The Western Conference playoff is packed tighter than a takeout container full of Chinese food (or whatever analogy you prefer). The Nos. 3-10 seeds are separated by just 4.5 games in the standings, and if we exclude No. 3 Portland (which has the tiniest bit of separation as well as 2-3 fewer games played than most other contenders) the 4-10 seeds are separated by just two games in the loss column.
A couple of teams that win roughly 45 games are going to be left out of the postseason, which is a high hurdle to climb for a Timberwolves squad that is right in the middle of that pack and bidding to reach the postseason for the first time since 2003-04.