The 2004-2005 season is getting closer. This season might be the season where the Minnesota Timberwolves win their 1st ever NBA championship. The new season seems brgiht for the hungry Timberwolves. The only real challenge for the Timberwolves in the West is the San Antonio Spurs. They are the 2 leading contenders in the West and one of them will most likely go to the finals. The Timberwolves' offseason has been a quiet one, unlike some other teams. They haven't made any big moves but have keep the team intact by resigning Hassell, Hoiberg, and Hudson. They only have 11 players under contract and might add another player or two. There have been rumors of trades and possible signings but none of them have happened. I will make my predictions on the Minnesota Timberwolves' season and on the players who are currently under contract. <font size="5">Predictions</font> 2004-2005 season: Record: 58-24 Will they make the playoffs?: Yes, unless something horrible happens like Kevin Garnett gets injured and was out for the season but that is unlikely because he hasn't had any problems with injuries in his career. Seed: 1st or 2nd How far will they go?: They will win the championship, at worst they will get eliminated in the 2nd round. Players: Kevin Garnett The reigning league MVP will take a paycut and will earn 16 million after last season where he won his first MVP award. He has improved every season and will most likely continue improving for the next couple of seasons. Stats: PPG-25.1 RPG-14.2 APG-6.0 SPG-1.5 BPG-2.3 Sam Cassell Sam earned his first all-star appearance last year. He got injured in the playoffs and it could have been very different if he had been healthy. But we will never know. Stats: PPG-19.0 RPG-3.3 APG-7.1 SPG-1.25 BPG-0.15 Latrell Sprewell Spree is still working on a contract extension that will probably make him retire as a Timberwolves. Stats: PPG-15.3 RPG-4.1 APG-4.3 SPG-1.5 BPG-0.41 Wally Szczerbiak Wally was injured for mostly the entire season. He will be healthy and will likely improve from last season. Stats: PPG-15.1 RPG-4.8 APG-3.5 SPG-0.85 BPG-0.41 Michael Olowokandi Michael was also injured for most of last season and disapointed many Timberwolves' fans with his not so good performance in the playoffs. Will he be able to earn respect from the fans? Stats: PPG-10.5 RPG-9.1 APG-1.5 SPG-0.6 BPG-2.1 Ervin Johnson Ervin Johnson is getting older and older and will turn 39. He will not be able to play as many minutes as last season. So Olowokandi will have to play better. Stats: PPG-1.3 RPG-2.9 APG-0.2 SPG-0.4 BPG-0.5 Troy Hudson. Troy did not play last season. Health is still an issue right now. Stats: PPG-10.7 RPG-1.9 APG-3.9 SPG-0.6 BPG-0.05 Trenton Hassell A defensive specialist, Hassell has a big surprise and helped the Timberwolves with his defense. He is able to score but probably not take many shots when the offense is centered around the Big 3. Stats: PPG-6.1 RPG-3.2 APG-1.9 SPG-0.58 BPG-0.68 Mark Madsen He hustles and gives energy off the bench. But will be rememebered for missing a easy lay-up against Memphis which could have won the game. Stats: PPG-2.1 RPG-3.5 APG-0.4 SPG-0.2 BPG-0.12 Fred Hoiberg Fred took a paycut to play for the Timberwolves. He is a shooting specialist and a good defender. But will not see that much playing time with Wally healthy. Stats: PPG-4.6 RPG-3.1 APG-1.1 SPG-0.81 BPG-0.09 Ndubi Ebi A young player who hasn't played many minutes in the NBA and it will not change that much from last season because he is still not ready to play. Stats: PPG-0.8 RPG-0.2 APG-0.1 SPG-0.1 BPG-0.2 Please feel free to post your opinions, comments and predictions on the unpcoming season.
JBB will be releasing its own team previews accompanied by predictions beginning next week ... The T-wolves are tentatively scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday, the 28th, so make sure to catch that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting l2emix:</div><div class="quote_post">Man, with those PPG the t-wolves will be averaging 110.6 points this season!</div> I think he's basing it on the assumption that not everyone will play 82 games
Nice work Linkin, I just have a question about Wally stats. Are those stats for him as a starter ? because those seem like starter #, in certain ways. They seem a bit high for Wally coming off the bench, which I think he will continue to due playing behind Hassell & Spree. And I think his minutes are going to be very up & down this year, because Its going to be some nights where Hassell defense is so important that he has to play almost the entire game. And Hassell playing time has the biggest effect on how many minutes Wally will get during a game, because you know Spree is going to get his 37 minutes per game every single night, because he is the most complete wing player on the roster. So I would drop Wally's stats a bit to factor in him coming off the bench and for him having to adjust to his minutes being up & down on a nightly basis. Thats a role that Wally has never had over a 82 game period. Wally 04-05 stat line: 26.0 mpg 12.5ppg 4.0rpg 2.8apg Also I would make a couple of adjustments in Sammy stats, I would drop Sammy scoring average down to around 18ppg this year, because Sam isnt going to need to carry as much of the scoring load this year with a healthy Wally & T-Hud from the start of the season. And I would raise Sam's assist average with those added weapons of Wally & Troy for the complete year. Alot of times Sam would create open perimeter looks for the shooters on the baseline after the pick & roll. But Sam was kicking to Trenton Hassell or Spree spotting most nights, now alot of the time its going to be Wally S., so thats going to have an affect on Sammy assist # over the full 82. Sam Cassell 33.0mpg 18.0ppg 7.5apg (I think it, could even be higher;close to 8.0 a game wouldnt shock) 3.8 rpg (Sam average 3.3 rbs per game last year, but Sam is a much better rber from the point then that usually good for plus 4, so hell be close to 4 game this year) Everybody else looks pretty good. I know that Kandi's stats are based a bit on hope...and Iam hoping he steps it up in that fashion as well, especially in the rebound column because the Wolves really struggle on the boards last year, epecially against big center on the frontline, guys like Dampier & even that bum Greg Ostertag had a field day in every matchup on the the boards against the Wolves. I still think the Wolves need to add another bigbody, because like Linkin said Erv aint getting know younger, so right now all the pressure is on Kandiman. Hudson averaging double-digits off the bench might be a bit much because of how streaky he is & you know he'll probably go thru some stretch this year where he is battling some type of nagging injury thats going to affect his play... But I can live with his stats because you have to factor in that Sam wont play 81 games again this season(hope he does tho). Sam usually misses about 10 games per, so Hudson will have about 10-12 games this year playing big starter minutes in place of Sammy C. All & All very nice predictions Linkin, I will be looking forward to the season preview from J-Roc next week.
If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Kandi announced the starter this offseason by Flip already? He is very capable of doing, just has been a bust so far. When he breaks out, which this season can be the year, then expect very good numbers from him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AA13:</div><div class="quote_post">I beleive the T-wolves will make the finals but lose to the Heat in 7 games.</div> don't be so positive miami will even make it throwgh the east finals. in my opinion detroit still can make it all the way again' but will be stopped by spurs/houston/t'wolves from the west.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the main event:</div><div class="quote_post">don't be so positive miami will even make it throwgh the east finals. in my opinion detroit still can make it all the way again' but will be stopped by spurs/houston/t'wolves from the west.</div> I'm thinking the Rockets will eliminate the T wolves in the Western Conference Finals and lose to the Pistons in the Finals. Ming is the big dog in the West now. He has a big smile on his face right now. He got away from Shaq and got McGrady all in the same summer. Dont think the Wolves can handle those two.
Minnesota will win 60 games. It will be down to the wire between them and San Antonio for the best record. I see them going deep, if not all the way. They are a very good team. Only San Antonio stands in their way, and if you look at that matchup, it's hard to bet against San Antonio. The Rockets don't have the depth to compete with the big boys, but they will be a playoff team and might make it into the second round. I don't see them having enough depth to compete with Minnesota, San Antonio, Sacramento or Dallas. But in a matchup battle, they might get seeded against Sacramento and could win that series.
I think the Wolves can beat San Antonio, if Kandiman comes to play in the 7 games series vs the Spurs. The Main difference between the Spurs & Wolves last year was at the Center spot. The Spurs had some one at the Center spot who could score double figures on a somewhat consistent basis in Rasho. I dont have any exact # but I can honestly say I dont think the Wolves go double digits out of the starting Center spot more than 15 times all season. So believe it or not I think the center spot, was the major difference between the Wolves & Spurs, Rasho broke down in the series vs LA, but he was pretty solid for the rest of the year. If you watch the 4 regular season matchups last year between the Wolves & Spurs. A major thing was that Rasko was able to guard KG freeing up Duncan to do another of other things & not have to focus on guarding KG for a full 48 minutes. Thats what the Wolves would need from Kandiman to get past the Spurs in the playoffs, someone who can guard Duncan allowing KG to be free to focus on doing other things. Ervin Johnson did that really well in the last win vs the Spurs, especailly down the stretch of the 4th quarter that game. But you cant expect EJ to be able to contain Duncan on a consistent matchup basis. Kandiman has to step up & do it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the main event:</div><div class="quote_post">don't be so positive miami will even make it throwgh the east finals. in my opinion detroit still can make it all the way again' but will be stopped by spurs/houston/t'wolves from the west.</div> Miami arguably has one the best offenses in the NBA: <font size="1">I don't use PPG because they don't show how capable a player is of scoring.</font> Starting Lineup: C-Shaq (58%-FG% [#1 in the NBA. KG is #10 with 49% TD is #9 with 50%]. Shaq was 63% FG in the Finals against the Pistons ) PF-Udonis Haslem (45%-FG has improved his jumpshot and 3pt shot in this offseason) SF-Wesley Person (40%-FG 40%-3PT) SG-Eddie Jones (40%-FG 37%-3PT) PG-Dwyane Wade (46%-FG 30%-3PT shooting will improve for this season) 6th Man: PG-Damon Jones (40%-FG 35%-3PT. In the playoffs against the Pistons 52%-FG 47%-3PT) Bench: PG-Keyon Dooling (38%-FG) SF-Rasual Butler (47%-FG 46%-3PT) PF-Malik Allen (41%-FG) PF/C-Wang ZhiZhi (37%-FG) PF/C-Christian Laettner (46%-FG) PF/C-Michael Doleac (43%-FG) Expect these numbers to go up with all the open looks Shaq will be giving his team and that Shaq is in a conference with less dominant players. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The most dominant player in the game with the best FG% (58%) constantly being fed the ball. When he draws the double/triple teams, the opponent will be punished for leaving players open that are capable of shooting the ball. 2 of which are great from the arc, the other 2 which have dedicated their offseason on improving their 3pt shot. The goal is to try to surround Shaq with 4 3PT shooters, keep our offensive options open, and make the other team's defence think about which play we will be running next. Only two (bench) players are below 40% from the field.</div>
