Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves and playoff daydreaming

By Brian Sampson

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 29: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 29: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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If the NBA playoffs started today the Minnesota Timberwolves could proudly claim themselves as one of the eight best teams in the NBA.

The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t made the playoffs since the 2003-04 season, but that should all change this season.

Minnesota has had a bumpy start and claims a 13-10 record, good enough for fifth best in the Western Conference. They are tied with the Portland Trail Blazers for second in their division and trail the Denver Nuggets by half a game. The Utah Jazz is also part of the division cluster, as they sit with a 12-11 record and are 1.5 games back of the Nuggets.

All four of those teams would claim playoff spots if it started today which would make up half of the Western Conference field.

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Oddly enough, the preseason favorite to win the Northwest, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are at the bottom of the division standings with a 9-12 record. Unfortunately for the rest of the divison, it’s only a matter of time until they get things figured out and shoot up the standings.

Minnesota has already played them three times this year and holds a 2-1 record over their heads. Their final matchup comes on Jan. 10 and could go a long way in giving the Timberwolves the tiebreaker if they end up with the same record after 82 games.

As of now, however, Minnesota would face Denver in a first-round matchup that pits the four versus the five seed.

The two teams have yet to face each other this season, but will see each other twice in December and twice in April.

It’s way too early to watch the standings, as the teams who sit in the four through eight spots are only separated by 1.5 games.

Next: Evaluating Andrew Wiggins at the quarter pole

The order is sure to look completely different come April, but it’s always fun to play around and check in on the standings during this time of the year. Especially since Wolves’ fans haven’t had this pleasure in a long, long time.

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