Chris Finch Losing His Patience with Timberwolves

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Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves traveled to Memphis for a tilt against the undermanned Grizzlies on Saturday night. Tuomas lisalo’s team was down quite a few of his regulars, including potential Wolves trade target Ja Morant.

Chris Finch’s team was 7.5 point favorites on the road, and that’s a line they should have had no problem covering. While they were up nine points at halftime, they played Memphis dead even in the second quarter.

It could have been a second-half off night for Anthony Edwards and a few other stars had they got out to a more sizable lead. Instead, the head coach had to light a fire under their ass.

Minnesota Timberwolves force Chris Finch anger

The Minnesota Timberwolves wound up winning by 17 points, with a final score of 131-114. Edwards though, played 39 minutes, and was joined at 30-plus by teammates Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid. He spoke with Dane Moore postgame about needing to keep the intensity no matter who the opponent is, and goal off earning time off in the second half…

“Nights like this, it’s super hard to find the, not the why, but the energy to put behind it on every play… [Finch] not satisfied with that, and we shouldn’t be either. He said somethin like, I’m not gonna let up on y’all. If we bullshit on games like this, I’m gonna be on y’all ass until y’all stop bullshitting. And I told [Jaden McDaniels], he 100% right. Because we coulda played the first 24 minutes hard as shit and been up 30 points and, who knows, maybe not played the 2nd half. And I said, maybe we can shut his ass up that way, if we just come out and play the way he want us to play.”

Anthony Edwards

The Memphis Grizzlies are just 18-29 with no hopes of making any type of noise this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves are involved in trade talks around the league, and looking to finally grab a title after two-straight Western Conference Finals appearances.

It’s understandable that it’s hard for Ant and his teammates to get energized to play against a bottom-feeder, or injury-ridden team. With that being said, the results still matter and Minnesota is just fifth in the packed Western Conference standings.

Edwards wound up finishing with 33 points on just 9-of-21 shooting. He was only 1-of-6 from deep, and despite his plus-18, it’s unlikely that tonight is one that he’s proud of.

Chris Finch needs MN Timberwolves to lock in

Minnesota’s drive, or lack thereof, has been problematic for some time now. It was even worth wondering if Chris Finch wasn’t holding the Timberwolves back during the playoffs last season. However, it at least seems like Anthony Edwards and the rest of the team are hearing the message from Finch.

The Minnesota Timberwolves play Memphis again on Monday night. They have just two games left until the trade deadline, and six on the chedule until the All-Star Break. After that, things start to get real.

This isn’t a franchise that can ever afford to get complacent. They can play with, and beat anyone on a nightly basis with Edwards and the rest of the roster. If they aren’t going to show up though, they can get embarrassed just as easily. It’s pretty clear that Chris Finch is sick of those clunker performances, and he’s doing his best to avoid them.

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