Timberwolves Preseason Predictions

Preseason Timberwolves Predictions

Starting Five to start the year:

PG – Ricky Rubio

SG – Kevin Martin

SF – Andrew Wiggins

PF – Thad Young

C – Nikola Pekovic

First man off the bench – Corey Brewer

Rotation Guys:

Guards – Mo Williams, Zach Lavine, Chase Buddinger  (Bud will likely see times at the 2 and 3 this year)

Forwards – Shabazz Muhammad, Anthony Bennett,  

Centers – Gorgui Dieng

Most likely bench guys:

Glen Robinson III, Ronny Turiaf, JJ Barea (future with team uncertain)

What are our real expectations from the team this year?

I do think there is enough talent on this team if we can stay relatively healthy to stay relative for the majority of the year. If we get guys to break out (Dieng, Rubio, Bazz) and Wiggins is the real deal, we could actually really contend for a playoff spot.

The team last year couldn’t win in close matches because they lacked in three areas that most teams should have: 3pt Shooting, perimeter defense, and athleticism. Late in the game when we were up 8 or 9 with 3 minutes to play, we couldn’t stop the opposing teams from making 3’s or from making defensive stops without fouling a guy who was 3x way faster and athletic than our players. Before you knew it had already given up the lead and were down 5.

This year we boast a healthy team with tremendous athleticism. Thaddeus Young, although isn’t technically an upgrade, could act as a nice upgrade from Kevin Love in terms of athletic ability. His quickness inside the paint can really help Pek have a better all around game. It sucked when Kevin and Pek would do nothing but plant their feet and grab rebounds. We didn’t have anyone athletic enough to rise above the basket for put back dunks (we saw a little bit of that with Dieng late in the year) but this year we have that.

Our 3 point shooting can get better shooting it percentage wise even after we lost Kevin Love. Love shot a lot of 3’s but the rest of our team last year were suspect. This year we added Wiggins, Mo Williams, get a healthy Chase BUdinger back and hopefully Kevin Martin can find the grove again like he did in Houston. Our team might actually be better this year because we don’t have Kevin Love catching and handling the ball out in the perimeter because he needed to shoot 3’s. We will finally have a PF who will sit around the paint and allow his wing players to lurk around the 3 point line. That is probably the biggest difference with and without Kevin Love.

Projected Stats/Wins:

15 PPG+:

Andrew Wiggins – 19 PPG

Thad Young – 18 PPG

Nikola Pekovic – 16 PPG

There are only threeplayers on this team I feel can score more than 15 ppg and it’s these guys. Andrew Wiggins will be a lot better offensively than people think. Thad has been a veteran in the league and is and can score. Pek is an offensive mismatch most of the time as he will just overpower guys for easy lay-ins. Easily can score more than 15 PPG with a ceiling of 20 if he becomes the focal point of the offense, which I doubt.

10-15 PPG:

Kevin Martin – 15 PPG

Shabazz Muhammad – 10 PPG

There are others who can score in bunches in games but because of the depth that we have, those guys won’t be getting the amount of shots necessary to get average more than 10 a game. I think Kevin Martin slides down a bit because we will be giving shots to Young and Wiggins a lot more. Martin becomes more of a sharp shooter and look for more 3’s than not. Bazz will score at least 10 a game this year. He’s looked good in the Summer League and I think his offensive game compliments this offense well.

10 PPG or Less :

Everyone Else. It is too hard to predict who will score how much and such a low volume. I have 78 points allotted to 5 players (one bench, four starters). This seems a bit generous and hopeful but it is a good focal point to come back to later if we need to.

The other statistical categories will be listed by guys who I think will lead the team.

Rebounds – Pek

I think he’ll have a much easier time grabbing rebounds now that Love isn’t around to muscle with him on. He grabbed a career high 8.7 rebounds per game last year, I expect it to rise just a bit but if we are lucky he’ll get around 10 a night. I’m staying around 9.5

Steals – Rubio

He’s always led the team in steals with his defensive game and quick hands. Can easily lead the league this year with how athletic we are out on the wings, look for Ricky to be more aggressive sniping basketballs in the passing lane.

Assists- Rubio

He will be top 5 in assists when it’s said and done at the end of the year. We have a much more athletic team and Rubio will find them. He will have close to 9 a game.

Blocks – Wiggins

He’s shown his defensive stalwart in the Summer League. He can easily become a blocking machine with the long frame of his. Gorgui can lead the team in blocks but I don’t think he’ll play as much considering how much we’re paying Pek. I hope I’m wrong because I think Gorgui is one of the best players on the team.

Minutes – Wiggins

There’s no point in not playing him the amount of minutes he deserves. Let him learn and let him develop. NO need to sit him, at all.

Projected Wins

 I like to think that we have the chance to win in the range of 32-36 games this year. If we overachieve, we can win north of 40. If we have to deal with tough injuries we might not make it to 30.

Team MVP – Wiggins

He’s no doubt the best hope for this team so far before the season begins. Our playoff hopes will live and die with how well he performs. If he’s anything like LeBron coming out, he will be good and we can content. If he’s going to develop a little slower, expect a fun but non relative season. Either way, the Timberwolves will be fun to watch, barring any significant injuries.

I truly think Wiggins will be rookie of the year, ahead of others like Marcus Smart, Doug McDermott and Jabari Parker.

Worst Case Scenario

Wolves deal with tough nagging injuries to multiple players and we lose a lot of games early. Midway through the season we’ll probably be rolling with Rubio, Lavine, Wiggins, Young, and Dieng as our lineup. I hope not, but maybe there’s a little bit of hope in me that that happens. We won’t win more than 25 if that’s the case.

Best Case Scenario

Andrew Wiggins is a lot better than we originally thought and transitioned well from college to professional. Rubio breaks out and so does half the players on our team. We will fight for that 8th seed late into the season and no one will remember Kevin Love ever played here.

10/8/2014. Whatever happens this season, I hope we all enjoy what is going to come and become the Minnesota Timberwolves for the next 5 years. 82-0, here we come!