The beautiful season of Wolves therefore ended with a slap at home against the Mavericks, therefore an elimination in the conference final. There are many more positives to remember than negatives, including 56 victories in the regular season, two rounds of playoffs and two individual trophies (Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid).
This team showed character, symbolized by Anthony Edwards, who took on a new dimension in recent weeks, and produced superb defensive sequences, particularly against the Nuggets.
A step and a driving force for the future
However, and this is normal, frustration dominates for the moment. “It’s harder this year, because we had the feeling of being there”, confirms Mike Conley when we ask him if the pill is more difficult to swallow today than last year, after the exit in the first round. “We will have regrets about the start of the series during the summer, but it was a superb season. The city and the fans supported us. We want people to be proud of their team, we managed to do that”underlines Chris Finch.
This exercise remains indeed a success and a promise for the future. “Experience is the best learning”, continues the playmaker. “You have to learn from your mistakes, feel what you feel at the moment, let it be a driving force to work. We all want to progress. »
How to do better? “We have to believe that this is not our limit, that it is a step towards our goal: to be champion. We have made progress”replies Mike Conley, who talks about competition in the West, like his coach. “We will try to correct our mistakes. We're going back to square one. The Western Conference will still be very complicated”warns Chris Finch, proud of his players.
If Karl-Anthony Towns holds that, to reach this level, “you must not take your foot off the accelerator”Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards raise an important point: the physical dimension.
Have the chest to play 100 matches and several rounds of playoffs
The Wolves have a big defense, which requires a lot of energy and since April, they have had a series of matches against the Suns of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal then against the reigning champions (until Game 7), with the 2024 MVP, Nikola Jokic, before facing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Enough to end up on the kneecaps.
“I know a lot of the guys were tired today. We have to be in good shape to play 100 matches”underlines the interior, winner of the trophy for best sixth man, while the full-back obviously did not imagine playing 98 matches. “This season, we worked to play 82 matches and perhaps a round of playoffs. We didn't think we would go this far. So we didn't work for that last summer, me first. There we are going to have to do it”announces the All-Star.
“This experience will do us good”adds “KAT”, which Anthony Edwards confirms. “I have never been this far in a season. Now I know what it takes. I can't miss training days or take days off. I have to be ready”he assures, slipping that he and the Wolves “will be back next season”.
