We’re finally back with our first edition of Canis Pulsus this season. We had 40 participants in our predictions edition, so let’s take a look at the results and how previous season takes have panned out.
What record to you think the Timberwolves will finish the season with?
50-32 (17.5%)
Last prediction: 52-30 (W: 49-33)
2024 prediction : 54-28 / 52-30 (W: 49-33)
2023 prediction: 50-32 (W: 56-26)
2022 prediction: 52-30 (W: 42-40)
2021 prediction: 44-38 (W: 23-49)
2020 prediction: 36-36 / 30-42 (W: 19-45)
The people have mashed 50 or more wins for the fifth straight season. Aside from the 2023-24 season, the Timberwolves have fallen short of that. I guess we’ll never learn, huh? 57.5% of the votes went with 50 or more wins.
Full voting results:
What seed will the Wolves finish within the Western Conference?
3rd seed (35.0%)
Last prediction: 3rd seed (W: 6th seed)
2024 prediction: 2nd seed (W: 6th seed)
2023 prediction: 3rd seed / 5th seed (W: 3rd seed)
2022 prediction: 4th seed (W: 8th seed)
Similar to above, over half of voters gave the Wolves a three seed or higher. Well, I have bad news for you if you look at how we’ve all performed in previous seasons. Even in the Wolves best season, we tied in predicting a third or fifth seed.
Full voting results:
The MVP of the Timberwolves will be...
Getty Images
Anthony Edwards (90.0%)
Last season: Anthony Edwards
2024 prediction: Anthony Edwards
2023 prediction: Anthony Edwards
2022 prediction: Karl-Anthony Towns
2021 prediction: Karl-Anthony Towns
2020 prediction: Karl-Anthony Towns
No questions here. The only interesting note is that Ant received 5.9% less votes than last year. Rudy received two votes while LaMelo and Jaden each got one as well. Will Edwards being asked to do less on the offensive end be to his ultimate benefit?
Full voting results:
The best defender on the Timberwolves will be...
Rudy Gobert (71.8%)
Last season: Jaden McDaniels
2024 prediction: Rudy Gobert
2023 prediction: Jaden McDaniels
2022 prediction: Rudy Gobert
2021 prediction: Patrick Beverley
2020 prediction: Jarrett Culver
As expected, it’s either Rudy or Jaden here. These two of alternated winning this category for the past four years. Shoutout 2020-21 Jarrett Culver, huh?
Full voting results:
The best bench player for the Timberwolves will be...
Ayo Dosunmu (87.2%)
Last season: Naz Reid
2024 prediction: Donte DiVincenzo
2023 prediction: Naz Reid
2022 prediction: Kyle Anderson
2021 prediction: Patrick Beverley
Ayo is the fifth highest paid player on the Wolves so it’s no secret that he was won this category. Meanwhile, it might seem surprising that Joan Beringer got three votes, but you’ll see more of this later.
Full voting results:
The best locker room guy on the Timberwolves will be...
NBAE via Getty Images
Donte DiVincenzo (32.4%)
Last season: Mike Conley
2024 prediction: Mike Conley
2023 prediction: Mike Conley
2022 prediction: Taurean Prince
2021 prediction: Patrick Beverley
2020 prediction: Ricky Rubio
Gone are the old wise men in Minnesota’s locker room. Donte will unmistakably be a voice considering how he was labeled by Chris Finch as “the heart and soul of the team” after he went down with his injury in the postseason. LaMelo was second place here with Bones and Ant trailing. Only four players received votes last year, but now that’s nearly doubled to seven. Shoutout to whoever thought Julius Randle was going to be best for the locker room vibes last year.
Full voting results:
The player on the Timberwolves who will impress the most is...
Joan Beringer (43.6%)
Last season: TJ Shannon
2024 prediction: Donte DiVincenzo
2023 prediction: Anthony Edwards
2022 prediction: Anthony Edwards
2021 prediction: Anthony Edwards
2020 prediction: Anthony Edwards
This was mostly a two way split between Joan and LaMelo. Will a 19-year-old backup center who will cap out at about 17-18 minutes a night be the most impressive? You all sure seem to think so.
Full voting results:
The on-court Wolves “storyline” you are most excited to see develop is...
NBAE via Getty Images
LaMelo & Ant chemistry (40%)
Last season: Ant’s on-court growth
These two kindred spirits seem to have really formed a bond off the court. Will that translate to on the court? Early returns in preseason seems two indicate yes! Their partnership may determine where the Wolves go in the next four to five years.
Full voting results:
The off-court Wolves “storyline” you are most excited for is...
@SaintTrece on Twitter
New jersey kits (37.5%)
Last season: Potential jersey retirement
I’m not going to lie, I too am ultra excited for this year’s jersey rotation. You can’t really ask for more of an upgrade from their regular rotation. Thank you, new ownership group. Whoever you are now.
Now that season is about to begin, my feelings on the direction of the Timberwolves are...
Very optimistic (70%)
Last season: Very optimistic (63.3%)
2024 prediction: Very optimistic (56.9%)
2023 prediction: Very optimistic (45%)
2022 prediction: Very optimistic (83%)
2021 prediction: Very optimistic (47.4%)
2020 prediction: Slightly optimistic (55.2%)
Over 90% of voters were optimistic, but this is the highest amount of “Very optimistic” votes since the summer the Wolves acquired Rudy Gobert. No doubt, we are ready to get hurt again.
Full voting results:
My hottest Timberwolves season take/prediction is...
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Another serving of Beringer hype? Yes, please! Imagine Joan lining up for the AT&T Slam Dunk and throwing down the most casual one-handed dunk. I love it. Maybe more than Joan winning Rookie of the Year in his sophomore season!
3) Beringer will win the NBA slam dunk contest
2) Wolves go 16-0 in the playoffs
1) Beringer will win rookie of the year
Link to full results
The Most Valuable Player will be...
Victor Wembanyama (26.3%)
Last prediction: Nikola Jokić (W: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)
2024 prediction: Luka Dončić (W: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)
2023 prediction: Nikola Jokić (W: Nikola Jokić)
2022 prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo (W: Joel Embiid)
2021 prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo / Kevin Durant (W: Nikola Jokić)
2020 prediction: Luka Dončić (W: Nikola Jokić)
Ant was second place with 15.8% of the votes. Wolves fans seem to think that the era of Shai and Jokić is over!
The Defensive Player of the Year will be...
Victor Wembanyama (82.1%)
Last prediction: Victor Wembanyama (W: Victor Wembanyama)
2024: Victor Wembanyama (W: Evan Mobley)
2023 prediction: Jaden McDaniels (W: Rudy Gobert)
2022 prediction: Rudy Gobert (W: Jaren Jackson Jr.)
2021 prediction: Giannis Antetokoumpo (W: Marcus Smart)
2020 prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo (W: Rudy Gobert)
This award is essentially the “Will Wemby play 65 games?” award. This award is basically his award to lose moving forward. Shoutout to Rudy being second place on this vote, with even Joan receiving a vote!
The Rookie of the Year will be...
Anadolu via Getty Images
AJ Dybantsa | Darryn Peterson | Cameron Boozer | Caleb Wilson (21.6% each)
Last prediction: Cooper Flagg (W: Cooper Flagg)
Last prediction: Reed Sheppard (W: Stephon Castle)
2023 prediction*: Victor Wembanyama (W: Victor Wembanyama)
2022 prediction: Paolo Banchero (W: Paolo Banchero)
2021 prediction: Jalen Green (W: Scottie Barnes)
2020 prediction: Anthony Edwards *(W: LaMelo Ball)
I thought Joan Beringer was going to win it! What made me chortle was seeing Andrew Wiggins’ name appear on this list. It’s interesting that all four of the top four picks received exactly the same amount of votes. It’s going to be quite a race, for sure.
The Sixth Man of the Year will be...
Ayo Dosunmu (54.5%)
Last prediction: Naz Reid (W: Keldon Johnson)
2024 prediction: Donte DiVincenzo (W: Payton Pritchard)
2023 prediction: Naz Reid (W: Naz Reid)
2022 prediction: Jaylen Nowell (W: Malcolm Brogdon)
2021 prediction: Malik Beasley (W: Tyler Herro)
2020 prediction: Lou Williams (W: Jordan Clarkson)
I was actually a little bit sad to see Naz Reid get a vote here, despite being the projected starting power forward in Charlotte. Give the many some respect! The same respect that voters are giving Ayo for 6MOY award consideration. Fun fact: Ayo was actually ninth in 6MOY voting last season!
The Most Improved Player of the Year will be...
Joan Beringer (14.3%)
Last prediction: Jaden McDaniels (W: Nickeil Alexander-Walker)
2024 prediction: Jaden McDaniels (W: Dyson Daniels)
2023 prediction: Jaden McDaniels (W: Tyrese Maxey)
2022 prediction: Anthony Edwards (W: Lauri Markkanen)
2021 prediction: Anthony Edwards (W: Ja Morant)
2020 prediction: Jarrett Culver (W: Julius Randle)
The same caveat applies to my blurb about Beringer being “the most impressive player” for the Wolves above. Can someone win MIP despite playing less than 20 minutes a game? Dylan Harper was second in votes here, but we also got Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid each receive three votes as well.
The Coach of the Year will be...
Getty Images
Chris Finch (48.6%)
Last prediction: Chris Finch (W: Joe Mazzulla)
2024 prediction: Chris Finch (W: Kenny Atkinson)
2023 prediction: Chris Finch (W: Mark Daigneault)
2022 prediction: Chris Finch (W: Mike Brown)
2021 prediction: Chris Finch (W: Monty Williams)
2020 prediction: Rick Carlisle (W: Tom Thibodeau)
For the sixth straight season, Wolves fans are penciling Chris Finch in as COY. Will it finally be his time? I smiled when I saw that Micah Nori was second here with 11% of votes!
The 2026 Eastern Conference winners will be...
Philadelphia 76ers (28.9%)
Last prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers (W: New York Knicks)
2024 prediction: Boston Celtics (W: Indiana Pacers)
2023 prediction: Boston Celtics (W: Boston Celtics)
2022 prediction: Milwaukee Bucks
2021 prediction: Brooklyn Nets
2020 prediction: Milwaukee Bucks
Many of you are sipping on the Kool-Aid of the new look Sixers. Surprisingly, the Pacers were the second highest vote getters followed by the Raptors and Magic. The East looks wide open.
Full voting results:
The 2026 Western Conference winners will be...
Minnesota Timberwolves (41.0%)
Last prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder (W: San Antonio Spurs)
2024 prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder
2023 prediction: Denver Nuggets
2022 prediction: Los Angeles Clippers
2021 prediction: Los Angeles Lakers / Utah Jazz
2020 prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
For the first time ever, fans actually picked their very own Timberwolves to come out of the Western Conference! The Spurs came in second place, followed by the Thunder.
Full voting results:
The 2026 NBA Champions winners will be...
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Minnesota Timberwolves (52.6%)
Last prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves (W: New York Knicks)
2024 prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves (W: Oklahoma City Thunder)
2023 prediction: Denver Nuggets (W: Boston Celtics)
2022 prediction: Milwaukee Bucks / Minnesota Timberwolves (W: Denver Nuggets)
2021 prediction: Brooklyn Nets (W: Golden State Warriors)
2020 prediction: Los Angeles Lakers (W: Milwaukee Bucks)
Over 85% of voters believe that whoever comes out the West will be champions. And of course, that means your Wolves will be hosting the Larry O’Brien trophy next summer!
Full voting results:
The NBA’s next team turmoil will be...
Philadelphia 76ers (15.4%)
Last prediction: Los Angeles Clippers
2024 prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
2023 prediction: Philadelphia 76ers
2022 prediction: Brooklyn Nets
2021 prediction: Philadelphia 76ers
2020 prediction: Houston Rockets
There were 20 different answers here, but I found it weird that the 76ers had the most votes here. This is the same team that the majority of voters selected as most likely to come out of the East. What’s going on?
Full voting results:
The NBA’s next team turnaround will be...
NBAE via Getty Images
Utah Jazz (28.2%)
Last prediction: San Antonio Spurs
2024 prediction: Houston Rockets
2023 prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder
2022 prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves / New Orleans Pelicans
2021 prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves
2020 prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves
The “finally trying to win” Jazz got the bulk of votes here. Can a team just simply flip the switch like this? Meanwhile, the Pacers, Grizzlies, and Wizards all receiving 10% chunks of the vote as well.
Full voting results:
My hottest NBA season take/prediction is...
AFP via Getty Images
LeBron asks for a trade to Minny after it blows up in Philly
It’s never too late to comeback, LeBron! Maybe what voters think will happen is that the 76ers will immediately turn into “Team Turmoil” at the start of the season, leading to LeBron requesting a trade to Minnesota, but then still make the NBA Finals without the King. What an imagination ya’ll have!