After a slow start to the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are within striking distance of the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Tom Thibodaeu believes the Wolves have made a "quantum leap" on defense. Minnesota has played better pick-and-roll defense and are moving up the rankings in defensive categories. 

“When you look at the past couple years and where we are now, it says we’ve made a big jump,” Thibodeau said. “I think you have to get close to winning first, and then the winning happens. Right now, we’re starting to understand that. To me, it’s taking care of the little things. If we take care of all the little things, the big things take care of themselves. We say it all the time: The magic is in the work.

“There are no shortcuts to this. There’s no easy way out. … There’s a price to be paid for winning.”