Home/NBA

via Imago

via Imago

“At this point, we’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror and decide what type of team we want to be on a consistent basis”. Despite making this statement over a week ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t been able to turn the odds in their favor. Not only has their record worsened within a week, but they currently stand on a 4-loss streak after the recent matchup against the Sacramento Kings. The shift from being the team that made the Western Conference Finals last season to being the one with the 8-10 record now, is a big one. Not only has it affected the players, but it has caused even home fans to raise their voices and react– a fact that Anthony Edwards is not impressed with.

In the aftermath of the Timberwolves-Kings game, the 23-year-old shooting guard engaged in a Q&A session. Edwards made it known, right from the start, that he wasn’t happy with how things had been panning out. After all, what other reason was there for him to kick things off with “Y’all wanna talk to me? (Yes.) What you wanna know, why we’re trash?” He spent the remainder of his time handing out critiques to himself and his teammates. He went as far as to call the squad “soft as hell” collectively. These were dark times, and he knew it. Amidst this, however, if there was one thing that the player indicated expecting, it was to at least have the support of the Timberwolves fans.

“Every last one of us, we go in our own shell. We’re just growing away from each other, and it’s…….. I mean like it’s obvious,” said Edwards. “We can see it, I can see it, team can see it, the coaches can see it. The fans booing us like, crazy man. We’re getting booed in our home arena, that’s so disrespectful.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The advantage of playing a home game is that the players can at least count on the support from the audience. After all, a majority of them are, in most cases, made up of fans who support them. Some teams like the LA Clippers have made full use of this knowledge, as evident by the Wall.’ However, imagine a team performing badly in four back-to-back games, with two in the home arena. Can we expect the same fans to take the loss in silence? As a result, a majority of the 18,978 individuals that made up the attendance at the arena made their voices heard during the matchups against the Houston Rockets, as well as the Sacramento Kings.

One prominent booing chant resonated during the Timberwolves-Rockets game. During the game, Jalen Green intercepted a pass from Donte DiVincenzo that Anthony Edwards intended to receive. As the Rockets player ran without anyone defending him and dunked the ball, the feelings in the arena echoed painfully. Seeing their own team turn against them would be the last thing the Timberwolves would want at this point. At the same time, however, tough love can often help.

via Imago

For the most part, Anthony Edwards has been making efforts to get his team out of this rut. His scoring average has gone up in the span of a season, from 25.9 ppg to 28.1 ppg. Furthermore, his average field goal attempts have gone up from 19.7 to 21.2, and his three-pointers from 6.7 to 11.1. Edwards’ increase in three-point shooting came under attack early on. However, he dismissed the same with two words: “F**k ‘Em”. Unfortunately, this increase in shooting barrage isn’t helping the ‘identity crisis’ that the player recently admitted the team is suffering from. This means that Timberwolves fans will not feel satisfied for some while. This is unfortunate news for Edwards, who anyways isn’t a big fan of being on the receiving end of boos.

Anthony Edwards avoids playing for the Knicks so that he doesn’t get booed: “Y’all ain’t finna be mad at me”

What’s your perspective on:

Are Timberwolves fans justified in booing, or should they stand by their team through tough times?

Have an interesting take?

Anthony Edwards anyway wouldn’t be a big fan of the New York Knicks during this ongoing season. For one thing, they acquired his former right hand, aka Karl-Anthony Towns, as part of a trade deal. However, holding a belief in Knicks fans, the player made it clear that the only time they see him playing at Madison Square Garden is as a member of the visiting team.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In the aftermath of the Knicks-Timberwolves game held back in late October, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns exchanged jerseys. At the same time, Edwards got into a conversation with a few courtside fans. The same urged the shooting guard to reunite with Towns. As they traded Towns, the only other option to fulfill that desire would be for Edwards to join the Knicks. To this request, Edwards reverted by stating “Y’all ain’t finna be mad at me when I have an off game”. He further added, “When I play bad, y’all are gonna be like, ‘Boo!’ 82 games I ain’t gonna be good.”

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

As Michael Scott would say, “How the turntables”. After all, fans are anyways booing Anthony Edwards now. Fortunately, the NBA teams are still in the early part of the season. The Timberwolves can still turn things around. However, the clock is ticking fast.

Have something to say?

Let the world know your perspective.