Why do we think the Timberwolves are gonna be good? Even if you believe in Wiggins they have 4 good players right? And those 4 players don't even really fit together all that well. Considering their depth & fit, their o/u, especially considering they play in the West, makes no sense to me. And I'm firmly in the teamWiggs camp.

Minnesota certainly have the talent, but man... the fit just seems to blow ass with them. Their best shooter is like the ONE GUY who should be playing inside, and Thibs' defensive system (an antequated one, imo), doesn't seem to fit their roster at all. IMO they should be switching everything and certainly have the big-man talent to do it, but Tom wants to play ice all the time (Stotts is also guilty of this, but he at least has the personnel).

I'm out on Minnesota and in on Utah, may have ranked the Jazz too low. We know they are going to be elite on D, and Rubio despite his flaws always seems to have good command when he's on offense.

Yea the more I've thought about it the more I've trended in that direction as well. Jazz will still be a good regular season too and 40 seems like a really low number, whereas the Timberwolves I just don't see Jimmy Butler making up that many wins.

Ball

I honestly think Butler is probably worth +8-10 wins for the Wolves this year, and Towns should improve too. Wiggins you have to assume will be at least moderately better even if you’re low on him.

Anyone want to make a $100 Rookie of the year bet? I'll take Donovan Mitchell vs your whoever. (Besides DSjr who I also love. Although Im willing to do DSjr + Mitchell vs your 2 whoever as well) If neither win, its a push.

They were ~10th last year in offensive efficiency as a team with the majority of the minutes going to:

Rubio
Wiggins
Towns
Dieng
Lavine/Bazz

Lavine is obviously a huge loss from a spacing perspective, but he only played the first half of the season last year, Teague provides more in that area than rubio and replacing Butler with Lavine/bazz minutes is a huge difference. They were fine last year with that roster construction, I don't see any reason why they won't be fine this year.

I do think they're going to struggle a lot for the first half of the season just because teams that have had more talent have struggled early on with chemistry issues. However, I can see the offense functioning quite well around the wings/teague pnr'ing with towns while one sits in the opposite corner of Taj/Dieng and the other one plays the swing man.

Id take Lonzo and Simmons vs your DSJ/Mitchell must win for $100

I'll do $25-$50 on my Lonzo OR Simmons (your pick) v your Donovan Mitchell if you want.

I'm also still looking for a couple more total win o/u's. Mostly
Mavs u35.5
Twolves u 48
Bucks u 47.5

I will do must win my D Mitch + Dennis Smith JR vs Your Simmons and Lonzo for $100. Anyone besides those 4 wins its a push.

Why do I have to assume he will be moderately better?

Here's a new idea: take the Hoyaids containment thread to invisible insider incestuous chat and leave actually talking about sporting events in the SE forum.

I really **hate** the idea of taking this kind of stuff off-site - how do non-insiders find it? - and I assume this is just another branch of Hoyaids's pathetic endeavour to destroy SE, but .. yeah .. why not have the info .. send me an invite

--

sent as a PM - I guess that collates them in the same place

OMG NBA!

General thoughts "predictions" on some teams (compared to what I can gather general opinion is and win totals)
High on:
- Pacers (just aren't that bad, Turner is great and I still believe in Oladipo, and they have actual NBA players at every position unlike a lot of teams. Could sneak playoffs in awful East. Paul George's input last year in reg season being overrated too)
- Denver (drinking the Seadood Jokic kool-aid, and Millsap just the absolute perfect signing, and one of my faves)
- Houston (CP3 still underrated, and the DAT scheme is closest thing to solved basketball for non warriors teams)

Low on:
- Philly (all their interesting guys are rookies other than a dude who will barely play. They'll look like world beaters with Embiid on court but will have an awful record)
- Lakers (how are they possibly not completely awful again? For this season only, DAR -> Ball is a big downgrade. Ppl must really rate Lopez?)
- OKC (Paul George fits perfectly in theory but I doubt this team gels at all. Talent to carry it a fair way and I still like Melo but yea, implosion incoming imo)

People say that Warriors have ruined the NBA, but I can think of a bunch of other teams that are going to be super fun to watch, starting with the Nuggets, Bucks, and Sixers.

I'll go with:

MVP -- Giannis
ROY -- Simmons
DPOY -- Draymond
NBA champs -- GS over the Bucks

tl;dr

Is this basically a group chat? And is it free?

What is the advantage to slack chat over posting in here?

Excited to be able to root against Chris Paul again. I wish him nothing but failure and excuses.

Yeah I'm super high on Giannis, perhaps irrationally so. Of all the players to ever play in the league OAT, I kind of feel like he may have the highest ceiling. To be that skilled and blessed with his tools is one thing, but to put it on the court and improve at literally everything every season sings to me. With Middleton returning I think you could see them take a pretty big jump in the standings, and with the East possibly coming back a notch I like them to get a top seed.

Cool. Consider it booked.

Speaking of the Clipse,I got Beverly Amy dark horse MIP this year. He showed some things sans Harden running the second units, and will be able to showcase his abilities more in LA.

If Jabari Parker isn't done from the recos their team come playoff time will look very nice

If he ever learns to shoot reasonably well from outside 15 feet, he will be the perennial favorite for MVP. He is the most LeaguePass-worthy player in the league right now.

If they do well, Parker being out for much of the season might have something to do with it.

None of the Giannis/Bucks hype train want to touch their over?

I'll take over for the Mavs. I wish we'd tank but doubt we will, so might as well bet it.