Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 05: Jimmy Butler #23, Andrew Wiggins #22, Karl-Anthony Townsand and Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

4 of 6

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images /

3. The Timberwolves will finish third in the Western Conference

The ESPN projection also had the Timberwolves finishing fourth in the Western Conference. It has the Wolves playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Finishing third will result in a more favorable matchup for the Wolves. Based on those projections, they would play a team like The Los Angeles Clippers, who lost several players including new addition Jamal Crawford.

B-Ball Chat 006 is up, we're talking Russ Westbrook and our predictions for the top of the Western Conference. #basketballbreaks #westworld pic.twitter.com/3xgMeWH1RA
— B-Ball Breaks (@BBallBreaks) October 3, 2017

Finishing third would be consistent with reaching 57 wins. Last season 57 wins would have put the Timberwolves in third place in the final Western Conference standings right behind the Spurs and Warriors.

Home/Minnesota Timberwolves