This Timberwolves roster appears totally different than it did a 12 months in the past. That is evident in video games, because the constant scoring and general dimension of Karl-Anthony Cities is missed, as is the playmaking and ball safety of fellows like Kyle Anderson and Jordan McLaughlin.
However their absences have been additionally felt within the locker room. Cities was a relentless supply of positivity for the staff. Anderson was one of many loudest leaders. The latter might be significantly tough to interchange, not least as a result of it may be uncomfortable to talk up when issues are going mistaken and one thing wants to vary.
That is the place Anthony Edwards discovered himself in in the beginning of the season. Edwards was praised for his management throughout his first 4 years on Minnesota’s roster. Above all, this all got here by way of positivity and instance. Edwards might be coached onerous, which has given coaches the inexperienced gentle to deal with everybody the identical.
Edwards was fast to thank his teammates round him for his or her contributions to the trigger, and was keen and keen to hang around and discuss to anybody on the roster, gamers Nos. 1 by way of 15. He can even defend any of his teammates if the chance arises.
For this reason he was so beloved within the locker room and why he was thought-about such a pacesetter, even at his younger age.
However with Anderson gone, Edwards was now tasked with main even in uneven waters. And the waves have been fairly massive all through the primary quarter of the season. Minnesota’s protection has fallen off a cliff from the place it was a 12 months in the past. After by no means even three consecutive video games throughout the 2023-24 common season, the Wolves suffered a four-game shedding streak earlier this week.
At that time, phrases have been exchanged, each publicly and privately. A halftime brawl throughout Minnesota’s Wednesday loss to Sacramento began the dialog. Mike Conley initiated the dialogue, however all indications have been that Edwards was a wholesome participant. Edwards identified that it is tough to know what to say in these moments.
“Since you have a look at everybody and everybody has a special agenda. It is like, “What am I imagined to say?” You already know what I imply?” Edwards stated. “I am attempting to get higher at that side, determining what to say to get everybody on the identical agenda, as a result of everybody proper now has totally different agendas .I feel that is one of many predominant causes for our defeat, as a result of everybody has their very own agenda I suppose their creativeness of what’s imagined to occur and what’s really taking place.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker informed reporters throughout Friday’s photoshoot that Edwards had by no means been so loud. And even when the intention of everybody’s messages is pure, “typically it isn’t all the time worded in the fitting means.”
“I feel we have crossed the road of, ‘Man, I really feel such as you’re not listening to the message. » It is onerous to be challenged, since you begin to suppose, “Okay, are you saying I am the rationale?” Nobody desires to be at fault,” Alexander-Walker stated. “However on the finish of the day, I actually suppose guys are open to listening to it higher. And I feel it simply comes from the angle of, sooner or later within the dialog, there was suggestions. He was going forwards and backwards now, as a substitute of receiving it (and saying), “OK, I bought you.” That is how it should occur. It is rather uncommon that somebody can merely be questioned and don’t have anything to say.
“On the finish of the day, it’s human nature to be defensive. However I sort of bear in mind why we’re right here, and if I get known as up, there is a good likelihood I am going to should look within the mirror and be higher.
It is a delicate dance. There needs to be an setting rooted in accountability, however you even have to make certain to not lose teammates, as Jimmy Butler was criticized for doing throughout his quick stint in Minnesota a couple of years in the past.
And whereas it is by no means splendid for a staff to expertise a stretch of basketball whose high quality is considerably decrease than anticipated, these stretches will possible result in Edwards’ development, if not on the court docket, then within the locker room. You may’t steer a ship to a title if you do not know learn how to navigate turbulent tides.
Daily, loss by loss, Edwards learns to spin the wheel.
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