2018 PLAYOFFS: (1) Houston vs. (8) Minnesota

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. The Minnesota Timberwolves have beaten the Denver Nuggets and clinched their first playoff berth in 14 seasons. Their reward? A first round match-up with the Houston Rockets...

Although Jimmy Butler probably still isn't 100%, Minnesota is pretty much healthy going into this series and have a lot of talent. Houston should run them out of the building, but I think Minny might be able to pull out a close win at home. Rockets in 5.

death, taxes, and lamrock playoff threads.

Rockets in 5 with Butler or KAT going crazy at home for 1 game.

I'll take 2 surprise wins for Rockets in 6

Too bad Jimmy Buckets got hurt (still crying for my fantasy team), they could have avoided this

Rockets in 5 highly entertaining high scoring games.

Rockets in 5. If the league were still using the 5-7-7-7 format then it'd likely be a 3-0 sweep, but the expansion to the 7-7-7-7 format back in the 2002-2003 season has given outmatched lower seeds an extra opportunity to pick up a lone win and avoid the broom. I think the Timberwolves will do just that, but the Rockets are primed for a good run this year if they remain healthy.

The best transition team on offense vs a team that plays terrible transition defense.

Rockets in 5, with the lone Minny win c/o Paul or Harden having an off-night for their usual playoff choke.

Rockets in 5. Would have liked more if they faced OKC

So fun watching the Rockets. But they are bound to have off shooting nights from distance. Rockets in easy 5.

This may be the most interesting series, the other two would be OKC vs UTA and PHI vs MIA (My opinion).

Rockets in 6, or maybe 7. The Wolves with a healthy Butler is scary, if they hit stride at the right time... who knows?

get 'er done Thibs. feed the KAT

will enjoy buckets vs harden

maybe if teague shows up the timberbulls can make it a series

What a weird game. Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns all played like shit, and some truly bizarre late-game shenanigans gave Minnesota the chance to force OT in the end. I was kinda buzzed by the time this game came on, and I'm glad I was.

James Harden and Capela were absolutely unstoppable but Minnesota kept it close throughout. Major shout-out to Derrick Rose for playing his heart out.

Did not feel like a playoff game. Big missed opportunity here for the Wolves.

When you think about it, the Timberwolves really are more of a third or fourth seed level team this year, and likely would've had 50+ wins if not for Butler's injury. They're not your typical eighth seed. I'll admit that I'd forgotten all about that, what with their push to qualify for the postseason after they dropped off in the wake of Butler's injury, and the subsequent tightening of the race in the West.

Capela can't outplay Towns like that.... Towns looked slow and honestly... out of shape? Not sure if anybody else noticed that, but he just didn't look good out there.

Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns all played like shit

The usual from Chris Paul in the playoffs then.

Butler and Towns already feeling the effect of Thibs' minutes management from the regular season.

Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns all played like shit

The usual from Chris Paul in the playoffs then.

Butler and Towns already feeling the effect of Thibs' minutes management from the regular season.

Which bugs me if that's the case, a center can't play 35.6 MPG anymore? Towns looked slow, tired and out of shape (like I mentioned above). They almost pulled off game 1 in Houston with Butler and Towns playing really poor, I wonder if that shows the Rockets are vulnerable.

"Wolves Game 1 usage:

Rose 30.8%
Dieng 28.6%
Teague 26.4%
Wiggins 25.7%
Crawford 22.2%
Butler 15.6% <---
Towns 14.2% <---

Not ideal."

"Wolves Game 1 usage:

Rose 30.8%
Dieng 28.6%
Teague 26.4%
Wiggins 25.7%
Crawford 22.2%
Butler 15.6% <---
Towns 14.2% <---

Not ideal."

Wow.

Is this 2011?

Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns all played like shit

The usual from Chris Paul in the playoffs then.

Butler and Towns already feeling the effect of Thibs' minutes management from the regular season.

nah. Towns played soft aka horford style. dude just kept on fanning out instead of pinning whoever on those switches. i think gibson and his broke neck had more inside points smh

harden is awesome. he is so underrated

Harden's been a true beast even with CP3 joining him didn't hinder his awesome productivity. Glad he'll win the season MVP this year.

nah. Towns played soft aka horford style. dude just kept on fanning out instead of pinning whoever on those switches. i think gibson and his broke neck had more inside points smh

harden is awesome. he is so underrated

This shit right here was baffling. He'd get a switch on a small and either get waved off to the corner or just slip there himself without establishing position and demanding the ball against the mismatch. I lost count on how often he had Gordon or Tucker guarding him and let Wiggins/Teague shoot long shots instead of taking it down into the paint himself. I was afraid C-Webb was going to have an aneurysm repeating himself.

This version of James Harden is a beast to watch. No bullshit flopping or acting shit. Just straight up offensive destruction. Nothing a defense can do against him, insane offensive skills.

Capela can't outplay Towns like that.... Towns looked slow and honestly... out of shape? Not sure if anybody else noticed that, but he just didn't look good out there.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Why the f*** was he drifting to the 3-point line when smaller guys got switched on him?????? My dad & I were screaming at the TV, "get in the damn paint and call for the friggin' ball!" That game was there for the taking.

Barkley said that KAT should demand the ball in the post when he has the switch, not letting his guard isolate the big man switched on them.

Pretty sure they'll adjust in Game 2

Not so close this time around. Towns was once again a non-factor on offense, though you could probably say that of the Timberwolves as a whole.

Rough shooting night for Harden though, reminds me of Karl Malone going 2-20 (or something like that) all those years ago.

Towns looks like a rookie back there, what a disaster.