Are these teams a mirage, or for real?

[jonathanlambert33]

Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and kind of the opposite, the New York Knicks.

Do you think these teams are just a mirage at this point? Portland is 9-2, Minnesota is 7-4, and the Knicks are 3-6. Or do you think the teams that we are seeing, is the teams they really are?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Portland Trail Blazers: Mirage- Phoenix x2, Denver, Sacramento x2, Detroit, Boston, Toronto, and Brooklyn. That is 9 of the 11 teams they've played so far. Not exactly the gauntlet, and a relatively light schedule. They got San Antonio and Houston in the Moda Center, and split with them. We heard all offseason how their improved bench will push them over the top, but once again that bench is one of the worst in the league. They're 25th in scoring and REALLY bad defensively. Lillard and Aldridge are both at 37 minutes per game, Batum and Matthews are both at 35 minutes a game. They're a really top heavy roster, and they're one injury away from having to start a below average player. They are already below average defensively, and will continue to fall. I see this team falling apart similar to how it did last season, they will eventually have to play a tougher schedule and they're definitely not a lock for the playoffs. Eighth seed maybe.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Mirage- I said before the season that this team could go as high as a 4th seed if they're healthy. Problem is, if history repeats itself, injuries are a short ways away. Kevin Love should be a starter in the All-Star game and a MVP candidate, as of right now. Durant, Love, and Davis. Kevin Martin is back in a system with Adelman that he has had success in before. Rubio worries me though, he's shooting 33% on the season and eventually the better teams will just walk away from him. And when you're playing him with a guy like Corey Brewer, that will be a problem. Though, they've got a great core with Rubio, Martin, Love, and Pekovic. But eventually two of those four guys will miss games at the same time, hell maybe three of the four. That's where they'll run into trouble, and that's the only reason I say this team is a mirage.

New York Knicks: Real- What is this teams offensive identity? Defensive identity? I think it was a given that Melo would resign there, but I have to ask...why would he? Even if a bunch of those contracts came off the books, they still wouldn't have cap room to improve the roster after signing him. He has to see that with teams like Miami, Indiana, etc the Knicks really will never win a title.

 

[RipCity32]

I liked what I saw from Portland when we played them. They are a pretty solid team. I think Minnesota and Portland can compete for a bottom playoff spot for sure. But there is no way they keep the pace up they are on now. 
 
Well Minnesota might, but Portland certainly wont lol.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I think Minnesota definitely could, those injuries though.

Brings me to another question. Is staying healthy a skill?

 

[RipCity32]

Think it's more of a trait you're born with.
Obviously TMac and Amar'e were not born with it lol.

 

[BwareDWare94]

The Wolves are deep enough to absorb injuries to anyone but Love or Pekovic. The back center is Dieng, and well...yikes. He'd be fine on defense but useless on offense. They'd figure something out if they lost Martin.
 
I think Pek is the leading candidate to get injured. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Love and Rubio are the two guys they can't afford to lose.

 

[buzzy]

Love and Rubio are the two guys they can't afford to lose.

You act like a season ending injury is right around the corner.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

You act like a season ending injury is right around the corner.

I never once said that.

What I did say, is that if history repeats itself, the injury bug will hit the Wolves at some point this season.

Over the last four seasons, Kevin Love has played in 206 out of a possible 312 games.

Over the last two seasons, Ricky Rubio has played in 98 out of a possible 148 games.

Over the last seven seasons, Kevin Martin has played in 355 out of a possible 476 games.

Over the last three seasons, Nikola Pekovic has played in 174 out of a possible 230 games.

That means on average Love has missed 27 games a season, Rubio has missed 25 games a season, Martin has missed 17 games a season, and Pekovic has missed 19 games a season. Like me and Sal were talking about, staying healthy is a skill, or a trait you were born with. These guys clearly don't have it, so why wouldn't you believe that at some point these four guys will miss significant time?

 

[elcheato]

Even if healthy, I don't see the Wolves being anything like a 4th seed.