Coming out of the West will be a tall task.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' season tips off on Wednesday night when they play the Portland Trail Blazers. However, Tuesday's opening night should serve as a harsh reminder of just how steep the top-end competition is in the Western Conference. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Houston Rockets 125-124 in a double overtime thriller.
Make no mistake, though, the defense in this game was absolutely incredible.