Since last season, Anthony Edwards has been on a mission—systematically dismantling the icons of this era. First, he went toe-to-toe with his idol, Kevin Durant, and came out on top. Then, he devoured LeBron James and the Lakers in Round 1, leaving no doubt who owned the moment.
Now, he’s eyeing the final piece of the puzzle: the Golden State Warriors.
The Timberwolves and Dubs are locked in a brutal second-round battle—but don’t be surprised if the Akron Hammer himself has already played a part. LeBron, ever the chess player, might’ve whispered a few secrets to his longtime friend Steve Kerr on how to slow down Minnesota’s rising juggernaut.
The Lakers’ trade deadline moves had unlocked their defensive strengths before going into the postseason. Although it took five games for the Timberwolves to wrap the series up, it wasn’t as comfortable. The Lakers struggled with playing small, but still, JJ Redick threw everything. In particular, they looked to contain Anthony Edwards.
The Lakers’ plan was to have pressure Ant-Man into making decisions. At one point, he even called their schemes ‘confusing’. The reason behind that was the Purple and Gold never settled with giving the transcendent athlete a one-man assignment.
“That’s why we kind of changed pitches. We wanted to try to change pitches on them as much as possible cause we want, you know, you never give one player, no great players one, right, steady diet of the same thing, you know,” LeBron James explained on Mind The Game.
Hence, the Lakers switched between multiple sets. At times, they sent the double or put forward an illusion of the same. Their hope was to prey on Edwards’ weakness, which until last year was his inability to slow the game down. But the 23-year-old evolved in his maturity. Not only did he use his explosiveness to get by his markers, but he also displayed an enhanced playmaking ability.
Jan 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates a play against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“He’s definitely he’s learned over the time, but he’s strong. He has a low center of gravity. He has a great handle. He can shoot the ball extremely well. And, you know, to add on to what we said a couple times before in some of our older um episodes about believing in your teammates, making them feel even better than what they are as well. And he’s trusting his teammates to make plays,” the Akron Hammer detailed about Edwards’ growth.
So even with an elaborate plan, Anthony Edwards seemed unfazed. He averaged 26.8 points in the series against the Lakers. However, what changed the series was his distributing the ball, averaging 6.2 assists, a number significantly higher than his regular season totals. But even if these plans didn’t work for the Lakers, maybe Steve Kerr can extract a few holes within his game.
Success against Ant Man but not against the Timberwolves for the Warriors
By comparison, the Warriors have actually done a better job of guarding Anthony Edwards in this series. In Game 1, even though they were without Stephen Cury, they gutted out a win purely through their defensive proficiency. However, the same didn’t hold true tonight. Ant Man picked up a nasty injury but managed to return and drop 20 points.
The Bay have done well in limiting his three-pointers which are down to 4.5 attempts through two games. But with the landscape changing, so is Edwards.
Upon realizing he can’t launch his kind of offense, Edwards has bent his role to suit his teammates. He is using his nuclear athleticism to sky for rebounds, averaging 11.5 per game. He might be shooting the ball less, but that’s because even the Warriors can’t deal with the same problems the Lakers had.
Feb 21, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after scoring a basket during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Even if they shut down Ant Man, the Timberwolves still have other threats. Julius Randle showcased that today, with a bruising 24 points and 11 assists performance in their Game 2 win. Anthony Edwards has acted majorly as a decoy to provide his teammates with better spacing and attacking opportunities.
Jaden McDaniels—the defensive ace who tormented the Lakers—chipped in a smooth 16 points on 70% shooting, showing he’s more than just a stopper. But if the Warriors want to crack the Timberwolves code, neutralizing those rim-attacking wings might be the key.
That could mean more freedom for Anthony Edwards—but it also pushes Minnesota toward a dangerous imbalance. It starts to look like early-season Wolves basketball again: Ant going solo, everyone else watching. And against a seasoned team like Golden State, that’s a risky formula.
This isn’t some grand defensive scheme—it’s more of a shift in rhythm. Right now, Anthony Edwards doesn’t need to be the singular force. He’s adapting, molding his game to fit the flow of the series, putting team success over personal dominance.
But here’s the catch: giving him that space might not stop Ant—it might only empower him. What it could do, though, is disrupt the Timberwolves. And with the Warriors already limping due to Steph Curry’s injury struggles, that subtle imbalance might be Golden State’s best shot at flipping the series.
Currently tied at 1-1, this series is only just getting started. And one thing to learn about the Timberwolves is that they aren’t just reliant on Ant Man anymore.
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