DENVER — Who is aware of if that is the second for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who refuse to acknowledge the generational trauma they’re breaking with each playoff win, with each soul-crushing run they’re placing on extra established names.
However what we do know is Anthony Edwards’ time might be arriving loads faster than even the most important optimist may’ve predicted.
And that ought to have the champion Denver Nuggets on excessive alert, if not headed towards full fear. Edwards had a weight loss program of succesful defenders in his face and despatched all of them the opposite method with appears of bewilderment, frustration and helplessness.
Edwards’ playoff career-high 43 factors paced the Timberwolves to a considerably stunning Sport 1 win at Ball Area on Saturday, 106-99. Often, when the champion drops a series-opening dwelling sport in a playoff sequence, the phrase “steal” comes into play — however it didn’t appear like the Timberwolves stole Sport 1.
They made an announcement to the NBA world that has but to totally embrace them, that they’re not coming, however they’re right here. And holding the bullhorn was the budding famous person who made certain to let the world know he’s 22, not 23.
“I’m 22,” Edwards mentioned, correcting teammate Mike Conley on the rostrum when Conley was referencing Edwards’ on-court maturity and trusting his teammates, saying he’s “22, 23 years previous.”
Edwards was constructed for this second, although it’s a second-round sequence and never the Western Convention finals. However for all intents and functions, it’d as effectively be. It’s the NBA’s glamour sequence of the second spherical, and he stands to develop a lot extra in stature over the approaching weeks, assuming nights like Saturday proceed.
There will probably be a section of individuals upset the standard suspects aren’t taking the stage because the playoffs go on, however the child with the intense smile and brighter future is true in entrance of the world’s eyes, ready for everybody to take discover.
“We’re simply popping out to play. It’s not about introducing us to no person, we all know what we’re,” Edwards mentioned. “We’re a collective group. We belief one another, we’re well-coached.”
“We’re locked in,” Conley added.
Edwards may as effectively have turned off the lights within the constructing along with his fourth-quarter buckets, half ridiculous quickness and athleticism, half basic base that appears so just like gamers in his lineage.
You combine that up and you’ve got clear and current hazard for the champions, who misplaced their first dwelling playoff sport since Sport 2 of final 12 months’s Finals in opposition to the Miami Warmth.
The Timberwolves have been constructing to play in opposition to this group, this season, and so they look greater than prepared for the problem.
“I feel it is about us. You understand, clearly, we really imagine that Denver is among the high groups on this league, however we all know we imagine in our talents,” mentioned Timberwolves heart Rudy Gobert, one of many three with the duty of defending possible Most Worthwhile Participant Nikola Jokić.
Karl-Anthony Cities and Naz Reid additionally share within the accountability, and, for a sport at the least, the technique appeared to work. Jokić scored 32 factors with 9 assists and eight rebounds, however took 25 pictures — probably the most he’s taken in a playoff sport this 12 months.
“I can have a replica clone of myself,” mentioned Jokić, tongue in cheek, on how he can greatest cope with the three bigs. “That method when one among them checks into the sport, I can have a contemporary model.”
Edwards noticed simply as many defenders. From lanky veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, one of many league’s greatest, to Aaron Gordon, a much bigger, stronger defender, to reserves Christian Braun and Justin Vacation.
Every required a unique plan of assault and Edwards appeared to execute the scouting report completely. It takes a particular expertise to tempo a group that couldn’t shoot straight initially, with Edwards scoring 15 within the first quarter, whereas nonetheless holding his teammates concerned and never forcing his personal offense.
These are classes some greats didn’t be taught till deep into their careers, if in any respect. However Edwards has a method of studying the sport that retains him in assault mode but in addition making subtle reads to get off the ball.
“These guys are gonna make pictures. All people’s gonna miss pictures, I don’t make all my pictures,” Edwards mentioned. “In the event that they’re open, I’m gonna cross it each single time.”
Like all of the particular ones, he is aware of it’ll come again to him. He is aware of the sport will, sooner or later, be in his arms.
Edwards attacked the night time like Kendrick Lamar did on an overmatched rival, repeatedly squelching Nuggets threats with grownup performs, by no means as soon as feeling like the sport was too huge for him. Whereas it feels just like the Nuggets’ largest rival is the Lakers, it’s the Timberwolves who gave them their hardest competitors final spring, regardless of it being a five-game first-round sequence.
“I misplaced to those guys final 12 months, they’re the defending champions,” Edwards mentioned. “The very best participant within the league, in Nikola Jokić. To me they’ve the perfect nearer in Jamal Murray.”
Edwards is likely to be difficult Murray for that title quickly, particularly if Murray continues to hobble round on that calf damage he sustained in opposition to the Lakers in Spherical 1. Even with the prolonged days of relaxation, he didn’t appear like himself, taking pictures 6-of-14 — thus resulting in Jokić having to take extra management of the offense.
And, Murray needed to cope with a cat-quick guard hounding him for big components of the night time. That’s proper, Edwards had no problem taking up the Murray project early — and whereas that appears on its face to be a whole lot of power expended on each ends of the ground, he leaves loads of house for teammates like Cities and Conley to use their matchups, and nonetheless having to be accounted for by Denver’s protection when he doesn’t have the ball.
Cities shook off a sluggish begin to surge within the third quarter, when Edwards wasn’t as assertive as he was within the first half when he dropped 25. Then within the fourth, Reid scored 14 of his 16 factors — with two 3-point performs courtesy of Edwards passes.
That’s the hazard the Nuggets discover themselves in, early as it could be. The champions will probably be heard from, however Edwards and the Timberwolves will probably be proper there, ready for the subsequent shot, able to ship a counterpunch of their very own.
