Playoff Anthony Edwards is quietly becoming the NBA's most terrifying matchup

Containing Anthony Edwards was always a difficult task. His elite athleticism and perimeter shot-making have made him one of the best players over the past several seasons. However, Edwards has now reached another level, and he looks downright unstoppable.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star is averaging a career-high 29.6 points, and after a career-high 55-point game on Saturday night, everyone is starting to take notice of Ant's greatness and growth. Edwards has made key strides as a mid-range scorer, decision-maker, and clutch-time scorer. Notably, Edwards is averaging 6.0 points and shooting 71.7 percent in clutch time situations.

While it's great to watch Edwards dominate in the regular season, undoubtedly, his growth will be even more impactful in the playoffs. Frankly, I don't think it's far-fetched to say that he could now be the toughest playoff matchup in the league. Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the lone two possible exceptions.

Edwards has become unstoppable

Edwards' improved mid-range scoring has helped him reach another level. He is currently shooting a career-high 41.9 percent from the mid-range on 3.6 attempts per game. The post fadeaway shot has been a staple for Ant in the mid-range -- he is shooting 57.6 percent on post-ups, which ranks in the 73rd percentile. With his already elite finishing and 3-point shooting, adding a mid-range game has made him a truly complete scorer.

Ant-Man is shooting an absurd 72.5 percent at the rim this season, which is the highest mark of his career. Undoubtedly, his growth as a mid-range scorer has helped him reach another level as a finisher. Teams can no longer force Edwards into any shot, whereas before they could force him into the mid-range.

Additionally, Edwards can be more decisive when attacking the rim due to his growth as a mid-range scorer. When other teams have an elite rim protector, Edwards tends to utilize his mid-range scoring more. This was the case during his career-best performance against Victor Wembanayama and the Spurs, as Ant had eight mid-range attempts.

Last year, Edwards became one of the league's best 3-point shooters, leading the league in both made and attempted triples. He has validated this leap, shooting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc on 8.4 attempts per game.

Given Edwards' truly elite three-level scoring, there could be no stopping him in the playoffs. Ant is already one of the league's most proven playoff performers despite his young age. Now, it's fair to expect that he can reach another level in the playoffs, and that's a scary part for the rest of the league.

On paper, you might think doubling or trapping Edwards could be the recipe for success against him. However, I don't see this as a solution. Yes, Edwards hasn't taken a leap as a playmaker -- but he is making quicker decisions, and his growth as a scorer helps him counter difficult defensive schemes.

Defensively, Edwards is inconsistent, but in high-leverage situations, he has proven to be a high-level defender, especially on the ball.

Ultimately, in a playoff setting, there may be no stopping Edwards. That's a delightful thought for Timberwolves fans, but a terrifying thought for the rest of the league.