NBA Monthly Roundup: 3 October takeaways and 3 November predictions

November Prediction: The Timberwolves and Kings won’t be this good/bad

This happens every year. We want to anoint surprise teams and bury struggling teams after four or five games. Pump the breaks, please.

I’ll start with the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns is unbelievable and awesome to watch. But am I supposed to trust Andrew Wiggins to be a quality No. 2 for a contending team? Maybe I’ve just been scarred by this team too many teams and I’m not giving them a fair shot, but I’m not buying in this early.

Every year I expect them to be better and every year they remind me why they aren’t a contender. Not this time, T-Wolves. Remind me to check in on them around Christmas, if they’re still going strong then I’ll consider changing my mind.

And now the Kings, who are the most disappointing team of the season so far after a winless October. I didn’t think they were going to make the playoffs, but what’s going on here? Marvin Bagley is hurt so that’s definitely part of it, but this team doesn’t look like the same group that finished 9th in the Western Conference just a year ago. 0-5 and fresh off a home loss to the hapless Hornets, I think this has to be rock bottom for the Kings.

They may have already shot themselves and the over 38.5 win total betters in the foot, but this group has too much talent to not at least be competitive. Expect the Kings to get on track during November.