After the Minnesota Timberwolves' 99-88 loss in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series with the Golden State Warriors, it was Chris Finch that gave a wake-up call to Anthony Edwards for what he felt was a less-than-fantastic night for his superstar.
"You're the leader of the team, and you've got to come out and set the tone," Finch said. "And if your shot's not going, you still have to carry the energy. If I've got to talk to guys about having the right energy coming into an opening second round game, then we're not on the same page."
It was clear in the eyes of Finch that the Timberwolves' dismal shooting night began to affect their confidence. Minnesota made just five of their 29 three-point attempts, and this comes after their Game 5 against the Lakers where they made seven of 47.
That puts the Wolves at 12 for their last 76 on three-pointers (15.7%), marking the single worst percentage for any NBA team in postseason history in consecutive games (minimum 50 three-point shots attempted). “It starts with Anthony [Edwards]," Finch said. "You could see the light go out for a little while."
Chris Finch reminded Anthony Edwards of his responsibility
This was a good opportunity for Finch to deliver this wake-up call to his best player. Edwards knows what being an effective leader looks like, and he's taken tremendous strides when it comes to stepping up and setting the example and a tone for others.
But the playoffs are a uniquely challenging environment, and it was going to be on Finch to remind Edwards of the responsibility he carries with him. Part of winning is tied to the example your superstar player sets. Sometimes, you're going to have nights where you just don't hit open shots, or you're not making shots you would usually make. That's just the way it goes in basketball sometimes.
However, those things are not supposed to automatically doom you and your team. Yes, it can be a huge hindrance when you're trying to take down a good team like the Warriors. But the way you still make those nights productive and give yourself a chance to win is by forgetting the missed shots and putting your fingerprints all over the game in other ways.
Hustling for loose balls. Blocking out on rebounds. Playing tough-nosed defense. Communicating and talking on the court. These are all things Ant typically does well. But as Finch said, it didn't look like he necessarily brought his A-game for all 42 minutes he was on the hardwood on Wednesday.
With this situation, the good thing is that it's a very fixable issue. Anthony Edwards knows what he needs to do to be the best example and leader for his team. Come out and bring the energy against Golden State in Game 2, and we're likely having a very different discussion in 48 hours.