They're on a 4-game winning streak and really pushing hard to get in. Only two games back with 11 games left to play, it's possbile - especially with the hunger that they're showing. And an intersting note: there's only a 1/2 game separation between the 7th and 8th spots. Nugs just lost one and Grizz are on a 3-game losing streak. current standings: 7. Memphis 39-31 .557 games behind: 14 ..... Lost last 3 8. Denver 38-31 .551 games behind: 14 ½ .. Lost 1 -- Minn 37-34 .521 games behind: 16 ½ .. Won 4 so... Do you think the Timberwolves will make the playoffs? If so, who will they bump off - Memphis or Denver? -- droxford
I don't think the TWolves will make it. The 4 game winning streak started w/ us, but the next 3 were NJ, NOH, and LAC. They still have PHO, SAC, Denver, Seattle, and SA to go through. Denver has a pretty favorable schedule and they are playing extremely well.
i got this feelin that the wolves can make it and memphis will be bumped off... memphis' been playing bad lately and it came in the wrong tme coz the nuggets and the wolves are right up in their ass and they're comin up real strong. so, id say memphis has a good possiblity of gettin bumped off!
Three games in the loss column, at this stage, is a lot to make up. Memphis would have to really choke (but if they do, fine by me).
Memphis has a killer schedule so I think it's possible: at Mil vs LAL vs Den at Tor vs Mia vs Cha at Dal at Hou at Den at SA vs SA vs Dal Those last 8 (minus Charlotte) might break them...
True, but T-wolves have the talent and the heart, if the can consistently get all pistons firing. Give them some momentum and confidence and they could move. .. and speaking of confidence... Grizz must be feeling a LOT of pressure right now, and the 3-game losing streak has gotta be affecting their confidence. -- droxford
The Wolves remaining schedule, by comparison, is pansy: at LA Lakers at Phoenix at Sacramento Utah Denver at Atlanta Golden State at Utah Seattle at New Orleans San Antonio 6 creampuffs in there, and only Pho (maybe Sea, SA) looks like a for-sure loss.
No, they won't make it. Neither will LA. The playoffs are almost set. Denver and Memphis will bring up the rear. Rockets will climb to five.
Nothing is for sure. All it takes is one week and things could change. Minnesota could win their next 2 games and Denver or Memphis could lose their next two and suddenly there's a one game separation. Considering the way the Rockets faded last year before holding on for the 7th seed anything is possible.
That would be cool. I am not fond of Memphis, Denver or Minny. But I think a KG team can definitely take out a hobbled-Spers team. Denver can give Suns some problems as well.
It's up to the Twolves. They can if they win most of the remaining games. Their destiny is at their own hands, which is the best they can hope for right now.
Earlier on, I thought the race was about whether the Wolves or the Lakers would sink faster. I never thought Denver would be a factor. Now I think Denver is in. We'll see whether the Wolves can pass Memphis.
An (un)interesting aside, Timberwolves media relations people lose their shyte when you refer to them as the "T-Wolves." They much prefer "Wolves." Why? "Nobody calls Seattle 'the S-Sonics,' or Portland 'the T-Blazers.'"
I think they could and should make it. This team is still capable of making a run at the title. It would be a whole lot more interesting with Garnett in the playoffs. He could single handedly knock out a team by himself. So I think they could make it and I want them to make it for entertainment value. That said, Gasol will help memphis immensley over the next few weeks.
I don't even bring up Denver, there is almost no way they won't make it. Lets see, right now Minn. is 37-34 with 11 games left Minn only has 2 real tough road games, they come up next after their road game with the Lakers. They have 5 games left with playoff teams. Memp is 39-31 with 12 games left They have 4 tough road games and 8 games with playoff teams. If Minn can go 8-3, than Memphis, with the tiebreaker, has to go 6-6 to hold them off. That might be difficult for Memphis with their schedule and their mediocre play of late (even at home). So Minny has a shot. They have at LA, at Phx, at Sac coming up this is key. They must win 1. If they win 2, look out. I hope Minny catches them. I don't want the Grizzlies to be fodder for their 1st round opponent like last year--especially if they get all estatic just making the playoffs after a big emotional and physical ringer through the last few weeks. Don't want to give that #2 or #1 a free pass--which is what they showed last year. Minny or Denver can give the top seeds a lot more fight.
I don't think Minny will go 8-3 to finish the season. They will hit the skids one more time before the season is done. Cassell and Olawokandi got into a fight just a couple of days ago. The Wolves are still team turmoil and could implode any day now. Just because Garnett is feeling better and they won a couple of games doesn't mean they are on to anything. They might throw a few more elbows and commit more hard fouls on the Suns in the first round than the Nuggets. At the same time, after getting blown out in Phoenix the first two games, I can see them tanking the last two and falling to the Suns in a cakewalk series.
Offtopic: I don't get why everyone seems to think that "Minnesota needs to drastically retool in the offseason, starting with finding a physical rebounding presence to take some of the defensive pressure off Garnett." (link ) Don't they need younger shooters?
