2018 NBA Playoffs: Power ranking all 16 teams

13. Minnesota Timberwolves

Ending the NBA’s longest active postseason drought of 13 years on the last game of the regular season couldn’t have been scripted any better for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who shouldn’t be written off by anyone with a healthy Jimmy Butler on the floor.

However, even though Jimmy Buckets’ absence played a big part in Minnesota’s miserable 108.4 defensive rating, that mark ranked 23rd in the league and was the worst among all 16 playoff teams outside of Cleveland. What do you think the Houston Rockets, the NBA’s best team and one of the five most prolific offenses in NBA history, are going to do to that defense?

If the Wolves had been able to climb to No. 7 or No. 6 on this list, they would’ve ranked much higher. After all, no one should forget this team was knocking on the door for the 3-seed before Butler got hurt. Unfortunately, matchups matter in these rankings, and the Timberwolves — who have the worst road record among all 16 playoff teams and are facing the team tied for the best home record in the league — drew the toughest one possible. Welcome back to the postseason!