NBA Playoffs: Anthony Edwards Threat Could Shatter All Barricades, Warn Timberwolves Analysts

‘Zone Coverage’ reporter and podcaster Dane Moore recently released another episode of his NBA podcast. This time, he had invited analyst Kyle Theige to serve as the person with whom he wanted to discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves. Highlighting the team’s recent game against the Phoenix Suns, Moore praised how the latter franchise had put up a specific defensive play reserved for Timberwolves shooting guard and star player Anthony Edwards.

Theige was further impressed with how a “two-person wall”, consisting of Bradley Beal and Bol Bol, is ever prepared to block the player in whatever direction he chooses to head off to. This defense had hurt Edwards’ pick-and-roll play, which has a big role in his scoring ability. It cracked the code for what could break the player’s momentum.

“At the beginning of the games, I think part of the reason it’s been bad is one, they don’t know how they’re going to cover Ant, like what is the way they’re going to be guarding him and then Ant needs some time to process how that is,” said Moore. “I think teams are getting more creative, more effective, more random with the ways in which they’re guarding Ant”.

The defensive play employed by Beal and Bol Bol highlighted the 22-year-old’s weakness. Both Moore and Theige believe that this is something that the player needs to work upon before the highly anticipated playoffs commence. Looking at how Edwards managed to hold his own during the recent Los Angeles Lakers clash, especially after Anthony Davis’s exit, the analytic duo expressed their confidence that he can be quick in figuring out the defensive lineup and shatter the same.

“It’s going to be a challenge for Ant, and I have a lot of belief in Ant’s ability to dial it up for the playoffs” Moore continued. The analyst warned his guest host and the viewers that lots of people are going to attempt to take down the NBA player and that he will have good and bad games during the playoffs. It will be the end result, however, that will matter the most.

The Suns were enthusiastic about defending Anthony Edwards prior to their clash

Just as the two analysts highlighted, the Phoenix Suns had succeeded in doing what many had failed at limiting Anthony Edwards’ scoring ability. For someone who averaged 24 points during his previous four games, the player could only contribute 17 when dealing with Kevin Durant and co. As it turns out, targeting the young player was a significant priority for the team before entering the game.

Suns head coach Frank Vogel highlighted in a statement that his players would mostly be looking to prevent Edwards from taking 3-pointers and leaving him to score just ‘long twos’. This worked, as his 3-pointer attempts dropped from 12 to 6 within a span of just one game. 

Small forward Royce O’Neale had a different play in his mind. He looked to “make things tough for him” by attempting to “beat him to his spots. Contest every shot.” The most captivating response, however, came from Bradley Beal, who expressed his strategy in just a few words: “Foul the sh*t out of him”.

Similar to his coach, Beal made it a priority to limit Edwards to just two-pointers. And….it worked.

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