The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the week with a 1-0 lead in their first-round series over the Los Angeles Lakers. A lot of Wolves skeptics saw this as an easy series for the Lakers, but they have had reality revealed to them with swiftness. Minnesota has a deep roster and more than enough versatility at both ends of the floor to send LA home in the first round.
As a team, the Timberwolves shot the lights out from three-point range on Saturday, going 21-for-42 from distance at Crypto.com Arena. According to official data, all of those makes were considered as open or wide open shots. But interestingly enough, it wasn't really an Anthony Edwards game. Minnesota's franchise star went just 8-for-22 from the floor on a night where his team utterly dominated.
But even with it being an off night for Edwards, Wolves fans can maintain assurance that Ant's presence will continue to be their biggest advantage in this series. Outside of him being at worst a top-two player in the series, Edwards' usual sky-high confidence is right where we are used to seeing it. Even if Luka Doncic is still better than him (it's debatable right now), Ant has an uncanny belief in himself.
Edwards brings the Timberwolves a mental edge against Lakers
We've seen it not just on the court in this series, but also in his media sessions. When asked about the dynamic of playing the Lakers before Game 1, Edwards had some thoughts. "I love the fact that everybody wants the Lakers to win," he said. "That's how it's supposed to be. They don't want the Timberwolves to win, so I get it." Ant has embraced the underdog role from the start in this matchup. The fact that some neutral NBA fans want the Lakers to win has only given him added motivation.
After Game 1, Edwards had another tongue-in-cheek comment about his opponent. "The Lakers are supposed to win," Edwards said. "That’s just how it’s supposed to go. We’re not supposed to be here, so we’re just going to compete.” Of course, Ant knows good and well how talented Minnesota is, and that they are more than capable of winning this series. But for the sake of teasing the national media a bit, he is leaning into the idea that the Timberwolves are total underdogs with no real chance to win.
This ultimately encapsulates the edge Anthony Edwards gives the Timberwolves in this matchup. Not only does he believe he is the best player in the series and have his own incredible ability, but his unique confidence is providing Minnesota with an interesting mental advantage as well. Don't be surprised to see him continuing to make these kinds of comments as the series progresses.