New Orleans Pelicans News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/new-orleans-pelicans/ Minnesota sports, but different Wed, 06 Sep 2023 16:15:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg New Orleans Pelicans News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/new-orleans-pelicans/ 32 32 Anthony Edwards Calls on Wolves to “Lock the F*** In” After Loss to Pelicans https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/anthony-edwards-calls-on-wolves-to-lock-the-f-in-after-loss-to-pelicans/ Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:34:53 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=36839 The Minnesota Timberwolves took their first loss of the season on Monday night at the hands of the previously winless New Orleans Pelicans, a team they’d beaten just two days prior. There was a noticeable lack of energy on both sides of the court and the players, Karl-Anthony Towns in particular, let questionable refereeing get into their heads early.

It was one of those nights where nothing seemed to go right. If last night was this team’s first real test at adversity, they failed. When the game was over, Anthony Edwards came to the podium with some grievances to air.

For the last six seasons we’ve heard insincere lip service from Karl-Anthony Towns and nobody’s taken him seriously in front of a postgame mic for years. But the 20-year old phenom, Anthony Edwards? Now that’s different. The likeable and always smiling Ant has never had an interview like this.

Edwards is new here and he’s hungry. He doesn’t care about keeping things PC like others often do. The kid just speaks his mind and he comes off in an incredibly genuine way because of it. You can’t help but get drawn in by his authenticity. Everyone seems to like this dude. But he’s almost always jovial and positive. Not Monday night.

Anthony Edwards isn’t afraid to call out the stars

It’s rare that a 20-year old like Anthony Edwards is able to call out veteran teammates without backlash. But with Ant, it hits different. The Georgia University alum seems to have a leadership quality nobody really gave him credit for when drafted. After last night’s loss, it’s clear one season of losing in the NBA was enough for Ant.

But if Anthony Edwards truly wants his message to be heard then the Minnesota Timberwolves need to win. As mentioned earlier, we’ve been fed quotes like this before and it’s been empty promises every time. Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and many others before, during and after them have talked the talk. None of them have walked the walk.

None of those guys have had the same talent and “it” factor that Edwards carries though either. Ant’s legendary press conference came after an individual 3rd quarter effort that almost single-handedly dragged the Wolves back into a game they were dominated in. Remember, he blamed himself (along with KAT and DLo) when the game was over.

The Patrick Beverley effect

Many people were concerned when the Wolves traded Ricky Rubio away because he was a mentor for Edwards. Three games into this new season and it’s obvious Edwards didn’t lose any mentorship. In fact, the newly acquired Patrick Beverley is an upgrade. Rubio was teaching kindergarten classes. Pat Bev is teaching college courses.

When asked about Ant’s amazing 3rd quarter, Beverly fired back, reminding everyone that Edwards was nonexistent for 75% of the game. This is what locker room accountability looks like.

This is why, even after an ugly loss where they looked like the Minnesota Timberwolves of old, I have faith in this team being different than those Wolves teams’ past. Losing no longer feels acceptable, which is a nice change of pace.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 11:15:39 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves This Timberwolves Team Feels… Different https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/this-minnesota-timberwolves-team-feels-different/ Wed, 06 Oct 2021 16:45:53 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=36490 The Minnesota Timberwolves played their first preseason game of the 2021-22 season on Monday vs the New Orleans Pelicans. Normally, that wouldn’t be news or blog worthy. But there was a much different feel inside of Target Center, thanks to a Wolves team full of energy and effort, especially on the defensive side of the floor.

Yes, you read that right. The T-Wolves, who played Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards for starter minutes through the entire first half, executed with extreme levels of defensive intensity, tenacity and focus on Monday night in a meaningless preseason game.

That defensive effort made for a high-flying, fast-paced offense that completely dominated an overwhelmed Pelicans squad. When the starters were pulled at halftime, Minnesota held a 65-45 lead. They forced 14 New Orleans turnovers and blocked 5 of their shots, in those first two quarters alone.

Talent isn’t the question

If not newsworthy, what happened at Target Center on Monday is at least a development worth keeping our eyes on. Anthony Edwards was especially disruptive on the defensive side of the floor, which has fans especially aroused on his development.

Sure, New Orleans was playing without Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas but those absences are rather irrelevant to this conversation. There was a different energy in Target Center last night, especially in defensive tenacity, and there wasn’t more than a couple thousand fans in attendance.

Nobody doubts that the Minnesota Timberwolves have enough talent to be playoff contenders. It’s always been a question of their drive to win and willingness to lock down defensively, when needed. Karl-Anthony Towns and the many teammates/coaches, who have been around him during his first 5 years in this league, like to talk about, but not play defense.

Different D-Lo

That wasn’t the case on Monday. Even after the starters left the game, nobody disengaged. Patrick Beverley, D’Angelo Russell and others were engaged in the game from the bench and leading the team hype-train until the end.

There’s been some D’Angelo Russell hype leaking out of Mayo Clinic Square during Wolves training camp and that certainly made its way to Target Center vs the Pels. Russell was tossing dimes all over the floor and finished with 19 points for himself… in the first half.

He looked the best that I’ve personally seen him. Many others, who have watched D-Lo much more often, are saying the same things. Patrick Beverly certainly believes. Hopefully, we really are sleeping on this dude and thus, sleeping on this team.

Consistency Check

The Minnesota Timberwolves will spend the rest of their preseason on the road. Friday, they’ll be in Denver vs the Nuggets. Then, they’ll hop on a quick flight further West to LA, where they’ll play the Clippers on Monday. Their final exhibition matchup will be in Brooklyn next Thursday vs the Nets and the regular season will tip Wednesday, October 30 vs the Houston Rockets.

Before we get too excited, let’s see if the Wolves can bring the same type of energy we saw vs New Orleans, for the rest of the preseason. We should probably even wait until regular season games are being played… though I’m not sure my Wolves or Wild hype levels can wait that long.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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