After the Minnesota Timberwolves gave away a 12-point lead within the remaining seven minutes of the sport towards Sacramento to lose their fourth straight, star guard Anthony Edwards didn’t maintain again in his evaluation of what’s ailing the Wolves this season.
In a candid and no-punches-pulled postgame interview, Edwards known as his crew “delicate” and mentioned they had been “front-runners” who couldn’t appear to carry as much as any form of adversity and lamented the followers booing them on their residence flooring. The 115-104 loss dropped the Wolves to a disappointing 8-10 on the season. They’ve misplaced seven of their final 9 video games, and most of them have adopted an identical script. They fall down by double digits, claw again to take the lead after which fade down the stretch.
This time the Wolves led 98-86 with 7 minutes. 17 seconds to play within the recreation. The Kings outscored them 29-6 the remainder of the best way to win simply.
“We appear to be front-runners for positive tonight,” Edwards mentioned. “We was down, no person needed to say nothing. We bought up and all people cheering and f—–g hype. We get down once more and don’t no person say nothing. That’s the definition of a front-runner. We as a crew, together with myself, all of us was front-runners tonight.”
Edwards led the best way with 29 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. However after a 5 of 5 begin to the sport, he was simply 4 of 19 the remainder of the best way. One of many misses was an ill-advised stepback 3-pointer with the Wolves up 10 factors within the fourth. It led to a straightforward runout for Keon Ellis and jump-started the Kings’ comeback.
As he at all times does, Edwards made positive that the criticism he levied towards the crew began together with his play.
“I’m (going to) put this one on me,” Edwards mentioned. “We made all the appropriate performs. If I’m the man, I’ve bought to make these photographs down the stretch. I missed a pair photographs and so they made photographs. So, I’m (going to) take this one.”
The Wolves entered the season with excessive expectations coming off of a run to the Western Convention finals final season. However a serious commerce proper earlier than coaching camp that despatched Karl-Anthony Cities to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo has sapped them of the chemistry and cohesion that they had final season. Edwards has been one among many gamers annoyed by the jagged begin.
“We delicate as hell as a crew, internally,” Edwards mentioned. “To not the opposite crew, however internally, we delicate. We will’t speak to one another. Only a bunch of little youngsters. Identical to we taking part in with a bunch of little youngsters. Everyone, the entire crew. We simply can’t speak to one another. And we’ve bought to determine it out, as a result of we will’t go down this highway.”
The Wolves have began a four-game homestand with two losses to the Houston Rockets and Kings, which included lackluster protection and obtrusive collapses within the fourth quarter. They’ve Thanksgiving off after which host the LA Clippers on Friday.
“I’m making an attempt to get higher in that side, work out what the hell to say to get all people on the identical agenda as a result of all people proper now’s on totally different agendas,” Edwards mentioned. “I believe that’s one of many principal culprits of why we’re dropping as a result of all people on the market bought their very own agenda. I suppose their creativeness of what’s alleged to be happening, and what’s taking place.”
The followers are taking out their frustrations on a crew that has performed with poor physique language and low vitality for many of the season. Throughout each of the latest residence video games, the Wolves have been booed loudly when the turnovers are available bunches and the protection can not get stops on the rim.
“Nevertheless many people it’s, all 15, we go into our personal shell and we’re simply rising away from one another,” he mentioned. “It’s apparent. We will see it. I can see it, the crew can see it, the coaches can see it. The followers f—–g booing us. That (stuff) is loopy, man. We’re getting booed in our residence area. That’s so f—–g disrespectful, it’s loopy.”
As gamers left the locker room after the sport, they spoke of rediscovering a connection that has by no means shaped this season. Edwards has virtually at all times had a optimistic disposition, rain or shine, however his phrases on Wednesday night time had been laced with frustration from being unable to search out the solutions but this season.
“We’re simply so unfavorable proper now. Final couple of years, we had been like this,” Edwards mentioned, clasping his fingers collectively. “And I really feel like we’ve steadily grown away from one another, which is the craziest factor as a result of most of us have been collectively. We’ve bought two new gamers, that’s about it. Everyone else has been collectively.”
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(Photograph: David Berding / Getty Pictures)
