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

With Jimmy Butler sidelined for what will likely be the rest of the regular season, what do the rest of the Timberwolves need to do to ensure a playoff spot?

It’s a thought that is just as scary as it is true: the Timberwolves may not qualify for the playoffs this season. Just the thought of the 13-year postseason drought coming to an end started to become surreal, and, at least for now, fans are forced to watch every game tensely.

The Wolves played like the new team everyone pictured they would be for much of the season with Jimmy Butler in the lineup. In fact, they exceeded some expectations by hanging around third and fourth-place in the West for most of the season.

Then came the Wolves first game after the All-Star break, when Butler tore his meniscus. Since then, the Wolves are 3-3 and had dropped all the way to sixth in the West prior to beating Golden State on Sunday.

Although the playoffs are not far-fetched by any means, the Wolves’ path became much harder after Butler went down. The gap between third and tenth is just four games. And for the Wolves, the gap between No. 6 and No. 10 is just one-and-a-half games. Clearly, there is not much room for error.

Without Butler being the on-floor general for the Wolves final 15 games, other guys will need to step up. For the Wolves to qualify for the playoffs these are some things that will need to be done.

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.

Get KAT more shots

Statistically, Karl-Anthony Towns is the second-best shooter on the team with a 54.5 field goal percentage, trailing only Taj Gibson, who owns a career-high 58.5 field goal percentage.

Not to mention he is second on the team in 3-point percentage and effective field goal percentage. It’s crazy to think that the Wolves’ center is the best all-around shooter, too.

However, it is something the Wolves need to roll with. Towns has become even more polished this season and has shown it with his range and shooting consistency. There is, however, just one issue: Towns is attempting the least amount of shots per game in his career.

Towns is they type of player that if he has the ball literally anything can happen. He’s a wizard in the post with his crafty footwork. He can either beat you with the drop-step layup or catch you sleeping and hit a turn around jumper. Or, he’s one heck of an option on the pick-and-pop.

It doesn’t matter where he is on the court, if the ball is in Towns hands he is likely to score. Knowing that, he needs to be fed the ball more.

If he truly is the best shooter on the team, then why wouldn’t you want him taking more shots? In fact, with Butler out, the offense should be run through Towns. He will be vital in terms of whether the Wolves can clinch a playoff berth down the stretch.

Of course, his 31-point, 16-rebound performance in Sunday’s win over the Warriors just might be a sign of things to come…

Bench players must step up

One of the notable stories from the Wolves season has been their lack of bench minutes. Tom Thibodeau needs to start plugging in his substitutes more and have trust in them.

The Wolves still rank dead-last in bench minutes per game at 13.4. You can look at the bench stats all you want and notice nothing special. However, keep in mind there isn’t much that can be done when playing 13 minutes per game.

Then consider the toll each starters legs have taken all season long. It’s understandable that they are relatively young, however, not everyone on the team is extremely youthful. A player like Gibson surely does not feel the same as a younger player like Towns after 35 minutes a night.

Here’s the catch: the Wolves clearly need their best five out there at a time at all times since the playoffs are no guarantee. However, how many times have we seen the Wolves up double-digits in the fourth and Thibs still rolls with the starters? These are the crucial moments in which starters should be taken out to save their legs.

There is one less man to use off the bench with Butler out obviously. However, Derrick Rose may be able to provide the Wolves with some more experience off the bench.

His words were encouraging when he called out his doubters over the weekend. Hopefully he can back it up with his on court play.

From Rose to Tyus Jones to Jamal Crawford and on, the bench players need to step up during every opportunity they get.

As for Thibs, he needs to take a step back during some moments of the game to save his starters.

Statement wins

I don’t believe the Wolves get as much respect when Butler is gone. And, in all honesty, why should they?

Without Butler all season the Wolves have played sub-par. When he first went down some media and fans looked at this as a opportunity for the younger Wolves to step up and show they can lead a team.

So far, not so good.

There are still 15 more chances for the Wolves to prove to the basketball world that they are a solid team even without Butler. What better way to do so then with some statement wins.

This will not only prove the Wolves can win without Butler, but also help them inch closer to clinching a playoff berth.

Take a look at what I would consider statement wins:

• March 11 vs. Golden State (check)
• March 13 at Washington
• March 17 at San Antonio
• March 18 vs. Houston
• March 20 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
• April 5 at Denver
• April 11 at Denver

Yes, seven of their last 15 games are what I would consider to be statement wins. The first four speak for themselves and also happen to be the next four games on the Wolves schedule.

The last three I would consider statement wins because both teams are in a playoff race as well, and Denver is a division opponent. There’s also an outside chance that Butler could be ready to return to the court at that point.

Beating any team in a playoff race without your superstar player will open some eyes. Hopefully it will also give the players some confidence in terms of being able to win without Butler.

Again, the playoffs are not out of reach, and if the playoffs started today, the Wolves would very much be in the thick of things. Minnesota is as much alive as any other team in the hunt. However, Butler going down made the goal a littler harder. Executing in these areas should be enough for the Wolves to clinch their first playoff berth in 13 years.

Next: Checking in on the Timberwolves' playoff standing

Then, and only then, will we be able to see Butler play again this season. And that’s something that we all want to see happen.