{"id":114003,"date":"2024-12-26T05:29:08","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T10:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=114003"},"modified":"2024-12-26T05:30:43","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T10:30:43","slug":"timberwolves-leader-anthony-edwards-new-message-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/26\/timberwolves-leader-anthony-edwards-new-message-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Timberwolves Leader Has New Message Ahead Of New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Minnesota Timberwolves were gifted with a narrow win over the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n<p>However, despite a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/min-vs-dal-0022400406\/box-score\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">slim victory margin of victory<\/a>, the Timberwolves led by as many as 28 points in the second half. Considering that the Mavs are a title-contender with multiple All-Stars, including arguably the most skilled player of all-time, Dallas\u2019 ability to cut that deficit doesn\u2019t necessarily reflect poorly on Minnesota. Nonetheless, taking their foot off the gas put them in an unnecessarily uncomfortable position.<\/p>\n<h2>Timberwolves Leader Anthony Edwards Has New Message Ahead Of New Year<\/h2>\n<p>Following the game, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/edwaran01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Edwards<\/a> addressed the media, offering insight into the state of the team. The Timberwolves leader <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/28\/anthony-edwards-locker-room\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">has been candid and outspoken<\/a> about their performance throughout the season. This time though, Edwards had a milder response than he normally does.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe got to have patience to be able to get it together,\u201d he says (h\/t The Minnesota Star Tribune\u2019s Chris Hine). \u201cSometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks bad, and we still trying to figure it out. I think patience is what\u2019s going to take us over the top.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Anthony Edwards: \u201cWe got to have patience to be able to get it together. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks bad, and we still trying to figure it out. I think patience is what\u2019s going to take us over the top.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChristopherHine\/status\/1872061954426351817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That type of mature outlook suggests that the 23-year-old is growing both on <em>and<\/em> off the court. It could also mean that the team is building chemistry, which takes time <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/28\/how-timberwolves-easy-a-chemistry\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">no matter the process<\/a>. To that point, Minnesota was on a three game losing streak heading into Wednesday. Yet, this has been their best month, as they\u2019re now 6-4 in December.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not beating down the doors of the NBA Finals at 15-14. However, NBA champions are decided in the summer, not the winter. The Timberwolves have time on their side even though the pressure might have them sweating under their collars.<\/p>\n<h3>A Timely Reminder<\/h3>\n<p>Nearly 30 games into the season, Minnesota\u2019s problems have largely come down to camaraderie and containment. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/randlju01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Julius Randle<\/a>\u2019s fit has been <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/04\/julius-randle-trade-will-pay-off-for-timberwolves\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">a talking point<\/a> throughout the season.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s more ball-dominant than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/townska01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a> was, which the team has had to adjust to. His outside jumper isn\u2019t as pristine as Towns\u2019s, which has changed the geometry of the offense. Lastly, his defensive effort continues to be inconsistent, which is particularly problematic for a team that prides itself on their defensive performance.<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday\u2019s matchup reminded everyone why the Timberwolves traded for him.<\/p>\n<h3>No \u2018I\u2019 In Team<\/h3>\n<p>In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Edwards was overburdened with offensive creation, lacking another on-ball scorer beside him. This was underscored during the Western Conference Finals, as Dallas defeated Minnesota with relative ease.<\/p>\n<p>When Mavs guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Doncic<\/a> went down on Christmas Day, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/irvinky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyrie Irving<\/a> found himself in the same position Edwards was just a few months ago. Despite the eight-time All-Star scoring a game-high 39 points, Dallas lost. Conversely, Edwards and Randle were able to combine for 49 points.<\/p>\n<p>They say two heads are better than one and, in this case, two shot-creators were better than one.<\/p>\n<p>Randle might not always be efficient from beyond the arc. Regardless, he\u2019s still a talented one-on-one scorer. So long as he continues to make defenses play him honest by finding the open man when they load up on him, he\u2019ll continue to be in those advantageous positions. Furthermore, passing the rock certainly won\u2019t hurt the team\u2019s chemistry.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Julius Randle today:<\/p>\n<p>23 PTS<br \/>\n10 REB<br \/>\n8 AST<br \/>\n3-5 3P<\/p>\n<p>The first player in franchise history with a 20\/10\/5 Christmas game. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ujC6WZOEH8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ujC6WZOEH8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 StatMuse (@statmuse) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/statmuse\/status\/1872039661058834810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In a way, Randle is a remix of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/19\/vince-carter-carmelo-anthony-headlines-2025-hall-of-fame-class\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a> nominee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/anthoca01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carmelo Anthony<\/a>. In his heyday, Anthony was an exceptional scorer, especially in the midrange. However, he had a tendency to develop tunnel vision, which negatively impacted the ball movement. He left even more to be desired defensively.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, Anthony didn\u2019t buy into making necessary changes to his approach until it was too late. Randle can\u2019t make the same mistake.<\/p>\n<h3>Clock\u2019s Still Ticking<\/h3>\n<p>Randle\u2019s clock is ticking because the Timberwolves could eventually trade him, even ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Minnesota\u2019s options would be limited, as they\u2019re above the second apron. Yet, the Detroit Pistons stand out as a potential landing spot due to their cap space and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/harrito02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tobias Harris<\/a>\u2019s play. The Portland Trail Blazers are another option if they want to pry <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/grantje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jerami Grant<\/a> away from them. Even the Washington Wizards could swing a trade if they\u2019re ready to move off of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poolejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jordan Poole<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With each of those teams hard-pressed to get a first round pick for the aforementioned players, the Timberwolves are left with an open-ended question.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Minnesota Timberwolves were gifted with a narrow win over the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day. However, despite a slim victory margin of victory, the Timberwolves led by as many as 28 points in the second half. Considering that the Mavs are a title-contender with multiple All-Stars, including arguably the most skilled player of all-time, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":114012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21,1608,30,10,62,12,23,4721,18],"tags":[2109,1628,1909,510,596,1382,343],"class_list":["post-114003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-timberwolves","category-basketball","category-mavericks","category-pistons","category-nba","category-knicks","category-trailblazers","category-trade-rumors","category-wizards","tag-anthony-edwards","tag-jerami-grant","tag-jordan-poole","tag-julius-randle","tag-nba-playoffs","tag-nba-trade","tag-tobias-harris"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114003"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114015,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114003\/revisions\/114015"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}