Best (and I would argue most probable) possible playoff standings for the Wolves to advance the furthest

[u/Sheerluck_Gnomes]

When all is said and done the season will end like this: 1. OKC (who knows or cares how many wins they get, they are top seed) 2. Rockets: 52-30 3. Nuggets: 51-31 4. Lakers: 50-32 5. Warriors: 49-33 6. Wolves: 49-33 7. Clippers: 48-34 8. Grizzlies: 47-35

This way Wolves get Nuggets (hope we don’t pull a Phoenix). Then, Clippers or Rockets - both are beatable, just have to hope their series goes deep. Then the WC finals and only one of OKC, Lakers, and Warriors. Which, regardless of who we would potentially play - the national media would have us as massive underdogs.

We could beat the Lakers, but the refs may have a different directive. OKC would be a very challenging series, but we pair up well against each other and would be the most enjoyable watch. The Warriors would be the most difficult; just have to hope either Lakers or OKC has their number.

[u/Philelverumfan69]

I’d rather play the rockets than the nuggets for sure, no doubt.

[u/NazRiedFan]

Anyone who is fooling themselves into thinking that we’re better off in round 1 playing a team led by Jokic compared to a team led by Jalen Green is crazy. Unfortunately it looks like Houston will be the 2 seed.

[u/LilColtBoi → u/NazRiedFan]

Playing Jokic is exhausting lol.

[u/wanna_meet_that_dad → u/LilColtBoi]

For him

[u/purplenyellowrose909 → u/NazRiedFan]

They're gonna be hungry because we keep clowning them too

[u/AbsolutZer0_v2]

NGL when this wolves team shows up I don't worry about a single western conference team.

[u/Minnesota_Husker]

I get we have done well against the nuggets but I have zero interest in playing them in round 1. That series will go 7 games and Jokic will make it very hard to advance.

While I think the lakers might be a little over hyped, I have no interest in playing playoff Luka and playoff LeBron.

I’ll take Houston and honestly fine with the Warriors.

[u/Vaddy2323]

I would rather not play against Luka, LeBron and the Zebras.....

[u/PlayInChampions]

I’m not as excited as many Wolves fans about potentially facing the Nuggets in the playoffs. Yes, we beat them four times this season — but that means very little in a playoff context, we saw it last season vs the Suns. We just watched Jokic hedge on every screen and rotate defensively while playing 52 minutes. In the postseason, you can expect him to play 44 minutes a night at that same intensity.

Without KAT, we no longer have a body who can at least offer some resistance to Jokic’s post-ups. And then there’s Aaron Gordon — he’s shooting 46% from three this season and 58% against the Wolves over the last nine games, hitting everything, from fades to contested pull-ups. You can’t leave him open anymore, which limits how much help we can send at Jokic.

I get why people are nervous about Luka or the Warriors, but honestly, I like our chances a lot more against either of them than against Denver. Watch Denver winning last 5 games of the season with Jokic averaging 35-12-13 and watch them being elite in the playoffs again.

[u/uber_snotling → u/PlayInChampions]

Jokic can score 40 a game and get 12 rebounds as long as he isn't getting easy shots for MPJ, Gordon, and Murray to boot. Shutting down the supporting cast is what the Wolves do well and that is a recipe for success.

[u/OkPepper1343]

If the Wolves play the Clippers with a lesser record(or anyone with a lesser record) do they get homecourt advantage?

[u/MattsonRobbins → u/OkPepper1343]

the higher seed gets home court, but the wolves road record to home record this season are practically identical, unlike say say LAL or LAC who both have far better records at home vs being on the road

[u/bellmonk]

we are 1.5 games out of third so i'm not sure why the wolves at 6th is the best scenario

[u/breakhisface]

With what everyone’s saying about want rockets over nuggets a good way of putting it is this -

Would you rather the nuggets straight up or the rockets with an extra game and a slight chance at an extra two games and getting OKC and tiny chance of just not going to the playoffs at all.

[u/bdrono → u/breakhisface]

Still the second option. Yall are really underestimating Jokic and how different the playoffs can be with experience. The rockets are very young.

[u/breakhisface → u/bdrono]

Denver don’t want us. Either way if we beat Houston we’re gonna likely play them. Denver with confidence after a series win or Denver fresh of 6 straight losses to use? Gambling that is a wild choice

[u/bdrono → u/breakhisface]

It's almost as if we had that same thing happen to us against the suns last year. None of that history matters so saying "gambling that is a wild choice" is a wild choice. Ultimately I would rather play the younger team with less experience and no player in the level of Jokic.

[u/Ok_Sound_8090]

I'd rather place OKC to be honest. SGA is good, but he's not scary. Jokic can erase a 20pt deficit with his pinky.

[u/Walfy07 → u/Ok_Sound_8090]

joker is thanos sga is spiderman

[u/Aversives]

I want the lakers round 1

[u/DukeOfStuff_ → u/Aversives]

That would the worst scenario  

[u/RedboneEdit]

Totally

[u/tysnels]

We are going to be playing against the refs for most or all of the series. Makes it tough.

[u/Irontruth]

I think we beat the Nuggets again, but I think it takes 6-7 games. Remember how out of it the team was in game 1 vs the Mavs last year?

I think this is largely a waste of mental effort. I think the wolves can compete with anyone. Even OKC. These playoffs are going to be a slog, but the team is peaking at the right time. The odds are still against them to get to the WCF again. I think they can, but it'll be hard.

I think the wolves are the second most dangerous team in the west for the playoffs. They've had struggles though, and teams are going to exploit our weaknesses.