Timberwolves-Thunder: Anthony Edwards Faces Superstar Dilemma Against OKC
Anthony Edwards has faced the Oklahoma City Thunder five times this season, playing over 35 minutes and attempting 13 or fewer shots each time. The Timberwolves won only once, when Edwards was sick. Another game saw him fined $50,000 for flipping off officials. The other instances? He was defended by the Thunder.
On New Year’s Eve, Edwards attempted just 12 shots, his fewest in a loss this season, committing more turnovers (3) than assists (2) as the Thunder won 113-105. Minnesota head coach Chris Finch claimed Oklahoma City commits fouls “everywhere” at once, describing the Thunder as “super physical.”
The Thunder have shown a blueprint to beat the Timberwolves, leading to a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals. They double-team Edwards on every drive, forcing the ball elsewhere and stealing it once it’s out of his hands. In Games 1 and 4, they held Edwards to 13 shots, resulting in Minnesota losses with a combined 42 turnovers and 53 points off them.
Superstars are taught to make the right play when help defense comes, finding the open man and forcing defenses into rotation. The Wolves executed this well in Game 4, with role players shooting 55% from 3, but they still lost due to 23 turnovers and 19 offensive rebounds.
Edwards believes he made the right plays all night, despite not getting enough shots to be considered a struggle. The NBA demands perfection from its superstars, requiring a balance between creating shots for themselves and teammates. Edwards, at 23, is among the few players to have appeared in at least three All-Star Games and 40 playoff games, averaging 27-7-6 in those games.
Comparisons to Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum show that even they struggled to find the right balance early in their careers. James and Durant eventually found success with better teammates. Edwards might need a similar upgrade, as Julius Randle’s inconsistency makes him an unreliable co-star.
Randle admitted to spectating in Game 4, needing to be more aggressive. Edwards can help himself by playing faster and moving without the ball. His jump shot has struggled in the playoffs, shooting 27% on pull-up 3s compared to 36.8% in the regular season. His midrange shooting is also down, attempting only two such shots per game.
Edwards has been efficient at the rim against the Thunder, but penetrating their defense is challenging. This series is a learning experience for Edwards, highlighting the need for more seasoning and possibly better support.