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Dave McMenamin
Minneapolis – After the Timberwolves abandoned match 1 of their semi -final series from the West Conference despite the early release of the Golden State Warriors star, Stephen Curry’s star, Minnesota coach, Chris Finch, challenged the performance of the star of the franchise Anthony Edwards.
“It starts with Ant,” said Finch after the defeat of Wolves 99-88 Tuesday evening. “I thought he had had trouble, then you could just see the light go out a little for a while.”
Edwards, who was n ° 4 in the league on average score during the regular season at 27.6 points per game, totaled only one point at half-time during shooting 0 for 8. The Minnesota dragged 44-31 at the break.
He would miss his first 10 shots before making a basket, and he finished with 23 points on a shooting 9 for 23, including 1 for 5 on 3 points.
Even after the tension of Curry’s left hamstrings led him to leave the match in the second quarter after scoring 13 points in 13 minutes, the Wolves could not do many bumps. Golden State led by 23 points, and Minnesota has never reduced the deficit of nine points in the second period.
Finch said that addressing Edwards’ mind, 23, should not be something that he should lead to the playoffs at this stage.
“What to talk about? You are the leader of the team,” said Finch. “You have to go out and set the tone. If your shot is not going on, you must always carry the energy. If I have to talk to the guys about the right energy in a second -round opening game, then we are not on the same wavelength.”
Edwards, who had two interceptions in the first half while the Minnesota held Golden State at 44 points out of 37.2% shooting, underlined his defense as proof that his effort was not as deactivated as Finch thought.
Triple All-Star has accepted criticism that could nevertheless resist loss.
“People will try to blame anything, blame anyone; they can blame me,” said Edwards. “(But) we did not play well enough.”
He was hardly the only minnesota player to underform. Julius Randle, who collected an average of 22.6 points out of 48.1% shooting during the first round series victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, only drew 4 for 11 Tuesday and had as many reversals as rebounds, with three. The starting point guard Mike Conley was detained aimlessly, 0 for 5. Donte Divincenzo collected seven points on a shot 3 for 11 (1 for 7 out of 3) of the bench.
“You are the leader of the team. You have to go out and set the tone. If your shot is not going, you must always wear the energy. If I have to talk to the guys of the right energy in a second -round opening game, then we are not on the same wavelength.”
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch referring to Anthony Edwards
“It’s frustrating, but I’m encouraged,” said Randle. “There are a lot as a team that we can do better.
“We cannot hurt ourselves, and we feel like we did it tonight.”
Minnesota center Rudy Gobert said that Wolves’ long waiting to start the second round – while the Warriors fought with Houston’s Rockets for seven games – had an impact on the team.
“Maybe we had to prepare to play a high intensity match,” said Gobert. “Not playing for six days, even if we have practiced, I think we don’t really feel this intensity.”
The Wolves drew 0 for 15 of 3 in the first half-the team’s first half in any match without 3 made 3 since 2018 and the first half in an eliminatory match without 3 since 2004-and only 5 for 29 for the match.
Between their closing victory on the first round and their first second round game, the Wolves had the worst 3 -point shooting section of two games in the history of the NBA qualifiers by making 12 for 76 (15.8%), according to ESPN Research (minimum of 50 attempts of 3 points).
“Tonight we haven’t fired the ball well, but tonight is over,” said Edwards. “So the next match, we are very well drawn the ball.”
Finch also targeted the execution of the rapid breakdown of her team, because she only managed 10 rapid breakdown points, even if the Warriors committed 18 reversals.
“Our transitional decision -making was evil,” said Finch. “Obviously, we could not hit a blow, but I did not like the fact that we could not generate good shots several times. We should have been able.”
Conley, the 37 -year -old Elder Statesman, said the Wolves will have something better in store for match 2 on Thursday.
“I expect an answer,” said Conley. “We all had the impression that we were playing as badly as possible. Give them credit, but we were not there.
