Anthony Edwards Rips Timberwolves Starters; Reveals Two Recurring Flaws

After 40 games of NBA basketball, the Minnesota Timberwolves sit at 21-19, good for 8th in the Western Conference. It’s been a bit of a disappointment for the Wolves so far this year. After a tough 116-115 loss to the Golden State Warriors last night, Anthony Edwards ripped the Minnesota Timberwolves starters postgame and pointed to two recurring flaws.
Anthony Edwards wants to see improvement in two specific areas
Although the Timberwolves lost by one point last night, the game was lost in the first quarter, when Minnesota was outscored by Golden State 34-12. Even if they lose this quarter by ten last night, they would have won this game comfortable.
Anthony Edwards agrees, as he pointed to slow starts being one of the two flaws for the Timberwolves. When asked what he thought the team needed to improve on most for the second half of the season, Edwards had this to say.
The Wolves are 21-19 40 games into the season.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) January 16, 2025
Asked Anthony Edwards if there was one thing he could change for the second half of the season to win more games what it would be.
He gave two — the start of games and rebounding. pic.twitter.com/ovzdppI3WD
“It would be two things, boxing out and the start of games, the starting 5. Like we are terrible. Every game like we come out just low energy, the second group comes in and gives us energy. So I would say the starting group got to come out with more energy like we want to play the game of basketball.”
Anthony Edwards from video above (quote via Dane Moore)
The second area Edwards wants to see improvement is rebounding, specifically boxing out. Last night, Golden State out rebounded the Timberwolves 45-41. This included a back breaking offensive rebound off of a missed Golden State free throw with 10 seconds left and the Timberwolves down 114-112.
Although the rebounding difference was slim, many rebounds for Golden State came at untimely moments for Minnesota, and was a major reason the scoreboard reflected a Timberwolves loss.
Is Anthony Edwards right about the slow starts?
On the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are actually tied for ninth in the league in first quarter margin. Minnesota has a first quarter margin of +0.6 points on the season. On the surface, this may not seem like a major flaw for the Timberwolves.
If this says anything about the Wolves first quarter effort, Wardell Stephen Curry II was able to catch the ball, set his feet, and still have no one within 5 feet when he released a three.pic.twitter.com/36djrilDct
— Canis Hoopus (@canishoopus) January 16, 2025
However, over the last three games, the Wolves first quarter net differential is -19, which is an average of -6.3. This includes a game against the lowly Washington Wizards, who have a 6-32 record. Edwards clearly thinks over the last few games that the Timberwolves starting five has come out way too flat.
Rebounding woes plague Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards’ criticism of the Minnesota Timberwolves rebounding is a bit more accurate. The Timberwolves rank 20th in rebounding on the season, averaging 43.7 rebounds per game. Specifically, they rank 20th in offensive rebounds per game, and 17th in defensive rebounds per game.
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On a team with Rudy Gobert at center, this is a concerning number. Last season, with Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward, the Timberwolves ranked 15th in rebounding, but 5th in defensive rebounding. Rebounding has been much more of a flaw for this years Timberwolves’ team. Edwards is clearly frustrated by the drop off in production from a rebounding standpoint with this years team.
Anthony Edwards postgame: “We just gotta take pride in boxing our own man out. We know that. They get on us every day in film about boxing out. That’s literally one of our kypronites, we don’t box out as a group, and when we do it’s not physical enough.” pic.twitter.com/G9LPTQ9e22
— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) January 16, 2025
Can Minnesota Timberwolves issues be fixed?
The good news for Timberwolves fans is these issues can be fixed. It is up to the starting five to come out with more energy, and if they do the Wolves could see more success in the second half of the season.
Related: Anthony Edwards Fined Again
As for rebounding, Edwards pointed to the need to box out and with more physicality. Rebounding takes all five players on the court. If everyone who is on the court for Minnesota starts boxing out their man, rebounding rates should improve for the Timberwolves. It’s time for the Wolves to listen to Edwards and fix these specific flaws.
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