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Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 2:29 pm
by RealGM Wiretap

The Minnesota Timberwolves kept Game 4 close, but ultimately lost 128-126 to the Oklahoma City Thunder to fall down 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams had 40 points and 34 points, respectively, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle had 16 points and five points. Edwards was limited to just 13 field goal attempts after he excelled in Game 3 with a more aggressive approach. 


"I don't look at it like I struggled, or [Randle] struggled," Edwards said. "They just, they had a good game plan, making us get off the ball. Especially for me, man. They were super in the gaps, I made the right play all night."


The Thunder have successfully limited Edwards' ability to score as he's averaging just 17.3 shots per game compared to 19.8 in the second round against the Golden State Warriors and 22.4 in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers.


"It's an urge that I want to get the ball in the rim, put it up there," Edwards said. "But you don't want to take bad shots and get your team out of rhythm. So I was just playing the game the right way, man."


"I thought second half he was more aggressive," Chris Finch said. "He got downhill. We got him off the ball a little bit more. When he got to the paint, I thought he found some people, made the right plays. First half, he lagged behind a little bit too much. He needed to get out in front so we could stretch the floor and screen for him a bit. But second half was much better."

Via Dave McMenamin/ESPN


Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 3:47 pm
by TheCage4
The NBA wants Ant so much to be HIM, but he simply is not. Super talented, no question, but he doesn't have "it."

Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 5:08 pm
by CaHgO
He's not there yet. Not even close. The talent is abundant, but what holds him back is his immaturity. I don't know him and I don't want it to sound as an insult, but (based on his off-the-court demeanor, interviews, Starting 5 series, etc.) he just seems not intelligent enough. He's an athlete, so I am not saying he should be a PhD or something, but all of the best ever (Jordan, LeBron, Kobe, Bird, Magic, etc.) all had really high intelligence and emotional intelligence. At this stage in his career Ant has none of those.

Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 9:58 pm
by Cassius
Ant is fine. How many ECF did Tatum and Brown have to lose before they got to the Finals? He and Jaden are going to win a lot of games for a long time.

Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 1:11 am
by Indomitable
You have to go down with guns blazing

Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 1:52 am
by Pickled Prunes
TheCage4 wrote:The NBA wants Ant so much to be HIM, but he simply is not. Super talented, no question, but he doesn't have "it."

I don't think the NBA cares. Ant is marketable so they market him. When he's no longer marketable they will market someone else. But realistically, OKC is the NBA's best defense and MIN only has one player they need to stop... one and a half if you count Randle.

Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 11:36 am
by Darthlukey
TheCage4 wrote:The NBA wants Ant so much to be HIM, but he simply is not. Super talented, no question, but he doesn't have "it."

It kinda feels like the free throws and the MVP vote is the nba wanting sga to be that guy.

Re: Anthony Edwards Defends Lack Of Shots In Narrow Game 4 Loss To Thunder

Posted: Wed May 28, 2025 6:30 pm
by Pickled Prunes
Darthlukey wrote:
TheCage4 wrote:The NBA wants Ant so much to be HIM, but he simply is not. Super talented, no question, but he doesn't have "it."

It kinda feels like the free throws and the MVP vote is the nba wanting sga to be that guy.

Well, "the NBA" didn't vote for MVP and Brunson is getting that same whistle.

Interestingly, Randle has been nullified because he is getting the Shaq treatment. If Randle uses his strength and drops a shoulder it is an offensive foul, if SGA or Brunson drop their shoulder and initiate contact it's a defensive foul. These playoffs have become an officiating travesty. I'm not mad because don't have a vested interest, and I think ultimately the better team is winning.... but the games are getting hard to watch.