By Brian A. Lester

Minnesota is known for turning early playoff exits into an art form, but perhaps the masters of postseason disaster will soon change their tune.

There is good reason to hold onto hope in the land of 1,000 lakes, as the Timberwolves are riding the shoulders of their leader, Kevin Garnett, into finally getting past the first round of the playoffs.

Garnett is already making a strong case for being named the MVP of the NBA. His numbers speak for themselves, leaping off the stat sheet to the tune of 23.3 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per outing and 5.9 assists per tilt.

But production during the regular season matters little if it is not maintained during the playoffs, and Garnett must prove he can step up when it matters most and push the Timberwolves toward NBA glory. Judging by the rugged competition the far superior Western Conference has to offer, that task will be nothing short of daunting.

The Los Angeles Lakers have their swagger back, and dethroning the champs might prove impossible if Kobe Bryant continues to drop jaws by elevating his game to another level each week.

Factor in the strength of Dallas, San Antonio and Sacramento, and the road to a title is littered with major hurdles at every turn.

Yet, the Timberwolves can be just as good as any team in the league if they are on their game.

However, the sub-.500 record away from home could put a damper on their title hopes considering they will almost certainly play in a hostile road environment at some point along their journey.

Still, good players and good teams find ways to win with the odds stacked against them in pressure-packed situations.

Garnett now has his chance to prove he can be one of those players. Whether his teammates have what it takes to get the job done is another story.

Being an MVP candidate in the regular season is one thing, but rising up to the challenge in the playoffs is an entirely different animal, and appropriately, the true mark of a great player.

Greatness is calling Garnett. All he has to do now is answer it.

Brian Lester is a sportswriter in Ohio and can be reached via email at BAL4@hotmail.com. He's a frequent contributor to InsideHoops.com.