The Wolves' secret to playoff success is an unexpected contributor

It has been a riveting season for Timberwolves fans, one this state has been waiting for since the departure of Kevin Garnett. If there is one thing we know, regular season success is far different from post-season success.

The stars need to shine bright, injury luck is needed, and unlikely role players need to step up when the team needs them most. The question is, do the Wolves have the X-Factor player needed to help them on their quest for a championship?

There are debates to be had about which role players will rise during the playoffs, and which ones will crumble under the pressure. Will it be the dazzling and dynamic play of Naz Reid? Will it be the 3-and-D role of the pesky Nickeil Alexander-Walker? Will it be the hounding defensive prowess of Jaden McDaniels?

The reality of it is it could come from all of these players. However, the most important contribution could come from Minnesota's newest acquisition.

The 28-year-old point guard Monte Morris is the Minnesota Timberwolves' newest addition and could be a crucial contributor to postseason success. He was brought in to take some of the workload off of veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr.

After playing for the lowly Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons the past two years, it is easy to forget that Morris was a very solid rotation player in the Denver Nuggets' playoff runs just a few years ago.

Playoff experience is something you cannot teach, and Morris has it. Not only does he have the experience of being there, he has the playoff stats to back it up. In Morris' last four playoff series, he is averaging 12.8 points and 4.8 assists per game. All of the aforementioned contributions coincide with just 0.6 turnovers per game in the playoffs.

With Conley Jr. getting older there is no guarantee his body will hold up to the extended minutes that playoff basketball can bring. Morris was brought in to ease that load. So far, in his brief Timberwolves career, Morris has fit in beautifully with the second unit. He's also been a seamless fit playing alongside the starters.

Morris has served as almost an extension of Conley Jr. He is not overly ball-dominant but runs an efficient offense, sets up his teammates without turning the ball over, and can get a clutch bucket or two when needed.

Only time will tell how Morris will impact the team's performance over the coming months, but having such an impactful backup point guard is going to prove to be a highly influential factor in the Timberwolves' playoff success. It is going to take everyone to lift this team to title contention, yet the squad is looking primed for success come playoff time with Morris in the rotation.