2024 Playoffs- 3rd Round: Minnesota Timberwolves - Dallas Mavericks- MAVS WIN 4-1!

[MaxiThreeba]

Anthony Edwards was NOT prepared for all five defenders to be either next to him or with one foot in the paint every time he got the ball. He had no idea what to do., which is the main reason he was ineffective. The comparison I made the other day was LeBron against Dallas in 2011. LeBron was a much better player already than what he showed in that series, but he didn't UNDERSTAND (at the time) how to attack the defense Dallas designed to stop him.

Luka and Kyrie were both VERY prepared with how to attack deep drop coverage in the pick and roll. They've seen that for years.

I have no idea if Kidd's defense will continue to stifle Edwards. I feel like if it does, the Wolves will have games where the open threes don't drop as well as they did in Game 1. But, if Edwards CAN figure it out, I ALSO have no idea whether or not Kidd has anything else in mind that might be equally confusing, either. 

What I do know is that while both PJ and DJJ are amazing defenders, neither of them can neutralize Edwards the way they did in game 1 without the help of scheme confusing him. If he figures out how to break the defense, we're going to see some 40-50 point games from him, a bunch of offensive rebounds for the wolves off of his misses because the Dallas bigs have to help, etc. Kidd's plan to just let McDaniels shoot is absolutely the right one to my mind, even if he's red hot for the whole series. I just don't know yet if that choice will always be up to him, so to speak.

Ant’s big games can be soul crushing.  He doesn’t seem to have quiet big games like SGA did, or like Luka and Kai sometimes will.  You feel every one of his baskets when he’s in rhythm.  

He’s in a little stretch here where he hasn’t been good in 3 of his last 4 games, with the exception being the 45 point beat down in Game 6.  

He’s shot 17-55 in Games 5, 7, and Game 1.  That 6-24 performance would have gotten totally different coverage if the Nuggets don’t blow that lead. 

He’s 22.  This is his first rodeo.  It will be fascinating to see if he’s ready to put the bad performances behind him and be the type of bounce back player Luka is.  I could see it going either way with such a young and playoff inexperienced player.  Maybe the scoring struggles snowball on him, or maybe he responds with one of those signature games.

He’s an elite talent and I love his swagger.  I hope this first go round is just a bit too big for him but I’m definitely not holding my breath!