Here’s what the Timberwolves must do to beat the Rockets

Thirteen seasons and an exciting Game 82 play-in game later, the Minnesota Timberwolves have brought meaningful basketball back to the Twin Cities.

It’s been a few days since the Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets to clinch their first berth to the playoffs since the 2004 Western Conference Finals run. In other words, it’s been a few days for every Wolves fan’s heart to return to a normal rate and allow the moment to sink in.

It’s hard to imagine that words can describe what this moment exactly means for some fans. Based on video shot from within the Target Center on Wednesday night only cheers and tears can show what this playoff berth really means to the citizens of Minnesota.

It was easy tell how badly the players wanted to win this game for themselves, the franchise and for the fans. The energy was electric and the players fed off of it for the entirety of the game.

It’s also hard to argue that the energy was not apart of the reason why the Wolves defense was intense and coming up with big plays. In fact, a few of those big plays may have very well been game saving plays, such as Taj Gibson‘s last-second strip in the final seconds of regulation.

Although this is a wonderful moment for the franchise and fans, there is still work that needs to be done. As good of a feeling as it is to get to the playoffs, imagine the feeling that would come with making a deep run.

That all starts with taking on arguably the best team in the NBA, the Houston Rockets. As tough as a task as that may be, it can be done. Here are just a few of many ways the Wolves can shock the world and hand the Rockets an unexpected first-round loss.