It was a big night for Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following an 11-point win in Game 5, they have advanced to the West Finals for the second straight year and are quietly earning respect across the league. According to Anthony Edwards, however, he’s feeling no sense of relief or accomplishment after his team’s latest feat.
“There is no satisfaction,” said Edwards. “We just got here, we haven’t done anything yet, so… he [Gobert] is not satisfied.”
The Timberwolves shot 62.8% in this crucial close-out game and set a franchise record with 36 assists. They outscored the Warriors in nearly every single quarter of this game, building up a lead so great that they were able to cruise in the final minutes of the game.
Game 5 saw Edwards drop 22 points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists on 71.4% shooting, the perfect follow-up to Monday’s win, when he scored 30 points, four rebounds, and five assists on 52.4% shooting. He’s been the story of the playoffs so far, and Minnesota has been the biggest surprise.
As the sixth seed in the West, they began the playoffs as underdogs to win the title, but now, Minnesota is set to be one of the final four teams remaining. With series victories over the Lakers in round one and now the Warriors in round two, Edwards has a lot to be happy about following tonight’s close-out win at home, but he knows that there is still much work to be done.
In the next round, the Timberwolves will have their work cut out for them, but there is reason to believe they can make it through. They beat the Nuggets last year en route to the Western Conference Finals, and the Thunder have yet to prove that they are ready for the moment after last season’s collapse to the Mavericks in the second round.
That’s not to mention a potential matchup in the Finals, which could include the Celtics, Knicks, or Pacers. Those teams are stacked with talent, but the Wolves have more than enough firepower to match between Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert.
For a stacked Timberwolves team that’s knocked out two storied franchises, a Finals run is within reach, and Edwards is trying his best to keep his emotions in check. In the example set by Kobe Bryant and his infamous words after a win in the 2009 Finals, the job is not finished, and the Timberwolves shouldn’t celebrate for long before preparing for the next fight.
At just 23 years old, Edwards is leading his team like an experienced veteran, and he knows they have nothing to brag about. Since Edwards joined, the Timberwolves have nothing to show for their efforts, and they have yet to make the NBA Finals. In fact, in the entire history of the franchise, this year is only the second time they’ve made the Western Conference Finals.
To break the drought and bring a title to his city, Edwards will need to step up for his team and do more than ever on both ends of the floor. Fortunately, with averages of 27.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the playoffs so far, he’s answering the call in more ways than one.
