The Lakers series got Minnesota believing – believing they were finally destined for greatness. With Anthony Edwards firing on all cylinders, they seemed unstoppable. But you know what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. It could’ve gone either way – and unfortunately for the Timberwolves, they ended up crashing and burning. This came after a first-half nightmare from the Ant-Man, which caused Chris Finch all sorts of problems.
Despite winning the first quarter, they went into the second half trailing 44-39. The biggest reason? Edwards scored a solitary point the whole first half. He also went 0-for-8 from the field and 0-for-3 from 3-point range. The box might look good with his 23/14 numbers after a stellar second half, but the King Slayer struggled against the Warriors. And as the de facto leader of the team, Coach Finch was the first to call him out.
“It starts with Anthony. He struggled early and then you could just kind of see the light go out a little bit for a while. And then, you know, obviously we had to try to get him going in the second half. But I think it was one of those games where it kind of came out with predetermined mindset of what he was trying to do, rather than just playing the game that was in front of him,” said Finch after the game. It undoubtedly became a difficult match to comeback in, after that first half.
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
But the series isn’t over. They lost a game to the Lakers too. For Finch, as long as there’s accountability, there is a way. And that starts with Anthony Edwards. He knows his double-double is nothing more than just a consolation. And if he has to have that conversation with Ant, then there’s no point in having one at all
“What is there to talk about? You’re the leader of the team, and you gotta come out and set the tone… If you’re shot’s not going, you still have to carry the energy. If I’ve got to talk to guys about having the right energy coming into the opening game of the second round, we’re not on the same page,” said Finch in the postgame press.
It might not look it, but things are looking up. The second-half performance might have shown that Ant’s can still dominate the Warriors. They still got another game at Target, before being chased out to the center of San Fran for Game 3. What’s more, the second game will be aided by Stephen Curry’s possible absence.
Anthony Edwards and Co. will benefit in Stephen Curry’s absence, says Finch
“We’re definitely game planning for him to not be available Thursday. We don’t know yet,” said Warriors HC Steve Kerr. If the gaffer himself is cooking something without the Head Chef, then the T-Wolves have the opportunity to burn the damn kitchen down. They do have Jimmy the Butler to serve up finesse, but none of the rest are as reliable as Stephen Curry on the court. Did Minnesota struggle defensively? Absolutely. But with Curry out, Chris Finch is incredibly sure to have some tricks up his sleeve going forward.
“Yeah, well obviously, allows us to move matchups around and different things like that. So we’ll look at it.” Steph was seen limping for a few possessions, clutching his hamstring. But 13 is the unlucky number. And 13 minutes into the game, he asked the Golden State bench to replace him without a second thought. He didn’t return to the game, being diagnosed with a hamstring strain. This is the absolute worst case for a playoff demon. Even a Grade I strain will take a minimum of 7-10 days to heal, which would put him out of the next 3 games at least.
Mar 1, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The odds are still very much in their favour. With Curry out, it could present Chris Finch with a heap of options. But they just have one less legend to mark- the Golden State lineup brims with class. So, will Anthony Edwards be able to prove Chris Finch wrong with a masterclass come Thursday?
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