Anthony Edwards

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I lean with Abe on this one. A good starting PG in this league has got to be able to hit a shot to support proper spacing, even if they are primarily a facilitator.

I go back to a simpler way of looking at this. With Ant's upward trajectory, it is going to be necessary to have a pg that understands our best scoring option will be Ant and to do everything they can do to facilitate that. Only calling their own number when the best play (set for Ant and/or KAT) have been thoroughly evaluated. I do fear with Dlo that he doesn't see himself being surpassed offensively by Ant and likely views himself as the best offensive option on the court at times. I don't know DLo obviously, but you do have to have confidence to play the way he does, and if I were to guess I would think that he probably believes he is a better basketball player than Ant.

Respectfully, I don't buy that being true in most cases. That not only goes against everything D'Angelo Russell has verbalized about Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns as offensive priorities, but the numbers don't really reflect it either, in my opinion. Russell's shot attempts and usage have decreased every season Edwards has been in Minnesota, and I don't think that's by accident or at the cost of someone else. The hierarchy has been set, and I think it's largely because Russell understands who the offense is supposed to run through and that his opportunities are more selective than they used to be.

D-Lo:
2019-20: 18.8 FGA, 31.5 USG% (GSW/MIN; pre-Ant)
2020-21: 15.5 FGA, 29.1 USG%
2021-22: 15.0 FGA, 25.1 USG%
2022-23: 12.9 FGA, 22.4 USG%

Ant:
2020-21: 16.8 FGA, 27.0 USG%
2021-22: 17.3 FGA, 26.4 USG%
2022-23: 18.1 FGA, 27.1 USG%

I would say (or agree?) that D-Lo definitely calls his number at times in the clutch, but there might be a strong argument as to why. He's performed at an elite level in those situations this season, and really over the last five seasons, honestly.

Official NBA clutch time is defined by a game that is within five points with five minutes or less left in regulation or overtime.

Russell's clutch numbers are as follows: 22 PTS, 8-15 FG (53.3%), 4-8 3P (50.0%), 2-3 FT (66.6%), 67.4 TS%, 4 AST, 1 TOV

Edwards' clutch numbers are as follows: 23 PTS, 7-21 FG (33.3%), 2-8 3P (25.0%), 7-8 FT (87.5%), 46.9 TS%, 3 AST, 2 TOV

We're talking about just nine games that fit the clutch criteria this season, but there's more of the same results last year, and prior to that even. D-Lo's been Minnesota's most clutch guard/player and they correctly rely on him to be that while he's on the roster. I'll leave the link with filters set if anyone wants to check it out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?TeamID=1610612750&PerMode=Totals&Season=2022-23

[Q-is-here]

I lean with Abe on this one. A good starting PG in this league has got to be able to hit a shot to support proper spacing, even if they are primarily a facilitator.

I go back to a simpler way of looking at this. With Ant's upward trajectory, it is going to be necessary to have a pg that understands our best scoring option will be Ant and to do everything they can do to facilitate that. Only calling their own number when the best play (set for Ant and/or KAT) have been thoroughly evaluated. I do fear with Dlo that he doesn't see himself being surpassed offensively by Ant and likely views himself as the best offensive option on the court at times. I don't know DLo obviously, but you do have to have confidence to play the way he does, and if I were to guess I would think that he probably believes he is a better basketball player than Ant.

Respectfully, I don't buy that being true in most cases. That not only goes against everything D'Angelo Russell has verbalized about Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns as offensive priorities, but the numbers don't really reflect it either, in my opinion. Russell's shot attempts and usage have decreased every season Edwards has been in Minnesota, and I don't think that's by accident or at the cost of someone else. The hierarchy has been set, and I think it's largely because Russell understands who the offense is supposed to run through and that his opportunities are more selective than they used to be.

D-Lo:
2019-20: 18.8 FGA, 31.5 USG% (GSW/MIN; pre-Ant)
2020-21: 15.5 FGA, 29.1 USG%
2021-22: 15.0 FGA, 25.1 USG%
2022-23: 12.9 FGA, 22.4 USG%

Ant:
2020-21: 16.8 FGA, 27.0 USG%
2021-22: 17.3 FGA, 26.4 USG%
2022-23: 18.1 FGA, 27.1 USG%

I would say (or agree?) that D-Lo definitely calls his number at times in the clutch, but there might be a strong argument as to why. He's performed at an elite level in those situations this season, and really over the last five seasons, honestly.

Official NBA clutch time is defined by a game that is within five points with five minutes or less left in regulation or overtime.

Russell's clutch numbers are as follows: 22 PTS, 8-15 FG (53.3%), 4-8 3P (50.0%), 2-3 FT (66.6%), 67.4 TS%, 4 AST, 1 TOV

Edwards' clutch numbers are as follows: 23 PTS, 7-21 FG (33.3%), 2-8 3P (25.0%), 7-8 FT (87.5%), 46.9 TS%, 3 AST, 2 TOV

We're talking about just nine games that fit the clutch criteria this season, but there's more of the same results last year, and prior to that even. D-Lo's been Minnesota's most clutch guard/player and they correctly rely on him to be that while he's on the roster. I'll leave the link with filters set if anyone wants to check it out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?TeamID=1610612750&PerMode=Totals&Season=2022-23

Just because DLO would be J-Mac's backup doesn't mean he can't close out games for us!

[FNG]

I lean with Abe on this one. A good starting PG in this league has got to be able to hit a shot to support proper spacing, even if they are primarily a facilitator.

I go back to a simpler way of looking at this. With Ant's upward trajectory, it is going to be necessary to have a pg that understands our best scoring option will be Ant and to do everything they can do to facilitate that. Only calling their own number when the best play (set for Ant and/or KAT) have been thoroughly evaluated. I do fear with Dlo that he doesn't see himself being surpassed offensively by Ant and likely views himself as the best offensive option on the court at times. I don't know DLo obviously, but you do have to have confidence to play the way he does, and if I were to guess I would think that he probably believes he is a better basketball player than Ant.

Respectfully, I don't buy that being true in most cases. That not only goes against everything D'Angelo Russell has verbalized about Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns as offensive priorities, but the numbers don't really reflect it either, in my opinion. Russell's shot attempts and usage have decreased every season Edwards has been in Minnesota, and I don't think that's by accident or at the cost of someone else. The hierarchy has been set, and I think it's largely because Russell understands who the offense is supposed to run through and that his opportunities are more selective than they used to be.

D-Lo:
2019-20: 18.8 FGA, 31.5 USG% (GSW/MIN; pre-Ant)
2020-21: 15.5 FGA, 29.1 USG%
2021-22: 15.0 FGA, 25.1 USG%
2022-23: 12.9 FGA, 22.4 USG%

Ant:
2020-21: 16.8 FGA, 27.0 USG%
2021-22: 17.3 FGA, 26.4 USG%
2022-23: 18.1 FGA, 27.1 USG%

I would say (or agree?) that D-Lo definitely calls his number at times in the clutch, but there might be a strong argument as to why. He's performed at an elite level in those situations this season, and really over the last five seasons, honestly.

Official NBA clutch time is defined by a game that is within five points with five minutes or less left in regulation or overtime.

Russell's clutch numbers are as follows: 22 PTS, 8-15 FG (53.3%), 4-8 3P (50.0%), 2-3 FT (66.6%), 67.4 TS%, 4 AST, 1 TOV

Edwards' clutch numbers are as follows: 23 PTS, 7-21 FG (33.3%), 2-8 3P (25.0%), 7-8 FT (87.5%), 46.9 TS%, 3 AST, 2 TOV

We're talking about just nine games that fit the clutch criteria this season, but there's more of the same results last year, and prior to that even. D-Lo's been Minnesota's most clutch guard/player and they correctly rely on him to be that while he's on the roster. I'll leave the link with filters set if anyone wants to check it out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?TeamID=1610612750&PerMode=Totals&Season=2022-23

Just because DLO would be J-Mac's backup doesn't mean he can't close out games for us!

Yes, I made that same point in the last GDT. The guy who works most effectively with the other starters should be the guy who starts most games, but the guy who is hot will likely finish close games. On those nights where DLo is hot, we're going to want him down the stretch to provide clutch baskets. But if the JMac/Ant positive history holds up and they get more minutes together, perhaps some of those "clutch games" will end up blowouts!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I would wager that the large majority of the minutes Anthony Edwards and Jordan McLaughlin have shared together in their young careers came against opposing team's reserves. There's that damn "context" part rearing its ugly head again. Maybe the rest of the NBA will follow the Timberwolves' example in this hypothetical by benching their better players too. That's about the only way this Jordan McLaughlin fantasy has any chance of being successful.

Simply, if you overextend the responsibilities and capabilities of reserves, they often get exposed. They are often less effective on both ends of the floor against better talent. The same applies for end of the bench talent being forced into the rotation. They've settled into those roles for a reason -- sometimes multiple reasons.

The D-Lo/J-Mac chatter -- similar to the D-Lo/Rubio chatter years ago -- is entertaining (?) board material, I suppose, but it's not a smart move in reality.

[thedoper]

I lean with Abe on this one. A good starting PG in this league has got to be able to hit a shot to support proper spacing, even if they are primarily a facilitator.

I go back to a simpler way of looking at this. With Ant's upward trajectory, it is going to be necessary to have a pg that understands our best scoring option will be Ant and to do everything they can do to facilitate that. Only calling their own number when the best play (set for Ant and/or KAT) have been thoroughly evaluated. I do fear with Dlo that he doesn't see himself being surpassed offensively by Ant and likely views himself as the best offensive option on the court at times. I don't know DLo obviously, but you do have to have confidence to play the way he does, and if I were to guess I would think that he probably believes he is a better basketball player than Ant.

Respectfully, I don't buy that being true in most cases. That not only goes against everything D'Angelo Russell has verbalized about Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns as offensive priorities, but the numbers don't really reflect it either, in my opinion. Russell's shot attempts and usage have decreased every season Edwards has been in Minnesota, and I don't think that's by accident or at the cost of someone else. The hierarchy has been set, and I think it's largely because Russell understands who the offense is supposed to run through and that his opportunities are more selective than they used to be.

D-Lo:
2019-20: 18.8 FGA, 31.5 USG% (GSW/MIN; pre-Ant)
2020-21: 15.5 FGA, 29.1 USG%
2021-22: 15.0 FGA, 25.1 USG%
2022-23: 12.9 FGA, 22.4 USG%

Ant:
2020-21: 16.8 FGA, 27.0 USG%
2021-22: 17.3 FGA, 26.4 USG%
2022-23: 18.1 FGA, 27.1 USG%

I would say (or agree?) that D-Lo definitely calls his number at times in the clutch, but there might be a strong argument as to why. He's performed at an elite level in those situations this season, and really over the last five seasons, honestly.

Official NBA clutch time is defined by a game that is within five points with five minutes or less left in regulation or overtime.

Russell's clutch numbers are as follows: 22 PTS, 8-15 FG (53.3%), 4-8 3P (50.0%), 2-3 FT (66.6%), 67.4 TS%, 4 AST, 1 TOV

Edwards' clutch numbers are as follows: 23 PTS, 7-21 FG (33.3%), 2-8 3P (25.0%), 7-8 FT (87.5%), 46.9 TS%, 3 AST, 2 TOV

We're talking about just nine games that fit the clutch criteria this season, but there's more of the same results last year, and prior to that even. D-Lo's been Minnesota's most clutch guard/player and they correctly rely on him to be that while he's on the roster. I'll leave the link with filters set if anyone wants to check it out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?TeamID=1610612750&PerMode=Totals&Season=2022-23

Nice Cam. Super solid response. Dlo has been good statistically in the 4th as well to back up your position.

I guess we need to hope Ant becomes better in the 4th and the clutch to make this team an even greater problem. I heard Russillo say we had a good record in close games this year, I didn't know it was 7-2 in games where clutch definition came to play. I guess it could be a lot worse if it wasn't for DLo. Im sure people will love that take.

[FNG]

Yes, context is always important when evaluating stats...nobody would argue against that. But there are two elements of context when you are discussing effectiveness of 2-man lineups...who you are playing against certainly, but equally more important is who you are playing WITH. Ant and JMac may have the advantage of playing together more against reserves (I'd have to look it up), but certainly Ant and DLo have a huge advantage in that most of their minutes are with KAT, Rudy and Jaden. The first several minutes of the first and 3rd quarters, very often the final 8 minutes, and perhaps a smattering of minutes throughout the game. If I want to have a good net rating, I'd rather be out there with 3 top 25 players and Jaden instead of Jaylen, naz, and rivers.

To me it's extraordinary and meaningful that the Ant/Russell tandem has a negative net rating, considering their level of talent and the quality of the players generally on the court with them. I don't care who you are playing against, the effective PGs in the league generally have a positive net rating. But DLo's negative rating this season isn't a one off...he's been generally negative throughout his career. The pieces around him may change, but the results don't.

Dlo simply needs to be better on a consistent basis if this team is going ti be successful.

[Wolvesfan21]

Just don't include the playoffs!

[Lipoli390]

An interesting analysis of Ant's contribution and importance to the Wolves:

https://www.espn.com/fantasy/basketball/story/_/id/35298867

[Lipoli390]

A while back I posted thoughts on the need to be patient with the development of young NBA players, including Ant. I thought many were setting the bar unreasonable higher for a 3rd year player who just turned 21 at the beginning of the season. In that post, I pointed out that Kobe took his biggest leaps after his third season. At the time of that post, Ant was putting up numbers slightly better than Kobe's 3rd season numbers. Well, since that points, Ant has in fact taken that big leap everyone was impatiently expecting him to make and his 3rd season stats blow Kobe's 3rd season numbers out of the water. Ant is now averaging 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game with 45.7% FG shooting and 36% 3-point shooting. Compare that to Kobe's third-season numbers: 20 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game with 46.5% FG shooting and 26.7 3-point shooting.

So TC needs to figure out how to build a championship team around Anthony Edwards when Ant is starts to approach his peak in 2 or 3 years. That's what a good front office would do.

[Q-is-here]

A while back I posted thoughts on the need to be patient with the development of young NBA players, including Ant. I thought many were setting the bar unreasonable higher for a 3rd year player who just turned 21 at the beginning of the season. In that post, I pointed out that Kobe took his biggest leaps after his third season. At the time of that post, Ant was putting up numbers slightly better than Kobe's 3rd season numbers. Well, since that points, Ant has in fact taken that big leap everyone was impatiently expecting him to make and his 3rd season stats blow Kobe's 3rd season numbers out of the water. Ant is now averaging 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game with 45.7% FG shooting and 36% 3-point shooting. Compare that to Kobe's third-season numbers: 20 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game with 46.5% FG shooting and 26.7 3-point shooting.

So TC needs to figure out how to build a championship team around Anthony Edwards when Ant is starts to approach his peak in 2 or 3 years. That's what a good front office would do.

I won't disagree on Ant's improved play of late, but the bar of what is considered great or Top 25 NBA player is higher now than it was in Kobe's time. There has never been more talent in the league. Ant has not been a Top 25 player, even if you just isolate his stats for the last 20 games. Has he been really good? Yes. But there are still 25+ players better than him.

Hopefully the improvement continues, as he is still very young.