This is not the West of years past and the East is much closer than you seem to think. The West has 2 teams that are really good and it's debatable if either is better than Cleveland.

The TWOLVES have already lost to 3 teams that are unlikely to make the playoffs. They are,being manhandled coming out for the 3rd quarter.

They lost to a Grizzlies team with a rookie coach in his first game. They also started 3 guys that will likely be working at their local Steak and Shake in 2 years.

The local Steak and Shake happens to be Hoiberg's next gig.

"Manhandled" Like I said, except for the Thunder, they lost their other games by a combined 11 points.

Was there any protest when people were calling for Hoiberg to be fired during the preseason last yr.

Also the fact they have lost to teams that aren't that good should be cause for concern.

Also what exactly does playing better constitute? If Thibs wins less than 35 games it should be viewed as a disappointment by (Thibs philes). That is quite unbecoming for a coach billed as the 2nd best in the league. He also is coaching a talent laden team.

By the way, they came back and actually "manhandled" the Grizz by 36 the next time they saw them.

That was some feat apparently. The Grizzlies stink.

I wasn't slamming Hoiberg.

Young teams have to learn how to win and generally have a problem closing. This shouldn't be a surprise.

It will be a disappointment if they don't win 35 games

Just want to make sure you note the differences here:

T-Wolves: Young and inexperienced
Bulls: Experienced

They are losing to bad teams. It's not just the record. Denver is a young team. Also Wiggins and Levine are in their 3rd year. The only rookie is Dunn. Thibs should be able to will them to victory by the sheer force of his coaching greatness? That was how it was billed when he was unemployed.

You had the Bulls experienced and bad though.

I'm glad to see there is a lot of interest in the Wolves
Even the haters like ltg

I'm glad to see there is a lot of interest in the Wolves
Even the haters like ltg

I like their players but if you don't think the Thibs watch is on you're delusional.

I like Towns, Wiggins, Levine, Dunn, and Dieng. Tyus Jones is cool too.

I think Thibs will screw it up though. Once he does there can't be any excuses.

TBH I wouldn't be this into them if it weren't for Thibs. The wolves became my second favorite team back in the Garnett and Starbury days. They weren't good but that tandem was awesome. Then I kept interest when they morphed into the KG, Cassell/Brandon and Sprewell core and played decent to good ball. Might be missing someone. Incidentally, my favorite number (21) comes from KG's jersey as a Timberwolf. Now I hate him...sort of.

You're setting yourself up for a "if they're good it's due to talent and if they suck it's due to Thibs" argument. Not gonna happen. They have no prior record of excellence. If it happens under Thibs then he necessarily played a role in that. If you don't agree to this then there's no point of a debate.

I like their players but if you don't think the Thibs watch is on you're delusional.

I like Towns, Wiggins, Levine, Dunn, and Dieng. Tyus Jones is cool too.

I think Thibs will screw it up though. Once he does there can't be any excuses.

wait, i'm delusional if i don't think the "Thibs watch" is on 1 week into the season ?

wait, i'm delusional if i don't think the "Thibs watch" is on 1 week into the season ?

One week. Amazing. Let's see where things stand in Feb. There is too much talent on that roster. Things will balance out

Thibs was billed as a quick fix guy. Sam Mitchell had them playing good ball at the end of the year and they whacked him.

where you are you seeing this ? you keep bringing up that he's a 'quick fix' guy...what does that even mean ? That if they didn't start out 10-0 it was a failure ? what are you even arguing ? sounds like some bullshit you just made up to bolster your nonsensical argument

and Mitchell sucked. he didn't want to play Lavine, and for some reason didn't want to use Dieng either

Tibs is a "quick fix" guy? Are you high? Tibs is a good coach. You are a poor NBA observer.

ONce again the "early" argument wasn't afforded to Hoiberg

This is a thread to avoid. Very few expect the Wolves to make the playoffs in Year 1. LTG was one of those guys months ago. The thing he was for Thibs is unhealthy and mostly wrong.

Thibs was regarded as a quick fix guy that eventually wares on players. The early argument isn't so much based upon the record as it is based upon the teams that they are losing to. THey haven't lost to any of the heavy hitters.

ONce again the "early" argument wasn't afforded to Hoiberg. I would match what I know about the NBA versus what you know anytime. You were one of the Curry vs Irving guys as I remember. How'd that work out for you?

MOst on here expected the WOlves to be better than the Bulls in Thibs first year. The Bulls are going to make the playoffs. People love predictions around here until they actually throw the ball in the air and then they backpeddle quicker than Ali and run faster than Jesse Owens.

Its easy to say stuff in July which is what a lot of people were doing. The mere presence of Thibs was paraded on here as a panacea as long as he wasn't coaching. Now he is coaching and everyone wants to play "Curb Your Enthusiam"

He was touted as a coaching guru so long as he wasn't coaching. The only person that had him pegged as just an average coach was Matches.

He may prove me wrong but I doubt it. He is an ok coach that had good talent yet routinely was outcoached during playoff series. If this team doesn't markedly improve i.e. 40 wins then it is a disappointment. I have watched all of their games and they don't appear to be a 40 win team.

maybe because they fired a coach that was 50-32 ?