The Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-23 NBA season schedule is out. And already we know that the Timberwolves have some good news. You see, per the Positive Residual website, the Minnesota Timberwolves will enjoy one of the Top 5 easiest strengths of schedules (SOS). For a team that is eager to earn an NBA Playoff berth this year, that is welcome news indeed.
The news was shared on social media just minutes after the Minnesota Timberwolves schedule was released, as the Timberwolves arrived with the third-easiest projected schedule this season. So what constitutes the Strength of Schedule projection?
Denver has the easiest strength of schedule factoring rest and travel per @presidual https://t.co/vwYpSAd1mb
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) August 17, 2022
Top 5:
1. Denver
2. Utah
3. Minnesota
4. Atlanta
5. Milwaukee
SOS is a way of forecasting a weighted schedule for an NBA team. The team’s opponents are reflected in their most recent season’s win-loss record. Then, the wins and losses totals are themselves totaled to give a new average. In theory, poor teams from the 2021-22 NBA season will trend more difficult schedules, because their struggles of the previous season are not reflected among their NBA opponents.
But there is more to it than simply adding in wins and losses. The Positive Residual website factors in travel mileage, rest, and home games versus away games. Thanks to the location of the Timberwolves in the north-central area of the lower 48 continental US, the Timberwolves will have less taxing road trips.
Mn Timberwolves Schedule
We’ve seen how that works in a game-by-game fashion already. We know that the Timberwolves will host the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA 2022-23 season opener and that the team will follow that up with a second home game by hosting the Utah Jazz. Based on what we know now, the Timberwolves should be able to win both games and get out to a 2-0 record to open the season.
Per @presidual, the Minnesota Timberwolves will have an easier go of it this season, easier than 27 other NBA teams. pic.twitter.com/JmSlVRxjRl
— Dunking With Wolves (@DunkingWolvesFS) August 18, 2022
Great news for a team that is eager to capitalize on a significant upgrade to their roster this year. Early success is just what the doctor ordered to generate some early buzz for the team, and perhaps get more interest from future NBA free agents.
The top goal of the Minnesota Timberwolves front office is to create a winning culture. Thanks to the Minnesota Timberwolves schedule, the organization may be well on its way to doing so.