Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 keys to series vs. Rockets
5. Ride experience
In Towns and Wiggins, two of Minnesota’s best players have never been to the playoffs, putting them at a major disadvantage against a Rockets team filled with big-game experience. Pretty much every major piece on Houston’s roster has a wealth of playoff action, giving them the knowledge to lean on when necessary.
Despite their youthful appearance, Minnesota has players that have played a playoff game or two.
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Jeff Teague has seen postseason action in every one of his eight years in the league. Both Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson were part of a Chicago Bulls team that went to the playoffs five times since 2011. Jamal Crawford has been a part of seven of the last eight postseasons.
While playoff basketball is still technically basketball, it’s the little things that make it so much more.
Teams play each other multiple times in the span of two weeks, intensity increases both on and off the court, and fans become rowdier than ever with a chance to advance further into the postseason. Don’t forget that an NBA title is on the line as well.
It’s going to be up to the likes of Teague, Butler and Minnesota’s other veterans to help out their younger teammates as much as possible.
There’s a difference between a tight fourth quarter in the regular season vs. the playoffs. The veterans can try to explain that difference all they want, but until Wiggins and Towns experience it for themselves, the Wolves are going to have to rely on their veterans just a little bit more if they want to win games.