Battle of the Bloggers No. 6

Crunch time. With just one last chance to impress like Al Jefferson in the preseason, our bloggers battle with one another regarding the Wolves' overall season outlook. Let's take a look at the standings, and get right to their answers.

Battle of the Bloggers Standings
26.5 points: Anthony Hall: twolvesblog.com
25 points: Stephen Litel: hoopsworld.com
22.5 points: Sonia Grover: twolvesblog.com
21 points: Kate Doan: mnsportsfans.com
20 points: Dave Kelsey: twolvesblog.com
14 points: Derek Hanson: twolvesblog.com
11 points: Alex Halsted: twolves wordpress

WEEK SIX QUESTION:
ESPN the Magazine and Sports Illustrated have the Wolves finishing last in the West this season. Now that the final roster is set, what's YOUR take on where Minnesota will finish? Feel free to incorporate previous points you've made throughout the Battle of the Bloggers.
- Tiebreaker: Offer two short predictions for the coming season.

ANSWERS:

HALL:
If this team can quickly mesh, if they’re motivated, if they improve throughout the year, if they play hard and remain competitive night after night- they could definitely surprise the haters in the mainstream media. More specifically, much of the Wolves’ performance this season will center around Green and McCants. Those guys are the two biggest mystery men on this team- if they can produce, the Wolves will be making these so-called NBA experts blush.

So, can they deliver? I’m expecting a breakout season for McCants (he’s finally healthy, and showed flashes in the preseason/throughout his NBA career), and Gerald just needs to play smart basketball to become a major weapon for this team. Actually, I really appreciate this preseason ripping on the Wolves by the media- a young team with a chip on their collective shoulders has the power to surprise some people.

I’ll remain fairly conservative with my prediction. I’d say they’ll finish 13ish in the West. My main point, though, is that this team has a great opportunity to be better than expected.

However, if the Wolves get off to a slow start, we can always put Sweetwater Jones in the lineup. That guy can really play.

Record Prediction: 25-57

First prediction: This team will be precisely 50x more fun to watch than last year’s team. They might not have a great year, but this overhauled squad will create a buzz in Minnesota. New excitement at Target Center? Bank on it.

Second prediction: Jefferson will put up 30 and 15 in KG’s return.

LITEL:
The Timberwolves will not finish last in the West this season. Minnesota’s overall talent compares to Seattle, Portland, New Orleans and Golden State. Barring long-term injuries, Golden State will finish with the best record of the five, but the remaining four should be close on their heels.

Seattle is building around Durant, New Orleans around Paul and Golden State around Davis. Only Portland and Minnesota are building their teams around post players: Oden and Jefferson. Oden is out for the year, so Minnesota has the best post player of all the teams.

To compete in the West, teams must have solid post play to compete against Duncan, Yao, Boozer, Nowitzki and Stoudemire. Having Jefferson to go against those players will help Minnesota to a better record than at least two of these teams.

The other teams may have better individual talents, but Minnesota’s depth will also help to give them the edge in the final standings. When healthy, the Wolves are three deep at each position, giving Wittman a flood of options each night. Most likely struggling out of the gates, Wittman will be able to tinker with the rotation until this team hits its stride later in the year.

Record Prediction: 25-57.

Predictions: Smith will average a double-double. Last season, Smith averaged 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in only 18.7 minutes. This year, Smith’s minutes will be much higher.

McCants will win Most Improved Player. Now healthy, Shaddy will realize some of his potential and easily surpass his career average of 7.0 points.

Several of the bloggers mentioned how key Rashad McCants will be if the Wolves exceed expectations.

GROVER:
A different culture created by winning pedigrees, young talent, and some veterans gives the team a new advantage and makes them exciting to watch. Low expectations will enable them to sometimes take opponents by surprise. The team will be quicker, more athletic, and score more in the paint. Regardless, they’ll rack up wins only in the high 20s, just ahead of Seattle and Sacramento in the West.

The frontcourt is full of promise and depth, but has to prove itself against the strong Western Conference big men. They’ll lean on Jefferson's strong offensive prowess, but as a whole need further development. Replacing KG's defense will be tough, but they may be able to replace his scoring.

Along with Telfair having much to prove and Jaric’s trouble fitting in, Foye’s recently announced injury highlights the perennial problems at the point.

Wittman will have a difficult task finding a solid rotation and figuring out players’ roles, both of which are keys to their success. Giving players enough time to develop individually and form chemistry in this new system will also be challenging. Consistency on a young team is difficult and, as demonstrated in the preseason, turnovers will be a big issue.

Predicted Record: 27-55

Predictions: Diehard Wolves fans will go postal when they're greeted with Garnett's mug on yet another magazine cover.

Jefferson’s jersey sales will trump all but it will be a close race for those that follow as a different player will impress during every game. Expect also to see few Ratliffs sold.

DOAN:
I dislike pre-season predictions because inevitably they are based upon last season and the won-loss record, as well as whether the experts feel that any moves a team made added proven talent to a team. I went back to the 2004-2005 season, and saw just how wrong the experts were that season, in the West they predicted the Wolves to win it all, and in the East the Bulls were predicted to be the 3rd worst team. The young Bulls started slowly that year, but made the play-offs and the Wolves did not.

I predict a similar pattern will follow for the Wolves, the team will start slowly, in part because of Randy Foye’s injury, but they will continue to build momentum throughout the year. We will see Al Jefferson replace most of Garnett’s points and rebounds this season, but in the paint. As Corey Brewer becomes acclimated to the NBA his pesky defense will leave top perimeter players in tears. Foye will emerge as the assist leader and be the second option for the team. Ryan Gomes will emerge as the “rock” for the Wolves. By season’s end the experts will be eating their words they wrote this fall.

Record Prediction: 30-52

Predictions: The first NBA award for best smile will be given to rookie Corey Brewer.

Rashad McCants will win the Most Improved Player in the NBA. Rashad’s solid play this pre-season will continue, and writers will take notice of his strong play after a lost sophomore season.

KELSEY:
The recent news that Randy Foye is out indefinitely throws a major wrench into the success of this team. If Foye is out for an extended period of time, who will lead the Wolves? Is Sebastian Telfair capable of becoming a starting big-time PG? Can Jaric and Buckner handle backup PG duties?

Big Al will need to step-up as the focal point of this offense, but it will be tough going as our opponents know Jefferson is the main piece of this team. With Al commanding nightly double-teams, who will step-in to help lead this team? We will need nightly contributions from our plethora of new young Wolves for any chance at success this season.

The time is now for players like Gomes, McCants, Smith, Brewer, and Gerald Green to step forward and show everyone what they’ve got, as they will have ample opportunities to contribute.

In agreement with the magazines, I see us finishing in the bottom two of our division, as well as one of the three worst records in the Western Conference (alongside Seattle and Sacramento.) It’s certainly possible that the Wolves will be in the running for worst record in the entire league.

Predicted Record: 21-61

Two Predictions:
The Wolves will put forth more different starting line-up combinations than the number of wins they will have this season.

Ryan Gomes averages 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists this season, while garnering multiple accolades and awards. Everyone forgets about KG.

HANSON:
The fact that the major media outlets unanimously predict the Wolves to finish last in the West isn't surprising. Most writers are probably using the logic, "If they won 33 games with Garnett, then they're going to win a lot less without him." However, they've failed to realize that the 2007-08 squad is much more than last year's team, minus KG.

What the Wolves lack in experience, they make up for in good attitudes and work ethic. I'll take a team who plays hard and together over a talented team with issues any day. So don't be surprised if the intangibles of this young team bring them success.

I see seven "locks" for the Western Conference playoffs: The Spurs, Suns, Mavericks, Rockets, Jazz, Warriors, and Nuggets. If Kobe's sent eastward, that eighth spot is up for grabs. You can't tell me the remaining teams would be impossible to overcome if the Wolves play the right way and give their all every night. I see no reason to expect anything less from this great group of young guys we've got.

I'm probably the only one, and I don't care if this gets me last place...

Record Prediction: 42-40, 8th seed Western Conference.

Two Predictions: Marko Jaric becomes the next leading man on ABC's The Bachelor.

Antoine Walker's petition to the league to create the four-point shot is finally passed, and he spends the remainder of the season heaving up shots from the center court logo.

HALSTED:
Repeat after me: “The Wolves will not finish last.”

If the Wolves can get healthy and stay healthy, and learn to play as a team, I don’t see how they can finish in last place. There are several teams that they have a very good chance to finish in front of, including the following.

Kings: The Kings will be without Bibby for up to eight weeks, their first round pick Hawes could miss the season, and on a minor note, Artest is out for the first seven games and it isn’t out of the question for him to get into more trouble.

Sonics: Who do the Sonics have? They do have Durant, but as a rookie he won’t put up consistent numbers and they can‘t win with just him. Other than him, they don’t have anybody that really scares me.

Portland: Portland has a few nice pieces, and played well to open the season against the Spurs. I think they will be pretty decent, but should finish right with the Wolves.

The knowledge of the Wolves and disrespect given to the team by news outlets such as ESPN and SI angers me. The Wolves won’t be awesome, but they will be fun to watch and are definitely heavily underrated.

Predictions: - Al Jefferson will rack up two triple-doubles this season and will also contend for the league lead in rebounding.

- Rashad McCants will continue his preseason trend and surprise everybody, averaging 15 points per game.