TheGoldSeat

Ok, with 4 games remaining the Timberwolves are currently slotted in the 3rd best position in the draft lottery, which would give them a 15.6% chance of landing the #1 overall pick.  However, at 19-59 the Timberwolves are only one game in the win column ahead of the Seattle Supersonics (18-61).  This means that to catch Seattle the Supersonics will have to win one more game than the Timberwolves the rest of the way.  Complicating matters is that Seattle has three games left and the Timberwolves have four. 

On first blush it would appear that we have no chance in this equation.  Seattle’s three remaining games are against solid Western Conference opponents (San Antonio, Dallas and Golden State).  However, here is the scenario by which we could catch Seattle.  The Timberwolves have 4 remaining games, the next 3 of them on the road.  I predict that we will lose out.  We play Orlando, Memphis and Detroit on the road in the next week or so, and will lose all three.  The only close game will be at Memphis, but Rudy Gay will prove to be too much on the road.  Then we come home for the final game against Milwaukee, which we will use to give backups extended minutes to try to determine who should remain on the roster for next year (Richard, Smith, Telfair, Snyder, etc.). 

If we finish the year 19-63 we have a shot.  The reason being that Seattle will win one of its remaining games, and here’s why:  First they play San Antonio.  There’s a chance that Duncan and company could be resting their players.  They have no shot at catching New Orleans for the number one spot in the West and might not have a huge preference whether they play Dallas or Phoenix.  Seattle’s second game is against Dallas.  This is more of a long shot, but it’s possible that Dallas might not want to win out, because securing the 7th spot means that they will have to play SA or LA.  If you’re SA, why not lose a couple, grab the 8th spot and play New Orleans in the first round?  Which brings us to the game that I think Seattle has the greatest chance to win: Golden State.  Right now GS is in the 9th spot, on the outside looking in.  By the last game of the season they will likely be officially eliminated, deflated, and looking to next year.  On the other hand, Seattle has a lot of young talent who will be looking to make a statement for playing time to the coaches going into the offseason.  If, and it’s a big if, Seattle can pull out one of these three games for the reasons I have stated, and if the Timberwolves do the prudent thing and lose out, the Timberwolves will have a chance at a coin flip to see who gets the second slot and a 19.9% chance at grabbing Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose with the number one pick on May 20th.  Here’s hoping that the Supersonics will finish their run in Seattle on a strong note - maybe even win a couple more games..

Rose or Beasley, who do you want when it all unfolds?

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