Minnesota star guard delivers honest message following back-to-back defeats.
The Minnesota Timberwolves came into Saturday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets with championship hopes and a solid 20-11 record, but what happened at Target Center was anything but a title-contender performance.
Minnesota got outplayed by a Nets team sitting well below .500 and the home crowd let them hear about it, booing the Timberwolves off the floor after a brutal 123-107 loss.
After the game, Anthony Edwards didn't make excuses or try to spin the loss.
Instead, he sided with the frustrated fans and delivered one of the most honest quotes of the season.
Edwards Keeps It Real
"We got booed and sh** by the fans today. I'm with the fans. I would've booed us, too," Edwards said after the loss. "But yeah, lack of energy. I don't know what's going on. I guess this is just Timberwolves basketball."
It was a jarring admission from the franchise star, and Edwards made it clear that the effort wasn't good enough for a team that has real playoff goals this season.
The loss dropped Minnesota to 20-12 on the year and marked their second straight defeat after falling 142-138 in overtime to the Denver Nuggets on Christmas Day.
What Went Wrong Against Brooklyn
Edwards led Minnesota with 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting in 35 minutes, but his scoring wasn't enough to change the outcome.
Jaden McDaniels added 16 points while Naz Reid and Julius Randle each chipped in 13, but the Timberwolves were never able to find their rhythm against Brooklyn.
The biggest issue was in the paint where Minnesota got outscored 66-46, showing just how much they were dominated inside.
The Nets attacked the rim all night and the Timberwolves had no answer for it. For a team that prides itself on defense, it was a rough night to watch.
Head coach Chris Finch knows his team has to fix things quickly. "Acknowledging you have a problem is certainly the first step," Finch said. "But if you're really self-aware, you'll do something about it."
Getting Back on Track
The loss stings even more when you consider what the Timberwolves have done lately.
Just last week, they beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 112-107 and looked like one of the best teams in the West.
They also gave Denver everything they had on Christmas before falling in overtime.
So what changed? Edwards himself admits he doesn't have the answer right now, and that uncertainty is a problem for a team that expects to compete for a title.
Minnesota lost in the Western Conference Finals last season to the Thunder in five games, so they know what it takes to get there, but inconsistent efforts like Saturday night won't cut it in the playoffs.
The Timberwolves head to Chicago on Monday to take on the Bulls, and it would be a good time to get things turned around.
Edwards is putting up strong numbers this season with 29.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, but he knows individual stats don't mean much if the team keeps laying eggs against lesser opponents.
If Minnesota wants to prove they're for real this year, they need to bring the same energy every night.
Right now, as Edwards put it, this is just Timberwolves basketball, and that's not a compliment.