2012 NBA standings: Timberwolves well positioned for Ricky Rubio's return

Point guard Ricky Rubio is expected to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves' lineup in the near future, and as a pleasant surprise it's clear that Minnesota did a good job overcoming early injuries to Rubio and Kevin Love in 2012. The Wolves (10-9) currently occupy the No. 7 slot in the Western Conference playoff bracket, and they are well-positioned for a run when Rubio rejoins the team.

Minnesota has recorded wins in four of the last five games, and its upcoming schedule includes the following matchups: at New Orleans Hornets, vs. Dallas Mavericks, at Orlando Magic, at Miami Heat and vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Three of those game are very winnable, so perhaps the Wolves can take care of business and those contests and then steal one of the other games to gain some ground on the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors in the standings.

Here is a look at the current standings in the West. For a more in-depth look be sure to check the complete NBA standings here.