The Timberwolves will need to overcome a few growing pains in order to become a top-three seed out west come playoff time, but it’s within the realm of possibility.
With the season approaching, it is obvious that the Golden State Warriors remain the best team in the Western Conference as well as the in the league; they have grown and improved as a team while coming off their second championship in three seasons.
With the Warriors so dominant, the Timberwolves virtually have little to no shot at grabbing the top seed in the West to clinch home court advantage throughout the playoffs. However, the Wolves still have a good chance of claiming a top-four seed to get home court advantage in the first round.
A series win as a four-seed would mean that the Wolves would get a date with the Warriors in the second round, which they will be looking to avoid. As the two or the three-seed, the Wolves would clinch home court in the first round as well as avoid the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals. In order for that to happen, the Wolves are going to need to make quick strides towards becoming a top-three team, and that beings during the preseason.
There are five keys in order for the Wolves to become a #2 or #3 seed in the West.