Can I Have Another? - Wolves at Wizards GDT

[AussieWolf3]

Anthony Edwards says the Timberwolves don’t listen to their gameplan:

“Most of the time we don’t listen to the gameplan. When we listen to it we’re pretty good.”

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

This is very easily interpreted as calling out the team for not listening to the coaching, and very easy to reconcile as a noteworthy statement after a big win where they DID listen to coaching.

Given that I would call it good leadership

[Coolbreeze44]

Anthony Edwards says the Timberwolves don’t listen to their gameplan:

“Most of the time we don’t listen to the gameplan. When we listen to it we’re pretty good.”

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

Meh.

While I think there's truth to the statement, and that Edwards is very likely very culpable for that... why are we singling out Edwards? Was he talking only about himself? Was he talking about the collective "we?" Was he adding himself to the mix to call out (but still protect) his teammates a bit? Heck, in that case, it was incredibly professional and leader-like...

We don't know the answer to any of those questions.

All I know is that we all have favorite players and players who bug us more than most... and it's easy to tell in our posts. (see what I did there?)

I can only judge what he said in a vacuum because I don't have the other context. But on face value it was a stupid thing to say. If he did or wants to add more context, I will judge it accordingly. My opinions of players are no better or worse than anyone else's. It's not whether I like Ant or not, or whether I think he's a great player. It's about how much respect I have for him, and yes, it's a lot less than some other players on the team. In my opinion he's earned that lack of respect. And I will tell everyone else that writes here, you do you. If you unabashedly love Edwards the player and the man, good for you.

[Coolbreeze44]

Anthony Edwards says the Timberwolves don’t listen to their gameplan:

“Most of the time we don’t listen to the gameplan. When we listen to it we’re pretty good.”

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

This is very easily interpreted as calling out the team for not listening to the coaching, and very easy to reconcile as a noteworthy statement after a big win where they DID listen to coaching.

Given that I would call it good leadership

When I watch the team play, here is who looks like they listen to the game plan:

Absolutely - Jaden, Rudy, Conley, Clark

Probably - DDV, NAZ

Neutral - Julius, Hyland

Less Likely - Edwards

Ant has no case for calling out the others. If he's talking about himself, great he should own that, that would be leadership. If he's referring to people above him on this list, it's terrible leadership.

[Phenom]

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

This is very easily interpreted as calling out the team for not listening to the coaching, and very easy to reconcile as a noteworthy statement after a big win where they DID listen to coaching.

Given that I would call it good leadership

When I watch the team play, here is who looks like they listen to the game plan:

Absolutely - Jaden, Rudy, Conley, Clark

Probably - DDV, NAZ

Neutral - Julius, Hyland

Less Likely - Edwards

Ant has no case for calling out the others. If he's talking about himself, great he should own that, that would be leadership. If he's referring to people above him on this list, it's terrible leadership.

Clearly he's talking about Rob, Joan, Johnny, Lenny and Jaylen since that's who he walked out on.

[rapsuperstar31]

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

This is very easily interpreted as calling out the team for not listening to the coaching, and very easy to reconcile as a noteworthy statement after a big win where they DID listen to coaching.

Given that I would call it good leadership

When I watch the team play, here is who looks like they listen to the game plan:

Absolutely - Jaden, Rudy, Conley, Clark

Probably - DDV, NAZ

Neutral - Julius, Hyland

Less Likely - Edwards

Ant has no case for calling out the others. If he's talking about himself, great he should own that, that would be leadership. If he's referring to people above him on this list, it's terrible leadership.

That's merely a guess. I can guarantee you the nights Jaden smokes to much weed before the games, he barely knows where he is out there.

[60WinTim]

Ugh! Another mountain made out of a mole hill. I find ANT's comments as a glib statement meant to draw a chuckle. There absolutely could be some sliver of truth behind it, but not a declaration that this is the way the team operates.

ANT's leadership if fine. I'll give him a pass as a 24-year old when he makes a mistake, such as leaving the bench early.

[AussieWolf3]

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

This is very easily interpreted as calling out the team for not listening to the coaching, and very easy to reconcile as a noteworthy statement after a big win where they DID listen to coaching.

Given that I would call it good leadership

When I watch the team play, here is who looks like they listen to the game plan:

Absolutely - Jaden, Rudy, Conley, Clark

Probably - DDV, NAZ

Neutral - Julius, Hyland

Less Likely - Edwards

Ant has no case for calling out the others. If he's talking about himself, great he should own that, that would be leadership. If he's referring to people above him on this list, it's terrible leadership.

1- obviously he's talking about himself and also didn't single anybody out.

2- other members of the team can obviously be singled out because a lot of players have had energy issues and have been inconsistent. It's pretty hard for us to really know when and if players are following the game plan, but when players don't show up to play at all, that's certainly a good indicator.

You've determined a narrative for Ant, so anything is gonna be taken as evidence of that narrative

[Phenom]

Ugh! Another mountain made out of a mole hill. I find ANT's comments as a glib statement meant to draw a chuckle. There absolutely could be some sliver of truth behind it, but not a declaration that this is the way the team operates.

ANT's leadership if fine. I'll give him a pass as a 24-year old when he makes a mistake, such as leaving the bench early.

Raja Bell commented on this as a former player that its only a big deal if it lingers and festers. So far it looks like its in the rear view.

[Lipoli390]

Anthony Edwards says the Timberwolves don’t listen to their gameplan:

“Most of the time we don’t listen to the gameplan. When we listen to it we’re pretty good.”

Another example of professionalism from our supposed team leader.

This is very easily interpreted as calling out the team for not listening to the coaching, and very easy to reconcile as a noteworthy statement after a big win where they DID listen to coaching.

Given that I would call it good leadership

The only interpretation that makes sense to me is that Ant is supporting his coaches — essentially saying it’s not the game play developed by the coaching staff but rather the lack of execution by the players. And yes, he’s also calling out the players for failing to execute the game plans. I assume he was including himself in that indictment. It does sound more like leadership than unprofessionalism to me. I suppose he could have uttered the cliches we’ve heard time and again from players, including stars, over the years - e.g., “We just didn’t play well” or “we didn’t play with urgency” or “we need to do better as a team….” The list goes on. Ant’s comment was more substantive and sincere. We have no way of knowing whether Ant’s characterization is accurate but if that’s what he truly believes, which I assume he does, then I have no problem with him saying it publicly.

My view is that this team’s main problem is an intensity problem - a lack thereof. It’s not a PG problem or a disconnect between the game plan and player execution. We have far too many major defensive lapses that are clearly traceable to lack of intensity. There have been far too many times when we fail to hustle for those 50-50 balls — again, lack of intensity. There have been too many terrible shooting lapses like the game against Denver. Yes, shooting can come and go, but intensity leads to concentration or focus and concentration/focus is essential to good shooting. It’s the team’s overall mentality that concerns me. I believe this team has the talent to be a championship contender if you look on paper and consider some of our big wins like the one against OKC. My question is whether this team has the intensity, the mental toughness, to be a true contender. I’m not sure.

I’d say that every member of this roster is guilty of failing to bring and maintain the necessary level of intensity in their minutes every game. Every player on this team should be held accountable for that but the coaching staff should be held accountable as well. And here’s where I’ll put the onus on Ant. As our best player and supposed team leader, he bears a special burden to make sure his teammates play their guts out every game. It starts by setting an example and I don’t believe he consistently provides the necessary all-out effort required on the defensive end. MJ and Kobe would simply not let their teammates let up. So I’m fine with Ant’s comment. But now I want to see Ant and this entire team bring to every game the 48-minutes of high-intensity play needed to be an NBA champion.

[Coolbreeze44]

Lip, the only way that's going to happen is if Ant himself sets the example. And I don't think he has the mettle to do it. I'm talking day in, day out being the leader this team needs in it's best player. He simply doesn't have the overall character to be the main man on a championship team. And history is going to prove it.