Minnesota Sports Forum

Yes, Ant hasn't taken a significant leap forward yet this season. But he hasn't taken a significant step back either. Different players develop at different rates. Meanwhile, the entire Wolves team has been a bit of a train wreck so far with experienced vets playing like crap. Not a great environment for any 21 year old player to take a big leap forward. Having said all that, I acknowledge the negatives that Abe listed. I was one of the first to call Edwards out for coming to camp 10 pounds heavier, which was obviously at least as much fat as muscle. But those negatives are precisely why we need to be patient.

Ant is still putting up consistently impressive numbers as a scorer and he's the only player other than Gobert who rebounds the ball. If he were averaging 15 points per game, shooting under 40% from the field and getting only 3 rebounds a game, I'd be concerned. But with his talent it's silly to even think about trading Edwards when he's averaging over 22 points on nearly 46% shooting and pulling down 6 rebounds per game early in his third season shortly after turning 21. Watching Edwards tonight against the Grizzlies was another reminder that Edwards is an all-world talent who steps up in big moments with big plays. That's the sort of 21 year old a smart franchise will be patient with.

As another dose of reality for those inclined to worry or complain about Edwards, I'll offer Kobe Bryant's stats early in his carerer.

Kobe's 3rd Season (age 20)
37.9 minutes, 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 3.1 turnovers, 46.5% FG, 26.7% 3-pt.

Kobe's 4th Season (age 21)
38.2 minutes, 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.8 turnovers, 46.8% FG, 31.9% 3-pt.

Those 4th season Kobe stats should look familiar to anyone who has looked at Ant's 3rd season stats. I'll note that Kobe didn't have his breakout season until his 5th year in the League when he averaged 28.5 points per game. There's no reason to worry about Edwards. If he comes to camp out of shape against next season, then I'll start to worry. Until then, I'm going to enjoy watching his development. It's not his fault organization went all in on a 30-year old center to win now rather than wait for the team's super talented 20 year old to develop his game some more.

This team has one other highly valued player on the roster - Karl Anthony Towns. I'm no longer preaching patience when it comes to KAT. He's clearly an all-star caliber player who has put up consistently terrific scoring and rebounding numbers over his career. I like that he appears to have improved his passing and made himself a more complete offensive player this season. But he's still doing dumb things far too often for a 27 year old veteran. I'm not calling for the Wolves to trade him next summer. But the Wolves might have to consider that possibility if things don't turn around substantially for the Wolves this season.

Tonight's game and last week's game against Indiana are two positive signs that the Wolves might turn things around this season. It was interesting to see the team perform so well tonight without KAT. I actually wasn't surprised because I don't think the Rudy-KAT pairing is a good one - at least not so far. But no matter what happens this season, I'm happy we have Edwards, McDaniels, Nowell, Minott, Moore and Garza in the fold. I want the organization to be patient with all of them, develop them and hang on to them.

Lip, If Rudy and KAT are a bad pairing, how do you explain the success Brook Lopez and Giannis have together? I know Brook plays away from the basket a lot, but they really compliment each other nicely. Would it be that far fetched to think we could get our guys to do the same?

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Lip, If Rudy and KAT are a bad pairing, how do you explain the success Brook Lopez and Giannis have together? I know Brook plays away from the basket a lot, but they really compliment each other nicely. Would it be that far fetched to think we could get our guys to do the same?

Giannis is quicker and far more mobile than KAT. He's a force on both sides of the ball. Lopez is a much better offensive player than Rudy and has made himself into a good defender. Maybe Rudy and KAT will finally click when KAT gets back sometime in January. But so far it hasn't looked good.

lipoli390 wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Lip, If Rudy and KAT are a bad pairing, how do you explain the success Brook Lopez and Giannis have together? I know Brook plays away from the basket a lot, but they really compliment each other nicely. Would it be that far fetched to think we could get our guys to do the same?

Giannis is quicker and far more mobile than KAT. He's a force on both sides of the ball. Lopez is a much better offensive player than Rudy and has made himself into a good defender. Maybe Rudy and KAT will finally click when KAT gets back sometime in January. But so far it hasn't looked good.

I've thought they have looked good playing together. I'm more concerned with the lack of rebounding and defense from others like Jaden (rebounding), DLO, Naz and Nowell.

I'm not against trading KAT in the offseason if things don't work out really well. But not because I don't think he can share the court with Rudy. KAT is better as a 4. His defense is too big a liability at the 5. Foul trouble is too huge a problem. Rudy is spectacular at defending and not fouling.

WolvesFan21 wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Lip, If Rudy and KAT are a bad pairing, how do you explain the success Brook Lopez and Giannis have together? I know Brook plays away from the basket a lot, but they really compliment each other nicely. Would it be that far fetched to think we could get our guys to do the same?

Giannis is quicker and far more mobile than KAT. He's a force on both sides of the ball. Lopez is a much better offensive player than Rudy and has made himself into a good defender. Maybe Rudy and KAT will finally click when KAT gets back sometime in January. But so far it hasn't looked good.

I've thought they have looked good playing together. I'm more concerned with the lack of rebounding and defense from others like Jaden (rebounding), DLO, Naz and Nowell.

I'm not against trading KAT in the offseason if things don't work out really well. But not because I don't think he can share the court with Rudy. KAT is better as a 4. His defense is too big a liability at the 5. Foul trouble is too huge a problem. Rudy is spectacular at defending and not fouling.

Hasn't Towns passing taken a leap partly due to playing with Gobert?

lipoli390 wrote:As another dose of reality for those inclined to worry or complain about Edwards, I'll offer Kobe Bryant's stats early in his carerer.

Kobe's 3rd Season (age 20)
37.9 minutes, 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 3.1 turnovers, 46.5% FG, 26.7% 3-pt.

Kobe's 4th Season (age 21)
38.2 minutes, 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.8 turnovers, 46.8% FG, 31.9% 3-pt.

Those 4th season Kobe stats should look familiar to anyone who has looked at Ant's 3rd season stats. I'll note that Kobe didn't have his breakout season until his 5th year in the League when he averaged 28.5 points per game. There's no reason to worry about Edwards. If he comes to camp out of shape against next season, then I'll start to worry. Until then, I'm going to enjoy watching his development. It's not his fault organization went all in on a 30-year old center to win now rather than wait for the team's super talented 20 year old to develop his game some more.

Again... it's what stats we want to use.

Sure. Those stats above are accurate. But my stance has always been that MOST (almost all) superstar type players continue on an upward trajectory early in their careers.

Kobe's Rookie Season
15.5 minutes, 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 turnovers, 41.7% FG, 37.5% 3-pt.

Kobe's 2nd Season
26.0 minutes, 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9steals, 2.3 turnovers, 42.8% FG, 34.1% 3-pt.

Kobe's 3rd Season
37.9 minutes, 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8assists, 1.4 steals, 3.1 turnovers, 46.5% FG, 26.7% 3-pt.

Kobe's 4th Season (age 21)
38.2 minutes, 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.8 turnovers, 46.8% FG, 31.9% 3-pt.


Obviously, there's a natural progression there. And Bryant wasn't doing this on bad teams. He was in the playoffs, winning 60 games... even winning a championship in there.

And it can be argued that Edwards, Doncic, Tatum, et al are able to do what they do so early in their careers in large part because of Kobe Bryant. Remember, that was 25+ years ago. A lot has changed.

NO GUARD had ever made the leap from HS to the NBA before. He was the first one. It was considered remarkable in that day and age that he was so good so soon. Obviously, the NBA has changed. The best players are expected to be really good and transcendent by year 3 or year 4 now or they're labeled as busts.

So while the numbers may look similar, the context behind them are notable.

______________

Earlier you mentioned that at least Edwards has not regressed. That would be a horrific development for a guy perceived to be perennially All NBA and it would automatically force us to change our expectations for him. Any regression can't happen in year 3.

_____________

Bottom line: Edwards looked motivated AND GOOD last night, especially late. That's the 3rd year improvement that should have everybody excited. The rub is whether it's fleeting or if he can start to channel that effort and efficiency more consistently.

The next 4 - 6 weeks are big and the Towns injury might inadvertently help the franchise in the long run if it leads to THAT type of Anthony Edwards development.




[Note: I hated Kobe Bryant as a player. And I just sorta defended him. Damn it... my day is ruined.]

11, 11, and 7.

10, 10, and 7.

The first row is the number of free throw attempts that Ant has taken in his last three games. The second row is how many he's made. Obviously part of this is his own making in terms of being aggressive going to the hoop, but I think he's starting to get more calls too....finally.

As a result, as of today, he's at a career high TS% of 57%. Of course, that could be eroded quickly with some bad games, but it's a good sign nonetheless.

We've all said that one of the keys to Ant's efficiency is getting to the line, as he is just not an elite shot maker where his shooting touch can carry the day. He needs to get to the line 6+ times per game to drive his TS% up to a level that is acceptable for a #1 option on a good team.

Let's hope this trend continues.....

Q-was-here wrote:11, 11, and 7.

10, 10, and 7.

The first row is the number of free throw attempts that Ant has taken in his last three games. The second row is how many he's made. Obviously part of this is his own making in terms of being aggressive going to the hoop, but I think he's starting to get more calls too....finally.

As a result, as of today, he's at a career high TS% of 57%. Of course, that could be eroded quickly with some bad games, but it's a good sign nonetheless.

We've all said that one of the keys to Ant's efficiency is getting to the line, as he is just not an elite shot maker where his shooting touch can carry the day. He needs to get to the line 6+ times per game to drive his TS% up to a level that is acceptable for a #1 option on a good team.

Let's hope this trend continues.....

Good call, Q.

A few more free throws per game is what can skyrocket Edwards into the 25+ ppg territory, which would be a great next step for him. It's an "easy" way to get points for your team and a must-have skill for ball-dominant players.

Edwards is at 4.9 FTA for the season (career high). Tied for 43rd most in the league, with Towns.

I will say this much...I like how they are slowly developing useful players. Naz, McLaughlin, Nowell...two undrafted guys and a 2nd round pick are now important rotational guys. It was fun to see Moore Jr. get the start last night and I like how they just sort of give him and Minott small opportunities to start out. Compare that to the days where we pretty much had to start guys like Okogie and Culver. I think it really helps these guys transition if they are not immediately thrown to the Wolves (pun intended). The G League has been great.

FYI - check out these Per 36 numbers. Why are these guys not starting? :-)

[table]
[tr]
[th]Player[/th]
[th]Points[/th]
[th]Rebounds[/th]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Lawson[/td]
[td]36.0[/td]
[td]18.0[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Minott[/td]
[td]28.8[/td]
[td]21.6[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]