Anthony Edwards is coming off two uncharacteristically bad performances this week. Over the past two games, the Minnesota Timberwolves star is averaging 15.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 32.4/13.3/100 shooting splits. Yes, overreacting to two bad games is foolish, and Ant will surely bounce back. I don't think it would shock anyone if Edwards erupts for 40-plus points on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns.
However, Edwards has now shot below 40 percent four times this season, and his field goal attempts are the lowest since his rookie season. Small sample size? Absolutely. One concerning stat, though, is that Edwards' 10.2 drives are the lowest mark of his career. Despite leading the league in total 3-point attempts last season, Edwards averaged 13.2 drives per game.
Listen, I don't think this stat will hold, and Edwards' development as a shooter is overall a good thing. Part of it could also be allowing Julius Randle to get more involved, which again is a good thing. Nevertheless, Edwards can't forget that his athleticism and strength make him unstoppable at the rim. He can't be afraid to use these advantages.
It feels like a matter of time before Edwards gets back to attacking the rim at a high rate, but for now, it's worth mentioning.
Anthony Edwards must get back to attacking the rim
Interestingly, Edwards is shooting 7.4 percent higher on his drives than last season. Likewise, Edwards is shooting 68.8 percent at the rim, which is the second-highest mark of his career. When the shots aren't falling, Edwards must attack the rim and get easy shots around the rim.
Another factor could be Edwards' hamstring injury, which caused him to miss four games. It's totally fair to point this out. However, since Edwards is back on the court, it's fair to hold him to his elite standards. Furthermore, it's not like Edwards has struggled since returning from this injury; he had a 37-point outing against the Utah Jazz in his second game back.
As stated earlier, it would be foolish to panic about two bad games and a few overall moments of inconsistency. There's no doubt in my mind that Edwards will bounce back and start attacking the rim like he has done in the past. Regardless, Edwards' rim pressure will be worth monitoring throughout the season.
Now that I've written all of this, I'm nearly positive that Edwards will explode for a monster game on Friday night.