What will it take for the Jimmy Butler-less Timberwolves to make the playoffs?

SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Tyus Jones #1, Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 26, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Tyus Jones #1, Andrew Wiggins #22 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 26, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Win on the road

Out of the eight teams that currently hold a playoff spot in the West, the Wolves have the worst road record.

They are just 13-21 away from the Target Center with seven more games on the road to go. Those games are…

  • March 13 at Washington
  • March 17 at San Antonio
  • March 23 at New York
  • March 24 at Philadelphia
  • March 30 at Dallas
  • April 5 at Denver
  • April 6 at Los Angeles Lakers

Even without Butler, there is no reason the Wolves can’t finish 5-2 on the road at the very least. There aren’t any dominant teams (the Wolves are done with Golden State and only face Houston once more, with that matchup coming at Target Center) that stick out among those seven teams.

While on the thought of winning on the road, think of a champion in any sport that couldn’t win on the road. Not many come to mind, right? Heck, how many playoff teams in any sport have been able to make a run in the playoffs with a losing record away from home? Still not many.

For the Wolves, however, they need to buckle down on the road just to reach the postseason now. If anything their final seven road games should be treated like playoff games (as well as their final eight home games).

In order to reach the postseason, the Wolves final seven road games will be crucial to their success.