MINNEAPOLIS — For all of the strides the Minnesota Timberwolves have made since they drafted Anthony Edwards first general 5 years in the past, a once-woebegone franchise now taking part in deep into the playoffs as a behavior and never a hiccup, a noticeable hole stays between them and an NBA title.
Reaching the final two Western Convention finals, significantly this spring after a shock shuffle of the roster proper earlier than coaching camp and the pains of changes and accidents all through the common season, was a exceptional accomplishment. The final staff to look in two in a row was Golden State in 2018 and 2019.
Edwards will flip 24 in about two months, a famous person solely starting his prime years with a handful of mid-20s function gamers round him. However the five-game defeat delivered in machine-like vogue by Oklahoma Metropolis raised honest questions on whether or not these Timberwolves can clear two extra hurdles to win their first championship.
“No one’s going to work more durable than me this summer season. I’ll inform you that a lot,” Edwards stated after the 30-point loss on Wednesday that ended the collection in 5 video games.
The offseason dedication has by no means been in query for Edwards, whose set profession highs in 2024-25 in factors per recreation (27.6), 3-point capturing proportion (39.5) and free-throw capturing proportion (83.7) whereas taking part in in 79 of 82 video games. He additionally led the league in made 3-pointers (320). In 5 seasons, Edwards has missed a complete of 9 video games.
However the Thunder and their NBA-best defence posed a definite problem. Edwards shot simply 6 for 31 from 3-point vary within the 4 losses and was held below 20 factors in three of them. He nonetheless discovered methods to drive to the basket and kick the ball by visitors to teammates within the nook, however the discrepancy in manufacturing between his counterpart Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was stark. The NBA MVP outscored Edwards 157-115, with a 116-87 edge in subject aim makes an attempt and a 51-32 edge in free throw makes an attempt.
“Clearly, he’s acquired to study to play towards that physicality and that kind of holding on a regular basis. They made it actually arduous for him,” coach Chris Finch stated. “I assumed for lots of the collection, he did make the suitable play, and we preach that to him on a regular basis. Yeah, we want him to be aggressive, for certain. He’s acquired to seek out some simpler buckets. I’ve acquired to assist him try this.”
Edwards was additionally a wrongdoer within the general dip in effectiveness and depth on defence, after the Wolves led the league on that finish of the court docket through the 2023-24 season. Even after slipping from first to sixth in defensive ranking for 2024-25, they held the Los Angeles Lakers below 100 factors in three of 5 video games within the first spherical and did the identical to the Warriors within the second spherical.
However Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder had been a unique story, albeit with an assault fuelled by their steal-happy defence that made Edwards, Julius Randle and Naz Reid specifically pay for dribbling an excessive amount of in tight protection.
“Fifteen puppets on one string,” was how Edwards marvelled on the Thunder’s execution of their defensive scheme.
Although three of their starters — Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert and Randle — this season had been 30 or older, the Wolves with their mid-20s core of Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo weren’t constantly disciplined and centered sufficient in following the sport plans.
“I believe for people it has to develop into much more necessary to them,” Conley stated on Thursday as gamers went by exit interviews at staff headquarters. “Perhaps which means learning the sport extra. Perhaps which means doing extra particular person teaching, taking coaches on the facet and getting some particular person stuff there, bringing me apart now and again much more usually, and simply utilizing the minds round you that will help you grasp sure ideas and sure issues concerning the recreation.”
The eight-player rotation Finch was hesitant to increase will definitely change, with Terrence Shannon Jr. clearly prepared for extra taking part in time within the backcourt and the Wolves hopeful that Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark are too. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will develop into an unrestricted free agent, creating one potential opening.
Then there’s the difficult contract state of affairs within the frontcourt, the place Randle and Reid every have an choice to train for subsequent season they might determine to say no in favor of a longer-term, extra profitable deal. Reid, for his half, stated he would seemingly choose out. The 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Yr additionally stated he would like to be a starter.
“However if you wish to be in a successful place,” Reid stated, “generally you may need to sacrifice.”
