What hopes do all 16 teams have of hopping in the postseason driver's seat? Take a ride with NBA.com as we outline each team's Keys to Success.
MASTER KEY: Among the league leaders in points (22.0), rebounds (11.4) and blocks (1.79), the Big Ticket,
Kevin Garnett, will determine whether the Wolves escape the first round of the playoffs for the first time in their history. KG's size and quickness make him a nightmare to defend, and he can work the turnaround in the post or hit the medium-range jumper as easily as he throws down the jam.
KEY STOPPER: The 6-11 Garnett is Minnesota's only real shotblocking threat inside, though
LaPhonso Ellis and
Rasho Nesterovic will swat a few on occasion. Point guard
Terrell Brandon was sixth in the league with 2.06 steals a game.
KEY IN THE KEY: Everyone say it together now ...
Kevin Garnett. Guys like Nesterovic, Ellis,
Dean Garrett,
Sam Mitchell and
Reggie Slater will chip in as best they can, but in the paint, it's KG's show.
KEY DISTRIBUTOR: One of the most solid and consistent point men in the NBA,
Terrell Brandon keeps the Minnesota offense humming. And that's not just tossing up alley-oops to Garnett all night long; at 7.5 assists a game, Brandon ranked 10th in the league.
 
KEY WIN, KEY VID: The Timberwolves were just over .500 and playing inconsistent basketball when they went into Utah to face the Jazz on Jan. 17. Against one of the NBA's best home-court advantages, Minnesota pulled out an 89-81 victory behind Kevin Garnett's 23 points and 11 boards, sparking an 11-game winning streak that propelled the Wolves into the playoff hunt.
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KEY RESERVE: LaPhonso Ellis has put in valuable minutes off the bench for Minnesota all season, chipping in 9.4 points a game and ranking second to Garnett in rebounding. And at 6-8, 240 pounds, Ellis is flexible enough to play both forward positions as well as center.
KEY LONG-RANGE GUNNER: Anthony Peeler led the team with 100 three-pointers and
Chauncey Billups is always a threat to hoist the trey as well. However, late-season acquisition
Felipe Lopez has stepped in and become a real threat from downtown, hitting 57.5 percent of his bombs since joining the team in March.
KEY IMAGE
Punch It: Minnesota will need the Big Ticket at the top of his game against the top seeds of the tough Western Conference. (Jesse Garrabrant/NBAE Photos)
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KEY INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE: When the Timberwolves went to overtime against the Pacers on Dec. 16,
Kevin Garnett capped a stellar game by scoring six points in the extra period and
leading the team to a 113-110 victory over the defending Eastern-conference champs. Garnett's line on the night: 34 points, 20 rebounds, five assists.
LITTLE-KNOWN KEY: It's true teams will not want to leave second-year forward
Wally Szczerbiak open; he's third on the team in scoring behind Garnett and Brandon and has a soft touch. More impressive, though, is his efficiency. Szczerbiak knocks down 51% of his shots, good for fifth in the league.
KEY NEWCOMER: LaPhonso Ellis's solid play off the bench and veteran leadership have made him Minnesota's big offseason pickup, but if
Felipe Lopez continues to knock down big shots and settle into his niche, he could surprise some people in the playoffs.
KEY TIDBIT: Terrell Brandon is the owner of a barbershop in Portland, Ore. As the eighth seed, the Timberwolves will need to play a cut above the rest to advance in the playoffs.
