Among the hottest teams in the league, with their five consecutive victories (all of at least 10 points each!), Wolves have perhaps signed the most convincing success of their season, last night, against the Heat.
This success, torn off the forceps and drawn largely after the break, has also enabled them to regain a balanced record (9 wins, 9 losses), as well as the Top 8 of the Western Conference.
The Minnesota franchise can thank its gem Anthony Edwards for this setback inflicted on the Miami players. Author of 33 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in 43 minutes (13/27 on shots, including 6/15 at 3-points), “Ant-Man” has indeed splashed this meeting with all his talent.
« He was electrifying because he is an electrifying player », Declared afterwards his coach, Chris Finch. ” He has had a great sense of timing since the start of his career, I can observe him since I’ve been here. It is also visible defensively, he made some important interceptions, to go on the counter-attack, create shots for his teammates. And, above all, he is not afraid of anything, not even to take the big shots. »
The young wolf is growing fast
Even just 20 years old, Anthony Edwards has absolutely no fear of taking responsibility when his team needs it most. And that was precisely the case last night, in the first half. At the time when the Wolves, led by 12 points in the second quarter, had to compose without their chief barker, Patrick Beverley, quickly injured in the groin, and their leader of attack, Karl-Anthony Towns, handicapped by fouls (three in the first five minutes of the match).
As a boss, and supported by Malik Beasley (29 points off the bench) and Jarred Vanderbilt (8 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals), the No. 1 of the 2020 Draft has therefore activated the scorer mode. Compiling 17 points and 6 rebounds before the break, to prevent Chris Finch’s men from being really left behind on the scoreboard.
« I have no choice in these times », Confessed the main interested, about his big first period. ” I made sure we stayed in touch as much as possible, until [Karl-Anthony Towns] come back, because it is difficult for [nos adversaires] to defend on us when he’s around. So I did everything to keep us in the game, over and over again. […] I had to do everything to win because I wanted our winning streak to continue. »
Once the discreet Karl-Anthony Towns returned to business (11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, but 4/12 on shots), upon returning from the locker room, the Wolves were finally able to accelerate all together. Gradually sticking to the score in the third quarter, in the wake of an Anthony Edwards still so incisive offensively (11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists).
Before the physical back / winger from Minneapolis, already very mature in his game, cleverly fades in favor of his leader D’Angelo Russell, more at ease than him in the last act (10 points).
« We have someone on our team called Anthony Edwards and he took the game on his own, it’s that easy “, However insisted” D-Lo “(20 points, 6 assists), aware that nothing would have been possible without the performance of his young teammate for three quarters. ” He defended, he moved well, he protected the rebound, he took rebounds… We are seeing him grow before our eyes. […] It allowed us to overcome our difficulties, to take a step forward. »
Provoked by Jimmy Butler, he didn’t back down
Target Center darling, Anthony Edwards has allowed himself as a bonus to further strengthen his place in the hearts of Wolves fans, when he sintered with Jimmy Butler. The former leader of the franchise, now shouted at by the Minnesota public with every ball catch, since his incredible departure to the Sixers, at the end of 2018.
« He took the ball from me and I was like, ‘Are you serious? You will have the ball, it will arrive … ‘ “, Said the native of Atlanta, about this sequence, which occurred at the end of the third quarter, and which boosted his troops mentally. ” I felt I had to let her know to calm down. He wasn’t going to fight with anyone anyway. All this gathering then, it was windy. I’m not here to fight, I don’t fit into it. »
In the end, Anthony Edwards’ only regret will concern his huge successful dunk on poor Gabe Vincent, not granted due to forced passage …
« They are the referees … », Regretted on this subject the former resident of the University of Georgia. ” I do not know [pourquoi ils ont sifflé passage en force]. If I umpired a match and someone dunked like that on someone else, I wouldn’t have whistled. Especially if it was a home game. »
| Anthony Edwards | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 72 | 32 | 41.7 | 32.9 | 77.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 19.3 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 17 | 36 | 43.0 | 35.6 | 74.1 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 22.2 |
| Total | 89 | 33 | 42.0 | 33.5 | 77.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 19.9 | |
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