Edwards unsure how Wolves can get over hump after losing to Spurs
MINNEAPOLIS — With eight minutes to go within the Timberwolves‘ 139-109 loss to the Spurs in Friday’s elimination recreation within the Western Conference semifinals, Anthony Edwards He walked over to the San Antonio bench for hugs, handshakes and daps, a midgame commemoration of the opposing staff on his dwelling ground.
Edwards mentioned the gesture was meant to acknowledge what he referred to as the superior staff whereas he was nonetheless on the court docket.
“I just tip my hat to them,” he mentioned. “They’re just the better team. I mean, at that point, you ain’t going back in, so you’re just trying to give them their respect.”
Edwards’ gesture appeared unusual in the intervening time, however little made sense for the Timberwolves on Friday night time.
The loss to the Spurs was the third consecutive playoff exit for the Timberwolves in elimination video games, which have been all determined by 20 factors or extra. In 2024, the Timberwolves will lose to the Dallas Mavericks 124-103 within the fifth recreation of the Western Conference finals. Last season, they misplaced to the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder124-94 in Game 5 of the convention finals.
There have been actual challenges that impacted Minnesota in opposition to San Antonio. Edwards rushed again from a knee damage suffered within the first spherical to get prepared for the primary recreation of the Western Conference semifinals and by no means performed at 100%.
“I’ve got nothing but great things to say about Ant’s performance in this series because he wasn’t supposed to even be there until the middle of the series,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch mentioned.
Also, Ayo Dosunmua stunning star within the postseason, had a lower-leg damage that saved him out of the opening recreation of the collection. Edwards mentioned the absence of Donte DiVincenzowho suffered a season-ending Achilles damage within the Denver Nuggets collection, sophisticated the Timberwolves’ offense in opposition to the Spurs.
“He spreads the floor like no other,” Edwards mentioned. “In a series like this where they’re just double-teaming, I would love to have Donte in my slot and just throwing it to him the entire time and shoot 20 3s, but he got hurt last series, so we tried to figure it out.”
But accidents alone can’t be blamed for what unfolded Friday night time. The Spurs received by 30 despite the fact that Victor Wembanyama had, by his requirements, a modest recreation. Stephen Castle (32 factors) and the remainder of the supporting solid led to a 20-0 run within the second quarter that appeared to put the sport out of attain. But Minnesota minimize the deficit to 12 factors close to the top of the primary half.
The exhaustion of that curler coaster — Minnesota’s starters completed 18-for-59 from the sphere — was an excessive amount of to overcome.
Now, all eyes in Minneapolis will flip to the offseason and whether or not the Timberwolves’ greatest star believes he has sufficient to win a championship. The Western Conference is stacked with younger stars who might block Minnesota’s path to the NBA Finals for years to come.
Beyond Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokicthere are different potential issues for the Timberwolves. Luka Doncic would be the centerpiece of a Los Angeles Lakers squad that would add one other star this summer season, relying on what occurs with LeBron James. The Houston Rockets have younger gamers too, so this 12 months’s playoff troubles highlighted the challenges Edwards and the Timberwolves will want to overcome.
Asked if he sees any widespread theme prior to now three lopsided playoff exits, nonetheless, Edwards was temporary:
“Good question. No comment.”
When requested what it’ll take for the Timberwolves to get over the hump and topple the Spurs and Thunder going ahead, he mentioned, “I don’t know, man. I don’t think that’s a question for me.”
Finch mentioned entrance workplaces can be perplexed as they try to resolve the Western Conference puzzle.
“You’ve either got to be a problem or have a solution,” he mentioned. “You’ve got to either be built in a way that troubles your opponent, that’s something they don’t have, or you’ve got to have a counter to what they do have, so I’m sure GMs across the league, these are things that they wrestle with all the time.”
The most pressing offseason dialog for the Timberwolves will revolve round Edwards, how shut he believes he’s to a championship and whether or not he believes the roster is able to attaining that purpose.
Edwards mentioned he’s proud of the present group and would not want one other star subsequent to him.
“I feel like we’re good,” he mentioned.
But he additionally mentioned the staff wasn’t ready to compete for a title.
“I feel like you’re supposed to build championship habits or playoff habits in a regular season,” Edwards mentioned. “No, we didn’t build the habits during the regular season.”
