J. Kyle Mann

It's a two.

It's just a two.

We'll get it back.

It's just how his mind is.

But the effort just hasn't been there all the time.

I like that.

Someone needs to start a stat for, like, does Zach Lowe show lineup combinations?

Two-man pairings, plus-minuses.

And so that's Denver.

Minnesota has been my sleeper title contender all year.

And all that said, I think their path to making the finals has to include Oklahoma City getting eliminated before they face the Timberwolves.

And the bracket's breaking, right?

Because...

As much as I like Minnesota, they have an alpha who can go toe-to-toe with anybody in the league.

We know what the Wolves are.

I love the IO addition.

I think he's absolutely perfect for their team.

I just don't trust their offense enough to win four games against the healthy Thunder and the turnover-forcing machine that the Thunder are.

Now, if you tell me the bracket breaks right and the Spurs eliminate the Thunder in the second round and it's Wolves-Spurs, I can see the Wolves making the finals.

I just don't know that they can beat the Thunder, although they have played them well.