Making the playoffs not as easy as we think?

[slinslin]

4. Dallas will continue to score, but they will not be as effective without a point guard. I'm not sure that giving up Jamison made basketball sense. We will see if Laettner is an asset or a liability.

How do the Suns fit? I'm guessing no better than #6 or #7 slot. If healthy, the Suns could get close to 50 wins. But it would not take much for them to fall out of the playoffs due to a complete lack of defense.

Dallas is worse defensively than us and we probably have more firepower now as well.

 

[elindholm]

2. Minnesota has three key players with more than 10 years in the league: Sprewell (12), Cassell (11), and Johnson (11) plus several guys with 9 years experience. This is great when they are healthy, but their best "young" player - Wally is coming off an injury riddled season.

I know what you mean, but I think Minnesota's best "young" player is Kevin Garnett, who is 28. It's not like experience automatically makes you old.

 

[coloradosun]

What about Denver?

What about Portland? Portland, Utah and Denver came down to the final week of the season.

Also, if a team wins one of the three divisions, does it automaticly get into the playoffs even if it does not have one of the top 8 records?

 

[George O'Brien]

2. Minnesota has three key players with more than 10 years in the league: Sprewell (12), Cassell (11), and Johnson (11) plus several guys with 9 years experience. This is great when they are healthy, but their best "young" player - Wally is coming off an injury riddled season.

I know what you mean, but I think Minnesota's best "young" player is Kevin Garnett, who is 28. It's not like experience automatically makes you old.

Of course you are right. In any case, the Wolves have had Garnett for a long time and only got of the first round this past season. It was the addition of these other guys that made the difference and they were available because all are past their prime.

 

[elindholm]

I agree that Minnesota is old. One wonders whether Johnson will continue to get preference over Olowokandi.

But Cassell and Sprewell have historically been very healthy, and neither shows much sign of slowing down. (Cassell, of course, was a first-time All-Star last year.) Their age might catch up with them, but all players face injury risks, and as things look right now, I don't think Minnesota is particularly vulnerable in this regard.