 in 2012-13
2. Wolves reasonable 120 issues consistent with sport
Crazy? Not in point of fact. They led the NBA at 115.9 issues consistent with sport final season and so they did that in spite of being one among the worst defensive rebounding groups in the league. With Rudy Gobert in the combine, the Wolves will have to restrict 2nd probabilities which in flip will have to result in extra offensive possessions.
And Gobert used to be 6th in the NBA in offensive rebounding final season, just about a complete offensive rebound extra consistent with sport than Jarred Vanderbilt. All of that suggests extra pictures and extra issues for Minnesota.
Scoring has boomed in the NBA over the previous decade, yet just one group has averaged 120 issues consistent with sport: the 2020-21 NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks, yet they did that during a 72-game common season.
3. Hello, Western Conference Finals
After experiencing how tricky the playoffs are final season, there is not any extra excuses for the young-but-now skilled Timberwolves. It’s Gobert’s tenth 12 months in the NBA, KAT’s and D’Angelo Russell’s 8th 12 months and Year 3 for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
The West is stacked with the Warriors, Clippers, Suns, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pelicans and Lakers. But if the Wolves earn the No. 1 seed, they will be giant favorites in opposition to the No. 8 seed and can once more be appreciated in the convention semifinals.
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It’s no longer a very simple highway but when the Wolves keep wholesome they will simplest get well as the season is going alongside, and that suggests they might be an elite group able to creating a deep run in the Western Conference playoffs.
(*5*)4. Wolves put 3 avid gamers in the All-Star Game
Gobert has been an All-Star the final 3 seasons and Towns has been an All-Star the previous 3 seasons that he did not undergo an damage. Both will have to be all-stars once more, yet who’s the 3rd?
Easy. Anthony Edwards.
Year 3 is when stars like Luka Doncic and Ja Morant took their groups to the subsequent stage, and there is not any explanation why Edwards may not do the similar for the Wolves. He’s intended to be the best possible participant on the group and if he’s he is a lock to be an All-Star.
Three avid gamers from one group isn’t unparalleled. If truth, there were a handful of occasions the place 4 avid gamers from one group have made the All-Star Game, together with in 2017 and 2018 when the Warriors despatched Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
5. Jaylen Nowell wins 6th guy award
Nowell has carved out a task as a backup guard and he’ll be one among the go-to scoring choices nearly each and every time he is on the courtroom. His talent to attain from all 3 ranges, which he is showcased this preseason, goes to be large.
Nowell has lit it up this preseason, scoring 14, 13, 11 and 14 issues, respectively, in 4 video games. And he is taken 10-plus pictures in 3 of the 4 video games, so there is a transparent sign that he’s going to be a gunner when he is on the courtroom.
And if the Wolves are blowing dangerous groups away, Nowell can have a chance for extra mins to lend a hand pad his stats. That’s a surface-y issue that should not topic in the giant image, yet it is going to lend a hand with electorate who do not get to peer him each and every sport.
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