Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 keys to series vs. Rockets

1. 3-point shooting

Ranking first in 3-pointers made and attempted, the Rockets have fully embraced this new age of basketball, becoming the first team in NBA history to attempt more 3s than 2s, with 3,473 and 3,418 respectively.

With the ability to deploy as many as five elite shooters on the court, the Rockets space the floor for Harden and Paul, giving them more room off the pick-and-roll and in isolation.

If teams decide to double the ball-handler, both CP3 and Harden are excellent at finding the open man, and if Houston’s shooters begin to get open looks, the floodgates will open, increasing their lead at a rapid pace.

The Timberwolves, led by (former) defensive genius Tom Thibodeau, are polar opposites of the Rockets, ranking dead last in 3s made and attempted.

Thibodeau has a very old-school approach to coaching, playing his stars heavy minutes while relying more on an inside game instead of embracing the direction of the league.

Because of their personnel, Minnesota isn’t going to suddenly morph into a 3-point shooting team, but their unwillingness to modernize their offense is going to hurt them.

The Wolves can hit all the 2-pointers they want, but simple math shows that three is more than two, and with the sheer volume of the Rockets’ 3-point attempts, they’re sure to offset any offensive explosion that Minnesota has.

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

Minnesota has to find a way to close the gap in 3-point shooting. because against a team like the Rockets, they won’t stand a chance trying to go against the laws of math.