This is one of the images from this first week of the playoffs: Anthony Edwards hits his chest in front of Kevin Durant, who smiles. The leader of the Wolves had scored 33 points that evening, including 18 in the 3rd quarter alone to crack the Suns. In the second round, the Minnesota back was less swaggering. Certainly, the Wolves won, but his 3 out of 12 on shots is a stain for such a talented player.
But his talent is also to put himself at the service of his team when things are going badly. First in defense where he doesn't mind bothering Bradley Beal, Devin Booker or Kevin Durant, and in this second round, he stole three balls. But also in attack where his 8 passes are a sign that he knows how to put himself at the service of others.
His confidence rubs off on the group
“The fact that we won this second game without Ant being our top scorer, and that hasn’t happened often, it proves that he is more focused on winning” testifies Nickeil Alexander-Walker. “He didn't insist against the game. It's not a question of finding his rhythm. He has confidence in us, and everyone is playing fair. Ant's progress comes from making the right reads and making the right move. »
An analysis shared by Mike Conley, who forms the Wolves backcourt with Anthony Edwards. With 17 seasons under his belt, the former Grizzlies and Jazz player is well placed to gauge the progress of his young teammate.
“He has progressed a lot in his playing intelligence” he believes. “He's able to read situations and not get upset when he didn't get a shot because they did a two-hander on him. He realizes that making a pass to me, Towns or Nickeil on the weak side allows us to make an action. He looks up and sees that we are winning. You saw how happy he was when we won the game. That kind of attitude is huge for us collectively and it's going to propel us toward whatever goals we're trying to achieve. »
Progress as a vocal leader
For Chris Finch, this is actually visible in the two-person takes. The All-Star guard doesn't force himself. He anticipates them to find the unmarked teammate, without necessarily asking for the ball in return.
“He kept doing the right thing, over and over again,” admires the Wolves coach. “The experiences pile up for him. In the first half in particular, we had a lot of good shots, and they just didn't go in… Anthony was enthusiastic though, and he kept encouraging his teammates to shoot. »
For Chris Finch, Anthony Edwards has clearly reached a milestone in leadership. “During these playoffs, we see him talking more and more. He improved throughout the year. But even more so now, with the confidence he gives to his teammates. »
