Houston Rockets: 5 keys to series vs. Timberwolves

1. Make Jimmy Butler work hard for his buckets

It’s no secret that Jimmy Butler is perhaps one of the best two-way players in the NBA. While the Rockets only have a two-game sample to help scout the matchup, the truth is that they should be most worried about Butler in crunch time.

Butler proved to the world several times with the Chicago Bulls that he is a certified alpha dog, and that he is not scared of playing in crunch time.

Next: Power ranking all 16 teams in the 2018 NBA Playoffs

Of course, none of this will matter if the Rockets can keep the game under their thumb throughout. But remember one thing: Jimmy Butler sustained his injury against the Rockets back on Feb. 23, which led to his six-week absence. He will be on a mission, but if the Rockets play their cards right, they can earn themselves between 2-3 games of rest time before the next round.